Swanky and Swingin’ at the Art Deco Preservation Ball

Tags

1920s, 1930s, 1940s, Art Deco, Art Deco Society of California, Dress, Formal Wear, Gown, Mikael Aghal, North Beach San Francisco, Pin Curls, Retro, Sparkly, Vintage

Once a year, the Art Deco Society of California puts on a fabulous deco-era ball. Pat and I went last year and had a fantastic time, so we just had to go again!

Everyone dresses up in deco-era-style formal attire from the 1920s through early 1940s. Getting dressed for it last year was super easy because I already had a vintage gown from the late 1930s/early 1940s (pictured here), but this year I had to figure out what to wear. I started thinking about it early and created a Pinterest board for deco-era formal wear several months ago. Then I stayed on the look-out for a formal gown that would fit the theme – and finally found a gorgeous Mikael Aghal chartreuse silk gown at The Outnet. The bias cut and waterfall pleats at the waist were reminiscent of 1930s gowns, while the beading and embellishments evoked the 1920s.

Arriving at the Art Deco Preservation Ball in a Mikael Aghal gown and vintage stole. Photo by Pat Zimmerman.

But before we headed to the ball, Pat and I had dinner at Albona Ristorante Istriano, an absolutely delicious Istrian restaurant in North Beach.

Pat looking dapper in a tux at Albona Ristorante Istriano.

In pin curls at Albona Ristorante Istriano. Photo by Pat Zimmerman.

And then we headed to the ball, held at Bimbo’s 365 Club – a North Beach nightclub founded in the 1930s. In addition to having a marvelous time dancing, enjoying the live entertainment, and sipping classic cocktails, we ran into Susan & Eric Koger from ModCloth. Events are always more fun when you get to share them with awesome people!

Clockwise from top left: with Susan (photo by Pat Zimmerman); Eric and Pat share a laugh; the Deco Belles; the crowd at Bimbo’s 365 Club.

With Pat in the lobby of Bimbo’s 365 Club. Photo by one of the lovely ball attendees.

Clockwise from top left: Susan with other glamorous ladies in orange gowns – a photo-op to commemorate the Golden Gate Bridge; Pat looking… debonair? mischievous?; Vienna La Rouge performing burlesque; a bouquet of orchids.

If you’re in the Bay Area and love the deco era, definitely check out the Art Deco Society! They put on a few events throughout the year, including a Gatsby-themed picnic in September (I went last year and plan to go again this year). And they also host walking tours of art deco buildings and publish information about related events put on by other organizations.

What I wore:
Dress: Mikael Aghal Embellished silk-satin gown via The Outnet
Stole: vintage 1950s silver mink stole via Eons Fashion Antique in Pittsburgh, PA
Bracelet: Victorian mourning bracelet
Ring: family heirloom
Wristlet: brass mesh bag from the late 1910s/early 1920s (my great grandmother’s; when she gave it to me she said it was just the perfect size for lipstick and telephone money – all one needed for going out!)

[Photos by me except where otherwise noted.]

Additional photos – and full-sized versions of the collage photos – available on Flickr, here. More will be uploaded in the next few days!

Staring at the Sun

Tags

Astronomy, Eclipse, Natural Event, Nerd, Potrero Hill San Francisco, Solar Eclipse, Sun

On Sunday I saw my very first almost-total solar eclipse. I think. I mean, I know I saw the eclipse – just not entirely sure it was my first. There was one in 1994, and I remember some talk about it, but I don’t remember watching it. In any case, this was certainly my first memorable solar eclipse!

The solar eclipse as seen from San Francisco.

Pat and I went up to the roof with a bottle of champagne, cameras, and DIY-solar-eclipse-viewing equipment. A couple of our neighbors were up there too, and we had a great time chatting, taking pics, and witnessing the eclipse.

At first, the pinhole projector I made wasn’t working – but I read you could see the eclipse through your fingers. The effect was pretty cool!

Watching the solar eclipse through my fingers. Photo by Pat Zimmerman.

As the moon passed over the sun, the air got chillier and the light on the skyline took a slightly rosy glow. It looked like a mix of a cloudy day (but no clouds!) and early sunset.

The San Francisco skyline during the solar eclipse.

And then I figured out that the problem with my pinhole projector was that the pinhole was too small. Maybe the ideal projector works with a hole the size of the pin, but mine needed one about 1/6″ in diameter. While I was adjusting the projector, I got a little crazy. After all, why make a projector that shows 1 sun when you can make one that shows 9 suns?

The solar eclipse viewed through a DIY pinhole projector.

Watching the solar eclipse – and playing around with the projector and shadows – was awesome. Now I see why some people chase solar eclipses around the world!

The peak of the solar eclipse in San Francisco.

I’m thinking about getting eclipse glasses to watch the transit of Venus across the sun in June – an event that won’t occur again in this century!

Did you get to see the eclipse? Will you check out the transit of Venus?

[Photos by me except where otherwise noted.]

Cranberry-Ginger-Rum Goodness

Tags

Chronicle Books, Cocktail, Cranberries, Ginger, Rum

Last Christmas I gave my husband The American Cocktail by the editors of Imbibe Magazine (Chronicle Books, 2011). (It also came with the implicit promise that I’d be making him cocktails from the book. In our household, he tends to do more of the cooking while I mix up the drinks!)

It’s an awesome cocktail book – we haven’t gotten to all the cocktails yet, but every one we’ve tried so far has been delicious. My recent fave is called “Boston Bog,” a recipe from Boston bartender Misty Kalkofen.

I didn’t quite have *exactly* the ingredients called for in the recipe, so what follows is a variation based on what I had in my kitchen & liquor cabinet.

In addition to cranberries and ginger syrup (both of which I had/could make), the original recipe calls for Appleton Estate Reserve Jamaica rum, fresh lemon juice, and Rothman & Winter apricot liqueur. I substituted my favorite 7-year old rum, pre-squeezed lemon juice (though it is better with fresh lemons – since I used bottled juice this time, I reduced the amount originally called for in the recipe), and Cointreau (less than the amount of apricot liqueur called for – the Cointreau also helped temper the acidity of the bottled lemon juice). If you want the original recipe, check out The American Cocktail!

Cocktail ingredients: fresh cranberries, Cointreau, lemon juice, aged rum, and ginger syrup.

Ingredients
6 fresh cranberries (+ 1 for garnish)
1 1/2 oz aged or reserve rum
1/2 oz ginger syrup
2 tsp lemon juice (or 1/2 oz if using fresh lemons)
2 tsp Cointreau

To make the ginger syrup: combine 1 part water and 1 part sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat & let cool. Combine with 1 part diced ginger in a food processor or blender and purée. Strain.

Muddle the cranberries in a cocktail shaker. Add the rum, ginger syrup, lemon juice, and Cointreau. Shake well with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a fresh cranberry.

For the record, the ginger syrup is definitely worth making. I’ve made ginger syrup in the past by just simmering the simple syrup mixture with sliced ginger – but this method of blending in the ginger and then straining it makes it so much richer!

Tip: If you’re like me & don’t have a proper bartender’s fine-mesh strainer, a tea ball works beautifully! And the wooden end of a spatula or wooden spoon doubles up nicely as a muddler.

The finished cocktail: Cranberry-Ginger-Rum Goodness!

Cheers!

Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe?