ShoppersMap

Inspiration vintage fashion, art and culture show outgrows Queen Mary, moves to Spruce Goose Dome

By Sasha Milena

Since 2010 thousands of vintage lovers have flocked to the Quen Mary to take part in the Inspiration vintage fashion exhibition.  This year's Inspiration show is moving to the Spruce Goose Dome, where visitors can expect more than 150 exhibitors. 

 

Vintage Clothing and Swimwear from Love Spy Vintage at Inspiration 2011. Photo by Sasha Milena.

 

Expect to see items ranging from American vintage apparel manufactured from the 1900s-1980s to surf and skate exhibitors.  Also, every show has a big European and Japanese presence. Along with fashion, the event promises live music, retro cars and bicycles, and food trucks. 

The two-day event will kick off on Feb. 7 at vintage store Inretrospect on 4th Street Retro Row in Long Beach.  The vintage clothing, art and furniture store will host the kick off cocktail party at from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Inspiration will take over the Spruce Goose Dome Friday, Feb. 8 from 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://inspirationla.com.

You can find Inretrospect on our Long Beach Shopper's Map.

 

Palm Springs Modernism Week 2011 Celebrates the Architectual and Design Culture of the Desert

by Sasha Milena

 

Braniff Airlines Uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci (photo via travelsentry)

The 11-day internationally acclaimed Palm Springs Modernism Festival features a variety of exciting events that will include the Modernism Show, film screenings, architecture tours, glamorous parties, art exhibitions, a car show, a vintage airline uniform exhibit, and much more.

 
Welcome to Palm Springs, CA !

The West-coast premeire of the  Braniff vintage airline uniform collection will be exhibited at the Riviera Hotel with the opening reception on Wednesday, February 22nd.  The exhibit features the work from 1960's fashion designers Terry Labus for Nardis, Halston, and Emillio Pucci.  

 
Albert Frey photograph

There will be over 50 events for participants to enjoy and experience at this year's festival.  Several art exhibits will be held throughout the festival including the photography of Albert Frey.  The free exhibit will run Feb 17-27th at the Micheal H. Lord Gallery.

 
Palm Springs Modernism Show

The Modernism Show and Silent Auction is the hightlight of the festival.  Dealers and collectors from around the world will be attending the show in Palm Springs Convention Center. 

 
Collectors and Guests of Palm Springs Modernism Week  

 
Danish 1950s Valet Chair in Teak and Oak designed by Hans Wegner

Participants will have a variety of events to choose from 6th Annual Modernism Week 2011.  For tickets and full schedule of events for Modernism Week visit www.modernismweek.com

 

 

Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Hosts Art Deco Festival on Queen Mary

by Sasha Milena

Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA

Art Deco lovers from around the world gathered on the Queen Mary over Labor Day weekend to connect with fellow Decophiles.  The group kicked off the weekend with a glamorous cocktail party in the Verandah Grill with live music from the Swingsations, classic hors d' oeuvres, and a breathtaking sunset.

Art Deco couple dressed to impress!

There was music, dancing, and romance...

 
Little Alexander

The weekend of activities included lectures with topics ranging from architecture, fashion, society, movies and more.  The lectures bring an educational aspect to the festival and through this education people are better able to preserve the Art Deco art, architecture, and culture.  John Thomas, the President of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, is passionate about the festival and strives to " connect passion and purpose while giving people an opportunity to experience something truly unique." 

Paul Haught, Director of Events and Attractions for the Queen Mary and John Thomas, President of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles welcoming guests to the Queen Mary.

The Queen Mary is such an amazing place to host an event like this because it has a rich history and is a great example of Art Deco architecture and art.  The festvial also hosted an Art Deco Bazaar with dealers exhibiting Art Deco-era items, including clothing, jewelry, collectibles, antiques, and accessories.

Queen Mary Sun Deck

Queen Mary Deck

The grand Art Deco Ball was the hightlight of the weekend. Everyone dressed in their formal attire and came prepared to dine, drink, and dance the night away.  The 6th Annual Art Deco Festival proved to be, once again, a premier event that continues to bring people together to preserve art, architecture, and culture of a time peroid that we wish not to forget.

 

Join the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles for Cocktails in Historic Places and other events. Visit adsla.org for more information.

San Clemente: Surf, Eat, Shop for Antiques and Repeat.

by Sasha Milena

Downtown San Clemente

The longer days of summer in Southern California allow more time for summer fun like surfing, outdoor dining, and shopping for antiques. So, grab your board, sunscreen, and an Orange County Shopper's Map and discover San Clemente: a quaint Mediterranean-style beach town ideally located between Los Angeles and San Diego.

San Clemente Surf: Photo via City of San Clemente

After catching a few waves with the locals take a stroll up Avenida del Mar where you will find an abundance of restaurants, shops, and a laid-back beach attitude. 

San Clemente Antiques and Decor

• Antiques
• White Cottage
• Mid-Century
• Stereos-Vinyl
• Jewelry
• Vintage Clothing

Vintage Record Player and Speakers from San Clemente Antiques and Decor

Vintage Kitchenware and Accessories

Yellow retro telephone and mid-century table lamp

Stanford Court Antiques

20 + Select dealers in Antique & Decorative Arts

Stanford Court Antiques in San Clemente

Antique Table, Mirror, and Clock from Stanford Court Antiques

Re-Finds Consignment Shop

• Antique to Contemporary Furniture
• Lighting
• Fine Art
• Vintage Jewelry, Clothing, Accessories
• Collectible Vinyl/LPs
• Linens
• CA Pottery
• Home Decor

Vintage Coconut Fish from Re-Finds Consignment

Tiki Home Decor from Re-Finds Consignment 

Large Dalmation Statue

Find these shops and more with the Orange County Shopper's Map

Spring Break Antiquing in Texas

by Sasha Milena

I flew to Houston for Spring Break to visit family, check out local antique stores, and to witness blooming wildflowers covering the hills of the countryside. 

