Friday
Hugh Codding: Builder of the Flamingo and a Mid-Century Suburb with John W. Murphey
Returning from the war, Hugh Codding found in Santa Rosa a farm town ripe for development. Across 900 acres of fruit orchards, he planned a city of 3,000 ranch homes. A showman, he boasted he could erect a house in eight hours – and he did even better (six and a half). Next, he developed a ranch-house shopping center and then another with a whirling sign. In this seminar learn about the often-complicated Codding and his developments, which brought Santa Rosa into the 20th century.
Bay Area native John W. Murphey is an architectural historian and research consultant based in Santa Rosa. His work studying the built environment includes positions with the National Park Service and three state historic preservation offices. He has served on the boards of the Society for Commercial Archeology, Historic Santa Fe Foundation, and the Sonoma County Historical Records Commission. He is a past contributor to American Road Magazine, and is currently a lecturer at Sonoma State University.
Friday March 3rd, 9:30am - 10:30am - This event is SOLD OUT
Fondue: Cheesy Journey from Switzerland to Sears with Carrie Swing
Join Carrie Swing of Carried Away with Vintage Gourmet on a cheesy journey from Switzerland to Sears to Savers. Learn about fondue history, lore, recipe and pot variations and more. You will leave with your own home recipe cards, because this seminar melts in your hands, not in your mouth!
Carrie Swing learned French cooking in 2nd grade and never stopped exploring and experimenting with food. She briefly owned a restaurant with her ex-husband and has managed a bar in San Francisco, but these days, she prefers to entertain at home. Carrie collects everything vintage from clothes to household goods, including 14 fondue pots. An event producer and marketing consultant turned non-profit worker, in her free time you can find Carrie at the flea or farmer’s market, DJing 80s music, or performing Italian folk dance.
Friday March 3rd, 9:30am - 10:30am - Purchase Here
Beyond the Bachelor Pad: Searching For a Midcentury Soundtrack with Nick Rossi
Musician, Historian, and Writer Nick Rossi will lead this exploration of Postwar American popular music. What did adults really play on those expensive Hi-Fis and hear in cocktail lounges across the country? Rather than focus on teen trends such as Rock ’n' Roll and Music history with a capital M, this seminar aims to uncover the real soundtrack of 1946-1963.
West Coast Californian Nick Rossi has been a mainstay of the San Francisco-Bay Area music world for over three decades. The guitarist-bandleader continues to be a active part of a vibrant jazz scene. As a writer and project producer, Rossi has worked with record labels such as Ace, RPM, and Fresh Sounds, as well as magazines such as the Fretboard Journal and Acoustic Guitar. He teaches privately and also conducts public courses for the California Jazz Conservatory and as a guest lecturer at the College of San Mateo.
Friday March 3rd, 10:45am -11:45pm - This event is SOLD OUT
From Shopgirl to Chic, The History of The Little Black Dress with Dave Temple
Once the uniform of chamber maids and shop girls, by the middle of the 20th century, the ‘little black dress’ had become emblematic of chic style. The reasons why are at once democratic and demonstrative. Influenced simultaneously by our desire to fit in and to stand out. Sprinkle in some stardust courtesy of Hollywood and learn why the “LBD” has become the enduring signature of style for women world wide.
Dave Temple, fashion historian, has written and spoken on the subject for decades in conjunction with his company Clever Vintage Clothing. His seminars “Fashion and the History of Travel” and “California: Sportswear Capitol” have resulted in corresponding exhibits being mounted at The Museum at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). He has presented illustrated presentations and fashion shows from coast to coast. His latest passion project is a deep dive into the history of The Little Black Dress.
Friday March 3rd, 11:00am-12noon - Purchase Here
The Marin Civic Center – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Timeless Midcentury Masterpiece with Libby Garrison
Learn about the complicated and scandalous history of the Marin County Civic Center (1957) designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the last major works of Wright’s career and his only realized project for a government entity. In this seminar, you’ll learn about the history, architecture, and design including the blue roof, custom furniture built by inmates at San Quentin, and more, of this beloved, iconic Bay Area masterpiece.
Libby Garrison oversees the Frank Lloyd Wright programs for the Marin Civic Center, marketing for the County’s cultural programs, the Marin County Fair, and Civic Center art galleries. Her career in museums includes more than 20 years at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and The Walt Disney Family Museum. She holds both bachelors and masters degrees in Art History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She has a penchant for everything mid-century and spends her free time thrifting all over the Bay Area.
Friday March 3rd, 11:00am-12noon - Purchase Here
The Weird and Wonderful World of Roadside Attractions with Alix Tyler
Join us on an afternoon drive as we explore the fun and quirky side of the “aww!” inspiring highway diversions so popular in the 50s and 60s. From Michigan’s Irish Hills Prehistoric Forest Dinosaur Park to California’s Santa’s Village… to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine to the mermaids of Weeki Watchi Springs, these attractions were designed to astound and delight roadtrippers across the country!
