Queen Mary: A Royal Wedding

On Saturday, June 23, we were fortunate enough to be guests at the wedding of our good friends Jesse and Emily.  

The happy couple, Emily and Jesse
Don't they look like the perfect cake toppers?

You probably already know Emily as she and her love letter to old Hollywood, The Silver Screen Affair, have been mentioned numerous times in the annals of wacky tacky.  If you're a lover of classic films and Hollywood glamour, then be sure to check out her blog.  Although, it may be kind of quiet around there for a couple of weeks as they are enjoying a tropical honeymoon.

Emily looked picture perfect in a vintage, 50's,
lace wedding gown and handmade veil.
I love this photo of her, pre-nuptials.

The ceremony was held at a beautiful, historic Catholic church and the reception was in The Queen's Salon on the Queen Mary, a stunning steamliner and one of the premier examples of well-preserved Art Deco in Southern California.

Dappled in the light of the afternoon sun, St. John's
was a beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony.

The getaway car complete with tin cans and "Just Married" banner!

The Queen's Salon aboard the Queen Mary - pretty majestic if you ask me.
You can just barely make out Holly, of The Temperamental Broad, on the right.
I should have been taking a lot more pictures, but I was too busy making a fool
of myself on the dance floor.

Why do I always have to sit at the kids' table?

Mary, Amber, Paul, Jordan, Memo, Ben, and Nicole

I didn't really want to do a feature exclusively on the wedding itself because Emily is a pretty private person and their wedding wasn't so much wacky tacky as it was traditional, elegant, and gracious.  For the record, I like both but I have a hard time behaving like a grown up at either!  So, here are a few snaps of our hijinks aboard the R.M.S. Queen Mary featuring the suit that I made Mary for the occasion.

I really have no idea where the inspiration came from on this one except that I love this kooky color combination and sometimes I like to try and challenge myself a little - two days, three pieces, and a  marginal skill set (I have never sewn a proper collar of any kind before).

Apparently I have developed such a reputation for turning
placemats into hats, that everyone immediately assumed
that was the case for this verdant topper.  This was actually a
 vintage hat that I got from a friend a few years ago.

Mr. Tiny & Mary gettin' groovy.
Once I start, I just can't stop.
(photo by Amber U.)

I am the worst kind of shopper.  I have a very specific idea of what I am looking for before I go out shopping and expect whatever it is to be in the store, happily waiting for me to buy it, at a discounted price.  Needless to say, I spend a lot of time disappointed.  Imagine my surprise when my first attempt to find a chartreuse-y colored fabric, with enough weight to be suitable for a suit and enough drape  to make it feminine, was peeking out of a row of totally dissimilar fabric just waiting for me.  It was the right color, the right price, and there was just enough left on the bolt for my project!!!  That NEVER happens.

The green gloves were bought on a road trip to
Hearst Castle and the red baubles were on loan
from a friend.  Here's Mary wishing that she
didn't have to give them back.

There's room for a dumbbell joke in there somewhere.

I have to stick with the dumbbell jokes; after seeing some
 of the pictures of Mary (including this one with the bride),
she has already been referred to as the Jolly Green Giant!

The free bonus of the evening came when were about to leave the party and ran into a group of friends who just happened to be touring the ship that night.  We ended up joining their tour and I'm almost positive from the looks we were receiving, that guests of the hotel were starting to believe that the Queen Mary was indeed haunted!

Congratulations Emily and Jesse!  It was a particularly beautiful wedding and we really appreciate you allowing us to participate in your special day.  We don't even have to wish it for you, we already know that you'll live happily ever after!  

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Angelo's & Vinci's

I know our last wacky tacky culinary adventure left you perfecting your pasta twirling technique and it may seem a bit redundant to feature another Italian restaurant so soon.  Nevertheless, we are certified, spaghetti fiends and we just couldn't stay away from one of our favorite Italian grub hubs, Angelo's & Vinci's.

Angelo's & Vinci's Ristorante - Fullerton, CA

Opened in 1972, Angelo's & Vinci's is a wacky tacky masterpiece.  Located on bustling Harbor Boulevard in historic, downtown Fullerton, even the entry to this mecca of manicotti is festooned with with all things wild and wonderful from the old world. 

A detail of Angelo's & Vinci's front door

Miniature suits of armor stand sentry

I have no idea what activity is being depicted in the figure on the left, 

but I don't think the cherub approves.

We're serving dessert first in this addition of chow time and showing one of the best parts of the restaurant immediately.  Angelo's & Vinci's has a basement (trust me this is pretty unusual and exciting in Southern California)!  Lurking in said basement is a collection of aberrations so peculiar, so dangerous, so horrible that they must be locked in cages. 

