One of the reasons I love theater is because I love to check out the costumes. Costumes can sometimes make or break a show! I can remember going to plays which were probably pretty good in every way except one bad costume completely ruined it for me. No matter how well an actor sings or dances or emotes, if she's wearing something hideous the show's over for me. Bleah.
All of which is mainly just a segue into telling you about Tony & Amy Akin's new theater at Melody Lane, which is in the midst of producing "See How They Run", an absolutely hilarious British comedy full of slamming doors, mistaken identities, plenty of brandy, and Tony running through (and through, and through again) the set in his green and white polka-dot underwear brandishing a toilet plunger. I mean, it's got it all.
Truly, dear Blog-readers, I urge you to get a ticket and go see this new production in this brand-new, small, very intimate theater-in-the-round. You will actually feel like you're right there in this London parlor as part of the show, and every seat is a good seat. The actors have honed the ability to play in every direction so that there is no good side or bad side--all sides are equal.
Tony has hand-picked the cast to include some of NQPS's most experienced and funniest actors, (some of his closest friends, too): Vance & Sandy Jennings, his own wife Amy-- all are old hands at extracting laughs from an audience. Plus a couple of almost -newcomers, which is always fun and makes it seem more like a real community theater. He even managed to recruit his junior high acting teacher!
It's just so exciting to see Yakima get a new amateur theater. It gives us all more choices and chances and always adds to the quality of life in a small town. I can't wait to see what they do next!
P.S. The costumes aren't half bad either. Check out Ida's plaid/check/stripe combination and her feather hat. Charming.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Three New Places to Shop!
It's big news in NQPS when a new shop opens, and just recently there have been three! OMG.I don't know if we can take the excitement:
Garden Dance
First is actually not a new store, but a new location for Garden Dance. Michelle has moved out of the back of the Opera House building on Front Street to a new, MUCH larger location at the corner of Front and Yakima Avenue in the old (really old) Burlington Northern freight office building at 10 N. Front. (It's across from Gilbert Cellars. The old Paper Station location, for those of you who can remember that).
The new, improved Garden Dance is teeming with clothing--the old location simply didn't have room for all those racks. There are lots of sweaters, interesting jackets and coats, those strangely appealing skirts that look like Roman window shades in every color, lots of cottony, roomy, comfortable, ultra-loose-sillouette type clothing. Plus an amazing array of candles, table and wall decor, stationery and other paper products, jewelry, lotions and potions, and gifty things. I especially liked the boiled wool shoulder bags and tiny coin purses from Nepal that are more like works of art than bags. Cuteness with a Capital C!
So stop by the new location, I dare you not to find something you love.
Kristie Burrill
Buttons, buttons, whose got the buttons? The Kristie Burrill shop is bursting with buttons of all kinds--antique, mother-of-pearl, silver, gold, vintage, imported, every color of the rainbow, stone, you name it. There are bevies of buttons, boxes of buttons, entire batteries of buttons.
Kristie Burrill recently moved from Seattle where she was a designer who had shops in Madison Park and at the Four Seasons (now the Fairmont) hotel. Her new digs are in the other half of the Shopkeeper at 3105 Summitview.
But in addition to buttons you'll find her designer clothing line--skirts, jackets, tops as well as dresses, capes, and coats--some that look like they just hopped out of a Harry Potter movie.
Kristie is also an artist: what fun she has with old Christmas cards, decorating plain white gift boxes with them and other assorted adornments--uh, like buttons. The boxes sell for around $7 and are all mini art pieces.
If you have something in your closet that needs updated or upgraded, buttons are often the key. Take the piece in to Kristie and let her find the fabulous buttons that can transform your coat or whatever. Buttoned up. Buttoned down. Buttonlicious.
Gretchen
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Gretchen Gilday has bought the other half of Steve Goodwin's the Haberdasher, which used to be Haberdasher Women, and it is now the new high-end boutique, Gretchen. No 's' please. Just Gretchen. So like she says, when she answers the phone she says, "Hello this is Gretchen." Because it is. And she is. It would sound stupid to say "This is Gretchen at Gretchen." or "Gretchen! This is Gretchen!" Jeez.
Anyway, the boutique is clean-lined, small and unfussy. The displays are spare, simple, and striking, and the merchandise is top-of-the-line classy. Gretchen obviously knows her best customers in NQPS and goes to market with them in mind. There are only a few pieces of every style so you know you're not going to be starring in Yakima's version of "Who Wore it Best?" on someone's blog.