Alix Tyler is a time traveling photographer, filmmaker and Creative Director at Instagram. A self-proclaimed maximalist, her passions include vintage clothing, midcentury design and live music. She has a special fondness for the 60s and 70s. Alix spent nearly every childhood summer driving cross country with her family from Michigan to California, so she knows the delight of seeing that "Next Exit!" sign. She bemoans the fact that she never got to visit Santa’s Village when it was open.
Friday March 3rd, 1:30-2:30pm - Purchase Here
How to Read a Neon Sign in the Dark with J. Eric Lynxwiler
The common neon sign has transcended from roadside blight to roadside Americana. These hand-made structures are icons of their communities and the mom-n-pop shops they advertise. Join Lynxwiler for a tale or two from over twenty years of saving neon signs from the wrecking ball for the Museum of Neon Art. Dumpster diving is only a part of it. The rest has to be seen to even be believed.
Urban anthropologist J. Eric Lynxwiler is a Board Member of the Museum of Neon Art for over twenty years, he has helped to save numerous neon signs from destruction. Known as the LA Conservancy docent for the Broadway theater district, Lynxwiler hosts walking tours of Wilshire’s Miracle Mile district for the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. Lynxwiler is the co-author of three books of local history — Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965; Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles; and Knott’s Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History Of Knott’s Berry Farm.
Friday March 3rd, 1pm 2pm - Purchase Here
Freedom & Fashion: The Life & Designs of Rudi Gernreich with Audrey Moorehead
The acclaimed designer Rudolph “Rudi” Gernreich was an American fashion designer whose avant-garde clothing designs are generally regarded as the most innovative and dynamic fashion of the 1960s. Gernreich purposefully used fashion design as a social statement to advance sexual freedom and was known for innovative and body-positive creations such as his famous “monokini” topless swimsuit. In this seminar, Audrey Moorehead explores Gernreich’s unconventional and trendsetting career. “It was not just freeing for the body. It freed the spirit as well.” Rudi Gernreich, 1968
Audrey Moorehead is a Rudi Gernreich ambassador and has been collecting his clothing for over 35 years. Moorehead has over 400 pieces of Gernreich designs in her collection. She has showcased her vast collections in fashion shows and museums including the Fearless Fashion exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center and Phoenix Art Museum.
Friday March 3rd, 1:00pm 2:00pm - Purchase Here
Sexitecture - Feminism and Mid-Century Architecture with CyndeLicious
Learn more about the world of architecture through the feminist lens of CyndeLicious’ all-seeing eye! Sexitecture - envelopes your body, delights your senses and tickles your fancy! With an emphasis on MCM architecture, CyndeLicious will take you on a tour of the world’s most seductive architectural wonders and hear about the women who made these fantasies into realities. Walk away with your own miniature MCM model structure to take home.
CyndeLicious is a lover of all things vintage, kitsch, and architectural: from Art Deco, Streamline Modernity, Bauhaus' modernism, to post war Mid-Century Modern, Googie architecture, Roadside Americana, and beyond. She is an eternal student of architecture history and currently aspiring to become a fully licensed architect. You might recognize CyndeLicious a former pin-up photo model and 1990's Bettie Page look-alike contest winner!
Friday March 3rd, 3pm-4pm - Purchase Here
The Intoxicating History of Pre-Mixed Cocktails with The Fink
Join The Fink as he opens the lid on bottled cocktails with an engaging look back at the evolution of this packaged sensation. An old idea gets new life in post-war America as convenient quaffing contributes to the awareness and appreciation of sophisticated imbibing. The Fink will share intriguing and exciting stories of how mixed drinks made their way from the almost-exclusive domain of the professional bartender to a near-ubiquitous accoutrement of home entertainment. And, of course, we’ll crack open a couple freshly-concocted canned drinks to enjoy along the way.
Known as “Mr. Hospitality Napa Valley” and “The Pied Piper of Fun,” The Fink will show you a good time with fab memories created along the way. Vintner by day, cocktail host after dark, he is eminently adept at creating excellence in a glass. Since founding Friends of Ardent Mixology (Napa Valley’s cocktail appreciation guild) in 2004, educational experiences spotlighting spirited libations have been in his mix. Look for his namesake bar to open in downtown Napa this year. Come, Have A Drink With The Fink!
Friday March 3rd, 3pm-4pm - Purchase Here
Saturday
Greetings from California! Circa 1962 with Heather David
California. The Golden State. There’s so much to see and do! Mountains and valleys. The ocean and deserts. A trail of Spanish Missions. Old mining camps and railroads. Parks for your amusement. Buildings and bridges, and old neon signs. Roadside fruit stands and coffee shops to fill your cup. Let’s take a road trip back in time and visit some of the highlights of a California road trip, circa 1962. The beauty of this trip is that it is one you can still take TODAY.
