The “Big but” Edition :: Issue #257, Rusty’s Electric Dreams






“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

Albert Einstein


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

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #257 :: The “Big but” Edition :: 03:04:2020

Big but…
 
If Pee-wee Herman was part of your childhood, there would have to be something wrong with you to not have the.best.time.ever. at the Pee-wee’s Big Adventure 35th Anniversary Tour with Paul Reubens, seriously. We went, and not to say anything bad about Burning Man, but I experienced more unadulterated joy in last Friday’s four hours or so than I have in my past four Burns combined! My face actually hurt from smiling and laughing so much. The stories Paul told were fantastic and there was surprise MTV footage before and after the movie that will make your 1980s-lovin’ heart burst! There are 16 more cities left on the tour and, I’m telling you, you should go — you will thank me later. Some venues are already sold out but I know places like seatgeek.com have had last-minute tickets (just don’t get scammed from a Facebook scalper). What are you still doing here…? Go! (And if you missed it when it came to your town, are we even still friends?!)
Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. I know… Burning Man is a different kind of experience. What else could I have compared it to?

As seen on the Internets



Fancy pants(less): This is a librarian’s uniform, a Royal Librarian’s uniform from mid-19th century Spain. 
—-
:: My pal Josh Ellingson thrift-scored a Hawai`i Pidgin New Testament Bible: “Da Jesus Book
:: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SFL8HBxnw

:: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has five new BISON CALVES
:: https://sfist.com/2020/03/03/golden-gate-park-welcomes-five-new-baby-bison

:: Footage of 1911 New York City that’s been “restored and upscaled” by neural networks
:: https://youtu.be/hZ1OgQL9_Cw

:: Audio documentary on San Francisco’s OG weirdo Emperor Norton
:: https://www.kalw.org/post/long-live-emperor-weird-tale-san-francisco-s-most-beloved-eccentric

:: The Einstein Technique
:: https://medium.com/accelerated-intelligence/how-to-rapidly-double-your-brain-power-with-the-einstein-technique-4c9b76ec92c2

Real thing that actually exists: way!

Fanny pack + Danny DeVito = Fanny DeVito, naturally! ($34.99)

Featured Events

Coming to a city near you (?): Beware the Brides of March, This Cacophony Society favorite began when Burning Man co-founder Danger Ranger discovered a thrift store rack full of wedding dresses. That was 1998. Some 22 years later, this “more street theater than bar hop” event still invites brides of all genders to participate. This year, six cities are in: Tucson (3/7), Las Vegas (3/14), Phoenix (3/14) San Francisco (31/5), Sacramento (3/15), and Reno (3/21). 
photo of “Michelle Michel” by Frank Synopsis

——————–
24 U.S. Cities
[Until 3/29] Pee-wee’s Big Adventure 35th Anniversary Tour with Paul Reubens — see a screening of the film followed by Paul Reubens himself — live, in person! — sharing never-before-heard stories about the making of the movie. 
 

Bend, OR
[Until 10/4] Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon at High Desert Museum Thanks, Brian!

Berkeley, CA
[TONIGHT! 3/4] Half-Assed Arts: Art in a Box, share your art, no matter what stage it’s in, to an “appreciative and supportive audience,” 7 PM – 10 PM, $12-$20 sliding scale, Bring a dish to share (At the inaugural event, after seeing the event listing here, tin artist Dave Yoas shared one of his pieces and then got a gallery show at the space!)

Daly City, CA
[3/15] Daly City Rock & Roll Flea Market with Kepi Ghoulie and more! 9 AM to 5 PM

Eugene, OR
[7/10-7/12] Oregon Country Fair, a three-day art and music fair, described as “magical” and I believe it! Tickets go on sale 3/15

Las Vegas, NV
[Extended! Until 4/20] Tim Burton’s Lost Vegas art exhibit at the Neon Museum

[Opening this year] Meow Wolf’s Area 15 Thanks, Claudia!

Los Angeles, CA
Both locations of MOCA are now permanently free!

[Now] Cages, as described by RED pal Kyle: “It’s truly the future of music show meets storytelling. Fully immersive, from rooms to performance that combines concert, live theater, projection mapping, stop motion animation, 3D and 2d cgi, dance, and more. It’s nuts.”

[Last Saturday of the month] almighty Opp, a streetside puppet show in Koreatown recommended by CTP who says, “It’s fantastic. And bizarre, and funny, and wonderous,” 9 PM

Nederland, CO
[3/15-3/20] Frozen Dead Guys Days, quirky “three day Frosty Fiesta features over 30 live bands in 3 heated super tents featuring local craft brews, specialty spirited drinks, 14 delicious craft food vendors, serving up Vegan to BBQ and everything in between” Thanks, Susan!

New York City

RED pal Oriana Leckert always highlights the best events in the Big Apple!

[3/18-4/12] The Plastic Bag Store is reminiscent of Lucy Sparrow’s all-felt markets, except that everything in Robin Frohardt’s shop is made with single-use plastic items. 20 Times Square, free and open to the public

[5/9 to 11/1] Yayoi Kusama’s Cosmic Nature exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden (pre-sale for members and patrons happens 2/19, public on 2/26)

Oakland, CA
[3/7-3/8] Oakland Museum’s White Elephant Sale, 96,000-square-feet of mostly-decent deals, FREE but CROWDED

[4/11] Journey to the End of the Night (yes, it’s in Oakland this year!), 5 PM to 11 PM, Tickets $0-$30

[4/11] ResurrEGGtion2020! an EGGS Bar Fundraiser at BRIX 581, 9 PM

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

Portland, OR
[Ongoing] The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium Thanks, Brian!
[Ongoing] In a similar vein, The Zymoglyphic Museum Thanks, Mel!

[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 Diego, CA
[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!

San Francisco, CA
[3/8 and 3/9] Patti Smith and her band at the Fillmore, 8 PM each night

[3/14] Last Gasp Warehouse Sale, 11 AM to 4 PM

[3/15] Super Shangri-La Show presents Treasure of the Four Crowns at Balboa Theater, 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM

[3/19] Negativland is performing an audio/visuals show at Gray Area, 8 PM

[3/25-3/27] 3-Day Experience Design Training by KAOSPILOT

[4/1] Dancehall of Beautiful Radiant Things is back, a “social-mixer-disguised-as-a-slow-dance-club,” 7:30 PM at the Verdi Club, Tickets

[4/11] Last Gasp‘s 50th Anniversary Art Show at 111 Minna Gallery, 21+ (more details to come)

[4/12] Bring Your Own Big Wheel

[5/23] Weird Homes Tour (!!!!) ,10 AM to 5 PM, Tickets are $40-$60, 13 and younger free

San Luis Obispo, CA
[4/11] John Waters Easter at the Madonna Inn! Fred Schneider of The B-52’s to emcee!

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 

Stonyford, CA
[6/15-6/21] Camp Tipsy, “rotten boat building contest and camp-out held at East Park Reservoir,” Tickets

London, England
[6/12-6/22] Meltdown 2020, this is the 27th year of this artist-curated festival and it was Grace Jones’ turn to pick the acts (!), Southbank Centre Thanks, Yoms!

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!



George Mayerle’s Eye Test Chart from 1907 is not only gorgeous but also inclusive: “the only chart published that can be used by people of any nationality.” via

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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