The "Queen of Kitsch" Edition :: Issue #249, Rusty's Electric Dreams

“Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!”

— Angels with Even Filthier Souls, the fictional gangster film in Home Alone 2

“If you think you’re enlightened, go spend a week with your family.”

— Ram Dass (RIP)

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #249 :: The “Queen of Kitsch” Edition :: 12:25:2019

Queen of Kitsch...

This is a hard one. I’ve just learned that Allee Willis died, just a few hours ago on Christmas Eve. So, I pulled this issue to write something… even though I can’t truly articulate my feelings about the loss of this incredibly cool lady.

But I do want to share this photo. I know it’s out of focus, that she’s not even looking at the camera, and that there’s a guy walking in front of the shot but it’s one of my favorites I took of her. Allee and I had flown to New York City together so I could see Color Purple on Broadway with her (she co-wrote the music for it). We stayed at the Muse hotel and I was a-mused by that. I mean, here I was with my muse staying at the Muse. Naturally, I needed a photo. We tried several times to get the shot but to get it I had to be across the street and there was a lot of New York City-type hustle and bustle. It started getting dumb and we almost gave up when I tried one last time and got this. We both loved it and really laughed about it.

That’s all I’ve got for now. My heart is broken.

[The rest of the issue from this sentence forward will remain untouched.]

— Rusty Blazenhoff

P.S. Hey, I’m pretty sure this is the first time the Christmas issue has landed on Christmas itself. Happy merry jolly to all who celebrate! See you next year! Also, it wouldn’t be the Chrimbo issue if I didn’t share my mom’s famous Fluffernutter fudge recipe! It’s so bad for you but oh-so-good!

As seen on the Internets

From my personal collection of “Santa and Me” photos, jutting ice and all
—-

:: When my daughter was little, she ratted out a kid in her letter to Santa
:: Part 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blazenhoff/4191527198/in/album-1649575
:: Part 2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blazenhoff/4190762153/in/album-1649575
:: Part 3: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blazenhoff/4191227128/in/album-1649575

:: Robert Smithson’s is a hoot: Holiday cards made by artists
:: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2018/12/holiday-cards-made-by-artists/#/aaa-mulljame-35544.jpg

:: “The 2019 Hater’s Guide to the Williams-Sonoma Catalog”
:: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qjd4k3/the-2019-haters-guide-to-the-williams-sonoma-catalog

:: The only Yule Log you need
:: https://youtu.be/2Vy4KMO0Zk4

:: RED reader Susie Davis made a Krampus sing-along song with friends!
:: https://youtu.be/zYbpPn4YLQw

:: In 1986, MTV reunited the Monkees for a bizarre “Christmas Medley”
:: https://boingboing.net/2019/12/24/in-1986-mtv-reunited-the-monk.html

Goodies from the RED Christmas archives:

:: My favorite Christmas song: Run D.M.C.’s Christmas in Hollis
:: https://youtu.be/OR07r0ZMFb8

:: Run D.M.C. sampled THIS naughty song from 1968 for Christmas in Hollis
:: https://youtu.be/s0NoalRsk5w

:: Then, the Black Crowes covered THAT song in 2005
:: https://youtu.be/P9hEGitOni4

:: Christmas with Heino (the german albino singer), a TV special from the ’70s
:: https://youtu.be/Fg4Ju7vT0GI

:: Creepy af: Donny & Marie sit on Santa Paul Lynde’s lap
:: https://youtu.be/JiBWVTnysGk

:: A true kitschmas classic! Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)
:: https://www.netflix.com/title/80023921

:: An oldie but a goodie: MadTV’s “Raging Rudolph”
:: https://youtu.be/Q_RH44K0x_4

:: And part II, “Reinfather”
:: https://youtu.be/cim4GChz8R0

Year-round wrap-up kind of stuff:

:: Doc Pop shares his favorite eight games of 2019
:: https://docpop.org/2019/12/my-favorite-games-of-2019

:: Fascinating Google data from around the world
:: https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2019/US

:: Nat Geo’s best photos of 2019
:: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/best-pictures-2019

Real menorah that actually exists: yay!

Hanukkah hijinx: When I saw my friend Mel around Thanksgiving, he told me he was working on a sky dancer menorah. Little did I know how awesome it would turn out!

Real thing that actually exists: no way!

“Oops!”: My friend in kitsch, Jessica, found this gem! Nothing like the disembodied foot of Santa Claus to freak out the littles.

Featured Events

[San Diego:: 8/12-8/16] Tiki Oasis is celebrating its 20th anniversary this August! Two things: 1.) This is not to be confused with Arizona Tiki Oasis which happens April 23 to 26 in Scottsdale (same producers though!) AND 2.) tickets are not yet on sale yet — this is just a heads up!

——————–
20.5 U.S. Cities
[2/14 to 3/29] Pee-wee’s Big Adventure 35th Anniversary Tour with Paul Reubens — a screening of the film followed by Paul Reubens himself sharing never-before-heard stories about the making of the movie. Just announced: A special pre-tour kickoff in Ventura, California on January 24!

Alameda, CA
[Now] Christmas Tree Lane is open, 3200 block of Thompson Avenue, evenings

Chicago, IL
[until 12/29] Nevermore Park, the interactive art installation by muralist and graffiti artist Hebru Brantley

Las Vegas, NV
[Until 2/15] Tim Burton’s Lost Vegas art exhibit at the Neon Museum

Los Angeles, CA
???Know about anything good happening here???

New York City

[1/12] 19th Annual No Pants Subway Ride

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 exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden

Oakland, CA
[Now until 2/16] No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man at OMCA, Tickets
**Full listings of all the exhibit’s events here.
[1/19] Balsa Man at OMCA!

[3/1] Sugar Rush IV: A Cupcake Tasting Event at Angel Cakes, 1 PM to 4 PM, Tickets

[3/7-3/8] White Elephant Sale, 96,000-square-feet of crazy deals, free

[7/11-7/12] Burger Boogaloo headlines with Bikini Kill and Circle Jerks, Mosswood Park

Portland, OR
[5/16-5/17] The creators of the popular Exploding Kittens card game series are hosting Burning Cat, a new two-day game convention that ends in the burning of a giant effigy. Huh… that last part seems oddly familiar! Tickets are $80 for a two-day pass, or $45 for a daily one.

San Francisco, CA
[12/27] Dina Martina Christmas Show at Great American Music Hall, 21+

[1/10, 1/11] 9th annual DAVID BOWIE Birthday Bash with THE FIRST CHURCH OF THE SACRED SILVERSEXUAL at the Boom Boom Room, The Chapel, 8 PM+

[1/9 to 1/26] SF Sketchfest comedy festival

Scottsdale, AZ
[4/23-4/26] Arizona Tiki Oasis at the lovely, midcentury Valley Ho Hotel

Seattle, WA
[Ongoing, 1st Sunday of the month] Weird and Awesome with Emmett Montgomery “a love letter to the strangeness and talent that walks amongst us” at Annex Theatre, 7:30 PM, Tickets

Various U.S. cities, and sometimes Canada
Atlas Obscura has an ongoing calendar of unique experiences.

[various dates] Immersive listings

Check out this calendar of design events from around the world.

Know about a cool, quirky, and/or indie event? Email me and I’ll share it with the class!