Sew What?! PACKING a Wallop!!!

Soooooo....it has become apparent to me that our subconscious suburban safari has been extended, with us managing to trek even further into the sartorial Serengeti.  You'll soon see what I mean....  

I've been on a sewing/crafting kick that is showing no signs of stopping and that is something about which I will not complain.  I'm getting a lot of satisfaction out of creating things that I feel are a better representation of my design sensibility and an opportunity to hone my skill set.  

The last thing Mary needs is more options in her full-to-bursting closet but when I get the itch to create, she is always happy to make the trip to buy more hangers.  With yet another example of Mr. Tiny's "Put a Lid On It" sun hats and a matching frock, Mary had a nice, new ensemble to don for the sun-soaked, grand opening of the Anaheim Packing House (est. 1919).

Anaheim Packing House - Anaheim, CA

Well, I guess that technically it was the grand re-opening.  First opened in 1919 as the central location for the processing and packing of Anaheim's abundant citrus crop, the Packing House has endured the ups and (mostly) downs of Anaheim's old downtown.  With a history that also includes life as a semi-questionable, less-than-savory living space, the Packing House has been completely rehabilitated with a definite eye toward historic preservation.  It is now a community space that houses multiple cafes, bars, and vendors of artisanal foods.  Things are looking up in downtown Anaheim!

As one might expect, it was a packed house at the Packing House on opening day.  Fortunately, from patios to park space to a cozy backyard, the Packing House offers plenty of charming outdoor space.  With friends, we escaped the crowds for some fresh-air photo ops.

Now do you see what I mean about our extended suburban safari?
I don't know why it didn't occur to me immediately, but this fabric print, an African
print (duh) from one of my favorite discount stores, screams mid-century safari!

Prints can be tricky for me (I usually dream in solid colors) but the
simplicity of the dress' silhouette required a print that packed a wallop -
perfect for a day at the Packing House!!! 

I redrafted a halter pattern to include a peek-a-boo, triangular cutout in the back bodice.
It really is just a peek-a-boo; those ties ended up being pretty concealing.
I hadn't sewn a proper dress in a while so I decided to attach the fully-lined bodice to a 3/4 circle skirt.

I've always been a fan of repurposed buildings; the idea of living in an old firehouse, post office, church, or barn is very appealing.  There must be a great thrill in bringing bustling new life to a space that has fallen into disrepair.  The revitalization of the Packing House is a true inspiration; it is definitely the crown jewel of the new downtown Anaheim and we have high hopes for its long-term success!

That's a funny way to squeeze orange juice...

Packing House at The Anaheim Packing District

440 S Anaheim Blvd

Anaheim, CA

anaheimpackingdistrict.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

wacky tacky icons: Jo Ann Castle

Last week we did something musically that we have been wanting to do for a long time; we went to a little jam session called "Ja, Just Accordions."  Our good friends Kevin and Jody mentioned the event very casually in a conversation one evening, but after I heard the words "Ja, just accordions," my mind wandered to what is most likely the wackiest, tackiest, and most beautiful instrument in the world and I never heard another word they said (sorry guys).

The whole gang getting hot

Held at The Phoenix Club, a German social club in Anaheim, CA, "Ja, Just Accordions" is a monthly meeting of accordionists, dancers, and enthusiasts.  Accordion music is in my blood.  Being from the Midwest, my paternal grandparents were avid polka dancers - I'm pretty sure it's mandatory.  My father took accordion lessons when he was young; I think it was part of my grandma's devious plan to raise the next Frankie Yankovic (her favorite of all the polka kings). Shoot, Mary asked for an accordion for her twelfth birthday - and GOT ONE!!!  So you see, despite our California zip code, our hearts are living in accordion country.

Shirley & Mary
Shirley was GREAT!  She played a lot of songs that we could dance to
 including a medley of "In the Mood" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

Pat just makes me happy.

Were we by far the youngest people in the room by at least thirty years?  Ja.  Did that make us superstars in the eyes of all our new found German friends?  Ja.  Were we given constant adulation every time we pretended to dance the polka and invited back to every upcoming event?  Ja, you betcha.

