I am not a fashionista.
I know my family and friends have rolled their eyes more than a few times at how I’ve been dressed over the years, but I’ve always kind of danced to my own tune.
Having said that I love clothes, love shoes, and love accessories. When special exhibits come to town, I’m usually there – the Princess Diana wardrobe, Princess Grace of Monaco exhibit, Christian Dior, even James Bond memorabilia.
So one day when I was on my way to see blogger Deb from The Widow Badass, I was surprised to see a highway sign for the Fashion History Museum.
Did Deb know about this?
I should mention that Deb owns a heritage building – a former Post Office. The main floor is a retail rental space and although I’d been there on a couple of occasions, I’d never really noticed the actual tenant.
You guessed it. Her tenant is the Fashion History Museum.
Well, colour me Stupid.
After Deb and I had a good giggle over my less-than-acute observation skills, she mentioned that the museum was holding a special event called Tango Tea. It was featuring the time period 1910 to 1919 with costumes, games, dancing … and tea.
Of course I was interested in attending!!
The big venues with their high profile exhibits and large advertising budgets get all the public’s attention, but these small venues and the special events they host are usually a little bit different and a lot more intimate.
… and that was the case with Tango Tea.
It was a lively gathering. Although the only person I knew was Deb, that certainly did not dampen the cameraderie of the event.
The Price Is Right and Name that Tune type games were played involving products and music from the time period. Guess what? Deb discovered I was a dismal handicap when it comes to trivia games! Have you ever heard of a song called I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles from 1919? Well, me neither!
When I found a more “updated” version of the song, I couldn’t resist including it here – even though it “varies somewhat” from the original ….
However, co-founders of the museum – Jonathan Walford and Kenn Norman – were just warming up the crowd for the fun that was to follow. Dancing historians, Richard Powers & Kimber Rudo, were on the agenda to demonstrate dances from the time period and involve the audience in the dance steps.
I don’t remember if this was the Turkey Trot or the Grizzly or a combination of the two, however it was fun.
This was an afternoon that was informative, entertaining, and interactive … all the right ingredients for a memorable event.
If you have a small museum in your area that you haven’t visited, I encourage you to do so. Even better, be a sponsor, be a volunteer, get involved.
You might have more fun than you think.
Hahha, now this is a kind of cover that I wouldn’t necessarily expect you to post. Oi, oi!!! Love it! I enjoyed the dance too, the only thing missing, of course, is a shot of you in this kind of gown. It looks like a most excellent museum and I’m glad you had a great time.
LikeLike
Oh Manja – I do all kinds of different things 😏
Are you on Instagram? I had posted a photo there of Deb & I at Tango Tea. Neither of us are in costume but we did clean up for the occasion! Hope the link works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesss, yes yes, you posted it on FB too, I had a look and I remembered. 🙂 Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoy small museums, and I also really love small art galleries and local (and children’s) art exhibitions.
Jude
LikeLike
I have to admit I’m not a huge museum person. It’s partly short attention span and partly an aversion to crowds. What I have discovered is that the small museums are not an issue in either case 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, what a fun post, Joanne. I’m sorry I missed it — but delighted that I spotted it today. I love this kind of thing. Hugs.
LikeLike
This would definitely have been an event you’d have loved. I even heard an “applesauce” or two 🙂
LikeLike
[…] …. the Fashion History Museum’s Tango Tea, […]
LikeLike
Love the dance video Joanne. I know absolutely nothing about 100-year-old dances, but from the simulated claws and outstretched arms, my bet’s on the grizzly. I’ll have to google this one. Also, I wouldn’t feel too badly about a poor trivia performance from a century ago. The tea looked like a cup-full of fun. ~James
LikeLike
I’m a big fan of trying anything that’s a bit different. This certainly fit the bill 🙂
LikeLike
I’m not a fashionista either, but love exhibitions of clothing. Your afternoon with Deb looks totally brilliant!! Weirdly, I know the “blowing bubbles” song too. I think maybe my dad sang it. Which probably means I know incorrect (and highly inappropriate) lyrics. 😳
LikeLike
bwahahahaha!! Everyone needs a parent like that 😆 My mother was the one whose humour drifted to the risqué.
LikeLike
It looks like quite the fun day! I should frequent more of our local museums. One that’s been on my list is the Pinball museum…with working pinball machines! When I was a teen, before we’d go into the movies, we’d play pinball at the arcade next door. 🙂
LikeLike
A pinball museum sounds like fun!! It would be even more entertaining if you were actually into pinball as a kid.
