Who Remembers Hong Kong Phooey?!

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Natasha

If you read my Australia Day post, then you might remember one of the more exciting things that I saw at the Australia Day parade: the Melbourne Costume Group.

Image from the Melbourne Costume Group’s facebook page.

I was later able to catch up with the group’s organizers, Anne O’Reilly and Jen Sasson, to get a little bit of insight into the Melbourne Costume Group. For any of my cosplay friends out there, this is a fun one!

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Natashadventure (NA): According to the “about” section on facebook, MCG began in 2010 when it was noticed that there was a “lack of support for cosplayers in between convention appearances.” Do you have any thoughts on why this support was lacking?

Anne O’Reilly (AO): The Star Wars 501^st and Rebel Legion are recognised costume groups that have a proud history of being able to use their hobby in a way to help others in the community. However not everyone is a Star Wars fan, so there was need to expand that idea into other areas.

Image of Anne O’Reilly in a blue ball gown. Photo courtesy of Ian Stubber.

Jen Sasson (JS): Simply, large scale conventions like Supanova did not exist in Melbourne 10 years ago. Obviously there was still a bit of a cosplay scene (Manga, anyone?) but generally there was nowhere to vent your creativity. Costuming was still considered a no-no and was restricted to fancy dress parties and behind closed doors. It took Gen Y to make cosplaying cool and acceptable… and this coming from a Gen Xer!

Image of Jen Sasson as “Monster Book of Monsters.” Photo courtesy of Ian Stubber.

NA: How do you think Melbourne compares to other Australian cities as far as interest in cosplay?

AO: I haven’t been to any cosplay events outside of Melbourne. But I have seen some wonderful costumes at conventions here by the interstaters. Also, South Australia is the home of the Australian Costume Guild which has been around for many years and is well respected.

JS: I’ve been to quite a few cons in both Brissie, Sydney and even Auckland. Brisbane cosplayers are still my favourite (but only just) It’s such a huge scene up there and anyone willing to costume up in full body armour on a 40 degree day, deserves my respect! They do seem to have that bit of extra craziness about them… maybe the humidity sets them off?!!! That said, the Melbourne scene may have started off a bit slow, but they’ve come so far in such a short time. There’s so much talent in Melbourne and its getting bigger and better every year. This is why we are delighted to offer our guys an alternative to cosplaying rather than the restrictive 3 – 4 cons per year. We find MCG members will debut their costumes at the conventions, then wear them to our events. A new audience every time… works a treat!

NA: Who seem to be the favorite cosplayers at your events? What characters are most popular?

AO: Capt America, Jack Sparrow, Batman, Batgirl and any of the Disney Princesses.

JS: Depends on the type of event. ATM I’d say Brett’s Captain Jack Sparrow. That said, Andrew’s Batman was pulling them in at the recent Australia Day Parade! The princesses & superheroes are always a hit no matter where we go, and I’ve also noticed lately that MCG members have been talking about creating bigger & better costumes, especially for the parades. They’re a fun and competitive mob but I think there’s some serious competition brewing!

Indiana Jones and Jack Sparrow

Batman

Disney Princesses

(Images above from the MCG’S facebook page.)

NA: How did your interest in cosplay begin?

AO: At the age of five when I my mother made me a Robin costume

JS: I vaguely remember as a five year old donning my older brother’s superman outfit which prompted me into believing I could fly… and testing that theory by jumping off the shed roof. Once I outgrew that outfit I thought I could extend its life by dressing the family dog in the costume until he ripped it to shreds. Then there was my Hong Kong Phooey outfit with my dressing gown… oh and a cowboy faze I went through – all before I hit double figures. No princesses though – with 5 older brothers, I never really had a chance!

NA: Are there any particularly magical cosplay moments that stick out in your mind? Your favorite in character moment?

AO: At the Melbourne premier of ‘Return of the Jedi’, I was dressed as Princess Leia and there was a little girl who thought I really was Princess Leia. Seeing the look in children’s eyes is amazing

JS: Hmmm… so many. The weekend trip away to a Lego expo at Phillip Island which prompted the comment “What happens on the Island, stays on the Island”. So I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you. I will say that 9 cosplayers crammed into a hostel room are bound to create many memorable moments. We also made a giant prison prop for Armageddon last year and one of the guests Marty, from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ locked us in the gaol and ran off with the key.

NA: Is there a membership fee for this group, or can anyone with a suitable costume show up? Are there monthly/annual meetings?

AO: No, anyone can join our FB group. However for major events we ask for applications for approval. We also organise social events like film days and we have a picnic coming up.

JS: Yes. You pay me $1,000,000 in unmarked $20.00 notes due on the 1st day of each month. Unfortunately, no one has yet to pay up, but I live in hope… We do ask our guys & gals to have costumes of a high standard and depending on the event, to be recognisable. For example, The Good Friday Appeal is more child-orientated, so our cosplayers need to be aware of this when choosing a costume. The parades… they can get away with a lot more. Generally, organisers will inform us beforehand what they want and we’ll pass the info on. We do have the occasional meeting especially in the lead up to conventions to organise what we want to do and to have a bit of a brain-storming session.

NA: What are your upcoming public events?

AO: The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Kidsflix Chadstone and our picnic at Fairy Park in March

JS: What she said…

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And my favorite costumes from the MCG?

Zim and Gir.

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Natashadventure on facebook and twitter.

Give Me Some O’ That Uptown Sound!

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Natasha

I promised exciting things would be coming to this blog. And tonight, I will deliver!

As a kid, I remember being fascinated by Dick Van Dyke’s one man band performance in Mary Poppins. And also by his inventions in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Which is, I suppose, part of the reason that I am so captivated by the Steampunk scene. (Remember the light up goggles that my man made me? Probably the coolest thing ever.)

Anyway, being thoroughly enchanted by steampunk and gadgets and one man bands, when my sister (who shares a similar interest) and I happened upon an appearance by Uptown Brown - one man band extraordinaire! - we of course decided to check it out. And what a delight it was!

(Photo by Danny Wootton.)

Uptown Brown’s performances are definitely something special. And he is an interesting character, to boot. I am sure that you do not need proof of this, but I will give it to you anyway!

I asked Uptown Brown if he would be willing to let me interview him, and he graciously accepted.

So, here it is! My first interview conducted entirely through a time machine. Enjoy!

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Natashadventure (NA): Uptown Brown…does this name reference anything?

Uptown Brown (UB): Well, I like to think of myself as a classy type of fellow so ‘Uptown’ was a logical choice – implies I’m from the better part of town you know. Brown is my mother’s maiden name. She was a burlesque trapese artiste and as a young lady was something of a tearaway I’m lead to believe. Even as an older lady too for that matter! Rumour has it my father was a steam locomotive driver but I never did find out his name.

NA: What do you call this musical contraption that you built? How long did it take to build?!

UB: My machine is known as the ‘Goodtimes Gyratorscope’ (patent pending). I built it over a period of about 6 months using parts from a wrecked biplane (which I myself crashed, but that’s a whole other story).

Uptown Brown and his “Goodtimes Gyratorscope.” (Photo by Danny Wootton.)

NA: Was it easy to play initially?

UB: After the initial malfunctions (including nearly losing an arm) the machine is now almost entirely non-lethal. Except for mild electrocution from time to time.

NA: What or who inspired you to become a one man band?

UB: Primarily economic necessity. And the fact that the majority of the musicians in my original orchestra have all largely been imprisoned, gone mad with syphillus or are in various health sanatoriums undergoing treatment for substance abuse.

NA: Are there any other one man bands that inspire you? What other musicians are you influenced by?

UB: I was inspired by the likes of Jesse Fuller, Phillip Roebuck, the Straniero and Eric Royer (all one man bands – check them out). There’s lots more. Also the films of Fritz Lang, Terry Gilliam, Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Jeunet & Caro.

NA: Do you take your act on the road, or are you mainly based in Melbourne? If you’ve been on the road, where have you traveled to?

UB: As a street performer my act is always on the road! Or the sidewalk. I’m mostly based in Melbourne but am always open to offers of travel to faraway places. I loved Morocco/Marakesh but I was mistakenly imprisoned about a misunderstanding over a camel. Thats a whole other story.

NA: What is your favorite performance memory? Any peculiar stories?

UB: I love the interactions and intimacy you have with an audience as a street perfomer – too many memories to single one out. Amongst them though playing for singing children, dancing lovers, weeping drunks and howling dogs. And occasionally combinations of all four simultaneously.

NA: What is your favorite song to perform?

UB: I only play songs I love but ‘San Francisco Bay Blues’ (by Jesse Fuller) is still one of my favorites.

NA: Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans? Where can they see you perform next?

UB: I have fans? Good lord, whatever next?!! Well, I’d tell them to not take life for granted and make sure they enjoy a few cocktails along the way. I’m performing a few shows at the Famous Spiegeltent in the next month or two and will probably hit the Camberwell or Victoria markets a few times.

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And there you have it, folks! I was lucky enough to catch another of his performances tonight, at the Spiegeltent (something else you all should check out!)

Uptown Brown Performing at the Spiegeltent.

For those of you living in Melbourne, I highly suggest that you keep your eyes peeled for more entertainment by Uptown Brown. Not that lucky? Not to worry, I will end this post with a video!

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Uptown Brown on facebook.

‘Straya Day.

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Natasha

Yesterday was Australia Day. A celebration of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney, Australia, 1788. It’s kind of like our Fourth of July in the States, minus all of the fireworks. Actually, I think there may have been fireworks in the Melbourne CBD, but they weren’t going off on every street corner. Apparently, a lot of people have barbecues on ‘Straya Day, too, but I did not witness any. My housemates went on a bicycle pub crawl. More on that later.

I did run to the city to see the Australia Day parade, though. More to get out of the house and to have something to post about, rather than because I enjoy parades. As quite often happens to me, a Mitch Hedberg quote came to mind while I was on the train into the city: “If you’re watching a parade, make sure you stand in one spot; don’t follow it, it never changes. And! If the parade is boring, run in the opposite direction – you will fast forward the parade!”

And then these guys and gals walked by:

A historical re-enactment group?! You have my attention.

This guy’s mustache?!

Holding my attention.

Now I’m laughing. This is good.

The Wellington/Collingwood Knitting Group? Aw, thinking of home. (Shea and Tara, I am specifically thinking of you two.)

A Tibetan Community in Victoria? Good, good.

Still not bored…OHMYGOD!

The Melbourne Costume Group. THERE IS A MELBOURNE COSTUME GROUP?! Yes, friends. Yes, there is.

And some Doctor Who Fans (I don’t even watch the show, but this made me happy):

And the Star Wars Group:

And then…aaaaand THEN! The VINTAGE CYCLE CLUB OF VICTORIA showed up. Now I’m excited.

There were so many penny farthings, I didn’t know what to do with myself. GLEE! Total glee.

There was also the Roller Derby group and the Ukulele Kollective:

I also happened to capture this Herald Sun photographer taking a photo of this little kid:

History in the making!

There were also various immigrant groups marching. Many fantastic outfits there. But I think this post has become picture heavy enough. I don’t want to break anyones iPhones or something.

Spent the rest of the day reading (Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, if you must know) and waiting for my housemates to make it to the local pub. Which, by some miracle, they did. I was coaxed into 2 schooners while they finished off a healthy number of pitchers. In the name of ‘Straya!

And then I got to watch them cycle home. A good day, I would say.

Indulgence, Luck and a Little Bit of Melodrama at the Museum

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Natasha

Wow. Where do I even begin with this one? Let’s just say, sometimes the universe is mysterious.

A few days ago, in the middle of reading Sherlock Holmes, I had the urge to do some research on Frida Kahlo. I am sure that something sparked this sudden desire, I simply do not remember what. I was quickly enchanted by Kahlo’s story and decided to put Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic on hold so that I could read a biography of the Mexican painter.

Hayden Herrera’s book, Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo, seems to be the most popular. But I decided to go with Margaret A. Lindauer’s Devouring Frida: The Art History and Popular Celebrity of Frida Kahlo. According to some reviews, and even Lindauer, Herrera’s book does not accurately portray Kahlo as the strong woman that she was. So, I’ve opted to read Lindauer’s book first, followed by Herrera’s.

Moving along to the first two things that I’ve promised for this post: indulgence and luck. I have been fairly strict with money and diet recently. Whenever I do this, I end up on a bit of a binge later. Or today, ha! Yesterday, after starting my book on Frida, I decided it was a museum day. I made it all the way to the CBD, only to run into this:

Boo! What a random day to be closed. And this was after running around the CBD looking for cafe jobs and being terribly unsuccessful. Suffice it to say, I was down in the dumps at the end of yesterday.