Heather M. David is a California-based cultural historian and freelance writer. She is the author of the books Mid-Century by the Bay, Motel California, and numerous articles on American popular culture and historic preservation. Heather is an advocate for the preservation of Mid-Century modern architecture, art, and signage – with a focus on Northern California Modernism.
Saturday March 4th, 9:30-10:30am - Purchase Here
Lilly Pulitzer - Queen of Resort Wear with Nicole Vasbinder Pacheco
Lilly Pulitzer created the concept of modern resort wear as a year round way of dressing AND it all happened by accident! In this seminar you will learn about the spontaneous bohemian spirit of Lilly Pulitzer. Discover how Pulitzer went from working at a juice stand to fashion sensation to creator of American resort wear as we know it today.
Nicole Vasbinder Pacheco is a super crafty dynamo and is the designer behind Nikolani! She has owned StitchCraft since 2008 where she has taught thousands of people the joy of sewing through her popular sewing, pattern-making and design classes. Pacheco has written three books about sewing: Sewing Solutions, Sewing Machine Secrets and Super Stitches Sewing. She is an alumnus of the Academy of Art University and Otis College of Art & Design.
Saturday March 4th, 9:30-10:30am - Purchase Here
Textiles and Designs of Alexander Girard with Vince Bravo
Alexander Girard, Director of Design for Textiles at Herman Miller, once wrote that “colors are yours to use”. Explore colorful textiles, home and restaurant interiors, and graphic design works of Alexander Girard with collector Vince Bravo. Discover how Girard’s designed interiors helped colorize the home and office of the mid century.
Vince Bravo is a passionate collector and researcher of the design world of Alexander Girard. Over the years, he has amassed an extensive collection of textiles, graphic design, furniture, drawings, and personal items. As a specialized collector of Girard’s work and a dealer of mid-century modern furniture and design, Vince Bravo is recognized as a go-to source for information about modern American design in the mid century.
Saturday March 4th, 10:45-11:45am - Purchase Here
The Mid-Century Cookbook: Hellman's, Housewives, and Hostesses with Karen Finlay
What made housewives turn to tater tots, hot dogs, and mayonnaise? Did casseroles start a cultural revolution? The answers are in Mid-Century cookbooks, from classics like The Joy of Cooking, recipes to tear out and try in women's magazines, to pamphlets on the magic of cottage cheese, all designed to give some flavor and flair to dining room tables and suburban life. In this seminar, we will look at some of the weird and wonderful dishes of days gone by, and the stories behind them.
Karen Finlay lives in Vallejo, California, with her husband Jon Burchard and two tiny dogs named Dorothy Parker and Dino Martina. She owns a small independent bookstore, Alibi Bookshop.
Saturday March 4th, 11am-12noon - Purchase Here
Fairytale Parks, Puppets and Progenies with Randal Metz
Children’s Fairyland, opened in 1950, was an inspiration to Walt Disney and the blueprint for many other fairytale parks. Children’s Fairyland is based on storybook themes, using its architecture and puppetry to inspire children and families to dream, imagine and create. Master Puppeteer and historian Randal Metz will highlight the period of 1950 - 1970, and bring to life the astounding true stories of the artists at Children’s Fairyland who spellbound so many generations. Metz will also share the dramatic new changes planned for the future as Fairyland approaches its 75th anniversary and grows with its diverse Community.
Randal Metz is well known for being a Master Puppeteer, creating puppet productions at Children’s Fairyland’s Open Storybook Puppet Theater - the oldest continuously operating puppet theater in America. Over his half century career at Fairyland, he has been an entertainer, ride operator, recreation
specialist, event coordinator, Artistic Director and historian. He holds a degree in Dramatic Arts from San Francisco State University and has also published six books on the history of Children’s Fairyland and American puppetry.
Saturday March 4th, 11:15am-12:15pm - Purchase Here
Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman: Masters of the Art of Automobile Advertising
Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman were the greatest and most recognized artists in automobile advertising history. Their 13-year run of illustrations for the Pontiac wide track campaign from 1959-1971 is what they are most famous for, but their work includes other car brands as well. Unprecedented access to the artists’ archives reveals never-before-published sketches, reference photos, and color studies. Learn about the people, processes, and techniques that produced these masterpieces of advertising illustration.
Rob Keil is an award-winning advertising art director, author and filmmaker from the San Francisco Bay Area. A lifelong fan of Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman’s illustration work, Rob met and became friends with Fitzpatrick in 2010. The two began collaborating on a documentary film project that would eventually evolve into a book. Keil is also the author of LITTLE BOXES: The Architecture of a Classic Midcentury Suburb.