Ed giving Mary a little polka instruction

Youll be safe saying "Hi Ed" to any guy in the place;

Every man who introduced himself to us that night,

introduced himself as Ed - no joke.

Surrounded by all that dreamy accordion music, I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite television stars of all time, Miss Jo Ann Castle.

Jo Ann Castle
(3 September 1939 - )
(Source)

Taking her stage name from the Castle Accordions that she favored, Jo Ann Castle is best known as a regular performer on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1959 to 1969. On screen she always appeared absolutely carefree and totally filled with the joy of the music she performed - usually standards or ragtime arranged for honky tonk piano and polkas for the accordion.

 

See what I mean?

An early duet of "Tea for Two" with Myron Floren

I guess it goes to show you that you never know what is going on behind the scenes.  Upon doing a little research, it became evident that Castle's life was not all "champagne music."  Although I can't vouch for the veracity of the written account - it seems as if it was penned by a scorned lover/estranged family member- to read more, go here.  Instead of disturbing you with upsetting details, I thought I would simply indulge you with several of her best clips from TLWS.

"Hejre Katy"

Jo Ann gets a surprise cake and a new job on her 20th birthday.

"The World is Waiting for the Sunrise"

"Get Happy"

"Dark Eyes"

"Song of the Islands"

"A-Tisket, A-Tasket"
Welk was a cruel task master.

"Piano Roll Blues"

The hair is everything.

"The Happy Norwegian Polka"

"Chopsticks Boogie"

My most favorite of all - hilarious and disturbing!

Although it is a polarizing program, I don't know if there was another show in the history of television that embodied the spirit of wacky tacky, however unintentionally, like The Lawrence Welk Show.  Jo Ann Castle stood out from the crowd because instead of being just a lip-synching bobble-head, she was a sturdy, Bakersfield girl (I'll bet you thought Buck Owens was the only star to hail from that fair city), full of energy and talent! Unfortunately, like all of the greats before her, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, et al., there was a lot of pain hidden behind the smiles and accordion trills, but I guess that is the life of a rock star.  Has VH1 ever thought of doing a "Behind the Music" on Lawrence Welk stars? Or at least a "Behind the Hair?"  

"Queen of the Honky Tonk Piano," "Ragtime Piano Gal,"
"Queen of the Ragtime Piano," or just plain Queen of my heart!
(Source)

Be honest, do you love or hate The Lawrence Welk Show?  Do you have a favorite personality/performer from the show?  If you are a fan, there are so many great clips on YouTube, that you could keep yourself busy all day!

Remember, if you're in the area, feel free to join us at The Phoenix Club on the second Thursday of every month for "Ja, Just Accordions!"

The Phoenix Club

1340 S Sanderson Ave

Anaheim, CA

(714)563-4166

www.thephoenixclub.com

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Waking the Dead: "Gon But Forgoten"

Unlike many people, I have never gone through a "Goth" phase.  I am just too square.  With few exceptions, I've always been drawn to the merry rather than the macabre.  One of those exceptions is cemeteries; I love them.  I love the tranquility.  I love the history.  I love the ritual.  I love the monuments and tributes.  I love the universality of honoring loved ones who have passed on.  Okay, okay, I love that they can be a little spooky too.  

One of my favorite cemeteries was one we found on a coastal hike starting from Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.  If I find some of our pictures from Waverley Cemetery, I'll have to share them with you.  I'm sure the significance of the cemetery, beautifully poised on a cliff above the ocean, is without end to an expert in the history of colonial Australia; its graves date to some of the earliest British inhabitants of New South Wales.  To us it was simply a lovely place to stop and explore along our walk.  The effects of time and of the salty, ocean air are quite evident, and lend an added measure of drama to the final resting place of Australian notables.  It is one that I would love to revisit and strongly recommend that you visit it if you're ever down Bondi way.

Mary beneath the archway to Anaheim Pioneer Cemetery 

Back home we were given a tour of Anaheim's Pioneer Cemetery by some of its most famous residents (Anaheim, not the cemetery specifically), our friends Bob and Amber.  Founded in 1866, it may not be quite as old or quite as dramatic as a cliffside graveyard in Australia, but what we saw inside was pretty inspirational.  We were careful to go during the brightest light of day so we wouldn't have bad dreams that night.