Today, I woke up and decided that I was going to get myself some Mexican food. Today, I was going to indulge! Then, I would try again at the National Gallery of Victoria because I was longing for some museum time. But first, I was going to make some phone calls. After calling around to a few book stores and being informed that they were not hiring “at the moment” (which really means the entire season, come to find out), I stumbled upon an even better job opening. My dream job, really. I called to see if they would be willing to hire someone in Australia on a working holiday. The answer? Yes, please send your resume.

LUCK! But that is all that I am willing to say about that for now, I cannot risk jinxing myself.

After calling Evan, who surely thinks that I am manic at this point (yesterday, I was on the verge of tears from frustration and disappointment, today I was on the verge of tears from excitement and hope) I left for my daily adventures. I decided to check out a recently opened Mexican place called Guzman y Gomez. I went with the “mini” barramundi burrito. It was $6. And this big:

“Mini” is not a joke at this place. The containers to the side are the condiments I decided to take because I had just purchased the world’s tiniest $6AU burrito. I ate an entire container of jalapeños. Which was probably not the best decision…I ended up with some pretty serious heartburn. Which lead me to the frozen yogurt establishment next door. This indulgence was not planned. But my green tea frozen yogurt with cheesecake frosting was certainly delectable.

Green tea cheesecake fro-yo in hand, I continued on my path to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV.) I passed a man who was sitting on the curb looking quite forlorn and decided to shoot him a smile. Turned out he was homeless and asked very nicely if I had any spare change. He had come from Adelaide and been on the streets in Melbourne for nine days. I said, “Hey, man, I understand, I am low on my luck right now, too. But I have a dollar to spare.” It was my last one. “God bless you and may your luck change, too,” was his response as I walked away.

Finally, I walked through the doors of the NGV. Almost immediately, I was openly weeping. Why do I ever stray from the art world? It is where I belong. I love the way that I feel in a museum. I love the smells, the sounds and, of course, the sights. I love how my heart pounds and the gears inside my head start spinning. I love soaking in the minds of other artists and my own ideas that are sparked by them.

There was even a little bit of Warhol and Rothko:

Suddenly, I was back at my home town museum, the Smithsonian. I know all of the Smithsonian museums like the back of my hand. Again, shedding a few tears.

After making it through the European and contemporary side of the NGV, I ran smack into the Arts of Asia wing. Knowing that, if I were to set one foot into that side of the museum, I would never leave, I decided to put the arts of Asia off until tomorrow. I then headed downstairs for some more grub. (Well…I’d started out the day indulging, why not continue? I will be good tomorrow.) I went with an orange cake and a soy latte. Bad choices for my esophagus, scrumptious choices for my taste buds!

On the way home, I stopped at the library. This is what I came home with:

I suppose it is safe to say that I have jumped on the Frida mania bandwagon for the time being. And I am totally fine with that.

Oh! And remember the homeless man that I gave my last dollar to? On my walk to the gym, I found a five dollar bill with no owner. Today has been my lucky day. And I will be passing that luck to my sister when she arrives in two days by putting that five dollars onto her myki card.

This has become an incredibly long post. Cheers to those who have navigated my ramblings and made it to the end.

-fin-

Goggles! And, of course, more food.

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Natasha

Evan’s Christmas package arrived yesterday!!!!! He knows me so well, it was seriously a box of things that make Natasha happy. Among the other totally rad things that I got, he sent along the newest set of goggles that he made me.

THEY LIGHT UP.

SO. WONDERFUL. That’s my man.

So, more food stuff. I’m enjoying this combination of a raw food diet with seafood. Still enjoying my salmon and prawns. But other than that, I’m almost totally raw. Still making my peanut butter banana ice (no)cream. Delicious. Yesterday, I made some cucumber soup.

It was cucumber, coconut milk, the tiniest piece of garlic you’ve ever seen (wish I could have more, but my stomach can’t take it) and a bit of cayenne. Blend. Freeze. Blend again when ready to eat. Delicious.

Then, I prepared my breakfast. It was a Mango, coconut, chia seed pudding made by following this recipe.

Also delicious. And today’s lunch was a HUGE batch of kale chips. Won’t bore you with photos of that. But it was kale, cayenne and nutritional yeast. Tasty, tasty.

Natasha Muller

The Grand Adventure

Category Archives: nerd

Who Remembers Hong Kong Phooey?!

Give Me Some O’ That Uptown Sound!

‘Straya Day.

Indulgence, Luck and a Little Bit of Melodrama at the Museum

Goggles! And, of course, more food.

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