Living in a Calamity - Shop Handmade!

Way back in September, in the beautiful warm, sunny, Summer's baby sister part of Fall, Meghan and I (with our pal Ray) sojourned over to Assembly Row, where our friends The Grownup Noise were playing a set in the lovely outdoor amphitheater.  We ate brie sandwiches and sipped iced coffee from Paul. We basked in the sun in the company of already warm friends.

It was pretty much the best day.

Living in a Calamity : Peachy keen BEACHY reads!

Need some light and fluffy literature for when your days get hot and heavy? Here are five titles worth checking out. (OMG that's a library pun and I WASN'T EVEN TRYING.)

Living in a Calamity : Demystifying the Summer Vacation

When you're a teacher educator, you put up with a lot of sh*t. This may include but is certainly not limited to: disinterested students, disillusioned coworkers, snow days, making-up snow days, the Common Core curriculum*, the general public's lack of regard for students with disabilities and, on some very special days, actual and legitimate fecal matter...you know, sh*t.

But I think the biggest frustration we all deal with is our very own out-of-the-education-field friends reminding us how easy we have it, because we get snow days, and vacations, and SUMMERS off. And you now what? Yeah. When you look at it from that excruciatingly narrow lens, it totally is a great gig.

So I'm not here to pontificate or justify all the great things and hard work that goes into a school year, plenty of other more eloquent people have done that for me. Instead, I'm going to tell you how we're spending that time, if to serve no other purpose than to give the rest of you something to read when you get out of your 12-month job tonight.

 Without further ado...

What Teachers [who are also dancers] Do During Summer! 

*Meghan loves the Common Core. Especially #1 in the Math Practices! OMG!

Shopping in a Calamity - Rock Paper Scissors

If you ever have the good fortune of finding yourself in the small, scenic port side town of Wiscasset, Maine, I strongly emphasize the importance of a pitstop at Rock Paper Scissors. It's a cozy paper wonderland filled with all the things you've ever wanted for your home/office/home office, in all the colors of the wind. And you may just make a new friend while you're there.

Do not let any ferocious beasts deter you in your paper quest.

MAKE STUFF - neon rope earrings

Last week I had three days where I was in a funk. I didn't even want to email people or design any posters or list any events on local websites. It was terrible and confusing. I momentarily considered the possibility that I might have had mononucleosis for the third time.

Anyway I DID NOT HAVE MONO thank goodness. (By the way, I didn't even get to kiss anybody either time that I had it.) I suddenly snapped out of my funk, dono why or how, but continued drinking the amount of coffee that I had adopted mid-funk, so now I've got alllll thissss energy! So I did all my emailing and designing and listing, and then asked 'what else, self?? what else can I do?? and don't say prepare for school, which is starting in September, because I really don't wanna do that.' And my self responded, "MAKE STUFF!"

OKAY!

A few months ago, I made these rope-look earrings out of twine. The problem is that they kind of look like they're made out of human hair, which is maybe what you're into, and that's fine, but it isn't quite my look. I bought all this neon cord back when I was choreographing something that involved faux tin can telephones, and I figured I could redo the earrings with some more obviously artificial materials.

Here's what I did! Follow along at home youguys!

ChEEky PoP! - Shopping in a Calamity!

What's the one thing better than wearing extremely cute outfits?

SHOPPING FOR EXTREMELY CUTE OUTFITS.

And that's what we did on a recent trip to dear old Salem, Massachusetts. Yes, home of the witches, but also home to me (Amy!) prior to moving to Somerville.

Modern Millie, located on Central Street in the heart of Salem's downtown district, is, among other things, freaking adorable. They are a vintage and consignment boutique specializing in modern looks, as well as fashion from the 70s and earlier.

Store front, complete with extremely sweet and well-accessorized store manager, Heather!

The shop itself is quaint, and yet bursting at the seams with color, minute detail, and retro sounds. I liken walking into Modern Millie to walking into Frenchie's bedroom during the sleepover scene in Grease; before Sandy gets all emotional because Rizzo is the worst and it's just a couple of girls having a time.

