Beauty History

Beauty Contest, Toronto, 193-?

Have you ever wondered what ladies swim fashion in Toronto was in the 1930s? of course you have! Well, take inspiration from these local beauties. All of these images are from the City of Toronto Archives, which is an absolutely amazing source for vintage images of Toronto. You can access the archives online here: http://www.toronto.ca/archives/photographs/index.htm just hit scanned photographs only when you search. Another resource that is great for finding old photos is the Archives of Ontario http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/92/1/0?SEARCH&ERRMSG=[IMG_WEB]img_simNo.htm

More images after the jump!

well HOT DAMN!

Weber Brothers at the Dakota last Tuesday- pic from their Facebook page

I am not even exaggerating when I say that the Weber Brothers are one of the best live bands I have EVER seen. For real. A couple weeks ago Claire and I popped into the Dakota Tavern looking to have a beer or two or three, and hopefully hear some good tunes. Well, we were completely blown away by this rip-roaring rock 'n' roll band. We came back the next week with more friends. We hit the dance floor and we danced excessively. I had a calf cramp the next day.

It's no wonder these guys have such a tight live show though, because they trained with the infamous Ronnie Hawkins, the Grandfather of rock'n'roll. From their band bio- 

"2001: On a whim, Ryan emails rock-a-billy legend Ronnie Hawkins. Hawkins responds and they send him a demo tape. They are eventually invited to his home in Ontario to audition for his acclaimed band 'The Hawks'. After traveling on their own to Chicago, Nashville, and Amsterdam in the following months, they get the call from Hawkins to come back to Canada, saying he had jobs for them. Ryan and Sam leave everything behind the next morning and head north to Hawkins' farm to begin his infamous 90 Day Boot Camp. To earn their keep, they do farm work during the day, and, under Hawkins' watchful eye, play music in their free time. They go through the same process many ex-Hawks had gone through years before: farm hand, roadie, driver, merchandise handler, before eventually joining the band and becoming official members of 'The Hawks'. Touring begins."

If you don't know who Ronnie Hawkins is, what you need to know is that he he invented the moonwalk before Michael Jackson, he is responsible for putting together The Band (yes THE Band), and that he miraculously beat a fatal diagnoses of pancreatic cancer by drinking whiskey and smoking pot. This hilarious interview with George Strombo is a great example of why Ronnie is awesome.

The Weber Brother play at the Dakota this Tuesday, it's only $7 for three hours of epic awesomeness. Just look at that photo, have you ever seen a guitarist play a killer solo, standing on top of a double bass?? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT??

This is just a little vid I took during their show last week, sadly I didn't catch the name of the guest stars, but they were great.

Varnish

Its been months since I've purchased any new nail polish (amazing, I know) but I was thrilled to pick up the new Zoya spring fleck collection.

for a great selection of swatches that show everything you can do with the fleck polishes, go to http://www.thepolishaholic.com/2012/01/zoya-spring-2012-fleck-effect.html

I am loving these!

Now I finally find Abstract Expressionism interesting...

no. 8, Jackson Pollock, 1949

I was rather perturbed to learn in my Art and Propaganda class last week, that the CIA spent more than 20 years secretly funding Abstract Expressionist artists. My ignorance on this little tidbit of Cold War art history is either a testament to how little the matter is discussed today, or how little I payed attention in my second year contemporary art course. At any rate, I've been to MoMA a couple times and I don't recall any mention of this in the Abstract Expressionist exhibit. Here's an interesting article from 1995 which outlines the CIA's funding scheme: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/modern-art-was-cia-weapon-1578808.html

Curkyland

Several years ago, certain friends of mine nicknamed me "Curly." Yes, the name "Curly" was apt, and at the very least a term of endearment I was willing to tolerate. Then, after an intoxicated texting typo, I suddenly became "Curky."  My complaints that "Curky" sounded like a creepy clown/puppet/children's t.v. show host fell on deaf ears, and the name stuck.

But anyone who met me after 2007 might be shocked to know that I was not always curly. From the age of 12 when I got my first conair hair straightener (with optional crimping attachments of course), I furiously battled my natural curl. I blow dried, I ironed, I brushed, I cried, I ironed again. I literally pulled my hair out. Then, around the age of 18, I started to embrace my natural curl. AND IT WAS THE GREATEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. My hair and I went from being mortal enemies, to BFF4EVA.

However, as with any relationship, my hair and I have had a couple rough patches in the last few years. Notably when I got a $30 haircut in Halifax. I left the salon horrified and ashamed, looking like I was going to my graduation portrait, Class of '86 (the 1980s were a hairstyling dark age).  Since this traumatic incident, I've accepted that curly hair (BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME) is more difficult to cut, and generally requires a more skilled and usually more expensive hairdresser.

Happily, in Toronto I have found the wonderful Curl Ambassadors. A hair salon that caters to follically curvy people like myself.

Reasons why I love the Curl Ambassadors:
1. Their name
2. Conveniently located at 159 Harbord Street
3. They play motown allllll the time
4. There are free jelly beans
5. I can pretend I am a housewife in the 50s when I'm sitting under the hairdryer
6. The first time you go they make you a Curl Map to teach you how to style your new haircut
7. The first time you go you get a gift certificate to use at your next visit
8. It is a hair salon just for curly haired people!!!!

I get my haircut with Keina, and it runs me about $90 with tip (eep!) but so worth it:

some of my Curlspirtation:

Barhopping

Last night Caroline and I went on a barhopping adventure at College & Bathurst. Here is a brief review of our exploration:

Destination 1:  
Bistro 422- 422 College Street
- dive bar
- $12 mixed drink pitchers (we had the long island iced tea)
- busy- students, early 20 somethings
- bathrooms = sketchy, really sketchy
- left after a bar patron threw up
- I'd go back for the cheap drinks

Destination 2:
Cloak and Dagger Pub- 394 College Street
- dive pub
- mixed drink $5.50, 24 taps, $12 pitchers
- DJ- playing retro and punk
- mildly busy with older punk rockers
- bathrooms= clean, and with a full length mirror
- left after man was staring at us for 15 minutes
- I'll probably go back on Tuesday for Bluegrass

Destination 3:
No One Writes to the Colonel- 460 College Street
- lounge
- huge Mojito $8
- DJ- played Robyn
- busy- mid 20s to early 30s (hipster-ish) crowd
- left when we had to catch the subway
- I'd go back for happy hour drinks

Mojito!

Dickens with a Twist

Last weekend Claire and I went to see David play violin with the Counterpoint Community Orchestra at St. Luke's United Church (353 Sherbourne Street). The concert was a tribute to Charles Dickens in honour of his 200th birthday. I won't pretend to know anything about classical music, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, the selections from the musical "Oliver!" were a delight! whe-e-r-re iissss looovvvee?

I was also excited to discover that St. Luke's is a Langley and Burke designed church. Sadly, the interior was in pretty bad shape. I'd love to go back in the daytime and get a better look at the exterior, from what I saw it looks like an interesting mix of both Gothic and Romanesque revival styles.

St. Luke's (photo from Wikipedia)