The compound is under construction. Gathering enough plywood, galvanized tin and used trailers takes time, not to mention stockpiling all the shotgun ammo, canned goods and bourbon.
One of the sweetest gals we've met lately is Viva La Muerte, one of Nora's fellow contestants in the Fangoria Spooksmodel competition. Turns out she's also from Chicago, and is a hell of a dancer.
She's got a show at the Viaduct Theater on Saturday night. Nora is doing some makeup work for some of the performers. I guarantee you this is going to be a good time:
I am going to be at the Cubs game in Milwaukee, but if I make it back to Chicago in time I'm going to swing by the Viaduct to check out our daughter's handiwork.
Here's wishing all of you a swanky Valentines Day weekend. Ignore all that Hallmark PajamaGramVermont Teddy Bear bullshit, and just do something nice for each other, ok? Face it--if you haven't done anything thoughtful or romantic or unexpected for the previous 364 days, whipping out your credit card now for some totally predictable "gift" isn't going to help.
Have a nice drink together, or something good to eat, or just curl up, turn off the phone and watch some movies together. Have fun that doesn't involve marketing or selling you something.
So what are we doing? We're going to check out the recently reopened Trader Vic's for dinner. I've heard they've got a much-improved menu over the hokey "Polynesian" themed stuff they used to serve up at the Palmer House, and the drink menu is still fantastic. I'm looking forward to a Suffering Bastard, I think.
When we're done strapping on the feedbag we'll head over to the Abbey Pub for the Belmont Burlesque Review. MizBubs, God bless her sweet heart, is remarkably tolerant of my fondness for watching a good striptease.
Saturday we're sleeping in, and then there is nothing else planned. And an un-planned weekend is a good weekend.
I've really taken to this new Random Five format for Fridays.
This week I drew my random tunes from my lounge playlist--which now stands at 13.8 hours of swanky tunes to mix cocktails by. It's Friday, so let's swing a little:
Miserlou/Quien Sera--Rick Perito
Blossom's Blues--Blossom Dearie
Jungle Madness--Martin Denny
Sunny Side of the Street--Keely Smith
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams--Frank Sinatra
I was pleased, really, at how surprisingly upbeat and happy-making these tunes are. A nice way to end the week.
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Speaking of swanky, I just found out that Chicago is hosting an upcoming burlesque festival: Angela Eve's Twisted Tassel Burlesque Festival! There are events running from February 26 through March 27 at the Admiral Theater and the Debonair Social Club. Go check out the link for more details. As if cool music and beautiful women idn't enough, some of the proceeds will be donated to Make It Right NOLA, a charity dedicated to rebuilding the 9th Ward.
I decided to do something a little different for this week's random ten. Instead of hitting the shuffle for our entire collection (which is how all my kids' cool tunes, and MizBubs' glam rock and folk music get on my playlists) I decided to limit myself to my "lounge" playlist, about 300 songs ranging from jazz, exotica and swanky vocals of the 40's, 50's and 60's. Here goes:
Rain in Rangoon—Marko Polo Adventures
Get Happy—Frank Sinatra
Why Wait—Perez Prado
Bittersweet Samba—Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Song of the Islands—Martin Denny
Tout Doucement—Blossom Dearie
Taki Rari—Yma Sumac
She's A Lady—Tom Jones
Diga Diga Doo—Bob Thompson
Jungle Drums—Esquivel
Now I don't know about you, but those tunes put me in the mood for some exotic fun. It's a good time to revive Johnny Yen's Margarita Friday, and it's an even better time to watch the beautiful Betty Howard do her thing by the fountain in a tropical courtyard:
Friends, let's all drink a toast to each other: raise your glass, or your coffee cup, or your bottle of water or what ever--we've just about made it through another week.