Gretchen is heavy on sportswear: lots of pants, including fabulous Lynn Ritchie zip-fronts that are such great, unwrinkleable (don't mind me, I make up new words all the time), comfortable fabric. There are arty pieces such as graphic print jackets and tweedy, slouchy sweaters, and lots of jeans from a couple different designers like Christopher Blue. Not too many dresses.
It's high-end, like I said. If you're looking for bargains, this is probably not your place. If you're looking for classic, high-quality, pricey pieces around which you can build that status wardrobe, come on in.
Garden Dance
First is actually not a new store, but a new location for Garden Dance. Michelle has moved out of the back of the Opera House building on Front Street to a new, MUCH larger location at the corner of Front and Yakima Avenue in the old (really old) Burlington Northern freight office building at 10 N. Front. (It's across from Gilbert Cellars. The old Paper Station location, for those of you who can remember that).
The new, improved Garden Dance is teeming with clothing--the old location simply didn't have room for all those racks. There are lots of sweaters, interesting jackets and coats, those strangely appealing skirts that look like Roman window shades in every color, lots of cottony, roomy, comfortable, ultra-loose-sillouette type clothing. Plus an amazing array of candles, table and wall decor, stationery and other paper products, jewelry, lotions and potions, and gifty things. I especially liked the boiled wool shoulder bags and tiny coin purses from Nepal that are more like works of art than bags. Cuteness with a Capital C!
So stop by the new location, I dare you not to find something you love.
Kristie Burrill
Buttons, buttons, whose got the buttons? The Kristie Burrill shop is bursting with buttons of all kinds--antique, mother-of-pearl, silver, gold, vintage, imported, every color of the rainbow, stone, you name it. There are bevies of buttons, boxes of buttons, entire batteries of buttons.
Kristie Burrill recently moved from Seattle where she was a designer who had shops in Madison Park and at the Four Seasons (now the Fairmont) hotel. Her new digs are in the other half of the Shopkeeper at 3105 Summitview.
But in addition to buttons you'll find her designer clothing line--skirts, jackets, tops as well as dresses, capes, and coats--some that look like they just hopped out of a Harry Potter movie.
Kristie is also an artist: what fun she has with old Christmas cards, decorating plain white gift boxes with them and other assorted adornments--uh, like buttons. The boxes sell for around $7 and are all mini art pieces.
If you have something in your closet that needs updated or upgraded, buttons are often the key. Take the piece in to Kristie and let her find the fabulous buttons that can transform your coat or whatever. Buttoned up. Buttoned down. Buttonlicious.
Gretchen
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Gretchen Gilday has bought the other half of Steve Goodwin's the Haberdasher, which used to be Haberdasher Women, and it is now the new high-end boutique, Gretchen. No 's' please. Just Gretchen. So like she says, when she answers the phone she says, "Hello this is Gretchen." Because it is. And she is. It would sound stupid to say "This is Gretchen at Gretchen." or "Gretchen! This is Gretchen!" Jeez.
Anyway, the boutique is clean-lined, small and unfussy. The displays are spare, simple, and striking, and the merchandise is top-of-the-line classy. Gretchen obviously knows her best customers in NQPS and goes to market with them in mind. There are only a few pieces of every style so you know you're not going to be starring in Yakima's version of "Who Wore it Best?" on someone's blog.
Gretchen is heavy on sportswear: lots of pants, including fabulous Lynn Ritchie zip-fronts that are such great, unwrinkleable (don't mind me, I make up new words all the time), comfortable fabric. There are arty pieces such as graphic print jackets and tweedy, slouchy sweaters, and lots of jeans from a couple different designers like Christopher Blue. Not too many dresses.
It's high-end, like I said. If you're looking for bargains, this is probably not your place. If you're looking for classic, high-quality, pricey pieces around which you can build that status wardrobe, come on in.
Project Runway
I forgot to give kudos to Leanne from Portland, who won Project Runway & beat out Kato and that idiot giggler Kenley. I loved, loved, loved her final show at Bryant Park: all blues and greens and aquas with petals and more petals everywhere. It was so inspired, so beautiful, something women might actually wear. She is an amazing technician as well as an artist. And she needs to do something with that hair. But who cares? What a talent! I loved watching that last show.
