On the move again

The Salon has been a veritable gypsy wagon over the past few years, but it's about to set up a more permanent camp deep in the 'Loin. Better for more raw stories ripped from the street. We will be following more arts, entertainment as well as setting up a new local travel oriented venture. Watch for new stories. First off we go on search for the new FLAT here in Francisco. Will we turn into Captain Ahab? Will we always use the "royal we"? Jules Dunn remains The proprietress of the Salon with Pepper, the Congenial Chihuahua, at her side. Happy Spring!

Wednesday night in San Francisco

After my usual bridge game at The University Club, I was waiting to take my usual Cable Car down the hill to the home of the Salon du Trendyloin.  How lucky am I to be able to take the famed San Francisco Cable Car home as part of my public transportation thanks to my MUNI pass.

It was a beautiful warm night.  In fact it seemed too warm in the University Club and the lights of the city sparkled as I waited at Powell and California.  Then instead of the clanging, shuddering San Francisco Treat-mobile, a "Special" bus climbed it's way up the hill to California.  

Blink, blink.  "Are you the Cable Car tonight," I asked the driver.  Because there are many different buses in the city ranging from tourist tours to University of Art buses.  Yep.  Don't get me wrong, I was very thankful that MUNI and found it was actually much more comfortable, of not less colorful, a ride down the steep hill from California.  

Getting off at my next stop on Sutter, the Cable Car problem was evident by the working men sparking up up the night and the cables down below the street.

The city's night sky was mild in temperature along with the temperature of the people on the street.  I waited outside of a cute shop kati koos, "a gallery with tongue in chic," as they self-describe.

 They've got really cute dog clocks, but, alas, I didn't see any chihuahua heads.  My two cute chihuahua heads were waiting for me when I got home.  And Wednesday night in the Trendyloin slipped into Thursday with a sigh and smile.

It's a SHOE THING or Hoof Shoes and HIM

The Alexander McQueen "hoof shoes" have fascinated me for months now.

  

These shoes caught my eye in a fashion pic and I just couldn't get them out of my head. I collected pictures of them. Posted them on my FB page. For some reason they seem oddly familiar.

These were shoes designed (by the departed Alexander McQueen) for high fashion..shoes that only runway models and Posh Beckham would wear. Shoes for pain and glory. A FETISH if I ever saw one. (Okay, I won't EVEN go in to the time I wrote foot fetish stories for money...hey I'd keep writing them if the guy hadn't run out of money!)

Of course one of the most famous shoe fetishism was the foot-binding of China. Note the similarities of shape between the McQueen beauties and this tiny Chinese works of art. Yes, works of art as instruments of torture. I imagine there were even Iron Maidens that were atheistically pleasing as well.  I have no way of knowing how the McQueen shoes would feel on or even if they came in my size (11W). But I certainly admire how they rock. Lady Gaga wore them in her Bad Romance video.

Walk walk fashion baby!

Ga ga oo la la!

And this brings me to where I had seen this silhouette before!

It's HIM! Arch-enemy of the PowerPuff Girls!

Now I like Lady Gaga, and in no way think she is a hermaphrodite embodiment of evil, but those shoes are HIM's shoes or rather boots! And HE does like to prance around on those misshapen hoofs. I'm just glad Lady Gaga doesn't have a goatee. At least for now!

Of course I've had my own run-ins with weird shoes. You know, back in the '70s. Remember?

The White Platform Shoes!

One of my roommates bought a pair of 8 inch platform shoes. We were living at 14th and K in Washington, D.C. in 1975. Then that part of town was known as "hooker town" and now I guess it's known for it's lobbyists. I prefer the hookers myself.

Anyway, she had to have a pair of white sandals for a wedding and could only find these hideous PLATFORM shoes. The heels were eight inches tall and the platforms themselves were 5 inches tall, so the heel was only 3 inches above the ball of the foot. Not bad. But I had to try them on. Yes, I had to see what it was like to be Six Foot EIGHT inches tall! I could fit my foot in them but I couldn't move my feet! How did Fred Gwynne and other Frankenstein actors do it? I guess with practice, but my ankles couldn't take it.

No, my ankles have been my weak spot since birth. I was invited to a ice skating birthday party once and found myself hugging the rail with my feet folded at the ankles so said ankles were literally on the ice. The blades of the shoes were dangling off the side never touching the ice. No Dorothy Hamill for me though I did later rock that hairstyle. My feet, my shoes. They have to be practical. As a kid my shoes were...dum dum DUMMMMM.....

Saddle Oxfords

These stiff leather hoofs of my own were necessary so the doctor could build up the heels of the shoe so my ankles would be leaning into the hard packed dirt of the Tularosa, New Mexico playground. My shoes were clunky. They made noise in the hallways. And the boys made fun of my 'high heels.' All I wanted was the little velvet shoe with the patches on them like the other girls had. But if I had seen them, I think I would have really wanted the sparkly hoof shoes of Alexander McQueen. I could have kicked up some trouble in those bad ladies.

The History of the Middy

In honor of my mom Middy Dunn, here's a history of the middy blouse. She used the middy blouse to explain her name when people got that puzzled look in their eyes when she introduced herself. Thanks to Fuzzylizzie Vintage Clothing for their great Middy Blouse roundup.