School Nights in a Calamity - featuring music by The Flatmates!

Last Wednesday,  we did a very naughty thing.

We WENT (left our homes) to a CONCERT VENUE (the Middle East Upstairs) and PARTOOK IN FESTIVITIES (drank beeahs) and REVELRY (grooved to some sweet tunes.)

Meghan, mid-groove.

Molly, being cute. Rocker, being present.

Stock Photo: Me, trying on new glasses the day after the show.  

Repeat: this all happened on a Wednesday night.

MAKE STUFF - Upcycled Necklace

So now that I spent about 10 bucks at Michael's and got chains, jump rings, and lobster claws, I've been getting just so nuts making necklaces. SO NUTS AMD CRAZY. 

A few years ago I found this neon orange mesh thing whose purpose I did not understand. I don't remember where I picked it up and I never knew what it would become untilllll now!  Omg it's a necklace. 

Weekday Calamity - IT.

So Calamity friends, I did something that I recommend you all start doing more often. I took Meghan Riling's advice. And in so doing, I found myself with a copy of Alexa Chung's book, "IT."

I want you to read me like one of your French girls.

The book itself is hardly that. It's filled with photos, doodles, sources of inspiration and sweet-tartly quips about Alexa Chung and her likes, hobbies, friends, and admirations. I rue the day that I am such an iconic figure that I can make a picture book of the things I like. And no, no one ever gets sick of a model talking about the parts of herself that she finds awkward or describes how disheveled she looked that one time.

Sk8r Grl - Weekday Calamity

When I was growing up, I lived near a giant hill with a pond at the bottom. Pretty enough in the summer, or whatever, but in the winter time it's way better, because you get to throw your body down a snowy mountain and slide around like a maniac on the ice. Indoor ice skating is weirdly lit. It makes me uncomfortable. So here's a tip: outdoor ice skating in Harvard Square. It's a little rink, but not a lot of people are there on a weekday night. $5 skate rentals and free besides that.

They have a rink in Kendall too! I haven't been to this one.

Weekday Wakeup!

Now I don't know, maybe it's just me, but lately, I've had this strange, kind of sad feeling, that I'm living only in the weekends. 

A concept not unfamiliar to those of us that are hungry like the wolf.

But for me, it's something more than the drudgery of Monday through Friday. I feel like, for various reasons, the bulk of my life, MY LIFE, is squeezed into the person that I let myself become from Friday night to about mid-evening on Sunday. See, while I value, appreciate, and enjoy my [Monday-Friday] job, I don't want that to be what defines me. Something that adds to the greater definition of me? Yes! Absolutely! But I don't want to be the kind of person who tailors their life to accommodate what they need to do between 9 and 5...or in my case, 8 and 3.

So, I present to you, my calamitous compadres, WEEKDAY (actually) LIVING, some tricks and treats to help you teeter around hump day.

Go Do Stuff! February 2014

FYI, my fave thing about writing these up is that then I have plans!

2/4 - Tuesday - Allston
MUSIC
Brazilian Girls
They're playing at the Brighton Music Hall. I imagine they put on a fun show.

2/7 - Friday - Downtown
COMEDY
Iliza Schleshinger - at the Wilbur
Her special that's on Netflix is fantastic. She's makes jokes about pinterest and dumb ways girls are when they hang out and why you shouldn't order lobster on a date. I have tickets to this!! Come watch how extremely loudly I am willing to laugh in public! (Spoiler alert: I have embarrassed people.)

2/7 - Friday - Harvard Square
DANCE TALK
Boston Ballet Dance Talk - Close to Chuck
I went to a few of these dance talks back at BU. They're really interesting, and then the dancers go up and dance beautifully in their rehearsal clothes. I'm interested to hear what they have to say about making work inspired by Chuck Close. Also it's free!