Also, one of the auction items this year at the Downtown Rotary Auction (November 1) is a trip for two to New York City, 2 tickets to the Project Runway Finals, and a meeting with Heidi Klum herself! In person! Arranged by Kyle MacLachlan's wife, a producer for the show. (Now I ask you what better life than that could there be???) It includes airfare, hotel in Manhattan, and a Broadway show. Somebody's gonna be so lucky! OMG
Caribou Barbie update
For a great column on Caribou Barb's million-dollar make-over, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26dowd.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1
It's from the NY Times, written by esteemed columnest Maureen Dowd, and boy does she have words about all the spending on Sarah while the rest of the country watches their 401K's dive and their jobs disappear. Whew.
It's from the NY Times, written by esteemed columnest Maureen Dowd, and boy does she have words about all the spending on Sarah while the rest of the country watches their 401K's dive and their jobs disappear. Whew.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Jackets, Jackets, Jackets
Ah, Suze Orman would have been so proud of the ladies at the Leslie Loudon Guild luncheon on Oct. 20. This lunch is one of my favorite events to blog on about. Every year it's the place to be to see what NQPS women are wearing for the fall season.
Jackie looked pretty divine herself in this 3/4 length jacket black & beige print. This is a great length for smoothing over figure flaws and making one appear taller. Neither of which are problems Jackie has. But she looked great in it. She got this one at Chico's, which seems to be everyone's favorite store.
Takes a lotta ladies to put on a luncheon like this. Lyn (center) was the chair of the event & did a wonderful job. She's got on a cool dress of filmy fabric in a great autumn-looking beige print, topped with the leopard print shawl. Grrrrrr. And a little baby Louie on her shoulder.
Not just jackets, TIGHTS! You gotta be brave to wear tights like these!
This is Marcy, the Community Development Director at Memorial Hospital, and these tights are bold. You have to wear stuff like this with moxie, & she has it. So let's be brave, I say. Good for you, Marcy. "The ability to accessorize is what sets us apart from the lower species." (That's a famous quote from "Steel Magnolias", I think.)
Actually, the fashion show at the lunch was staged by Memorial Hospital gift shop, and it was all accessories. Obviously if you go in the hospital gift shop and expect to see nothing but a few Get Well cards and some porcelain figurine angels, think again. The shop at Memorial is a great place for accessories, and Marcy and her shop manager Pam talked about how much fun they have going to market every season in Las Vegas to find new, unusual, and moderately priced items.
At the show models wore all kinds of great new bags: huge hobos and structured satchels, fuzzy & furry, two-tone, laden with silver & braids, patent & croc. And scarves: chiffon, burn-out velvet, soft & furry. And watches: silver and very contemporary, bangle-style, only $17! Jewelry: giant cocktail rings, stone bracelets and delicate necklaces. And of course: JACKETS!
Like Suze says, "Remember ladies, it's People first, then Money, then Things, then JACKETS."
Go get yours quick.
And every year it's jackets! 
So here's Midge in hers--it's a lightweight raw silk with the most beautiful embroidery detail on it. Honestly a jacket that can be worn year-round and always look good with skirt or pants. She found it at Coldwater Creek. So pretty.
So here's Midge in hers--it's a lightweight raw silk with the most beautiful embroidery detail on it. Honestly a jacket that can be worn year-round and always look good with skirt or pants. She found it at Coldwater Creek. So pretty. Deb looked so great in hers: she went with the good ol' staples of black pants & tank (can you ever have too many of those?? I think that's my winter uniform) and lit it up with this cool silk number in beige, black, & white. Looked like it was woven in and out like ribbons but it was actually pleated. So pretty! She told me the catalog where she found it: Dane & Divine? Dive & Daning? Dave & Dining? Dangit & Damn? As you can see I promptly forgot it. Sorry. Deb, if you read this, put a comment on & tell people where you got the divine dining jacket.
Jackie looked pretty divine herself in this 3/4 length jacket black & beige print. This is a great length for smoothing over figure flaws and making one appear taller. Neither of which are problems Jackie has. But she looked great in it. She got this one at Chico's, which seems to be everyone's favorite store.Takes a lotta ladies to put on a luncheon like this. Lyn (center) was the chair of the event & did a wonderful job. She's got on a cool dress of filmy fabric in a great autumn-looking beige print, topped with the leopard print shawl. Grrrrrr. And a little baby Louie on her shoulder.Becky (left) was on the committee, she wore a simple black cowl neck with a cute beige puffy little unpressed-pleat skirt & chic black pumps. Loved it!
Melissa (right) worked on the committee too and looked so profesh in her black skirt & black & white houndstooth jacket. (It matches her golf bag.)
