Upside of Nesting -Call For Photos

Here at UpsideDive, we will be exploring interior spaces -your interior spaces.

We're asking for photos of your homes, rooms, dorms, or whatever space you reside in. What style is creeping in your corners, what style is missing from your want list? We'd love to share these pics on future blogs... if you have a space challenge, we'd like to help. If you're satisfied with your space, we'd love to gawk and goo and gaa over the results.

Send photos to upsidedive@gmail.com. Hey, you show us yours, we'll show you ours.

(New items coming next week: mid-century buffet and hutch in walnut finish, amoeba formica coffee table)

Upside of Fashion... Mono What?!

Monokini! We came across this most questionable term. Puzzled we decided to do some research. It appears that the monokini can refer to one of two things. 

1)The equivalent to a bikini bottom worn independently as a one-piece bathing suit resulting in a topless ensemble. Gained popularity with the women's rights movement of the '60s.

2)A one-piece swimsuit inspired by the style of the bikini. Using chains, strings, and strategic strips of fabric to join the lower and upper portions of the suit.*

Originally designed in 1964 by Austrian born American designer Rudi Gernreich, the monokini debuted with such a commotion it doomed itself into obscurity. Today known predominantly by '60s fashion hounds and swimwear enthusiasts, with jumpers and rompers on rise it's bound to make a come back. Especially in a time when women are moving into powerful positions(well almost i.e. Mrs. Clinton), support for women's rights is never more needed. You might say that it's just a bathing suit and an objectifying one at that, but we disagree. As equal to her male counterpart, it's a female's right to choose if she would like to go topless or not. With Pride weekend in full swing we hope to see more women expressing this right. And thanks to Mr. Gernreich you can put this into practice in full style. 

*thank you wiki! 

photo 2 : delia's, photo 3 & 4 : victoria's secret photo 1 & 6 : Rudi Gernreich's Original Monokini

Upside of Culture - Where's the Party?

"Now were comin' out, Out of our closets, Out on the streets, Yeah, were comin' out..." Lou Reed croons what I like to call the soundtrack to the end of yet another June. Though it's really the kick-start to summer, this is when it truly heats up. Pride festivities hit Toronto and sexuality and identity battle and dance it out for up to a weeks' time. The celebration usually takes off on the Friday and doesn't stop till early Monday morn'. And although it can get a lil' corporate at times, it's still a highlight to the summer in the city. Big or small there is always too much to do in sooo little time. Over the next three days here are some events that you must make it out for:

Friday June 27th

- Seniors' Pride on the Island.
Join 50+ Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Tanssexual/Transgender/Intersex/Queer/Questioning/2Spirited Peoples seniors and their families for festivities on Ward's Island including a lunchtime BBQ($7). It makes us happy that events like this one geared to all ages are happening, these folk are the reason Pride exists.

- Frydaze at Gladstone Hotel - Melody Bar
Various art exhibitions, live music by Shitt Hott and Satans Candy with "Boylesque" male burlesque dancers. http://www.gladstonehotel.com/events/
- Vazaleen : Shame - Wrongbar
If you got tickets to Will Munro's infamous art/dance night you're very lucky. It happens once again this time with headliners SSION who are said to put on an untouchable performance.

- Congorock + Leif - The Drake Underground
Dance your brains out. Nuff said. http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/events/6640/pride-congorock-leif-stop-die-resuscitate-dj-geoff-snack

Saturday June 28th

-Pride and Remembrance Run - Church & Wellsley
While the rest of us are nursing hangovers and munchin' brunch, these awesome folk are out running to raise money for Youthline Outreach Program and the Inside Out Queer Youth Digital Video Project. So get off yo' ass and cheer them on. Starts at 10am.

-Family Pride : Mask Making - Church Street Public School
Who doesn't want to get super silly and make a mask that you won't take off till Monday morning. 12-1pm.

-Dyke March
Because it's super important that the march happens. For all the hype the parade gets these ladies really do march for pride.
Starts at 2pm. http://www.pridetoronto.com/dyke.php


-Big Primpin' House Party - The Drake Hotel Complex
Dance till you drop to the oh-so gay night of dancehall/electro/bling-hop/booty and more. $10 at the door, 8pm - 4am.

