What Are You Doing...

As for us, this year we're with the terrier presented to us by dear Mr. Addams in a rare non-macabre mood. Although I don't think, knowing Our Little Condo as I do, that there will be much in the way of festivities to lure us to the windows.

Onward and Upward with the Arts

I wonder, a lot, if I spend too much time online, to the detriment of filling my mind, such as it is, with better things.

Birthday Girl: Illusions

The extraordinary creature born Marie Magdalene Dietrich was a belated Christmas present to the world some 114 years ago today.

Box It Up - I'll Take It

Sometimes I think it's really on Boxing Day that we ought to be getting presents. Failing the gentleman himself, those fetching little boots might do nicely.

Have Yourselves a Mamie Little Christmas

A very Merry day to all, from Mr. Muscato, Koko, Boudi and me, with a little help from Ike and Mamie's 1960 Christmas greeting - a Café tradition, on and off, since 2009. There's just something about those calligraphic bangs that sends me into gales of giggles.

Redux: Heavenly Peace

I first posted this on Christmas Eve of 2013. As fast away this old year passes, the old world I was raised in feels ever further away - as far away on this warm December evening as a snow-covered lawn all those years ago. What the next year brings us, none of us yet can know, but I still hope for a measure, just a measure, of that himmlischer Ruh.

Another time the year goes 'round; another chance to revisit one of my earliest memories...

Three Little Girls with Three Little Curls

We'll revert to the traditional this evening, but here to get us through this most hectic day of the year, a salutory lesson:

Fancy Running into You Here!

"Well, it is a season for chance meetings, isn't it?"

How the Gretch Stole Christmas

Trust Loretta Young to have everything ready days in advance.  Even at the holidays she annnoys me.

The Fix is In

I'm afraid that this year, the holidays have been somewhat delayed chez nous.

A Holiday Fashion Moment

Trust dear Miss Alice Faye to have the perfect seasonal outfit.

And Now, a Word from our (Holiday) Sponsor

Hard to believe it's just a couple of years before little Susie there will be demanding cha-cha heels and knocking over the tree.  A sentiment that, on opening her fourth Hoover household appliance, Mum can more than sympathize with.

And what the hell did a Keymatic do?

Over the River and Through the Woods

Every day, I think how my Mother would have laughed.

Book Report: Love it All

"What are standards?"

So This Happened: Yuletide Edition

Who knew that Cher went through a Kay Francis-impersonating phase?

'Tis the Season

Well, it's time to kick off the festive season, and with that comes traditions - few dearer to me than starting off each year with this little gem as the first Christmas song I listen to on purpose (as opposed to all the elevator music that's been being pumped out hither and yon since something like the week after Labor Day).

All My Darling Daughters

So my new office, now that the good people of Golden Handcuffs Amalgamated International have moved our exiguous little unit up closer to the mother ship, as it were, is rather centrally located. Because we are in Our Nation's Capital, it's come as no surprise that one thing that means is that we are near museums.