"Precious darling, thou hast left us,
Left us yes, forever more.
But again we hope to meet thee
On that bright and shining shore."

Anaheim Cemetery is home to the oldest mausoleum on the west coast of the United Sates.  Within its walls also stand the markers of many important names from the annals of Orange County history.

Samuel Kraemer was the first white settler in the area
 to start farming, introducing new techniques for
cultivation and irrigation.

Augustus Langenberger and Clementine Schmidt Langenberger were
part of the original Anaheim Cemetery Association - pioneers in Anaheim
 and founders of Anaheim Cemetery.  

The Langenberger family mausoleum, built in a Spanish mission style, is a highlight of
the cemetery tour.

The Kraemer's portal to the eternities

Anaheim was largely a German settlement, so many of the oldest graves are entirely in German.

Very roughly translated, the epitaph says, "Here resting softly this man sleeps."
...or maybe just "Rest in peace."
How's that for only one year of high school German??? Pretty bad, probably.

There were many veterans' graves as well.,  Not being a
 historian, I had to look up the significance of the star marked G.A.R.
 G.A.R. stands for Grand Army of the Republic and signifies the
 deceased's service in the American Civil War.

As much as I enjoy history, it is really the ornate headstones that hold all of my interest.  Blame it on the grave markers in the queue at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, but I am always on the lookout for interesting shapes, intricate carvings, beautiful statuaries, and funny epitaphs.  As it is only but a couple of miles away from Disneyland, I almost wonder if some of the Imagineers came to Anaheim Cemetery for a little inspiration.

I knew the odds were against me, but I really did spend a fair amount
of time looking for a marker that read "Fronts."

I love the draped fabric carved into this headstone.

A bit of faux bois never hurt anyone.

A bit more faux bois with a hanging scroll

I love the statues of angels.
I wonder if statues like this were individually-carved
 or cast from a mold.

I also wonder if there are any craftsmen around
who still create this kind of marker.

For every elaborate monument there is one so simple that it serves merely as practical documentation.

The saddest headstones are of course the most diminutive - those belonging to children.  I had never noticed before, but many of the miniature, heart-shaped headstones document the age of the child including the months and days.

"Baby Twins"

Obviously, the purpose of wacky tacky is not to be a huge downer, so we have to show you one of the strangest grave markers that we found, the one belonging to 19-year-old John A. McCoy.

"Killed on a thresher"
I am stumped as to why his family thought this was absolutely
necessary to include on the headstone - especially if they were charged
by the letter.  If that was the case, I think I probably would have
left off that gory little tidbit of information.

By far, the most significant and interesting headstone to me was a tiny marble slab marking the grave of an infant child.  Hand-carved, it seemed to tell the whole story of the family that lost their baby, Louise.  They were clearly neither wealthy nor well-educated, but the love for their child was abiding.  I imagined that they spent all the money they could afford on the marble itself (unhoned, unpolished), and then were left to their own devices to carve it.  I find that the spelling mistakes and omissions/edits actually deepen the sweetness and sadness of this tiny headstone.

"Louise Cowan
Born March 31 '14
Died May 15 '14
not
Gon but ^ forgoten"

Anaheim Cemetery
1400 E Sycamore St
Anaheim, CA

Walt Disney and an Imagineer, Marc Davis, discuss

the development of The Haunted Mansion.

What do you think, is it weird to like cemeteries so much?  Have you visited a cool cemetery lately?  Do you have a cemetery close to you that is the final resting place for someone famous?  Or even better, someone infamous?

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Bowl-O-Rama: Linbrook Bowl

Apologies for the complete radio silence - I have been BUSY!  The kid sis has gone legit and is a bonafide performer!  She will be playing the Wild Records pre-show at Viva Las Vegas 15.  In turn, I have been commissioned to make an entire wardrobe of clothes, so the only electronic device I have seen in the last week is my sewing machine.  I'm pretty excited about some of her get-ups so posts with those will be sure to follow.  Until then, I hope you enjoy yet another one of Southern California's premier bowling alleys.

