New York, Burlesque (and food) 2013

The City that Never Sleeps, Empire City, the Big Apple.
Whatever you call it, New York City is a mecca for burlesque performers and during four nights when the New York Burlesque Festival is on, the pilgrims gather from near and far.

The Golden Pasties- Group shot  Photo by Filip Wolak courtesy Time out Magazine

I have attended the NYBF as a member of the audience, a stage kitten and now, as a performer on Sunday night's Golden Pasties awards. More of an industry night, the Highline Ballroom's tables were full of performers, producers, New York's finest, burlesque legends and patrons willing to watch the swiftly delivered award presentations for the acts that followed.

Photo by Angela McConnell

But before the festival, there's the city itself, sprawling, loud, bold, New York City.
Chelsea Hostel for a few nights alone then a week in a sprawling Brooklyn loft with some Aussie friends- performers in their own right.
Two stops from Manhattan on the L train, if you're staying with 2-3 other people I would recommend messaging me for the contact (Airbnb). Cheap by New York standards, comfortable and friendly.

NYC was a new experience for Chiara and Becky which meant I could indulge the inner tourist by taking long walks through Central Park, diversions to find the carousel and Alice statue, Times Square for rush tickets to see Pippin on Broadway...

At the Alice in Wonderland statue with Becky and a random child already learning the art of photobombing

 We took the (free) ferry crossing to Staten Island and back taking in the view of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty (keep in mind there's usually at least a 15 minute wait on Staten Isle before you can return). The sight of Liberty as you return from Staten Island always makes me think of the immigrants, arriving by sea, they would have seen the same welcoming representation of freedom as they arrived in the new land- I can't help but juxtapose that sight with the one that Asylum Seekers are confronted with en route to Australia.

Leaving Manhattan... from the Staten Isle Ferry

Scott, an Australian circus performer and trainer based in Montreal introduced us to the Williamsburg location of Beacon's Closet, a warehouse located on 11th st, next door to Vice headquarters, Kinfolk coffee and Brooklyn Bowl.
Packed with rails of new and vintage clothing, we spent happy hours searching through racks of Prada heels, silk frocks, fur stoles, cashmere sweaters and beaded cardigans.
Becky and I also visited the Manhattan Beacon's on 13th street located near Union Square, we lost a lot of time there but found some unique gems to take home.

Becky checking out the shoes at Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn

I love the Chelsea garage flea market on 25th street but was sad to learn that by the time I get back to Manhattan it will be gone. The parking garage the market uses has been sold and the tenants who set up shop there on the weekend, warned to find a new home.

One stall tucked in a corner has a glut of clothing from Victorian beaded dresses to these Atlantic City showgirl costumes.

The Food....

I'm a gluten free, vegetarian BUT I'm pretty happy to hang out with bread and meat eaters (I also don't eat potato- or fish.) So read on for my mostly unhealthy, coffee based recommendations!

Bowery street Antiquing...

I love the Wholefood Supermarket and Trader Joe's for groceries. They stock pre-made salads, fresh sushi and hot food such as soup and roast meat. If you're planning to stay in a flat or hostel with a kitchen check out their locations before you leave as you'll save money and your stomach will thank you for the fresh, organic produce you supply it- Union Square Farmer's Market is also a great one to check out for fresh produce, locally made products and baked goods.

Pumpkins at Union Square Farmer's Market

 Of course it wouldn't be a holiday if you didn't indulge a little... Let's start at the top of the pyramid-
 Schnippers and the Shake Shack are my faves for a great chocolate or coffee milkshake. Skip the lines at Shake Shack in Madison Square park and head round the corner to Schnippers on East 23rd for take out.

The view looking uptown from Madison Square Park

For cookies, Schmackary's is becoming a NYC institution. Between 8th and 9th Avenue, West 50th street for maple bacon, peanut butter chocolate, salted choc chip, S'mores and my favourites, gluten free sweet corn meal and cranberry cookies.

The selection at Schmackery's is constantly refreshed... $2.75 each or two for $5... But they're so sweet you won't need anything else for hours!

Sweet potato fries beat potato fries hands down. Scott recommended honey but I prefer ketchup.
For snacking I either grabbed hommus and pita chips or else got sucked into the constantly refreshed bag of Kettle or caramel popcorn left open on the kitchen counter in the loft- pick up at a local deli, supermarket, pharmacy (yes, really) or Garrett Popcorn on 34th street.

