A little tribute to vintage movie theater marquees as we prepare for Oscars Night!
Hooray For Hollywood,
Starr
Archive for the ‘Show Biz Style’ Category
Midweek Musing: Let’s All Go To The Movies!
February 22, 2012Midweek Musing: The Movie Star Ankle
February 8, 2012Currently, Starr Style is grinning, giggling and guffawing her way through Tina Fey’s book, Bossy Pants. In one chapter, she details her 12 Tenets of Looking Amazing Forever. I would add just one more to the list.
13) Never Leave Home Without Your Movie Star Ankle
Yes, it looks painful, I know, but it’s totally worth it!
A MSA GALLERY
Babie Wabie
Jaunty Juvenile
Tentative Teenagers
Brothers & Sisters
On A Staircase
Move Over Mad Men
Sequined
Feathered
On The Moon
At The Beach
In The Snow
On The Ice
In Ski Boots
In Spats
In flats
In Dappled Light
In Straight White Pants From The 80′s
Broadway Baby Style
Going Tubing Style
At A Baby Shower Style
In White Shoes
In Black Shoes
In Silver Shoe
Ascending
Perching
After Twirling (Advanced Only)
The Quintessential
Just a few more days before the Oscars, so start practicing now,
Starr
“Don’t Ask Me To Act!”
January 30, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE LEADING LADY!
The incomparable Ellen North!
Love,
Starr
Abracadabra!
October 25, 2011Happy National Magic Week!
Adrien during his “Little Magician Days”
circa 1995
Photo by Lynn Siler
Do you believe in Magic?
Starr
Midweek Musing: Dancin’ Man
October 5, 2011Here at Starr Style, I’m doing the Happy Mom Dance!
During our weekly Skype session, I was pleasantly surprised when Adrien asked, “Hey Mom, can you send me my tap shoes?…I’m going to take a tap class with my friends.”
They are on their way to Houston, the hometown of one of my favorite, classy tappers, Tommy Tune.
The sands of time…
Adrien’s Surprise Baby Shower was at the Dancer’s Workshop…
He was “Dancin’ In His Tails” on his first New Year’s Eve…
My first post baby gig was at the Atlanta Jazz and Tap Dance Festival. I practiced my steps everyday with Adrien in my arms…
His Mommy was a Showgirl…
The family that Vaudevilles together…
A Class Act…
With the Darling, Ms. Donna, Adrien’s first tap teacher…
Adrien with his Atlanta International School Tap Buddies…you’ve gotta have Jazz Hands!
Dancin’ (and singin’) Man!
I wanna be a dancin’ man,
While I can,
Gonna leave my footsteps on the sands of time,
A dancin’ man
With footsteps
On the sands…
Of rhythm….and rhyme.
From the 1952 movie
Belle of New York
starring Fred Astaire
words & music by
Johnny Mercer & Harry Warren
Happy Tapping Son!
Love,
Mom
Happy National Tap Dance Day!
May 25, 2011
“Make it sound like one big tap shoe.”
~ Bobby Berkeley ~
In memory of my favorite dance partner,
Starr
A Family That Spells Together…
April 13, 2011
Recently, Denis and I traveled to Houston to visit Adrien at Rice University and to see him perform in a production of the musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
From the director, Paul Hope, “On the surface, it’s an off the wall comedy about some nerdy kids that employs doses of comedy improv. The show reveals a compassionate viewpoint as it examines the lives of six misfit kids who only seem to fit in when competing in a spelling bee. At first, they seem like a few quirky figures, but eventually they tell of unhappy or challenging home lives and we find ourselves wanting everything to turn out well for each of them as they search for success, approval and connection.”
The Stellar Cast
Adrien sang, danced and cracked the audience up throughout the evening in the role of the exuberant, Chip Tolentino! He also appeared in a cameo portraying Jesus with long flowing hair, beard, robes and stigmata to boot.
On stage at the Bee!
Part of the show called for audience participation and Denis was invited up on stage to join in the fun and to spell a few words. His first word was COW! When he asked for a definition, the reply was “a cow.” When he asked for the word to be used in a sentence the reply was “Spell cow.” On his next try, the word was mizzle. Then came caterjune! And finally to get him out without a doubt, his word was lysergic acid diethylamide! He channeled his Denny Goodman character and with a little subtle schtick, he stopped the show with the biggest laugh from the audience of the entire night!
Chip Tolentino!
From the program:
Stylin’ in Houston
Great job Rice students!
Starr
Forsythia Festival Frolic!
March 16, 2011
I’ll call it Mellow Yellow!
Recently, Denis and I enjoyed a merry gambol to Forsyth, Georgia for its annual Forsythia Festival.
But, first things first. A quick overnight stop in Columbus, Georgia for a special event – the very first gathering of the newly formed Springer Theater Alumni Group! Many moons ago, back in the early 1980′s I was involved in 5 productions at the Springer Opera House Theater. Other than for family, neither Denis, nor I, are the reunion-going type, but this one intrigued us and as we have become avid fans of the weekend road trip, we decided, “why not?”
We arrived in Columbus on that gorgeous Friday afternoon. The Springer Theatre looked every bit the same as it did almost 30 years ago!
We checked into our room, the James L. Redd Suite (affectionately called the “red” room) at the historic Rothschild-Pound House Inn.
The Redd Room
With a cute art deco en suite bath.
Included with our stay at the B&B were afternoon refreshments at the quaint Vintage 222 Cafe just up the street from the Inn.
The shabby chic dining room served double duty as a gallery for the artist Garry Pound, who is also the proprietor of the Inn and Cafe.
We enjoyed a lovely glass of Cabernet and some yummy Bruschetta at Vintage 222.
That evening we enjoyed authentic Thai cuisine at the Old Siam in downtown Columbus. After dinner we strolled down Broadway taking in the local flavor, some of which is still steeped in the old Boogie Oogie Oogie days!
Bobby Berkeley would have snapped up this jacket in a New York Minute!
Gorgeous Church Lady Hats!
And frocks to go with them!
Later, we joined alumni members for the reunion at the Springer’s Annex Theater for an evening of improv called No Shame Theater!
The next morning we explored the communal rooms of the Rothschild-Pound House Inn, all of which exhibited the beautiful artwork of Garry Pound.
The Grand Foyer
Parlor I
Parlor II
Formal Gardens
A delicious breakfast was served, again at Vintage 222. We dined on fluffy veggie omelets and southern-style grits & biscuits. And then it was time to say “Goodbye, Columbus” and hit the road for the next leg of our weekend drive adventure.
We looped one last time through the historic district and past the Springer on our way out of town.
Blue skies and open roads made for a lovely cruising day!
I’ll take a dozen bottles, please!
Grabbed this one for my collection!
An adorable Main Street, USA, scene!
We must be getting close!
We headed to the Forsyth Courthouse Square to celebrate the town’s namesake shrub! Predictably perfect, this festival boasted lots of food, arts & crafts and live entertainment!
Grits Cafe
on the Square
promised to serve up
Southern Food with FLAIR!
And, did it ever!!! Chef Wayne Wetendorf, an absolute artist with food, served up two of the most scrumptious and creative veggie plates that we have ever eaten.
Mine had a melange of sweet potato, corn and shitakes in a light mushroom sauce, a balsamic roasted portabello stuffed with garlic spinach, spicy grilled zucchini & asparagus, and fried green tomatoes layered with goat cheese and fig preserves.
Denis also enjoyed the zucchini & asparagus and the layered fried green tomatoes. A black-eyed pea bean cake topped with garlic spinach and surrounded with a creamy chipotle and balsamic remoulade took center plate.
After lunch, we strolled through the festival again and came across the Rose, another charming vintage theater for my collection!
Happily, we made our way back to the car and began our journey back to Atlanta after having spent a picture-perfect, 24-hour road trip…
Enjoying great memories and making new ones,
Starr
From my Springer Theater Days
About The Springer
The Ellen – est
January 30, 2011Happy Birthday, my darling friend!
Sometime in the 80′s
What is this life, you ask?
Starr
So Much To Be Thankful For…
December 1, 2010
Here at Starr Style, we recently celebrated a Thanksgiving season steeped in tradition and punctuated by two inspiring artistic events.
Beginning in 2003 and each year thereafter, my best friend, Gloria, has traveled from her home on Long Island arriving in Atlanta the weekend before Thanksgiving. We always make the most of those first few days together before the holiday. Our must do’s include getting massages, shopping at Macy’s, perusing the books in Borders and Barnes & Noble where we each purchase the same new Christmas novel (this years choice – An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller), Gingerbread Lattes at Starbucks and lunch at our favorite spot in Buckhead, Basils.
Dressed like the Bobbsie Twins at our annual “catch up on everything” lunch at Basils!
Early in the week, we set aside a time to plan our totally vegetarian Thanksgiving Day menu. Some of our recipes are old favorites that grace the table every year and others are brand new and test our skills in the arena of gourmet veggie cooking. Then each day before the big day we do a little shopping until we have everything we need.
Starr & Gloria’s 2010 Thanksgiving Day Menu
Breakfast
Spiced Apple & Cranberry Crepes with Mascarpone
Lunch
Zesty Pumpkin Soup
Cranberry Maple Scones
Dinner
Favorite Broccoli Salad
Mushroom, Cheese & Vegetable Strudel
“Veggie” Sausage, Pecan & Apple Stuffing
Cranberry Chutney
Cranberry Sauce
Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole
Succotash
Dessert
Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Browned Butter Glaze
Spiced Pumpkin Mousse Trifle
Adding to our enjoyment of this years Thanksgiving season was Denis’ participation in the Work Of Our Hands Art Show where he exhibited 10 paintings of which he sold 4!
Signing the paintings
At the Reception
with Roopa
and Gloria
FANTASTICAL FLORALS
by
Denis Pellerin
Adrien arrived home from college early morning mid-week. After a quick breakfast featuring one of my signature omelettes, he was out of the door and headed over to his old high school, the Atlanta International School, where he would spend most of his fall break rehearsing for the alumni production of Fake It Til You Make It, as part of the week long celebration for the school’s 25th Anniversary.
Every Thanksgiving morning, Gloria and I meet up in the kitchen at 9:00 am to commence our marathon cooking session. With the t.v. tuned to the Macy’s Day Parade in the morning and then the Food Network for most of the rest of the day, we work through each recipe.
Once the Rockettes appear, we know that Santa will not be far behind at which time we declare that it is officially the Christmas Season!
This is where you will find us all day on Thanksgiving!
Apples & Cranberries = The Sight and Smell of Thanksgiving!
Our Thanksgiving Table always boasts a beautiful bouquet from Gloria. This year, lilies in shades of gold, pumpkin and russet.
Val and Martha always arrive from Massachusetts just in time for dinner at 8!
Looking East…
Looking West…
Gloria serves up her Masterpiece Trifle!
After dinner we burned some calories
Dancing With The Stars
on the Wii!
Just as we had for me this time last year, it was time to celebrate Gloria with a Wise Woman Party.
Gloria, Starr & Roopa
A Prosecco Toast to Gloria at Murphy’s in Virginia Highlands
On Saturday night, we all enjoyed a wonderful show at the Atlanta International School. In honor of the school’s 25th Anniversary and the 13th year of the theatre department, 88 alumni students traveled to Atlanta from all over the USA and abroad to appear in this very special theatrical event. Act I featured scenes recreated from shows that these students had appeared in at AIS while they were in high school. It was great to see Adrien take the stage again in scenes and musical numbers from Metamorphoses, Grease and Into The Woods. Act II presented the heartbreakingly good short play, Dog Sees God, in which Adrien and 7 others brilliantly portrayed the Charlie Brown characters all grown up and experiencing many aspects of teenage angst. The after party in the architecturally beautiful new Science and Design building on the AIS campus was a glamorous affair! Bravo, AIS Alumni Thespians!
Gloria, Starr & Roopa on the Red Carpet!
With the Man of the Hour!
We bid Val and Martha farewell early on Sunday morning. Later that day we celebrated Adrien’s 20th Birthday! Philippe, Amanda and our precious little Gigi joined in the fun.
Ready, Set…Crackers!!!
Nana*Starr
Uncle Adrien
Happy Birthday!!!
After our birthday treat of chocolate mousse and raspberries, we took some family portraits…
Bro’s
Auntie Gloria!
And it wouldn’t be a celebration at our house without a family sing-song around the piano…
Adrien
November 28, 2010
9:04 p.m.
Exactly 20 Years Old!
That evening we dropped Adrien off at Hartsfield for his return flight to Houston. One more week of classes for him and then one week of finals before he returns home to Atlanta for a well deserved winter holiday break. Good luck, son!
Gloria’s last full day in Atlanta was jam packed! It began with breakfast at the famous Landmark Diner with our friends and realtors, Lance and John. After breakfast we enjoyed viewing several condo properties in metro Atlanta to give Gloria an idea of what was available should she decide to finally become a southern belle.
Next was another highlight for us, Holiday Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Hotel, details of which are worthy of their own post, so stay tuned to Starr Style!!!
And finally, together with our friend, Deb, we ventured out on that very cold and rainy night to see Burlesque. It was a wonderful film, entertaining from beginning to end, chock full of fabulous musical numbers, gorgeous costumes, beautiful people and the inimitable, Cher!
Alas, the next morning it was time for Gloria to leave her adopted home, Atlanta, GA, and begin the next leg of her journey where she would be visiting her sister, Phyllis in lovely Williamsburg, VA.
Such a great time with such a great friend!
My heart is so full,
Starr