-Love is Love : Block Party - Levack Block 88 Ossington Ave.
A big ol' gay block party with DJ Barbi and DJ Dalia at the tables this party's got it goin' on! 10pm

- Church Street Stage Shows
All of Saturday and Sunday a ton of awesome bands play the spread out stages for free ta boot! Make sure to check out the Hidden Cameras Saturday at 11pm and Kids on TV and MEN(JD Samson and Johanna Fateman of Le Tigre fame) on Sunday at 3pm.

Sunday June 29th

-Pride Parade - Yonge Street
Through all the corporate sponsors and sunstroke, it's the lil' people that are the real attraction. Like the Gay Geeks and the PFLAG folk. They warm my heart. After the parade work your way over to Church St and take in the drag queen cat fights and a crowd that is rivaled only by Church St. during halloween.

If you've got any pride plans of your own you'd like to share, post them below in the comments. Sometimes the small get togethers/parties are the ones not to miss, most often they hold a deeper sense of community. See you on the streets...

Dahling Dora: It's The Bees-Hive Knees

Dear Dora,

I've always wondered how a beehive hairdo is made. Can you tell me how someone would create this masterpiece?

Signed,
Curious Kitten


Dearest CK,

The Beehive was also referred to as the B-52 -something about resembling the nose of a bomber with the same name, and also inspired the look and name of the new wave band The B-52s. It was created in 1960 by an illinois hairdresser, Margaret Vinci Heldt. Sadly, the popularity of the beehive died out in the late 60s, but it remains a classic icon of kitsch to this day.

This faboo do' can be recreated with some simple tools and a little bit of patience. It is mainly comprised of three simple principles: curling, teasing, and spraying. For a more inviting look and less Amy Winehouse hornet-nest, sweep up those mullet straggles and leave the height to the birds.

Here are the basic tools you will need:
LARGE OR JUMBO ROLLERS; OR LARGE CURLING IRON
COMB
BOBBY PINS AND CLIPS
STYLING MOUSE OR GEL
EXTRA HOLD HAIRSPRAY

Follow the step-by-step instructions from ehow's fashion, style, and personal care editor below:

Step 1
Shampoo the hair with a good moisturizing shampoo and pat it dry with a soft towel.

Step 2
Set the hair in curlers, electric rollers or with a curling iron, but don't brush through the curls. Giving the hair some curl will help to provide volume and height when you begin styling the beehive.

Step 3
Work a generous amount of hair spray, styling mousse or styling gel into the roots of the hair.

Step 4
Separate the hair between your forehead and the crown of your head and clip it to one side. This section will be styled last.

Step 5
Begin in the upper part of the back of your head and section the hair across the back of your head. Bring the section up towards the front of your head, and secure it with hair gel and bobby pins.

Step 6
Continue one section at a time, bringing each section up and over the previous section, building layers and pinning them as you go. Each layer that you add will increase the height of the beehive.

Step 7
Style the front section any way you like. You can pull it up over the top of the beehive, adding more height, or style it across the forehead. Give the entire beehive an additional misting of hair spray.

Tips & Warnings
Modern beehive hairdos typically aren't as tall as the original beehive hairdos. However, if you want to add height to your beehive, use the tail of a rattail comb to push into the beehive, carefully lifting it up. 

(You can find original post here: http://www.ehow.com/how_2294425_style-modern-beehive-hairdo.html )

Check out 'hair archives' for an idea of setting rollers for beehive coiffs: http://www.hairarchives.com/private/archive2/beehive/beehive.htm

Although the steps to achieving this look may seem complicated, the results may just be worth it. Just think of the benefits. You'll be instantly taller, you'll be able to balance dinner to the table, and lastly you'll have a handy place for storing- a carton of cigarettes, your wallet, a clown, the diva cup, a rainbow, the Bermuda Triangle, mace, chocolate covered raisins, Don Knots and the rest of the Mayberry clan...oh and let's not forget the kitchen sink.

