Friday, April 30, 2010

Starry, Starry Night...

I opted for my starry-eye look for Step Up For Autism: Benefit for Autism Speaks.

Each performer in the line-up donated their performance to help raise money for this important cause.  Additionally 100% of the proceeds were donated to the cause.  The entire event was planned, managed and emceed by Kate "Sebastian Las Vegas" Versage, who also performed in the line-up, which was filled with some familiar faces in the Chicago scene including Zander Mander, Mid-Tangent Productions, Yuri Lane and Angelique Munro.

More to come ...

Inspiration for tonight's performance...

Still gathering inspiration for tonight's performance. Think: Japanese / Cabaret / Circus.
I wonder how the look will come out?  These pics are not mine, just inspiration, my will follow soon...

This one is from Doe Deere's Blogazine which, if you are into costume-y makeup, you must check out :)




Friday, April 16, 2010

Onstage at The Shady Lady


Miss Midori, onstage at The Shady Lady in Chicago
 
Thanks, Dion, for bringing me back for the opening of The Shady Lady in Chicago.

See the full story below...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

"They can't take that away from me..."

Miss Midori singing on stage at Olive, 1998? 99?

Its been a minute, but I had a chance to get back onstage for a song on Thursday for the opening of Dion's new club, The Shady Lady.

Its a small venue with an even smaller stage, and I sang over a recorded track rather than with live accompaniment, but it was good times :)

Back in the day I led the house band, performing every Saturday night at one of Dion's old clubs (the now defunct) Olive, a jazz club in Chicago.  I Dj'd there during the week and booked talent for the venue during the day. With my band, "Miss Midori & The Jazz Inquisition", we recorded a CD at Chicago's Southport Records, a label known for its jazz and blues artists. I played venues around the Midwest, opened for some of my favorite bands at the time such as Indigo Swing and Southern Culture on The Skids and sang on stages as far afield as Paris, France at Le Caveau de la Huchette. Eventually though, I moved on, pulled up roots, left Chicago, traveled the country and tried my hand at being an grown-up.  I'm not sure its going to stick, but I'll keep you posted ;)

In the struggle between my private and public personas (and I do mean plural personas), I wonder whether performance is something I want or need in my ongoing future.  There is something wonderful about allowing yourself to become someone different through performance.  Its a freedom few people get to experience.  Either way, whatever happens, I'm just going to enjoy it.

*Side note: This is one of the "Dresses with Stories".  It was a vintage red velvet dress (which I still have, btw).  It ripped up the side seam while playing a show on the road (it might have been in Milwaukee or Detroit) and I had to tape it up from the inside with silver duct tape.  Works pretty good if you don't plan on sweating or breathing much ;)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

"Peep-shi"... file under "That Ain't Right"

My long standing Peep obsession started in childhood when, after days upon days of torment watching my brother's uneaten Peep sit, untouched, atop his Easter basket I finally lost control and dragged a kitchen chair to climb up on the counter and reach the basket where it sat, poorly hidden, on top of the refrigerator.   With my precious forbidden treasure in hand I couldn't even wait until I climbed down to eat it - I bit into it right there, or tried to, anyway.  After days of sitting out in the air it had, of course dried to rock hard.  I nearly lost a tooth.  After only a short moment to review my options I did what anyone would have done.  I carefully put it back in his basket (tooth mark and all) and backed slowly away.

Then there was the time in college when, while on my study abroad trip overseas, I couldn't get Marshmallow Peeps.  My boyfriend at the time was kind enough to send me one.  One.  One single Peep smashed flat in a business envelope.  It was hilarious.  I kept it far too long (but did not consider eating it... surprising in retrospect).

Teryn and I used to wait until after Easter and buy trays of our favorite Easter candy for half-price.  I bought trays of Peeps which I stored in the freezer and never ate (because they looked so cute all in their rows :).  She bought trays of Cadbury Eggs which she had to eat in secret so her health-nut husband would not find out.

Don't forget about Peep jousting which, if you've never experimented with exploding things in the microwave, is when you take two Peeps, supply them with cocktail swords or toothpicks, and stick them in the microwave.  As they swell, whichever one jousts the other first, wins.  I haven't made a Peep jousting video yet...yet.  But here is a a pretty good one.

I wholly admit that Peeps are more about how they look than how they taste.  If they were shaped like something heinous or boring they wouldn't have nearly the draw that they do.  Maybe that's why the other Peep products aren't nearly as popular as the one with faces, like the Marshmallow Flags they sell on the 4th of July, there's no personality!  There's nothing funny or cute about eating a flag.  You're forced to realize that you are eating a spongy tasting sugar blob.  No Fun.  Its all about the faces. The row upon row of hapless, slightly deformed expressions, varying just enough to make us personify them with little personalities :)

On that note, I bring you "Peepshi".  Sushi made from Peeps.  It reminds me of an art project I did in college with my friend Laura Kina.  We made "sushi" from traditionally American ingredients like peanutbutter and jelly.  It wasn't mean't to be delicious, just ironic. Click here for the website with instructions on how to make your own Peepshi from Peeps and other candy.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Where Easter Bunnies come from...

I was waiting for my sister in the hair salon and came across this picture in a magazine.  It reminds me of a time when I was little and saw butterflies mating.  I said "Daddy, why are those butterflies stuck together"?

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Easter Bunny has another surprise for you...


I found this in a book of postcards called "Breaking Bad News With Baby Animals".  Way funnier than any lame "cheezburger" website.