For coffee we visited Verb on Bedford Avenue. Consistently good and when the barista thought it wasn't good enough, he made me a new one of his own volition!
In Chelsea I like to go to Think Coffee between 13th and 14th street on 8th Avenue or head 10 blocks uptown for a fresh bagel and iced coffee from Murray's bagels 

Admiring the iced cakes at Magnolia Bakeries on Avenue of the America's  near Rockefeller Centre

If you're heading to Central Park, I would encourage you to either hit up a deli before- they often have fresh salad bars- or to visit the Wholefood market at Columbus Circle (inside the Time Warner building and down the escalators)- always busy, but well stocked-  and then head over to the park to set up your own picnic on one of the enormous rocks or can walk further in to the Park and settle in Sheeps Meadow

Back to burlesque...

Thursday night's Premiere Party was preceded by a gathering of visiting international performers at Minnie Tonka's apartment in Brooklyn. Style, audience and producing was discussed over cider, beer, popcorn and a potent liquor from Sweden.

At Minnie Tonka's before the NYBF Premiere Party

 Friday night's show was in our neighbourhood, we walked to the Brooklyn Bowl- sadly not the best venue for burlesque as you could barely see the performer's on stage and had to watch the large screens mounted on the walls. Medianoche, fresh from her New Orleans crowning performed early in the night before joining the audience to watch.
We arrived a little late, the stand out performances on Friday for me were definitely the Aussies, Peaches and Gin doing their Harry Potter act and Lillian Starr's Feed the Horse, comedy and festish... Oi, oi, oi

Saturday we ventured to BB Kings on 42nd street- via Grand Central- my bad navigation- Murray Hill comedian, drag king, Sunday night bingo caller at the Bowery Peotry club kept the night moving. Trixie Little stole the show. Her banana act brings together all my favourite elements of burlesque. The peel, her energy and confidence, a terrific prop, costume and a big bang at the end... I could watch it again... and again... and again.(and it just ain't the same on Youtube!)

Photo by Angela McConnell,
L-R Minnie Tonka, Tiffany Carter, Darlinda, Just Darlinda, Lucy, ..., Lil Miss Lixx

Industry nights are always going to have a whiff of inside jokes and closed double entendres but these were kept to a minimum or packed into a one liner, swiftly delivered by the towering, long eared emcee Scotty the Blue Bunny.

Photo by Angela Mcconnel

Dave Bishop kept the show running smoothly on stage and at a cracking pace backstage. all was when the performer on before you was performing. Then it was a quick descent to the wings and a tottering climb up some steps to the rubber floored stage.

Photo by Angela McConnell

On early in the night, I could settle in to a booth near the back with Becky, Chiara, Luna Eclipse and Scott to watch the rest of the show. Gotta say Becky Lou's goldfish act gets me every time and Trixie Little and Mr Gorgeous produced a fairy tale of epic, feet brushing lights, proportions.

We finished up with a haphazard curtain call, an upskirt look at my stockings and an un needed binge of fried food and chocolate milkshakes at Kellogs Diner in Brooklyn.
We went our separate ways the following morning, Chiara and Becky in a cab, Scott on a bus back to Canada and I hopped on the L train with my suitcase- substantially heavier-  for two more nights in Chelsea, walks on the Highline and sunny Fall days in Central Park.

My last morning in Central Park

28 hours of Transit later and via Brisbane, I was in Wellington for the New Zealand Burlesque Festival...

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/clubs/new-york-burlesque-festivals-golden-pastie-awards-slide-show

New York I Love you...

They say the third time's the charm, so what do should be expected on a fourth visit?
I have been to the Big Apple three times, the first as a nine year old where my mum, two brother's and I navigated the cold dark pre- Giuliani streets.
The second time was in 2008, after a stint as a camp counselor in a Pennsylvanian Summer camp.
I spent five glorious weeks living in Harlem, enjoying an Indian summer in Central Park, discovering Angie Pontani, Peekaboo Pointe, Indigo Blue and so many other performers at the Corio's This Is Burlesque and the New York Burlesque Festival.

Statue of Liberty in 2008, rocking my Camp Saginaw appropriate denim shorts!

 My third visit was in 2011, my mum and one of my brother's for four weeks my trips to the New Orleans and New York Burlesque Festival's acting as bookends, defining the beginning and end of a family holiday.

Empire State Building September 2011

Canal street in New Orleans 2011

 My family accept and now champion burlesque but they haven't actually seen what I do... so I got on stage at the Bowery Poetry Club for Dr Sketchys and Geek Girl Burlesque, on the floor at Hotel Chantelle and stage kittened in the NOBF and NYBF while they explored Manhatten in their own way.