And the best-dressed award goes again to Kay, who wore this fabulissimo jacket that is actually more a piece of art than a jacket. It's black boiled wool with amazing embroidery and silk flowers in green and lavender. I mean, it is delicious. It is rockin'. It is major, major, major. She got it at Gretchen, which is Gretchen Gilday's new store. Gretchen used to be the manager of Steve Goodwin's Haberdasher Ladies, but she bought the space and made it her own. So there are new lines, new things, new sizes, and some real style for NQPS! Go there! I actually haven't made it in yet but I honestly intend to. Soon.
PS It's "Gretchen" singular, not "Gretchen's" posessive.
Not just jackets, TIGHTS! You gotta be brave to wear tights like these!
This is Marcy, the Community Development Director at Memorial Hospital, and these tights are bold. You have to wear stuff like this with moxie, & she has it. So let's be brave, I say. Good for you, Marcy. "The ability to accessorize is what sets us apart from the lower species." (That's a famous quote from "Steel Magnolias", I think.)Actually, the fashion show at the lunch was staged by Memorial Hospital gift shop, and it was all accessories. Obviously if you go in the hospital gift shop and expect to see nothing but a few Get Well cards and some porcelain figurine angels, think again. The shop at Memorial is a great place for accessories, and Marcy and her shop manager Pam talked about how much fun they have going to market every season in Las Vegas to find new, unusual, and moderately priced items.
At the show models wore all kinds of great new bags: huge hobos and structured satchels, fuzzy & furry, two-tone, laden with silver & braids, patent & croc. And scarves: chiffon, burn-out velvet, soft & furry. And watches: silver and very contemporary, bangle-style, only $17! Jewelry: giant cocktail rings, stone bracelets and delicate necklaces. And of course: JACKETS!
Like Suze says, "Remember ladies, it's People first, then Money, then Things, then JACKETS."
Go get yours quick.
YCC Annual Meeting
Kay always looks good, but this night she looked especially major in the long skirt, the gorgeous gold leather jacket, and the brown suede boots. That's a whole lotta leather for one woman, but she absolutely carried it off. 
Here's a closeup of the boots, which she said she "picked up in Amsterdam." (Great, I'll just zip right over & get me a pair.....) They're UGG-types with a flat heel, inside zipper & cool tassels. Kinda Sacajawea-looking.
Robin, new board member and more importantly, FEMALE board member at the YCC Old Boy's Club, is more at home in golf shorts than she is in a skirt, but she looked downright stylish in this gored mid-calf length brown skirt and the fall-colored print t-shirt. The belt was the perfect accessory, slung the perfect way, (helps when you have an actual waist), and her jewelry was an interesting mix of earth-toned stones. I think those good ol' boys will sit up & take notice.
You know, I really would love to see some new carpet out here so I would have a better background for my shoe pics.These are Jumpin' Judi's, and I've blogged her feet before. (Well the rest of her, too.) I absolutely love these shobooties that are part black stretch fabric, part croc-embossed burnished red leather. Fabuloso!!! Judi likes to ride so she definitely likes the boots. They almost looked like they could be comfortable too, something one can rarely say about great-looking shoes.
Ok, Zeb saw me taking pictures of everyone's shoes and figured I had a foot fetish, so he immediately offered up his woven fishermen's sandals. These are great! I know I don't blog enough men, so I'm happy to show Zeb's cool shoes! He lied & told me he got them in Italy but they're actually from the Nordstrom Shoe Rack. Which is almost as good as a trip to Italy when you don't have the time or the money. It's like a wonderful little country all in itself. And it's where I've gotten a LOT of shoes. I could wander barefoot down the 7 1/2 aisles for hours and hours....
Ok, Zeb saw me taking pictures of everyone's shoes and figured I had a foot fetish, so he immediately offered up his woven fishermen's sandals. These are great! I know I don't blog enough men, so I'm happy to show Zeb's cool shoes! He lied & told me he got them in Italy but they're actually from the Nordstrom Shoe Rack. Which is almost as good as a trip to Italy when you don't have the time or the money. It's like a wonderful little country all in itself. And it's where I've gotten a LOT of shoes. I could wander barefoot down the 7 1/2 aisles for hours and hours....Friday, October 17, 2008
Maui Wedding
Everyone loves a wedding. But a destination wedding on the South coast of Maui---oh, how could anyone turn that down? We were lucky enough to go to my cousin Dan's wedding to the lovely Lisa at the Prince Hotel in Makena. It was definitely a party to remember! Here are a few of the pics:
This is Dan's sister Leah again. The bridesmaids dresses were aqua chiffon with the same twist int the bodice, empire waist, two-layer skirts, spaghetti straps. (Have we all finally had enough of strapless gowns at weddings????) The girls looked absolutely diaphanous as they crossed that lawn and then stood there with the ocean in the background. Yum!