 Historical Houston Heights

My sister and I decided to visit the Historical Heights area of Houston which has several blocks of art galleries, vintage stores, antique malls, and specialty shops. We first stopped by Grace Hart, a multi-dealer store where my aunt has her own space.  We found a lot of fun items and very descent prices.

You know you're in the South when you see a sign like this!

Vintage Dress Maker Mannequin

Bright Yellow Mid-Century Modern Chair

After quite a bit of shopping, my two year old nephew started to get fussy so we walked next door to Cricket's Creamery and Cafe where we were greeted with Southern Hospitality and found unique refreshing ice cream flavors.

Cricket's Creamery in Historic Houston Heights

The next day my family and I decided to take a short road trip up to Brenham, TX and see the blooming bluebonnets. 

Texas Bluebonnets

Texas Bluebonnets are the official state flower and it is considered a crime to pick or destroy them.  The drive north on Highway 36 was breathtaking.  Not only bluebonnets covered the land but yellow, pink, red, and orange wildflowers adorned the side of the highways. Every couple minutes one of us would shout "Look, look over there!" and point to an endless field of color.

Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor in Brenham, TX

A few hours later, we arrived in Brenham, TX a small historical town located between Houston and Austin known for it's famous Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory and antique shopping. We stopped inside an Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor to get some of that famous Blue Bell Ice Cream. After filling our bellies with double scoops of goodness we walked outside only to find that all the stores(including all the antique and vintage stores) in the town had shut down by five! I was a little disappointed but we walked around anyway and enjoyed the architecture and did some window shopping.

Historical Landmark: Bank in Brenham, TX

Texas is a great state with fields of bluebonnets, friendly folks, hearty meals and most importantly: lots of antique shopping!

Retro Row 4th Street Fair: Long Beach Bike Fest

by Sasha Milena 

 
Retro Row in Long Beach has a distinct and unique feel.  The businesses and the people of 4th Street are passionate about the Retro lifestyle.  There are dozens of shops that sell items ranging from vintage clothing and furniture to roller skates. There is a Retro Barber Shop, a newly renovated Art Theatre, Restaurants, Bars, and Bike Shops.  I live, work, and play on 4th Street and I have everything I need within my fingertips. 

Art Theatre on Retro Row

It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world caught on to this exciting world I call home.  Antique and Retro Shopper's Map has played an integral part in literally putting 4th Street on the map.  After fourteen years of promoting independent businesses in Southern California the work has finally paid off and Retro Row is beginning to receive the acknowledgement it deserves.

Cyclone Coasters: Group of Retro Bikers in Long Beach

Bike Fest in Long Beach is a three day event with the third day concluding on 4th Street or better known as Retro Row. The 4th Street in Motion Festival will include bicycle-themed films, bicycle activities and workshops for kids, live music on the EDSEL Stage, and shopping. The Cyclone Coasters will be showing off their awesome Retro bicycles that day as well.

Retro Row Long Beach 
The Bike Film Festival in theArt Theatre starting at 11 a.m. May 9 will feature the classic “Bicycle Thief,” an independent French film, “The Triplets of Belleville,” and the finale will be a local bicycle film showcase starting with the premiere of Michael Bauch’s film, “Riding Bikes with the Dutch.”

The Commotions

The music stage is sponsored by the Pike Restaurant and Bar and the line-up so far includes The Commotions and Bear Face.  4th Street will be closed to traffic from Junipero to Cherry Ave and the stage will be set up near the parking lot that has the Edsel car on the corner.
Edsel Car on 4th and Cherry

After the concert come by the Pike Restaurant where you will not only find great food and drinks but also our Shopper's Map headquarters.

Pike Restaurant and Bar on Retro Row Long Beach 

4th Street Retro Row in Long Beach is a rockin' place to be so don't miss out on all the fun May 9, 2010. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.longbeachbikefest.org for more info and print out a Long Beach Shopper's Map for your shopping guide.

Retro Entertaining on a Budget

(photo by Christina House: LA Times)

Picture this: a couple dozen creative types in a 1948 retro home, sipping on cocktails and surrounded by a to die for vintage collection. This sounds like my kind of party and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to my invitation.   David A. Keeps from the LA Times wrote a great story last week about a couple, Ruth Handel and Lloyd Scott in Mar Vista who know how to entertain with style and on a budget. 

(photo by Christina House: LA Times)

The ElegantThrifter, a New York based writer, was the co-host and guest of honor and stuck to his motto that night for sure, "Always Frugal, Always Fabulous".  He made his famous Hint O' Mint Chocolate Cake that night using a box mix, created the icing from scratch, and placed mint cookies around the edge. With the Prosecco wine ringing in at only $5.49 per bottle there was plenty to go around and the guests still felt, of course, fabulous!  You can check out more details about the party and other fabulous thrifty design ideas on Williams' blog, The Elegant Thrifter. 

Throwing a great party does not have to break the bank.  Stick to a retro themed party by using classic quick recipes, break out the vintage food trays, and buy a few bottles of affordable wine.  The most important thing to remember is that presentation is everything!  

(photo by Christina House: LA Times)

Read the story by David A. Keeps here. Check out more stories from David A. Keeps in the Home and Garden section of the LA Times Online.  

Need to add furniture or kitchenware to make your party even more fabulous?  Check out our LINKS page and find some cool retro shops in your area.  The stores are listed by region and many offer an online store.  

Written by Sasha Milena