In which I ramble on about my Easter chocolate of choice (cadbury creme eggs!), a photoshoot with Craig Cochrane at Dragon Lady Comics, and more, plus! My tits say Ka-Pow.

I think the sound-to-video sync on this is off. I'm not sure why. Anyone have any tips? I'm using photobooth on my mac to film...

~ Red Herring

Ad Astra 2009 - Burlesque, Steampunk, and Alcoholic Cupcakes

Ad Astra passed about a week ago, and thanks to the dashing Kenneth Shelley, I was invited to perform and promote myself and the upcoming Babes in Space The Sequel: The Wrath of Thong (my yearly Star Trek vs Star Wars burlesque show)

Kenneth. I told you he was Dashing. Photo by Tina Olah

The duration of the convention saw me seated beside the beautiful Emi Joy Lim, of the webseries Trapped in Terra, and Todd Clark of the Toronto Steampunk Society. Hilariously, Emi recognized me from an audition I did for the webseries way back when I first moved to Toronto. Seems the character I auditioned for is coming up in this season. Hmm...will I get a callback?

Emi Joy Lim and Todd Clark. Photo by Tina Olah

Todd is just dashing. He certainly helped pimp out our wonderfully alcoholic cupcakes, made by the same Brook Alviano that spends hours sewing the amazing costumes that Obskyura and I (among others) remove.

Below is a photo after my performance. Clearly, I have been photobombed.

No, I'm not wearing anything behind that fan.

Costume by 3B Artistry

Also making up some of the amazing company was Adam Smith, the Epic Dude* of the Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition, which will be running for the first time in Toronto. You should go. Adam can always be counted on as a repository of information (and occasionally, delicious booze). I may live in his pocket.

Kristen Thoms, pictured below, was my saviour and glorious companion for the convention. She may or may not have used that gun, and her feminine wiles, to pander cupcakes like the fiend she is. Look out for her bits on stage, if I have any say in the matter.

~ Red Herring

* Not his actual title. Should be, however.

Blog Spotlight! - Fish nor Fowl by Freya West

Fish Nor Fowl - Freya West

Miss Freya West and I met one fateful night at the Toronto Burlesque Festival last year. This damsel in nodress was without a place to stay, and I (ever the knight in shining glitter) took her in and fed her egg sandwiches at midnight while discussing hanging participles and the quirks of freelance writing.

But look at her. Who wouldn't take her home?

Freya West, photos by Stephanie of La Photographie Nashville

She's gorgeous, with a hint of a Southern accent (which she can turn up high at will) and she's smart as hell.

We skype date. It's hot.

She has her own blog over at Fish Nor Fowl and is an experienced writer and editor whose text has graced the pages Huffington Post, Chicagoist, Examiner, and more.

Here's a tidbit snatched from her About page:

The foxy firebrand of the South, Freya West began her burlesque career as a student under the whipsmart talents of Michelle L’Amour. She studied for a year under the burlesque star before performing in the Studio L’Amour student showcase. Since then she has performed internationally, including main showcases at several burlesque festivals and was named a Rising Star at the 2010 Toronto Burlesque Festival. Freya has represented Dos Equis Most Interesting Show in the World, performed with Shiny Toy Guns, and continues to teach the art of the shimmy to Nashville’s elite. Freya is a member of Music City Burlesque. Freya writes about burlesque and other things on her website, Fish nor Fowl.

After heating up that stage, she heats up the classroom with Delinquent Debutantes as "Headmistress Freya West" where she teaches burlesque basics, advanced choreography, a twelve week performance class, and  workshops in tassel twirling, costuming, vintage make up and hair, and MORE.

Internet stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, Examiner or at her literary magazine The Paper Colony.

Oh...and she eats fire too.



~ Red Herring