Bowery stage

Backstage at the Bowery getting ready for NYC Dr Sketchys!

The artist let me keep this cutie!

Quick photo shoot in NYC with Ron Gejon

Imagine- John Lennon memorial at Central Park on 11/09/11

backstage with Green Carded burlesque Genius, Bettina May

Emcee for the night, World Famous Bob

Bettina May and Dave Bishop- opens the shows and manages with a hand mightier than Gods...

  So I'm pretty chuffed to tell you that I'll be heading back to the Big Apple, for one quick week in September- for when else could I visit!
This time I'll be attending the New York Burlesque Festival as a performer and I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces- not just Americans (and ex Canadians)
 A wealth of Aussies are making their way to the US to perform  Becky Lou for NYBF and NOBF, Ms Strawberry Siren, Agatha Frisky and Becky Page for NOBF but hopping it to New York to watch (and party)
I'll be performing a new Erte inspired act on Sunday night at the Highline ballroom.

A candid moment on stage... Agatha Frisky, Frankie Faux, Luna Eclipse, Danica Lee, Becky Lou, Ms Strawberry Siren and me!

I can't wait to soak up the sun, some food (half a bagel will hurt but it won't harm) check out Chelsea Flea market, straggle into the FatCat jazz club to warm my throat with some Korean liquor and wander Manhatten's streets in the pre traffic rush- dawn light.
I used to imagine it as SATC's character, Carrie's New York, but now I know it can be anyone's New York, even an adventurous tourist from the Apple Isle.

Perth International Burlesque Festival- Energy high in the city of lights

Photo by John Leonard. Perle Noire and Coco Poppin. Conga line curtain call in the background

 I cannot get enough of Perth. There, I've said it. I am in love with this sprawling, mis- matched metropolis.
Amazing cafes, welcoming, talented denizens- it makes me sad to think that I can't spend every weekend dancing on your stages and eating all your food.
Well most of your food. You can keep the meat and gluten options. I'll have all the coffee!

All the food I couldn't eat at Miss Kitty's Saloon

The Perth International Burlesque Festival is now in its second year and I was pretty chuffed to be returning as the list of performers was impressive.
I flew in on Friday night and was promptly collected by Ben, one of my hosts and DJ at Saturday night's after party at Defectors bar.

with Perrie, Ben and Anne at Defectors

Ben swooped down and picked me up, taking me off to Maylands where I was greeted by Missy, a very old dog and Lady who I had met last year at the first PIBF. Lady showed her love by leading me to her empty bowl, looking up at me and meowing. This didn't stop all weekend long. Whoever said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach never met this cat.

With Lady

 I retired to bed- I know... I disappoint those of you who want debauched tales worthy of pages in an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel but it's true, I am the laziest showgirl.

Anne's drawing, Ben's script!

A relaxed start to my Saturday; brekkie and many cups of tea at Chapels on Whatley with my former Hobart housemate Erin, who I hadn't seen in an age! We made hay while the sun shone and reveled in the chance to catch up.
 Then it was all burlesque, all the time until I made it onto my plane on Sunday. I left Maylands and was dropped on King st in time to greet Hobart's Miss Kitty's Meow who had been making envious purchases at Wheels and Dollbaby.

Miss Kitty's Meow ready to go onstage!

No time to join them on a shopping spree, I had a workshop with Perle Noire to get to!
Amongst the crowd upstairs at the King st Arts centre, I found some friends, a familiar face from PIBF 2012, Dollar Dazzler, Nahiid Stevens who distracted me with some bright floral shorts and Virtue Von Tassel who I last met at the opening night of Bohemia, a good year ago!

Working our primary colours!

Having seen Perle on stage, I knew that the workshop would get me moving- but oh, how I moved! It flummoxed my brain and made me re-think my choreography for that night's show, all those bumps, grinds and cobra, cobra, cobra!!
(If you want to know more then you'll have to book yourself in for a workshop, well worth the money, in fact I'll be getting a private when I visit NYC in September!)

Virtue bundled me into her car after the workshop to take me to the Astor theatre in Mount Lawley for tech before I settled in downstairs and rediscovered my camera.

Perle and Indigo being amazing...

What do you call a grouping of showgirls? Renee in pink, Claire, Tamara and Nahiid amongst the blue!

Backstage with my gal Agatha Frisky!

Agatha and Dolores Daiquiri in peach and apricot

Indigo Blue sampling the water...