2/7 and 2/8 - Friday and Saturday - Central Square
DANCE

Nachmo
Basically a bunch of dancer/choreographers are challenged to make a new piece in January. The name stands for "national choreography month." So there are other events around the country, and this is the one in Boston! We have a coupla friends performing, including Gracie Novikoff and Natalie Schiera, who performed together at the last Calamity. Check them out!

2/9 - Sunday - Union Square
JEWELRY MAKING
Enamel on Copper Workshop
I did this once in high school, and it's pretty satisfying. Not too hard, and turns out beautifully. Plus, the Artisan's Asylum seems pretty neat and has lots of different kinds classes that require big materials not typically found in craft closets.

2/10 - Monday - Central Square
MUSIC
The Dying Falls and some other bands that are probably cool
Once I played a show with the Dying Falls and they were awesome and didn't even make fun of the fact that I don't really know how to play the drums. Also Molly works with one of these dudes so we can vouch for them being nice guys.

2/10 - Monday - Harvard Square
FICTION
BJ Novak - at the Brattle
Not sure how I necessarily feel about this guy. But Amy says he was the Mary Poppins movie. So I'm on board. Also, I suppose he wrote a book of short stories and it's supposed to be good. It couldn't hurt, right?

2/12 - Wednesday - Central Square
MUSIC
The Kitschenettes and some other bands that are probably good
Go see them! Rebecca of the Kitschenettes is a great musician, cook, and human. I'm sure at least one of those abilities will be on display at this show at TT's.

2/13 - Thursday - Harvard Square
COMEDY

Thursday at the Comedy Studio - hosted by Andrew Mayer and Will Smalley
Andrew performed at Calamity #2 over the summer, and he's co-hosting at the Comedy Studio every second Thursday with his roomie, Will Smalley. They are both funny and cute. The comedians you can expect on this particular Thursday are Andrew Durso, Adam Langlois, Kenice Mobley, Alec MacNeil, EJ Murphy, Emanuele Perola, Niraj Shah, Christa Weiss, Don Zollo.

2/18 - 2/21 - Harvard Square
THEATRE
The Hypocrite's 12 Nights
This is a 4 person version of Twelfth Night that seems to be tons of fun. I never go to the theatre.. in fact I've never been to Oberon. I shouldn't say that so publicly; I'll be laughed out of Cambridge.

2/21 to 2/23 - Waterfront
DANCE
Story/Time
This is a show by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company sooo it's going to be great. Their work has a lot to do with really connecting nicely with humans. This particular show is all randomly one-minute vignettes from Bill T Jones' life. He reads the stories aloud and the art that accompanies his stories will be decided anew each night. Very Cunningham/Cage. Soooo I'm going.

2/23 - Sunday - Central Square
MUSIC

B8B Presents: DJ Cutman, Br1ght Pr1mate, 8bit bEtty and more!!

Sam Mulligan is playing songs! We adore him!! (He played at Calamity #4. With gameboys.) Go see him and these other people too!

2/23 - Sunday - Central Square
THEATER
This is Treatment
This is a sneak peek of a musical about coping with substance abuse in a residential treatment facility. Molly is dancing AND singing because she's a mf-ing beast. We also got to know Elizabeth Addison, who created the play, a bit when dancing in Molly's potato piece in aMaSSit (I'm sure I'm not capitalizing that properly), and she is a delight.

2/24 - Monday - Central Square
MUSIC

It Just Got Weirdo, hosted by Wes Hazard
Weirdo Records is an excellent record shop in Central Square that has live music every Monday night. I got to play there once, and so can definitely say that Angela puts on a lovely evening in her little shop. This night seems to be hosted by a local comedian, which should be fun.

2/26 - Wednesday - Harvard Square
BOOKS
Jenifer Ringer
It's a ballet dancer talking about her life. She started with the NYCB at age 16, no big deal. She also talks a lot about body image and eating issues. Important stuff!

