"You feel steamy, punk?"
is how we titled last week's blogpost
about the steampunk improv show
currently at Salvage Vanguard Theater. Read More | Comment »

For those of us more enamored with Mad Men's museum-like living rooms and sartorial eye candy than many of its story lines, check out this interview with an art assistant on the show. Read More | Comment »

I never got to really see the dining room tables that I was continuously reminded were heirlooms because they were always obscured by three layers of linen and padding. Though my family in rural Mississippi rarely socialized outside their closed ring of siblings and spouses (even the production of cousins was rare), Read More | Comment »

Let's deal with a little myth straight off. America is not in love with its cars. Between the DVD players, the endless cup holders, and the yammering GPS systems, saying you love your car today is like saying you love your closet. (One purist associate of mine believes that the tarmac was being laid on the road to hell the day some bright spark installed the first in-dash cigarette lighter, but also he believes the only suitable color for a vehicle is racing green.) You can't love an SUV the way you can love a 1951 bullet-nose Studebaker Starlight Coupe, which is why the Lonestar Roundup kustom car extravaganza is such a harkening back to prettier, more gas-guzzling times. Classic and vintage cars gathered in customized variations on production models that were infinitely more iconic than the overwhelming majority of modern generic transport boxes. For those of you that can't get out to the Travis County Expo Center Saturday, you can see them doing what they do best in the (free) rolling parade up and down South Congress that night (or just click on the image above for some shots from Friday's cruise). Read More | Comment »

Oh, you can have me for a song, corporate America! As long as the song goes: "Oh I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weeeeeeener…"

Yes, I did get to ride in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile (TM) along with two towheaded imps named Dan and Suzanne, Hotdoggers, as it were, the official job title of those lucky enough to secure the year-long gig driving the giant frank across the U.S. The 'mobile and crew are back in Austin (after a recent visit to UT a few weeks ago) for the Star of Texas Rodeo. They'll be out at the Travis County Expo Center through the weekend.

And let me tell you, I was so overcome with weinie joy, I resisted all urges to make jokes about the recent repeal of a certain section of the Texas Penal Code. Heh heh, 'penal'.

Inappropriate humor aside, I must say, the inside of that mother is tricked out. Plush, bright yellow captain's chairs, and hot dogs everywhere (but no edible ones: Health Dept., and all). Click on the gallery link above the photos to see for yourself.

This was our trek: Read More | Comment »

Recently, I immersed in a few coffeetable books covering subjects relating to my home state, Florida. In the intro of the review, I said, "In the post-Postmodern re-embrace of Modernism, few rearview mirrors serve as well as Florida. As 'back to the future' glimpses into the past's vision of today and beyond, the cultural movements of the Sunshine State cast a curious glow, reflecting post-war hopes and dreams of many who flocked there throughout her various land booms." Read More | Comment »

The beginning of this clip teeters deliciously on Serge/Brigitte and Lee/Nancy brinks, but when the kitten begins to growl, she launches into such unmistakable Ann-Margretacity that one might almost think one'd stumbled into the midnight marathon of The Who's Tommy.

Well, none of that is the reason for sharing this clip with you, dear Chronique readers. No, bear with, please.

At the 1:44 (or -1:09) minute mark, A-M starts ticking off a fabulously random style guide to the sassy Sixties in this soda-jerky ode to boots, Nehru jackets, and … temporary tattoos?! She exceeds all requirements as a certified Soft Drink Expert, no doubt. Purrrrrrrrr.

Read More | Comment »