Tamara one of the gorgeous stage kittens for the night (also one of the chorus gals)

Dolores Daiquiri and Jon Madd watch from side of stage

Indigo Blue twirlin'

Prop or refreshment... with Banbury Cross

Some ceilings are never high enough... The AMAZING samba gals!

Sugarblue Burlesque filmed the entire festival so if you didn't make it to this year's Festival you can watch it on the Sugarblue channel!

We all headed across the road to the after party at Defectors. It was so busy that we were almost turned away! But we made it in and I  was delighted to find that performers from the previous night's shows had stuck around for the weekend, people I rarely get to see because I live on the island... Cherry Lush, Ginger Leah Raye, Venus Vamp, Kerry X got their groove on and danced the night away while gogo dancers and spot performances from Ginger La Minge and Virtue Van Tassel caused a crush towards the tiny stage.

Ready to perfrom my peacock act!

 I was so happy to be accepted into Perth again this year and it was really something to be able to compare it to the first year (2012) and see the calibre of performers and the energy of the audience rise.
To anyone thinking of applying- do it, to anyone considering buying a ticket to the 2014 Festival... bookmark the page, it's worth the wait!!

Australian Burlesque Festival 2013- Bunnies, ponies, native hens oh my!

Oh my! What a tour!
The first showgirl to arrive in Launie was New Zealand performer Bonita Dangerdoll, who really is a doll!
I picked her up from the airport on Tuesday morning, promptly getting lost and driving us in a loop before pulling into the grounds of the Launceston Country club- white palings, ponies grazing on one side, golf greens on the other, ducks, swans and Launceston's abundant roadrunner- like native hens.
We indulged at Nannas, a sweet cafe located in the CBD and then walked to the Gorge where peacocks and wallabies roam freely through native Australian bush.

New Zealand's Bonita Dangerdoll at Nannas

Strawberry Siren arrived the following morning with bountiful amounts of luggage and Bella de Jac and Evie Red touched down during the Tech run.
Evie it turns out has a fear of birds... Something I discovered as she wedged herself into a corner of my car whilst I enlightened her to the native hens running about the Country Club grounds.
Dusk was falling and we were amused to note an excited, hot roller adorned Banbury Cross taking photos of the wallabys that were out in force on the Casino grounds.

Backstage was cramped- 5 showgirls to a room isn't ideal but we made the most of the situation. Adelaide's Luna Eclipse adopted a corner at stage right to watch Game of Thrones while Bonita and I stretched nearby as the audince started arrive.

Bella de Jac, Lucy, Luna Eclipse, Evie Red hamming it up backstage

The show started on time which for a performer is both a blessing and a curse.
I'm so used to shows starting late that I was still getting my hair up when the first act, Hobart's Miss Kitty's Meow, hit the stage.
Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly hurried back to shed themselves of their remaining costumes and don cloaks to be my creepy (only for 4 minutes!) skirt waving minions of the sea.
I'm always so thankful to the girls who help me with my act as waving the skirt gives you a work out!

The stage was a little slippery which prevented me from doing some of the more acrobatic choreography and the audience was rowdier then usual while I was performing which led the emcee, Andrew, to challenge them (Wisteria, I have my eye on you darling!) to a duel.

The best bit about performing in the first set was retiring to the balcony to watch the next two sets.
Stand outs on the night for me were Banbury Cross, Perle Noire and from the audience, three dapper gents and their ladies, seated at a table on the left, who were loving the show, clapping along with huge smiles on their faces! I said hello after the show finished and they told me they had enjoyed every minute...

Photo by Ricky Pfieffer

Some quick happy snaps with Bonita, and Perle Noire, who forgave me for being Sassy when I first saw her at tech and I drove myself home, I had work at 4:45am so I was desperate for sleep.

Post show posing with Tiger Lilly and Bonita Danger Doll

uh... with Bonita and Luna Eclipse

with Perle Noire... I cannot wait to see this lady again in a few months time!!!

I managed a quick brekkie with the Kitty's and Le Fay before they, like the rest of the tour, hit the road for the drive to Hobart.

Huge thanks as always to Rosy Rabbit and Dolores Daiquri for putting on ABF for another year and for bringing it to Launceston, my new home town!

Miss Burlesque Australia 2013

When people ask why I perform I emphasise the enjoyment and freedom I feel on stage, the creativity I get to express through movement and costuming, but what I really love is our little community here in Australia. Bound together we dance and celebrate, gripe and moan and on May 25, a small number of our community shared the agony and ecstasy competing in Miss Burlesque Australia, made all the more special as it was Producer, Cassandra Jane's last one.