Ongoing - Kendall Square
FILM
Oscar-Nominated Short Films

Alright I like going to Kendall Square Cinema. Right now they're showing the Oscar-nominated short films, which I have never ever seen, so maybe I should go educate my brain.

Wednesdays in a Calamity - LOOK UP!

I was boiling some water and then started passing the time looking at my dumb phone. Then I realized I was being dumb. Look up, Meghan! So I did. It felt nice.

Sometimes when I'm walking about, which I do an awful lot of in these cold days when it would be so terrible to bike, I also like to remind myself to look up. But higher up! The trees are so pretty.

Wednesdays in a Calamity - Harem Pants

If you read Meghan's last post (which you obviously did, three times over) you noticed two things right off the bat.

And while I could go on for days about the attractiveness that is Meghan's face, I'd like to elaborate a bit on the excellent pants that we see sheathing Meghan's magnificent bottom (which is another source of inspiration for me, but that too is for another day.)

Meghan, as we notice, is wearing extremely hip harem pants. It's hard to tell due to the impressive and professional-grade shading and coloring of this photo, but hers are a sort of red color with black squiggles and designs upon them. I know this for a fact because I was with her when she bought them, and more over, because I bought the same model in white.

For me, harem pants are a bit of a challenge; a dare if you would. They are out of my fashion comfort zone because they are, well, different. Even on the slightest, tightest of bodies they can present themselves as a full diaper from the back. Worn well, however, I think the silhouette is eye catching, exciting and pretty damn sexy. I don't think this effect depends on the cut of the body, but rather, the cut of the pants themselves. The CROTCH of the pants themselves. Basically, if the crotch is too high, you run the risk of wearing pajama pants that no tribal print can redeem. If the crotch is at your knees, you're bordering on penguin status.

Favorite movie, great dance sequence, cutting-edge 1964 technology, but not the goal here.

While I'm clearly no expert on the subject, I have been admiring the gaul of harem-panting fashionistas for the last few months. I bought my first pair over the summer, which was met with much lauded approval from my artsy female dance friends, and some significant protest from my boyfriend.

My second attempt (which, as of press time, my boyfriend does not currently know about) was the pair I bought with Meghan. As I've learned over the years, if Meghan Riling is doing it, it's worth trying (a philosophy that guides me in just about every realm of my life.) Meghan was savvy and debuted her pair in the blustery north with a pair of thermal tights underneath. I had the good fortune to take a trip to Florida this past weekend, and was able to strut mine in more agreeable weather.

The very unflattering photo that I sent to Meghan on Sunday morning.

Worn with a white Brandy Melville tank, my stand-by denim shirt (purchased as a PacSun employee roughly one million years ago) and cheap (but comfy!) coral plimsolls, I felt pretty okay. I felt that the minimalism of my shirt(s) and my shoes offset both the busy pattern and exotic cut of the pants. When my brother called me M.C. Hammer, I knew I had made the right choice.

I'm really looking forward to delving more deeply into the world of harem pants, especially as the weather gets warmer and the footwear options expand. I'm tempted (and you should be too) to sojourn to Forever 21. While I don't necessarily support their business model, they offer a variety of the pants for cheap cheap cheap, which is ideal if you're not ready to make a grown-up fashion commitment just yet.

Prancing out of my fashion comfort zone is a fun and safe way to experiment with art in everyday life. Coupling cuts and colors, patterns and lines is like stretching your creative muscles on the canvas that is your own body. It's also an enlightening way to look at your body, and learn what makes you look (and feel!) good.

So here's to taking fashion-forward risks, which may or may not resemble a Calamity.

-A

Go Do Stuff! January 2014

Here are some January things to do! Go do them! Maybe I'll see you.
    -M

1/10 - Friday - Somerville
MUSIC
For the Birds with Jake and the Infernal Machine
Swamp rock, opened up by folk punk. In an art gallery! In Cambridgeport! I'm in. (This picture is of the gallery, but not the particular musicians.)