Saturday March 4th, 1:00-2:00pm - Purchase Here
California's Forgotten Bars & Restaurants: A Collage of Vintage Cocktail Napkins with Patrick Quinn
Quinn brings to life his new book 'Bar Keeps: A Collection of California’s Best Cocktail Napkins' in this fun and fabulous tour through the cocktail napkins of the golden state. This seminar will surprise and delight anyone who is a fan of cocktail culture, roadside diners, hidden dives, tiki bars, and more.
Patrick Quinn is a writer and designer at Universal Studios Hollywood. His main focus is creating scenic for the park’s annual Halloween Horror Nights event. He and his wife spend most of their free time haunting flea markets, thrift stores, and antique malls. In particular, he collects paper ephemera. Vintage snapshots, telegrams, restaurant menus, matchbooks, maps, and cocktail napkins. It’s that part of his collection which has led to the publication of his first book, Bar Keeps: A Collection of California’s Best Cocktail Napkins (Angel City Press).
Saturday March 4th, 2:00pm-3pm - Purchase Here
Our Own Paradise. History of Black-Owned American Resorts with Leslie “Dottie” Van Every
You may have heard of the Green Book, a popular travel guide treasured by the Black community for its travel tips during Jim Crow. But have you heard of Black Eden? Or Idlewild? Or American Beach? These are two of the many Black resorts that were popular ways many Americans spent their summer vacations. This seminar will delve into the history of these resorts featuring photos and stories from famous Black celebrities to journal entries for the lucky families who enjoyed these safe spaces.
Leslie “Dottie” Van Every is a marcom maven/writer/crafter extraordinaire/mama/lover of all things vintage except vintage beliefs. As a woman of color, whose father was deeply committed to Civil Rights, Van Every is picking up the torch as a co-founder of a powerful and well-respected community action group called 'Solidarity Sundays'. With over 20K active participants, Solidarity Sundays gathers people together in real life to develop and share current action for political change. She co-founded the award-winning children’s design blog, Modern Kiddo, and has written for Huffington Post, Babble, and many other Websites.
Saturday March 4th, 3:00-4:00pm - Purchase Here
Untold Tales of Eichler Homes with Dave Weinstein
No one built more Mid-Century modern tract homes in the United States than Joe Eichler, and no one is better known for doing it. But even many people who love Eichler homes don’t know the whole story. Did Joe aim his homes from the start at entry level buyers only? No. Did Eichler create a new style of architecture? Not at all! Was Joe Eichler a successful builder? Well, yes and no. Learn about the range of Eichler “homes,” from suburban houses with lawns to luxury apartments, and towers in the Tenderloin. And wonder: why did Eichler do it?
Dave Weinstein has been writing about Eichler and other mid-century modern homes, and modern design, for Eichler Network/CA Modern magazine for 20 years. His books include “It Came from Berkeley: How Berkeley Changed the World,” and “Signature Architects of the San Francisco Bay Area.” He has been a reporter and editor at the West County Times and Contra Costa Times, and wrote profiles of Bay Area architects for the San Francisco Chronicle. He is president of the El Cerrito Historical Society.
Saturday March 4th, 1:30-2:30pm - Purchase Here
Pitching Potent Potables: Mid-Century Spirits and Cocktail Advertisements with Martin Cate
A lively and lubricated revue of some of the funniest, corniest, creepiest, and booziest ads ever to spring from the minds of Madison Avenue! We'll trace how alcohol advertising both reflected and shaped its era from the optimism of the post-war 1940s to the decadence of the louche 1970s.
Martin Cate is a rum and exotic cocktail expert and the owner and creator of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco, home of the largest rum selection in the United States. Martin is a passionate rum collector who conducts educational seminars and officiates rum & cocktail competitions across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He is also the co-owner of Whitechapel in San Francisco, Hale Pele in Portland, False Idol in San Diego, and Max’s in Grand Rapids, MI. Martin and Rebecca Cate's book “Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki” won the 2017 James Beard Award for Best Beverage Book and the 2017 Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Book.
Saturday March 4th, 3:00-4pm - This event is SOLD OUT
SPECIAL EVENT!
Saturday March 4th, 2023
8pm-10pm
Charles Phoenix: MAD FOR MID-CENTURY
A Big Retro Slide Show Celebrating Classic and Kitschy Space Age Style.
5-4-3-2-1 BLASTOFF !!! Charles Phoenix blasts retro pop culture into the stratosphere sharing the stories and glories of his festive, fun-filled, whirlwind adventures and discoveries in search of modernist marvels, unique architecture, futuristic transportation, fun fashion, found photos, hidden treasures, time warps and more galore! Your imagination will be inspired and your spirit will soar!
{optional but fun: dress in space-age retro style and join the costume stroll!}