Most of us arrived on Friday, some by plane, others by car. Five of us were sandwiched into a small but comfortable room at the Nunnery- I'm sure the Nuns didn't figure their convent would one day house the likes of us -  Agatha Christie tucked into a corner and Briana Bluebell on a bottom bunk while Luna Eclipse, Strawberry Siren and I took the final three singles.

Agatha Frisky and I monopolising the bedroom before our shoot

We trooped down to the Fitzroy gardens for a quick photoshoot in front of a fountain just as school was let out, terrorising smartly dressed, roll skirted kids with our fallen from grace, Disney princess attire. From the fountain to the lawns where we brought out our own inner child, throwing leaves and joining a wedding party for a few happy snaps. Briana Bluebell seemed unimpressed with suggestions that we play stacks on and whip away her crown ...

Frankie Faux, Danica Lee, Lucy, Strawberry Siren, Kelly Ann Doll, Briana Bluebell, Luna Eclipse, Becky Lou, Agatha Frisky, Rita Fontaine and Jane Doe

Friday night we trooped to Bohemia cabaret for a delicious but reluctant meal- I was so tired!- the soup was tasty, beetroot and fetta, but it was quickly followed by an early bed for those of us who wilt when the sun goes down.

The next morning Strawberry, Luna and I snuck out of the room to get some much needed coffee and glorious food at Southpaw on Gertrude st. This was closely followed by more coffee from Bella de Jac who picked me up to meet a man with a van.

Although this jaunt took a lot longer than I expected and driving around Melbourne made me stress out (Melbourne has trams and tiny laneways) It was a grand distraction from the looming competition and I am now fairly competent about my driving abilities (although Becky and Emma Lou who came with me might disagree!)

Backstage with my room mate Bella de Jac

We piled out at the Atheneum, a stately theatre on Collins st that features a small stage and a huge auditorium of plush velvet chairs.

The dressing rooms were located at stage right and access to the wings was tight. Bella and I holed up on the second floor at the far end, a bit of an effort to make it down onto the stage but well lit with big mirrors.

Tiger Lilly giving me big eyes to go with my big hair!

I had picked out number 1, when we drew spots, first the worst, right? Well, first to emerge to do the gown walk but happily, not the first performer. The five male finalists competed after the girls walked the stage, revving up the crowd  and getting the audience into the right frame of mind for the classic burlesque acts that were to follow.

Performers, producer Cassandra Jane and emcee Rita Fontaine on the red carpet before the show

I know I lost a few moments of choreography somewhere but I get so much enjoyment from performing my classic act. The second song, Shivas Regal provides a great beat and really gives me a lift after the more sombre tones of Blue Prelude.

Skirt and knickers by Flo Foxworthy

I raced back up the stairs to start getting ready for my second act, Sirenes.
Two of the girl's from Tasmania's long running burlesque troupe, Miss Kitty's Meow were performing with me, Tiger Lilly was also helping me out with hair and make up which is something I tackle with great reluctance.

Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly

Oopsy Daisy and Tiger, with little rehearsal due to geographical distances did an amazing job and really imparted a menacing look to the act.

 Sirenes



With Oopsy Daisy and Tiger Lilly from Miss Kitty's Meow



 I scrubbed off my make up and chucked a crown on my head to do the curtain call, which if used on the Miss Burlesque DVD should provide a laugh- A confusion of showgirls as we tripped on each others dresses as we left the stage- and pick up Miss Showgirl Couture from Briana Bluebell who encircled me with a blue and red sash .

A confusion of showgirls?

with my new sash, Miss Showgirl Couture

Harry SC took out Mr Boylesque 2013, Strawberry Siren took out Miss Burlesque Australia 2013, Frankie Faux first runner up, Kelly Ann Doll second Runner up and Luna Eclipse Best Entertainer.

Kelly Ann Doll, Strawberry Siren, Frankie Faux

Full list of Miss Burlesque 2013 Awards

Agatha Frisky WA- Miss Fantastic
Becky Lou VIC- Bunnylicious
Bella de Jac QLD- Miss Bump and Grind and Most Elegant
Danica Lee SYD wildcard- Miss Congeniality
Frankie Faux- SYD wildcard- First Runner Up
Jane Doe VIC wildcard- Neo Revival
Kelly Ann Doll SYD- Second Runner Up
Lucy Sky Diamond TAS- Showgirl Couture
Luna Eclipse SA- Best Entertainer
Strawberry Siren GC- Miss Burlesque Australia and Most Classic