Sondra, one of the wedding guests, in a filmy tangerine & green print dress. Cool bi-level hem, I thought.
First of all was the rehearsal dinner, held at the Lahaina Luau. Most of the girls wore great sundresses, but Leah's really stood out. It's an aqua & yellow print with bold yellow braid trim. Very islandy. There was one actual bride there! Wierd place to spend your wedding day, but she looked really pretty.
After much research, I decided these guys were the best-dressed men at the luau. Can I bring one home as a souvenier?
Lisa's dress was very flowing, simple, and informal: white satin with a twist in the bodice and tiny beading trimming the edges. She looked like she could have sailed away over the ocean in this breezy gown! So perfect for a beach wedding. It was windy, so her maid of honor had to hang on to the veil all through the ceremony. (note to future beach brides: forget the veil. It's always windy.)
Dan wore a khaki jacket & pants with a green Tommy Bahama shirt & a traditional men's wedding lei. The groomsmen wore the same shirt with khaki slacks. Everyone, bride included, wore flip-flops.
This is Dan's sister Leah again. The bridesmaids dresses were aqua chiffon with the same twist int the bodice, empire waist, two-layer skirts, spaghetti straps. (Have we all finally had enough of strapless gowns at weddings????) The girls looked absolutely diaphanous as they crossed that lawn and then stood there with the ocean in the background. Yum!Here's Jo, mother of the groom, with her favorite cousin.....
Sondra, one of the wedding guests, in a filmy tangerine & green print dress. Cool bi-level hem, I thought.Friday, October 10, 2008
Sarah 2.0
Ok, for my Republican friends, I must reconsider my first impression of Sarah Palin. The NY Post says she did hire a stylist, actually a whole team of them. I have to admit they did a bang-up job for her debate. Loved the black suit, the pleated peplum on the jacket, and especially the candy-apple red shoes. Still hate her politics. Ok, here are some pics. You decide if it looks like McCain's hired some help for her.
OMG! Is this her house???? No, it's actually her office. I guess that's how she intimidates people during negotiations. I know if I were sitting across from her, I'd spend all my time staring at that stupid bear. Grrr.
Sarah, pre-stylist:
eeeuwww, are those mukluks on her feet?
Sarah, post-stylist team, in her $2500 designer jacket:
eeeuwww, are those mukluks on her feet?
Sarah, post-stylist team, in her $2500 designer jacket:And I had to toss in this one:
OMG! Is this her house???? No, it's actually her office. I guess that's how she intimidates people during negotiations. I know if I were sitting across from her, I'd spend all my time staring at that stupid bear. Grrr.Quote of the Day
"Nothing ages you faster than desperation."........Jaclyn Smith, commenting on women who dress too young for their age.
Fresh Hop Ale Fest
Whew! This Allied Arts event is becoming one of the primo fund-raisers in Yakima! Beer-drinkers come from all over the land! It's always a big party & huge fun & great food & beer & wine. This year it was pretty chilly & windy but no one seemed to care once the dancing started.
Thanks to Jessica, Lindsey, and to Helen & her committee for organizing such a great event. People don't realize how much work goes into these things!
Also: I had no idea Kim Nowacki was so talented on the cowbell. Genius. More cowbell, I always say.
There was a little bit of style there, too. Everyone wore jeans (unless they were wearing kilts) and there were some great jackets, scarves, sweaters & hats in the mix.
Here are just a few shots of the goings-on:
Cuter in Kilts! This is Andrew, braving the Not Quite Palm Springs of Washington in a black pleated kilt. First question I asked him was whether he worked for Rogue Brewery, because those guys were wearing kilts, too. WHAT??? Three men wearing kilts at the same event? In Yakima? OMG. Film at eleven.
Anyway, Andrew was actually there on his own and sporting his own brand of kiltwear. He told me he's originally from Tampa (as my friend Tammy from Florida would say, "He's a Tampon."), but now lives in Spokane & came over to Yak just for the event. He looked like he was having a good time. And the wind was blowing, too. But he didn't seem to mind.
Green was definitely the color of the night, and she took it to the limit with this fresh-looking emerald poplin jacket & designer jeans. (They were everywhere too.) So put-together, very hop-chic. Plus I loved her hair.
This is Loretta, who also happens to be one of my neighbors. She was rockin all night to the Shreds and looked so cool in a white jacket, jeans, and crocheted scarf. Toasty.
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