I am so enamored with the glory of Linbrook Bowl's sign that I feel it alone is reason enough to stop what you're doing and wherever you are in the world, find your way to Anaheim, CA.  All the other pictures in this post are purely informational; they exist simply so you can understand that bowling is actually provided at Linbrook Bowl, but really, come on...the sign!!!  I haven't even mentioned yet that the pin spins, have I?

1958 seems to have been a magic year for bowling alleys.
You might remember that our last Bowl-O-Rama entry,
Palos Verdes Bowl, also sites 1958 as its year of birth

One of the other amazing features of Linbrook Bowl is the original coffee shop.

Apparently, the coffee shop is the "Cheers" of Anaheim.
If "sometimes you want to go where everybody knows
your name," then head to Linbrook.  I can't endorse their
 Friday fish special, but I can guarantee that it will be
packed with friendly regulars.

The coffee shop could stand some minor restoration,
 but Mary seemed to enjoy her milkshake in the
orange, vinyl booths.

According to some very reliable sources, the Kopa Room at Linbrook Bowl
hosts some of the best karaoke in Orange County!  The bar was too dimly lit
for me to get any good pictures, but don't you want to make plans to meet
at the Kopa?

Every table in the bowling alley features old pen & ink drawings about
Victorian bowling history

Strangely enough, I forgot to get a picture of the lanes, themselves.  Again, I assure you, Linbrook Bowl is a place for bowling; they have 40 lanes!  I just can't get past the sign.  Every time we drive by it, I want to stop and take more photos.  Neon, twinkle lights, a giant, spinning bowling pin - who could ask for anything more?

Linbrook Bowl

201 S Brookhurst St

Anaheim, CA

(714)772-2253

OPEN 24 HOURS!!!

linbrookbowl.com

"Ten Pins" - Sesame Street

Bowl and learn about subtraction!

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Destination Moon!

I love to eat...but never my own words.  One of my very first blog posts was about the Laguna de San Gabriel Playground, where I mourned the loss of cool parks and lamented the fact that interesting playgrounds were few and far between.  Evidently, my laziness in searching out perfect parks does not necessarily equate to their nonexistence.  Thankfully, weird, wonderful, and wacky tacky parks abound - at least in Southern California.  Sometimes one must simply do a little bit of homework in order to find them.

Moon Unit Mary

In our recent post "How'd You Like to Spend New Year's on the Moon?", we visited a hometown landmark, Moon Park.  When I was online looking up a street address for the park, I found that there was another park with a lunar layout in nearby Anaheim, CA.  Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Disney's Tomorrowland is Brookhurst Community Park - Destination Moon!

"Destination Moon" - Dinah Washington

Ever apropos, Mary carried her moon and star carpet bag.

I hate to say it, but I think Brookhurst Community Park puts old Moon Park to shame.  BCP is a sprawling landscape of stalagmites, bridges, arches, and giant craters.  It is definitely more of a playground than a park and invites visitors to crawl over, under, and around the man-made moonscape.  Here are a bunch of photos of us doing just that.

The moon bridge that traverses the length of the park,
bisecting it into play/picnic area and sports complex.

Trust me, this is what everyone is
wearing on the moon this season...

I know because I was the only one there.

Paging 21st Century Ed Woods - aren't you ready to buy a camera and start filming your low-budget, sci-fi movie here?
I've already roughed out the first draft for "Mr. Tiny Meets the Moon Men"

Lest we forget that it is a playground, Mr. Tiny attacks the equipment.

Mary tries to astral project herself out of space prison.

Maybe I am over thinking this, but how cool would it be to have a fashion show a la "How to Marry a Millionaire"  where the models came down the ramp through the lunar arch and then perched themselves on the stalagmites?

I wish I could tell you more about the design and history of BCP, but the Anaheim Parks Dept. just won't give.  According to my brother, this area used to be called the "sadlands" and was heavily populated by skaters.  Maybe the Anaheim Historical Society can help me out with this one as there is little information that I was able to learn beyond finding out that the park was built in 1973.  It is not often, however, that we go to a playground for a history lesson.  We go to a playground to PLAY! 

Brookhurst Community Park

2271 W. Crescent Ave.

Anaheim, CA

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny