RIP Yvette Vickers

Link to Article: "Mummified body of Former Playboy playmate Yvette Vickers Found"

Such a heartbreaking story. 

Yvette Vickers was a gorgeous Pin-Up model born in 1928, who captured the hearts of American men with her blonde hair, killer curves and big blue eyes ... especially with her 1959 Playboy Centerfold spread.

She acted in films such as:

Short Cut to Hell (1957)

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)

Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)


Yvette was truly one of the original "All American" Pin-Ups.


She was found dead in her home in Benedict Canyon on April 27th, and apparently had been there, undiscovered, for close to a year. 


You can link to the article above for more details, but I thought it would be nice to showcase some of the photos from the peak of her youth.

She was remembered by her neighbors as, "an elegant women in a broad straw hat, dressed in white, with flowing blond hair and "a warm smile." A very classy lady, who should not be forgotten. 

 

 

Meant to go hiking ...

And ended up buying a classic car instead!

Freddy and I were driving through Sonoma yesterday, headed to the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for a day of sunny Sonoma hiking ... and on the way Freddy spotted this looker on the side of the road.


He pulled a quick "U" and before I knew it, we were parked in an old man's driveway, in wine country, chatting him up about his 1959 Chevy Pickup Truck.


I was sure that meant the car wouldn't start. But lo and behold, he fired it right up and Fred took off with "Walt" for a test drive.

I hung out in Walt's garage, admiring his vast array of classic vehicles. And let me tell you something, this guy had a sweet set up! I wanted them ALL! ;)

So Walt and Freddy returned, and I could tell by the smile on his face we had found his new car.

A quick phone call to Lux, the expert, for some affirmation ... and the decision was made.

They had a few minutes of "friendly negotiation" ... and Walt signed over the title sealing the deal on Fred's very first classic American car.

Can't wait to get it back to the city for some California Cruising. ;)

A Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love 2

Many of you may walk away from today's blog post saying, "She is SUCH a cheese ball" ... and that's OK. I'm prepared for this backlash. But I don't think it's proper to write a Rockabilly themed blog each and every day without giving you a little background as to why I love this style so.

Let's take it back to the roots. As a child I had a HUGE onscreen crush on Johnny Depp in the film, Cry-Baby.

Yes ... take a moment and laugh if you must.

But I have to say, I STILL have a crush on this fictional character. And probably always will.

I mean, take a look at this guy! He's so darn adorable it makes me want to cry, and drink my own bottled tears, naturally. ;)

He had great hair, a black leather jacket, was in a Rockabilly band, rode a motorcycle, went to prison ...



Oh, and he hung out with Traci Lords, for pete's sake.
What more can you ask for!?!?


I was 8 when this movie came out, so yes ... it made quite the impression on me. And yes, it is a musical, per se, so if you can't handle watching the whole thing, here is a nifty little recap that should tickle your fancy. ;)

I'll also throw in "Please Mr. Jailer" ... one of the best songs of all time as far as my 8 year old self was concerned. Make sure to look out for Johnny's "grrrrrr." So hot. ;)

For the Love of Burlesque: Part 6

It's time for another Burlesque Review. Yay!!

Quite recently I had the pleasure of watching Brooklyn's own, "Dangerous Curves Ahead" troupe perform at Club Deluxe here in San Francisco.   
(Pizza and Burlesque ... SUCH a great combo...)
 
And once again, I had the pleasure of watching Miss GiGi LaFemme grace the stage with her creative style and outrageous curves. (She's pretty darn adorable, ladies & gentlemen.)

I first saw GiGi at the infamous Slipper Room, and then continued to see her at the once a month "Under St. Marks," showing in Manhattan.
So I must say, it was super exciting to see the girls from my "hood" performing on the West coast!

The video clip below shows GiGi LaFemme strutting her stuff for the camera. Something she's especially good at. ;)

If you are interested in catching one of their fun and playful shows, you can check out their tour dates on this site: www.burlesqueonthegogo.com

Want to lose 5 pounds in 5 seconds?

Well then ... Stand Up Straight !

This is my new motto, which I've been perfecting through my daily ballet inspired bar method classes.

When I was a dancer in my "youth" I had amazing posture.
Then, 12 hours a day at a computer really took a toll.

My New Year's Resolution, along with being able to do the splits again, was to work on my posture.
And why do so? 

Well ... for one, you WILL look 5 pounds slimmer immediately upon standing up straight.
It's true! Go over to a mirror and try it!

Not only will you look slimmer, you will also look more confident, which is always a plus. Have you ever seen a slouching Pin-Up model? I think not...

And, dare I say, you might even feel 10 times better?

Slouching causes pain and discomfort. So why do it?

Laziness ... that's why.

Just think about it. Bad posture ages you. It makes you look weak and shy. It certainly doesn't suggest "classy lady"... and quite frankly, it's unattractive.

So I challenge you ... and myself ... to make this a top priority for the rest of this week.

Here's a great guide to "Good Posture" worth checking out.

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Posture

Good luck ladies !! :)

Lunch Hour Luxury

What could be better during your lunch break than a peek at Bettie putting on her stockings and high heels? So innocent, yet so ... well.

In my opinion, women today seem to be missing the long lost art of "dressing."

Let's all take a lesson from Ms. Page, shall we?

BBQ. The Key to Happiness.

Some may disagree, but I firmly believe that all proper Rockabilly gals should eat, and love, BBQ.






I don't care if it's BBQ chicken, brisket, ribs or turkey.
They're all created equal as far as I'm concerned. So you can imagine my excitement when Frederik introduced me to an AMAZING BBQ joint here in San Francisco, called Memphis Minnie's.


The decor is "pig" ... hundreds of pigs.
And meat, of course. Super colorful and fun ... as places in San Francisco should be.

Now, my grandpa was a BBQ man. And I was raised a BBQ girl. So I'm pretty picky when it comes to this stuff. And surprisingly, I gave this joint 2 thumbs up with the very first visit!


Their potato salad is to die for, brisket is slow cooked / melt in your mouth perfect with just the right amount of "char" ... and the portions are Texas size.

Funny enough, I tend to lean towards their North Carolina Mustard sauce!?!?

I smother EVERYTHING in it ... even the potato salad.
My only gripe is that they could do better with their "Texas Sauce" ... but hey, that's a tough act to follow. 

So, if you're in the Bay Area, give me a call!
I'll grab my white dress and white heels ... garters and lace. We can swing by Lower Haight, grab a few pounds of meat, and maybe enjoy a little picnic in Dolores Park?
Sounds like Heaven to me :)