Happy Dog Dads Day

Hope you all have fun with your dads today. 

Ps it rained on my parade and while I still would have gone my friend canceled and I thought the crowds would be too much alone.  So sadly no mermaids this year 

Silent Film Saturday The Mermaid

Vintage Mermaids!!!!

This year I am finally going to check out the Coney Island Mermaid Parade.  Its the countries largest art parade, meaning its not affiliated with any religious or ethnic group, its just a parade of individuals dressed as mermaids.  Its also Coney Island's busies day of the year with crowds said to rival Times Square on New Years Eve.  This is what has always kept me away in the past but I figured I need to check it out once in my life and this Saturday I am going with a friend from work (no way John was braving those crowds.)   So I've had mermaids on the brain and here are ten fabulous images of vintage mermaids.

1930s Style for The Jazz Age Lawn Party 2015

This weekend was my favorite vintage event, the Jazz Age Lawn party hosted by Michael Aranella's Dream Land Orchestra. This is my fourth year going and I look forward to it all year.  Since the event celebrates my favorite decades I particularly love dressing for it.  This year I cheated a bit and went with more of a 1930s look.  I've always loved 30s balloon sleeved dresses and when I saw this pattern from Sew Vintage Seamstress I knew it be perfect.

I paired the dress with a dramatic floral hat from Lady Eve's Millinery, thrifted bangles , a 30s crochet purse and American Duchess shoes.  I really loved my outfit.  I should have as I spent the better part of a year planning it!

giver

The Jazz age lawn party is on Governor's Island and you need to take the ferry from Manhattan to get there which adds to the fun

Governors Island is now a public park but it used to be a military base and later a public housing complex.  It has one major flaw, no dogs allowed!  But it's very pretty with stunning Manhattan views 

Lots of New Yorkers come here on the weekend to get some fresh air.  John and I want to come back to go tandem biking. 

We got to the island early but there was already a long line. The bright spot was New York Times street style photographer Bill Cunningham was there taking pictures.  He's a a fascinating person, 86 and he zips all over New York on his bicycle taking picture.  He took my picture and gave me a thumbs up! A big thrill.  Something about him reminds me of Fred Astaire 

When we got inside John took some more pictures of my outfit.  It was so period accurate felt like an extra on Poirot!  

Lots of people ask me if vintage style is comfortable.  This dress was super comfortable! Very soft, light, and cool. 

A nice thing about the Jazz age lawn party is dressing up is optional.  There are people lie me in vintage style and people like John in modern clothes.  The lawn was pretty empty when we arrived 

But started filling up

There were plenty of amazing outfits. I loved the back pajamas and matching hat on this lady. 

Paper moon outfits were very popular 

As were cocktails. I tried a Collins with St. Germain.  

There are also vintage sellers. I wasn't terribley impresses with the offerings though.   I did buy one pear of black 1950s gloves fir cheap. I also lingered at this stall selling reprints of 1949s dating manuals

Someone else was making tin types which was very neat but they were super pricey. 

By 2 the lawn was packed 

And the stage was impossible to see.  On the way out we glimpsed this uber Glamorous trio 

And also the big spenders who splurged for Gatsby tables

But it was time to return to 2015. I had a lovely time and I can't wait to come back in August!

Alice Austen House Pug Meetup

This Sunday the pug dog club of greater New York had its annual pug fun day at the Alce Austen house for pugs and other small breeds.  I'd vaguely heard of the event before, but we never attended. This year Frys breeder made sure to tell us about it.  She is very active in the pug club and helps organize the event. It was a great event a truly perfect summer day.  

Alice Austen was one of Americas earliest female photographers. Today her home and museum. Alice was a life long pug lover, hence the reason for pug fun day at her house.  

The house is truly beautiful 

With gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline 

And the Verazano bridge 

Pugs are allowed all over the lawns 

And near  the beautiful gardens 

The weather was perfect not too hot with a nice breeze. We didn't bring Ping because we were afraid it be too hot for her, I know wish we had. All the pug people sit outside on blankets and lawn chairs and chat and snuggle their dogs. 

I got lots of comments on my 1960s folding beach hat and 1950s play suit. Sure it looks like a lampshade, but I love it.  I need to do an outfit post on it.  Tuvok got a lot of comments too. The event is open to all small breeds so he wasn't the only non pug there, but he was one of a few.  He was very popular though. One lady held him for awhile and decided she wans a toy poodle!  He's a breed embassador. 

It was a bit of a family reunion for Fry his breeder was there and several of his relatives. The black pug is his dad 

This little 8 week old puppy is another relation. 

They had events too, canine good citizen testing and a fun match.  I entered Weasley in the fun match 

He went first prize for fawn adult male 

And best in breed! Which was first place for the whole match 

He got a ribbon and certificate 

I can't wait to return next year. A perfect pug (and poodle) filled day