The wearing of sailor suits by anyone besides an actual sailor probably originated with young Prince Edward in the mid 19th century. He later had his own children dressed in miniature sailor uniforms.  A photograph of the children inspired a trend of dressing small boys in sailor suits - a trend that lasted well into the 20th century.  This illustration is from a 1908 catalog.



Sometime around 1910 the sailor blouse was developed into a true middy.  The middy did not "blouse" over the waist; it hung straight from the shoulders to the hips.  1916 Chicago Mail Order ad. (right)

By 1922, middies were not just for active sports.  They had crossed over into being a fashion item as well.  Dresses with middy tops became popular for spectator sports.  1922 Butterick Pattern Book. (below)

Here's another Middy fashion. I can just see my mother wearing this even though it was a little before her time. That's the beauty of the Middy--it's timeless. (right)

By 1929, the middy was pretty much back in its old position of being active sportswear.

Whereas in 1922 Montgomery Ward had a full page of middies, in 1929, there was just this one middy offered, and it was in the sports section instead of the clothing.

The Middy, however, continues and comes back in 1930 (Mom's birth year) and continued on through WWII and even to the 50s. Here are some sewing patterns that show the various middys through the years. I think we probably had the one from the 50's.

 Mildred ("Middy") Coffee Dunn
  March 13, 1930-February 12, 2003.

The Unfitted Kitchen

Julia Child's Kitchen

     I love living in downtown San Francisco. I love the views out of my bay windows of the sky and San Francisco's skyline. Also to love is are the hardwood floor, tall ceilings, extensive molding, 3 bay windows, and the thick walls, floors and ceilings that keep neighborly noise to an almost non-existent minimum.

The one thing I'm not loving exactly is the 'unfitted kitchen' of the Salon du Trendyloin. An unfitted kitchen is an European term meaning there's NO cabinets or countertops. Usually that means you have to bring your own kitchen, including stove, sink and fridge, but thankfully we are here in the U.S. on this and my landlord has provided a tiny stove/oven, fridge and yes, the original farmhouse sink is still there.

But there is only one little cabinet above the sink and the original (if not anachronistic) ice box along the wall under the window. There are NO counters or drawers.

For now I have bought a kitchen island which has 3 little drawers and an Ikea shelf unit that sort of gives me a French-style open shelving option.

The delightful movie Julia and Julia gave me my first glimpse into Julia Child’s kitchen. I not only share the same first name with the famous chef, but I am also a generous 6 footer so her customized tall countertops would fit me as well. Now what I’ve done in the Salon du Trendyloin is nowhere near worthy of Julia Child’s customized kitchen but it’s a start. Here’s some before and after pics of the Salon’s kitchen.

Before

After

Of course the perfect view out a kitchen window was in another movie.

Ratatouille 

Little Chef Remy prepares fabulous omelets (just like Julia on her famous PBS show).

While I don't have much of a view, much less of Paris rooftops and the Effiel Tower, my kitchen is more than a hotplate.  The Salon's environs are ever evolving and more kitchen changes will be coming down the line.

Fiddler on the Rainy Roof in San Francisco

Last night I attended San Francisco's production of Fiddler on the Roof starring Harvey Fierstein at Golden Gate Theatre. Since it's original Broadway opening in 1964, the story and especially the songs of a Jewish milkman in Tsarist Russia has become part of America's songbook.  Even though I grew up thousands of miles from Broadway in New Mexico, I knew the songs:  Sunrise, Sunset.  If I Were A Rich Man, Matchmaker, etc.

All the songs and dances were there in a great production along with the gravely croaking voice of famed performer Harvey Fierstein.  He was a delight as Tevye, the father of five daughters, whose devotion to maintaining family and religious traditions are at odds with the wishes of his headstrong daughters.  With this distinctive voice and expressive body language, Fierstein delighted the audience and epitomized a loving father and husband with the women in his family.

Fiddler on the Roof continues its run at the Golden Gate Theatre until February 21st.  Limited rush tickets are available for $30 two hours before curtain at the theatre box office.  Check it out:  http://www.shnsf.com/shows/fiddlerontheroof

Bridge at the University Club

San Francisco Timeline - 1890:  

• The city's first "skyscraper" was topped off at the corner of Market and Kearny Streets 
• Construction of a seawall at the foot of Powell Street began 
• The first traffic signal boxes were installed by the police department 
• King Kalakua of Hawaii paid a visit  
• The founding of the University Club.

The University Club is a century plus old institution housed in a beautiful building at the corner of Powell and California.  Beginning at a dinner held by the Harvard Club of San Francisco on July 17, 1890 at the Maison Doree restaurant on Kearny Street, William Thomas (Harvard, Class of 1873) is credited with the idea to form this club in 1890 San Francisco.

Recently, I have been very fortunate to be invited to play bridge at San Francisco's famed University Club at the corner of Powell and California Street.  As a MUNI pass holder, I'm able to climb aboard one of San Francisco's cable cars for a quick trip from Union Square to California Street.  Although it's only a few blocks, they are long and they are VERTICAL!

At the top of the Hill, San Francisco's University Club is at Powell and California.

Fourth Floor View

Game Room

Lounge

My fellow bridge players meet in the Game Room on the fourth floor of this club.  The view is majestic, the Manhattans are delicious and the company is grand.  It's been great fun to see such a beautiful building and get to know another part of San Francisco.

Thanks to all the bridge players and especially 

Lynn, our resident University Club member.