1/12 - Sunday - Somerville
MUSIC
Sophie Dickinson, EDT, Vio/Miré, Tooms
This is at the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville. It's a gallery and studio. And also, they have live music! There will be cassettes, harp, cello, drones, and other musical types of things.

1/15 - Wednesday - Central Square
COMEDY
AS NASTY AS WE WANNA BE: Some Standup Comedy
All ladies. Being nasty, apparently. At middlesex in Cambridge. I feel wildly out of place at that spot when people are dancing at night, but I've been for various dance/comedy/arty events that I knew little about, and enjoyed them. And fittingly, I know nothing about this one, but I'm intrigued.

1/16 - Thursday - Davis Square
THEATER
Next to Normal, a staged reading
My friend and esteemed colleague, Beth Peters, has recently started a theater company called Accessible Theater. The AT is presenting a staged reading of a rock musical exploring bipolar disorder and how it fits into family dynamics. The event is at the Davis Square Theater (in Davis Square, of course).

1/16 - Thursday - Somerville
MUSIC
Armory Sound Live Series: Moontower and Alex Marantz
Admittedly I've never heard of these bands before, but this is a killer space and you should go there. They'll be recording what's being played. Do a good cheer and you'll go down in history. (Note: Amy has perfected this. My band recorded here, and I was impressed, in listening to the recording, to hear that she really truly every single time gave a special sparkly Amy yell after every song.)

1/24 and 1/25 - Friday and Saturday - Waterfront
DANCE AND MUSIC AND ART
'PERFORMANCE'
This is at the ICA. It's a dance-music-visual art collaboration! The music is by Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), the dance is by Rashaun Mitchell, and the visual art is an istallation by Ali Naschke-Messing. There are a few videos on the event page to give you a sense of what there will be.

1/25 - Saturday - Allston-ish

MUSIC

John Brown's Body

It's reggae at the Paradise. Maybe I'm just interested in this because I used to go with friends from way back when. You'll definitely be able to dance. But beware the bros. Amy and I recently tried to relive something similar from college at the Paradise and my god ... the bros. But if there's enough space for your body, who cares? Unless they've axed up. Then I care.

1/31 - Friday - South End
DANCE
#hereandnow
SPUNKandCOmpany has been around for a little while. I grew up dancing with Tara McCrystal, one of the directors (she was one of the 'big girls' -- I thought she was so cool and awesome at dancing (I still think that)). They have a dance residency at the BCA and I'm excited to see what they do with it!

ONGOING - Kendall Square

FILM

Her

This is the newest Spike Jonze movie. It's not showing everywhere, but it's showing at the Kendall Square Cinema. I thought that 'Spike Jonze' was a name I could say and everybody would know what I meant, but it turns out people aren't all as big weirdos as I am. (He did Being John Malkovich and also Adaptation, and also Where the Wild Things Are, though admittedly I haven't seen that and quite frankly don't really remember the book from my childhood.) In 'Her,' a man makes a machine and falls in love with it. I presume the story is more subtle and detailed. There's lots of Arcade Fire music, I guess, if that turns you on.

Wrap it up rap it up

USIA So I have bought all my Christmas presents as of today, Dec 22nd or whatever it is. (I started last Sunday)... The stuff I got online will not make it. But I will finally be giving my mom and sister their October birthday presents. I'm getting caught up with these things I suppose.

But I freakin wrapped up those presents that I've got, lemme tell ya. I am amazed with myself. 

And now to focus on the wrapping. 

Gift wrap is dumb. It costs money and is thrown away. And allows little room for creativity. Dulllll. 

I usually wrap with newspaper or brown paper bags. Then I make baby little snowflakes out of junk mail and tape 'em on. Sometimes life gets fancy and you have colored paper lying around, or sometimes life is classic and pristine and you've got just white. And then write some names up on there with a marker or somethin'. 

Here is an ejemplo: 

Usually we're on a first name basis, but there are just too many Amy's unto whom I've gotta gift. Thusly I get formal. 

Happy howldays. 

Oh gosh I hope Amy's like their presents.