V-V-V-Video Friday

and I can’t get a lick of work done today. My mind keeps wandering.

Here’s a classic and hilarious fan dance from Nasty Canasta in NYC:

Video Friday…

And of course we have some of my favorite scene EVER from a John Hughes movie…

I spent my teen years looking for my Duckie Doyle. (I think that Special Lady T sort of favors his style, if not the hairdo.) Turn this up–the clip is QUIET.

xox, Ms. Bea Haven: John Hughes Tribute Class tomorrow

Volume 2, Issue 23
7 August, 2009

Dearest Kats and Kittens,

It’s raining here today, and I think I know why.  If you want to celebrate a real Chicago icon, come out to the Galaxie tomorrow at 12:30.  We’re doing an all-John-Hughes-film-soundtrack day in burlesque class.  Come dance to some amazing (Seriously.  AMAZING) new wave and rock from the 80’s, learn a few sexy moves, and give Mr. Hughes the send-off he deserves.

In other news…

Did you miss the Girlie-Q Variety Hour at Naked July?  Well, never fear, because there is ample opportunity to see the Girlie-Qs every Sunday at Joie De Vine’s bartop burlesque with our classy, sassy flavor.  (It’s not to be missed!) and even learn a step or two for yourself with Ms. Bea’s Art of Burlesque Classes, back at Galaxie Chicago!  Come out and see us sometime.

THIS WEEK
Beginning Burlesque Class
Saturday at 12:30,
Galaxie Chicago, 2603 W. Barry
(Corner of Rockwell & Barry)
$15/class, all are welcome

Wardrobe for this week: Bras, Panties and Gloves
This week’s tune-age: Music from John Hughes soundtracks

Interested in burlesque, but you’re not quite ready to jump off into the deep end into public performance? Then try this basic how-to class that combines a great workout with mini-routines aimed at having fun, finding your “sexy place”, and getting in shape. Each two to three week period, we will work the removal of one item of clothing (gloves, bras, boy shorts, dresses) or play with a prop (canes, small fans, chairs). There is no nudity in this class.

Sunday, August 9
(EVERY SUNDAY, BUNNIES!)
8pm and 9:30pm
Girlie-Q Presents: Salon de Vine
Joie de Vine, 1744 W. Balmoral @ Ravenswood
No Cover
Presenting Girlie-Q’s rotating cast of hotties in a bar revue in one of Chicago’s most intimate spaces.  Come and sample fine wines and handcrafted cocktails, enjoy glamorous queer burlesque performance, and revel in the beauty of one of Andersonville’s hidden gems.  This week stars: Cruel Valentine, the Girlie-Q return of former ensemble member Oosha Boom (who’s been living in ALASKA, peeps!), Tribal Bellydancer Jolie and Ms. Bea Haven.  No cover, huge outdoor patio, HUGE wine list, free parking, located three blocks west of Clark Street on Balmoral.

NEXT WEEKEND
Saturday, August 15 (NEW DATE) @ 11pm
Le Cabaret Erotique
Uncommon Ground
1401 W. Devon
$15 suggested donation
(Nobody turned away for lack of funds)
Come and watch Girlie-Q do “classic with a twist” in the prettiest and classiest room in town. Featuring Chicago’s queerest cast of burlesque hotties, a unique variety of acts, and a carefully curated show, you will be dazzled, enchanted, and definitely entertained.

Starring: The Amazing, Bendable Posable Dolls of Doom (Lola Martinet & Tila von Twirl), Honey La Fleur, Tribal Bellydancer Jolie, Plucky Rosenthal, Scarlett D’Evil and the Putterbaugh Sisters!

This is burlesque the way your grandma saw it–gorgeous nightclub atmosphere, leather banquettes, a full cocktail menu with fine spirits & classic cocktails and a dinner menu made of the finest locally-grown organic ingredients. Come early for dinner; stay late (11:30 pm start time) for the show.

xox,
Ms. Bea Haven
The Great Chicago Fire

P.S.  Looking for something to do TONIGHT!? Check out the latest Ms. Bea’s must-see: The Flesh Hungry Dog Show!