DD
(photos taken from above hairarchive link)

Upside of Nesting -Patio Partios

Summer is all about the outdoor festivities. Patios, pools, parks. The kids at UpsideDive thought it might be fun to make up themes to summer time parties. Here we have three invitations to three very wacky parties. Wacky enough that they might actually happen...


Tash insists on:

SHAKE, SHAKE SENORA!
Babies. I'm having a Kitsch Cabana Party, and you lucky devils are invited! My Back patio has been transformed into a poolside paradise, pool boy included! Dresscode is coconuts, grassskirts, speedos, big hair, sarongs and skin, skin, skin!
We'll be dining on honey glazed roasted pineapple and tofu & veggie shish kebabs. Don't worry about booze dahling, Randy Rye and Rum Punch and Cuba Libres will be served at 5pm and all night long till the sunrises over the limbo pole. You like? I like!



Mike's keen on:

COME ON BARBIE, LET'S GO PARTY!
Because I love plastic, you, and everyone you know, i'm having a Best Barbie Ever Party. Of course you'll come dressed up as your favourite Barbie or Barbie character complete with accessories. The back deck will be blanketed in astro turf and artificial everything. Sweets and candy to snack on and Pink lady and Royal Fizz drinks a plently! At midnight a crown and fake flowers will be awarded to the Best Barbie Ever. Show up fashionably late, but technically the party starts at 7pm.



Angie goes crazy for:

FEAR FACTOR: FOR THE LOVE OF ASPIC!
Is fear a factor for you??? Calling all aproned house-fraus and Ward Cleaver suits... you are invited to the ultimate foody fear factor- can you face the mesmerizing yet gag invoking power of the oh so versatile, beautiful but deadly... jellied salad? Join us at 8pm to witness or test your strength in the salad eating contest of 'Jellied Olive and Carrot,' & 'Ambrosia Mayo Medley'. Bring your appetite, suppress your fear of all things jiggly and unappetizing. (We'll have agar based jelly -an animal-friendly version of gelatin.) Stick around for the final fear tasting show-down of mystery mould! Jello shooters and head-cheese to follow. Be there or be a rainbow jell-o-cube square!




(Pic#1 from speedojunkie.blogspot.com, Pic#2 copyright Mattel, Pic#3 from the Joys of Jello, General Foods)

Upside of...Fashion

The soundtrack playing in our head sounds like this...
We waaant ROM-PERS, la-la-la-la-la-la...
Short...short ROM-PERS! la-la-la-la-la-la...

we heart designs from Moschino and TopShop, yup yup!

(top 2 pics from Moschino's Spring 08 line; last 3 pics from TopShop Spring 08)

Upside of...Culture

Sketch in Toronto

Last weekend we attended and set up a booth at the Better Reasons Festival -a celebration of art, music, and independent culture held at Tranzac off Bloor. It was put together by Blocks Blocks Blocks Recording Club, Fuzzy Logic Recordings, Out of this Spark and the Tranzac; proceeds raised during the 3-day event were donated to Sketch a Toronto based organization which "creates art making opportunities for young people who live street-involved and homeless, or who are considered to be at risk." Sketch offers space for self-expression, mentorship and apprenticeship in arts, educational support for positions in art fields, jobs, various instructional workshops from screen printing to dance, as well as art exhibition and work for sale. Visit them @ http://www.sketch.ca/
Until that event, we had never heard of Sketch and was unaware that this organization existed in our city and of the great work they were doing. It surprises us how little coverage and media attention non-profit groups like Sketch actually get. These are the kinds of organizations that work hand-to-hand with people in our community, and yet they get little recognition, little attention. They are the groups that need shout outs, that depend on donations and the support of their community.

We will be taking a jaunt over to their headquarters located at 580 King St.(2nd floor) next week. If you would like to volunteer or provide a donation, check out the website under "How you Can Help" section or contact them directly: http://sketch.ca/contact.html

So we say, venture out, find out what's happening in your backyard, and get involved...you might be pleasantly surprised.