“Eat you up” :: Issue #234, Rusty’s Electric Dreams


“I’ll eat you up I love you so.”

― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are


Rusty's Electric Dreams, an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #234 :: The “Eat you up” Edition :: 09:11:2019

Eat you up

A bit of real talk: A few years ago I went through some hard times. When I was in deep in that mess, I never would have believed that my life would be awesome again. But, here I am, and now it is.

2019 has been stupidly good to me, and I feel like this is just the beginning of something even more wonderful. I’m incredibly grateful but it took a road trip with friends to really feel it.

So, over Labor Day weekend, I was in a cabin in the Sierras and was watching the Man burn via the live webcast. We were having a good time… laughing… and then it hit me. I need to allow the joy in. As I thought about it, I realized I’ve been hesitant about letting the good times in because I was kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve had some base level fear that the bad times are right around the corner and, who knows, they may be. But, that shouldn’t stop me from enjoying the good times right now!

Folks, things are really delicious right now. And you all are part of my joy. So, thank you.

Also, quickly. Remember all the back and forth about that Unclaimed Baggage Center in Alabama? I’ve been wanting to go for a while but a reader said it wasn’t worth it. Well, two other readers spoke out for it. So… I guess it’s still on my list, should I find myself in Alabama. Stranger things have happened.

Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. This week I guest curated Anglerfish, a cool Bay Area events list. Take a look-see, won’t you? (I’m not sure what time it updates!)

As seen on the Internets


I want my MTV at DragonCon 2019

These “I want my MTV” cosplayers are so clever! (Dragon Con 2019)
—-
:: A cookie recipe that’s “set in stone” for eternity Thanks, Karen!
:: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/spritz-cookie-gravestone-greenwood-cemetery-cookie

:: Think you’d make a great Coordinator of Curios? Talk to Lea Redmond!
:: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ofc/d/oakland-coordinator-of-curios-in/6974990522.html

:: Speaking of Lea Redmond, watch her CreativeMornings talk on “Wonder”
:: https://creativemornings.com/talks/lea-redmond/1

:: “It’s not the drug-fueled orgy that most people think it is. It’s far more.” — Burning Man through the eyes of an army sniper
:: https://coffeeordie.com/burning-man-army-sniper

:: A while back, I mentioned going to a fish n’ chips place in Richmond called H. Salt Esq. Now, NYT tells the story of its founder, Haddon Salt!
:: https://vimeo.com/355126055

:: Nostalgic trip: 1977 Woolworth/Woolco ad for “your Halloween needs”
:: https://boingboing.net/2019/09/09/1977-woolworth-tv-commercial-f.html

:: OMG to this trailer for “Between Two Ferns: The Movie,” premiering 9/20 on Netflix
:: https://youtu.be/OjljgkCQv5c

:: RED reader Lynn L. shares that her friend Rob’s new wild web series, Horse Head, is live: “Hard-Posthumanism-Science-Fiction, Burlesque, and Lynchian Weirdness”
:: https://www.horseheadshow.com

Real places that actually existed*: yay!


The Wonder Bread Store, B-80, Rock Springs, Wyoming

#RabbitHole: The Library of Congress has posted more than 11,000 photos taken by vernacular and novelty architecture critic and curator, John Margolies. This guy spent his life traveling the roads of America for more than 40 years (1969-2008), snapping restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, motels, signage, miniature golf courses, and the like. The album is called “Roadside America” and it’s a-mazing. [lower rez: Flickr/higher rez: LOC]
Thanks, Susan! via
—–
Wonder Bread Store, B-80, Rock Springs, Wyoming via Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by John Margolies, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-MA05-1] 
Learn more about the collection at the
LOC’s Prints & Photographs Reading Room.
* Some of these places probably still exist!

Real wigs that actually exist: yay!

Wig out: Almost a month ago, you may remember, I announced I had tiny wigs for sale. Well, they are all out the door and photo of cats, Fluff jars, and dogs in those tiny wigs are starting to come in. Talk about joy! Thanks to everyone who played along. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. (Psst… I still have a few Fluff wigs available.)

From top to bottom, left to right: Moo, CC, Millie Frances Magnolia Steen, and the “Youngest One in Curls”

Featured Events



[Purcellville, VA :: Until 10/15] Twenty four of Bob Ross’ Joy of Painting artworks will go on display at Happy Accidents: An Exhibit of Original Bob Ross Paintings at Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center, Free but you need a ticket. Thanks, Akimbo_NOT!

ICYMI: There’s a “Boob Ross” Halloween costume. You have to see it to believe it!

——————–

Alameda, CA
[9/14] Come watch a demonstration of Greg Leyh’s 40-foot Tesla coil at the Lightning on Demand Lab, 1651 Monarch, 8:30 PM, FREE

[9/21] On the morning of Saturday, September 21, there’s going to be a yard sale at my place — hosted by me and my sweetie, Andy! We both collect all kinds of weird things, so you won’t be disappointed (unless you prefer boring, mainstream stuff). It’s also my birthday weekend, so there will be celebratory cakeThree hours only: 8:49 to 11:49 AM. No gifts but do bring at least $6 in quarters to spend on specially-created House of Flufftown Follies souvenirs in my “Mystery Merchine” vending machine.