Spooky!

Demented clowns and caged monsters are not really the scariest part of the basement;

the scariest part is the smell - sort of old refrigerator meets moldy carpet. 

Frankenstein's monster & dismembered bodies

Gorillas & Vampires - Dracula, you don't have to put on the red light!

The best part of the basement is the fact that the space is dedicated to such a silly exploit.  Our favorite A&V pastime is to lead the uninitiated down to the basement and hide around the corner so we can jump out and scare them.  Juvenile?  Uh-huh.

As frightening as the basement might be, the centerpiece to the entire restaurant is the main dining room known as the Piazza Fantasia.

The Piazza Fantasia

The Piazza Fantasia really is a fantasy of color, light, soaring ceilings and a truly-wonderful assemblage of junk!  Aerialists and acrobats swing from the ceiling.  Cured meats, pirates, Santa Claus, Italian poster art, The Phantom of the Opera and twinkle lights are only small parts of the larger wacky tacky equation.  There is so much visual stimulation that I see something new every time we go.

Dinner guests enjoying the atmosphere

Sometimes it is difficult to tell which part of the building is the scariest.  

I'm not so sure the basement would win.

Just one small corner of the room includes street lamps, puppets, a pirate and Pinocchio!

A wall of faux food helps recreate the atmosphere
of food stalls in an old Italian Piazza

Taking a page out of The Godfather, "The Family" is given a place of honor.

Speaking of family, the place is usually packed with hungry families.  Moreover, there is almost always a wedding reception being held; there are multiple banquet areas and the absence of a private party or wedding reception is an exception to the rule.  The first time I saw that people were hosting their reception at Angelo's & Vinci's, it seemed to me rather odd.  The regularity with which these celebrations are held there has me questioning my initial judgment.  Apparently, A&V's knows how to throw a party and the revelers seem to leave the festivities happy and full.

What does it all mean?

I'm not sure if we mentioned, but the food at Angelo's & Vinci's is pretty good too.  Their Italian dressing is amazing and every meal is served with delicious homemade rolls.  Pasta can be eaten many places but why not eat it in the under a tightrope walker?  Why not masticate your mostaccioli with monsters?  Why not slurp spaghetti where Santa Claus can see that you're being nice this year?  Why not go to Angelo's & Vinci's?  You'll be glad you did!

Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante
550 North Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714)879-4022

Hours of Operation
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday & Saturday: 11am-10pm

www.angelosandvincis.com


Cheers and Ciao!

Mr. Tiny

Sew What?! Jessica Stopnik Photography and a dumb ol' dress...

Whenever I shirk my blogging responsibilities, I always wonder why I have become so lazy.  I think the reason is the season.  This summer season I feel like I have been pulled in so many directions; the consequence -  a marked drop in energy.  What  little energy I have left has been directed more towards the sewing machine than the computer and - as the sensible young gentleman that I am - I can only mind one mistress at a time.  

Initially, this blog was simply going to show you a recent project on which I've been working, but when the kid sis and her boy showed me the amazing pictures they had taken by the very gifted, Jessie Stopnik of Jessica Stopnik Photography*, I decided that the emphasis should really be placed on her skill and artistry over my measly joining together of some crummy scraps of fabric!

Mary wears a 40's-style dirndl with puff sleeves, eyelet and ribbon detailing
 with a patch pocket and self belt of a reproduction, floral-print feedsack.
Her topper is made of layers of looped ribbon affixed to a buckram frame.
(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

Mary and Chris sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
I just have to pretend she is not my sister so I can appreciate the charm of this photo.
(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik Photography)

This is a beautiful photo - Jessie amazes me every time!
(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik Photography)

You might remember Jessica's photos from our post, wacky tacky Goes to the Prom.  She does far more than just sweet photos though.  Unlike myself, she is a master of capturing light.  Unlike me, she understands the importance of place and composition.  I cannot explain how much I love her photos.  I think, like most people, I am in awe of a talent that I will never possess.  You can see the variety of subject matter on her blog, but I thought I would treat you to a few of my favorite Jessica Stopnik photos.

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stopnik)

Be sure to visit Jessie's blog, and like her on Facebook - you won't be sorry.  Jessica is a budding artist and is a great resource for fashion shoots, family photos, weddings and more!

*All of the photos included in this post are the property of Jessica Stopnik Photography.  Please do not reuse these images without her consent.

jessicastopnik.blogspot.com


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny