Modern Day Crooner - Irby Gascon

Retro girls love to swoon, swing and sway to classics such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and rockabilly king, Johnny Cash. Sadly, these greats are no longer with us, but the musical imprint they have left behind has opened the door to modern day rockers who can capture a bit of their essence. One person who conjures up the sounds of the past is singer, Irby Gascon. He can croon, he can rock and retro girls are sure to swoon when he belts out ballads from the 40s and 50s.

You can sometimes find Irby dressed as young Elvis cruising around Hollywood in a pink Cadillac giving tours of L.A.’s hotspots to visitors through Tribute Productions, the celebrity impersonator company that he shares with his lovely wife, Bella of MrsBellasDolls.com. Or maybe you’ll see him (you most definitely should see him) performing at the glamorous, 1920s style Cicada Club with his swing band, Zoot Suit Revue. He also performs parties, corporate events and red carpet affairs.  Irby is amazing. I hope one day he’ll record his beautiful voice to share with you here, but for now you’ll have to track him down at one of the local L.A. events. Lucky for you, he’s playing this weekend!

For more info on the event visit the EPNS Event Website

This Saturday, June 2nd from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., Irby will be singing Blue Hawaii style in the San Fernando Valley at the Tarzana Cultural Center. Come out and enjoy a Rock-A-Hula Luau with us (yours truly will be there too!). Have drinks at the Tiki Bar, play games, participate in raffles and best of all Irby will be singing all evening. He’s performing as a huge favor to me, so take this chance to experience one of today’s best retro crooners and have some fun too!

To book Irby, contact him through www.TributeProductions.com
View Irby as Young Elvis on Facebook
Visit Bella at www.MrsBellasDolls.com
To see Irby this weekend, visit the EPNS Luau Event webpage

Step Back in Time at the Cicada Club

Photo by the talented Katie Reihman

If you love to pull out your finest vintagey frocks, display your biggest baubles and take your fancy footwear for a twirl, you must visit Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles.  

The Cicada Club is a retro girl’s dream. From the moment you walk through the grand entryway of the 1928 art deco Oviatt Building, it feels as if you have been transported back in time. An opulent chandelier dangles over the dance floor setting the perfect ambiance of dazzle and mystery. The sweeping staircase frames the sides of the orchestra stage whisking you up to another level of drama from a time long ago. The upstairs walls are draped in a golden fabric leading you back to swank, cozy bar, smaller dance area, lush seating and a beautiful grand piano that you can imagine Louis Armstrong sitting down at to play a tune.

We had the pleasure of attending their special Swingin’ 60s Halloween Party and it was unlike anything I had experienced before. The guests were authentic to the period - from dressing in 60s attire to mimicking favorite characters from that classic era. And there was no real median age. Twenty, thirty and forty-somethings were swinging away to Dean Mora’s Orchestra on the dance floor right next to couples in their 70s and 80s - everyone dressed for the event and all appreciating the moment. It was magical.

The Cicada Club is open most Sunday evenings. Dinner reservations secure you a table around the main dance floor and near the band - usually a 40s style swing band. If you are just in the mood to sip cocktails, it’s generally a $10 cover charge with seating available on the second level.

www.cicadaclub.com

Unique Vintage Halloween Event

I'll be here today! Come by and say hello... I'll be in a bright yellow and blue Heartbreaker dress ♥

Noteworthy Retro Happenings

Haunts and happenings and sales, oh my! There are several fabulous things happening over the next few weeks that are worth marking down on your calendars. 

♥ 

And since there are so many amazing modern-retro designers, events, sales, websites and much, much more happening out there, I created a Newsletter to showcase a regular listing of these special items and occasions. If you subscribe to the new Retro Girl’s Guide Newsletter, you’ll get future listings delivered right to your inbox. And if you have a special event or a retro news nugget worth sharing, please submit it and chances are it will be included. How cool is that? Now on to a sampling of the fun... 

Bob’s Big Boy 2nd Annual Car & Bike Show 
Vintage cars, pin-up girls and Bob’s burgers! Enjoy an afternoon hosted by The Pin-Up Magazine and all of the lovelies in their pin-up pageant. 
Where: Bob’s Big Boy Broiler - Downey, CA 
When: Saturday, October 22nd 
Time: 11 am - 4 pm 
Cost: $5 entry 
Contact: The Pin-Up Magazine on Facebook 


Audrey K’s Halloween Costume Contest & Girl’s Night Out 
Show off your cute costumes for a chance to win a $25 gift card to this fabulous boutique! 
Where: Audrey K Boutique - 3414 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 
When: Friday, October 28th 
Time: 6 - 9 pm 
Contact: www.AudreyK.com 

Lolita Girl Clothing Extravaganza Sale 
Gorgeous clothes on sale, swingin’ tunes, munchie foods and drinks to sip... sounds like a perfect Saturday! 
Where: Lolita Girl’s Showroom - 8 Whatney, Irvine CA 
When: Saturday, October 29th 
Time: 10 am - 4 pm 
Contact: www.LolitaGirlClothing.com 


Unique Vintage Halloween Haunt
Get your vintage-inspired Halloween look with costumes from the roaring 20s through the swingin’ 60s at this event hosted by The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Good Day L.A. 
Where: Unique Vintage Boutique - 2013 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank CA 
When: Saturday October 29th 
Time: 1pm - 5pm 
Contact: www.Unique-Vintage.com 

Cicada Club's Swingin’ 60s Halloween Costume Party 
Come dance the night away as your favorite 60s character at the art deco Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles. 
Where: Cicada Club - 617 South Olive Street, Los Angeles CA 
When: Sunday, October 30th 
Time: Doors open at 6:00 pm. Showtime at 8pm 
Cost: $50 a ticket presale by Sunday, October 23rd. $60 after or at the door. 
Contact: www.CicadaClub.com


PinUpGirlClothing.com’s Autumn Garage Sale 
PinUpGirlClothing.com’s gorgeous goods are deeply discounted at this one day event. Enjoy the sounds of rockin’ performers such as La Cholita and say hello to your favorite PUG beauties while shopping your glamorous little heart away! 
Where: Courtyard Marriott - 700 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia CA 
When: Saturday, November 5th 
Time: 10 - 4 pm 
Contact: PinUpGirlClothing