[9/28] Where Craft Meets Innovation: A Market & Showcase hosted by Bay Area Made, 11 AM to 45 PM, 2033 Everett Street

[10/5-10/6] Once upon a time, I vended at the first Forbidden Island Parking Lot Sale (and the second one, I think). Now this popular 21+ event in its fourteenth year! It’s two days of vintage goods, umbrella drinks, and tropical entertainment — like a boozy, tikified flea market. Tickets are $5 at the door, or $20 online to “skip the line” (and there’s always a line around the corner).

[10/19] Studio 23’s annual Blacklight Art Show is looking for vendors and artists.

Albany, CA
[9/21] The Trash Party at the Albany Bulb sounds fun (though it coincides with my awesome yard sale!), 10 AM to 3 PM

Berkeley, CA
[11/9] David Sedaris is coming to Zellerbach Hall and you should go because he’s hilarious! 8 PM, Tickets

[Until 1/5/2020] “Strange features diverse works from BAMPFA’s collection that invoke strangeness and resonate with the spirit of Surrealism”
[11/26] Exquisite Corpse Workshop at BAMPFA, 1 PM

Los Angeles, CA
[9/15] Charles Phoenix has a new “raw” Tiki Turkey Meatloaf Mug (below)  and coffee table book (“Classic & Kitschy Festivities and Fun Party Recipes”)! The book launch party (and signing) for Holiday Jubilee happens Sunday at Soap Plant WACKO from 2 PM to 4 PM, Free

[Now through 9/15] Bob Baker’s Sketchbook Revue, a mid-century marionette musical variety hour, for kids of all ages

New York City

See what RED pal Oriana Leckert has picked as the must-go-to events in the Big Apple!

[5/2 to 11/1/2020] Yayoi Kusama will exhibit a “multisensory presentation” at the New York Botanical Garden in the new year!

Oakland, CA
[9/27] Tickets are now on sale for Drawn Together, the after-hours live-art event for grownups at Children’s Fairyland that I’ve been telling you about. I’ve already got my tickets! Starts at 6 PM and goes to 9 PM. Art is sold for a fixed price of $40 at the end of the evening… which is a STEAL as far as I can tell. There are fewer than 75 tickets left.

[10/17-10/19] Autumn Lights Festival is a beautiful, multi-night event at Lake Merritt Gardens

[10/12-2/16] The Smithsonian’s No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man exhibit is coming to Oakland Museum of California. Volunteer opportunities are available.

[11/8] No Spectators opening party at the Oakland Museum, 5 PM to 10 PM
NEW: Full listings of all the exhibit’s events here.

Portland, OR
[Until 10/30] Portland’s “Duchess of Felt” LeBrie Rich has a new show called Sugar Spin at COLAB Architecture + Urban Design. It features 15 of her new (needle-felted and stitched) candy package sculptures (the Whitman’s Sampler looks good enough to eat!). 

[9/17] LeBrie’s Artist’s Talk

San Francisco, CA
[Until 9/14] The 28th annual San Francisco Fringe Festival is full of surprises! It all happens at the EXIT Theatre.

[9/16] Smells like Cacophony: The 4th annual Oracle OpenWorld, a gathering of oracles for an exposition of innovations in divination techniques, new wizardry practices, and psychic networking happens… during the actual Oracle OpenWorld.

[9/17] The EPS (“Erstwhile Philatelic Society”) will be giving a talk at the Adventure Design Group, 7 PM to 9 PM, Free

[9/20] The 24 Carrot Show is a new and totally outrageous, audience-interactive “cartoon cabaret” from the sexy, gender-bending clowns of Fou Fou Ha! at Oasis, Tickets are $30 to $70 and worth every penny (according to friends who are in the know).

[10/4-10/6] Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Highlights (imo): Michael Nesmith & The First National Band, The New Pornographers, Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters, Meat Puppets, and more!

[10/12 and 10/13] If you missed the awesome Earworm event at Raining Chainsaws, you’ll be happy to know they are planning MOON SHOW, an art party with a moon theme! Can’t wait! If you want to participate, contact Mark Krawczuk.

[Until 10/31] Christian Cagigal’s legendary San Francisco Ghost Hunt is back. I went on this walking tour last year and learned all kinds of weird San Francisco history. Do recommend!

San Rafael, CA
[9/22] San Rafael Porchfest, RED reader Alex G. writes, “Porchfests are occurring around the country. They are small neighborhood music festivals where houses in a given neighborhood will host bands/artists on their porches. The streets are closed, there are food trucks and you can wander from house to house and hear all sorts of music… Rock bands, folk bands, solo artists, local favorites, and even The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers. I believe it is going to have 60 acts…all free. A neighborhood throwdown.” 12 PM to 5 PM

Walnut Creek, CA
[Until 9/15] Blow Up II: Inflatable Contemporary Art at Bedford Gallery

Various U.S. cities
[various dates] That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody

USA and Canada

[various dates] Immersive listings

Know about a cool happening? Send me the info and I’ll share it with the class!



This picture of the 2019 Burn by Jacob Riglin kind of blew me away. Then, of course, there’s *this* one by Neil Girling. Just wow! Oh yeah, and then there’s this badass selfie by David Lewonowski. But wait, there’s more. Shalaco made a Burning Man art tour video in stunning 4K resolution! (Jeez, people. Y’all are making the rest of us look bad.)

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a (mostly) weekly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.” People like it.

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