Friday, August 7, 2009, 9 p.m.
Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark St.
Presenting a decadent night of rock and burlesque fun with 8 Inch Betsy, Super Happy Fun Time Burlesque, and The Cathy Santonies. The show also features “The Bag of Fun” prize giveaways from The Pleasure Chest  DJ Sky spins between the bands, and Chicago rock impresario Gary Airedale hosts.

Video Friday!

I only have one video today, but it’s good, dollies. Electric Six’s “Gay Bar” mixed with the Muppets theme. Yes, oh yes. Thanks to my friend Heather S. for the lovely link.

Love, Me

So, I joined this project called “Love, Me”, which is essentially a project with women bloggers writing love letters to themselves. Cherry Bomb, a blogger and burlesque performer that I met at Mondo Homo came up with the idea and I thought it would be an awesome idea to join. Why would you do this? Read on, friends:

The idea came to me the other day, when a person I don’t know very well said something terrible about me. I gave it some thought, started to feel broken up about it, and then I realized: I know perfectly well all of the things I don’t like about myself. So why are other people are only too happy to volunteer what they don’t like about me? Hating yourself should be passe by now, something as 1997 as brown corduroys, so why is self-loathing still en vogue? Loathing yourself makes it just that much easier to hate other people. Especially other women. Hating yourself is easy; what would truly be subversive and challenging is admitting to loving things about yourself.

So, I decided I would write a love letter to myself and publish it on my blog. I am nervous because it is a difficult task, and one that makes you vulnerable to attack. The moment you admit to loving something about yourself, you are subject to the animus of others who may want to take you down a notch. We, as female-bodied people, are not typically taught to love ourselves. We are taught to demur when given compliments, to write them off with a laugh and never absorb their true meaning. We put ourselves down for the sake of making others feel better about themselves. Admitting to loving things about yourself is egotistical, the cardinal sin of “femininity.” But what if we could articulate those things? And even more so, what if we could support other female-bodied people in doing so?

So, here goes. I am going to edit a poem I started writing a few years ago during the last breakup I had before Special Lady T popped onto the scene. As I recall, it was with La Carpentiere–who I actually SAW last week in Th’ville. Small world–and I was feeling like she was an idiot for dumping me and was trying to define myself.

Love, Me

I love solid. Midwestern
serious work ethic; I love doing
what you love as long as
what you love pays
the bills. Sometimes
you have to suck it up.
The crops must be sown.

I love salt of the earth
no airs about anyone
Or when airs are put on
airs, I love the laughter
that follows–from the gut.

I love being balls out
and the beauty of solitude and privacy.
Hiding and revealing
like a morning glory
innermost stamen thrust
to the sun on brightest days.

I love comedy and tragedy
rolled into one. Emotions
fleeting like clouds on
an overcast day. I love overcoming,
I love persevering, I love
laughing at myself.

I love romance and
old-fashioned ways–doors being opened
satin and pumps,
and manners. Yes, manners.
It’s important to be polite.

I love close families.
Cousins and kids running ramshod
through the house. Loud volume, chaotic.

I love the power of generations:
a German hat with a thousand pins on it,
a volume of Irish folktales,
a Celtic knot painted on the ceiling of the
oldest Catholic parish in town.

I love coming from women
five sisters, grandmothers, aunts,
small girl cousins–we rule the roost.
My family: mostly mom and sister
for years no men, only my brother
feminist; how to treat women drilled into
his thick head.

I love capable.
Working hard not
hardly working, I can
handle most of what
gets thrown my way.

And I love sensitive. I
love listening, even when it’s
hard. Leaving emotions checked;
I can hear most things,
recover. Empathize.

Love, Me. I love
me: a million contradictions
complexity, emotions,
depth, humor, beauty.

OK, that was very hard to write. I’m going to go back and do some edits over lunch…I’m really worried about putting myself out there like this. But I guess we shall see what comes of it.

Here’s the list of other gals doing this project:
This is Where I Write – http://rantsnotdrugs.blogspot.com/
Twenty Twenty Hindsight – http://twentytwentyhindsight.com/
Rollertrain – http://rollertrain.tumblr.com/
Fluid Pusher – http://fluidpusher.blogspot.com/
Cherry Bomb – http://www.cherrybombnyc.com