It’s something I never got into although I have a feeling that if I tried now, it would be a blast …. especially it is involved a group of friends and a few adult beverages first 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looked like such a fun day – I love discovering places like this. I can think of two that might be of interest – In the Old town section of Oakville, the park down at the lake adjacent to the Marina there are a couple of small cabins – I believe one’s a Post Office and there is often someone there dressed in period costume to explain the history. And here in Toronto, he church I attend is St. Andrew’s Presbyterian on King Street next to Roy Thomson Hall – the Museum of the 48th Highlanders is in the basement and is open to the public usually a couple of times a week at around noon. It has quite an extensive collection and includes one of the five wooden crosses from Vimy Ridge. Entrance is are to both of these small museums.
LikeLike
Thanks Margie. I’ve heard of the museum in the basement at St Andrew’s and it’s been on my list of things to do for a while. It will likely have to wait until some cold day in winter 😉
I’ve also heard that there are mini-concerts in the church on Fridays at noon. I haven’t checked it out either.
LikeLike
When I was in Toronto I visited the Ceramics Museum, which featured all sorts of beautiful sets of ceramic serving wear as well as other artistic ceramic sculptures. A great treat!
LikeLike
I haven’t been but it’s been on my list for a while. Perhaps when the snow starts flying again and I have a reason to stay indoors!
LikeLike
Dang, this was fun. So fun that I’m envious of everyone who got to Tango with Tea at the museum. Sounds divine, darling! (Didn’t they talk like that in the 1910’s to 1919’s??). I’m like you – I don’t dress up much and I HATE to shop, but I love looking at the clothes of ‘Fancy People” in museums. Go figure. This outing would have been my cup of tea.
LikeLike
Yes, I think you have loved it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have so many interest, Joanne! Tango and tea is new territory to me:) But it sounds you had fun. And below the post I saw you in a dress!- a dress! Just teasing you. Thank you for coming by and commenting on burnt sienna.By the way am remembering vaguely some time ago you were planning to take art lessons – and forgot if you followed up on that… let me know if I can help you in any way – Have a great weekend.
LikeLike
Aww – thank you! You’re so kind for offering help. I haven’t signed up for any art classes yet, but I have been working on a couple of pieces. The beauty of not knowing anything is that I’m free to explore 🙂
LikeLike
Oh it looks like great fun! I loved the video. At first I thought they were going to break into a monster trot. Such a joy to find these lesser known venues where such gems are uncovered.
LikeLike
These small venues struggle to stay alive and relevant against big attractions. A good curator will make all the difference and I think this event demonstrates that this museum certainly has one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so funny you didn’t realize your friend Deb’s tenant was a fashion museum! I was so excited to see Queen Elisabeth II’s clothes on display at Buckingham Palace the summer of…oh, gosh years ago now I forget the year and don’t want to go dig out my souvenirs to find out, but it was so crowded I didn’t see all that I had hope to. She’s so tiny! Or going by her clothes she was/is.
Your day sounds like so much fun. I didn’t know the song, and don’t know how to dance those numbers either.
LikeLike
Yay! Someone else who is musically clueless 😉
Now I too would have been all over that exhibit – in spite of the crowds! And yes, the size of them is often very enlightening. I had a similar reaction when I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and saw an outfit worn by Mick Jagger. He was/is tiny too!! I’m pretty sure the waist wouldn’t fit around my thigh 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was super neat! Thanks for takin me with you 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Joey 🙂
LikeLike
Such pornography at the top of this post! But I did recover enough to really laugh at your missing the museum on your friend’s building. I do things like that all the time (such as only recently noticing a cool store next to our gym — we’ve been going there for over a year!). I love that early period of history; it sounds like a fun place to visit. – Marty
LikeLike
Thanks Marty. You were the only one who appreciated my sense of humour in the first photo … ie a post about fashion and I feature mannequins with no clothes on 😁
LikeLike
I love that time period and would have had a grand old time at this event. Gotta love the Cockney Rejects cover of a 1919 song. Sharing your giggles about your observation skills.
LikeLike
Yay! Someone liked the Cockney Rejects version! I listened to several before I decided this one was my favourite 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a lot of fun, and a cool place to spend some time, and a happy connection. I love visiting small specialty museums. I learn a lot and the curators often do a wonderful job of displaying things.
LikeLike
In the last couple of years I’ve been learning about the joys of small museums. They are more personal and I’m beginning the respect the art of the curator.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an awesome way to spend time with a good friend. I know the ‘Bubbles Song’ too. Brings back fond memories of my mom singing it.
Loved the video!
LikeLike
I guess it wasn’t one of my mom’s favourites because I never heard it … and she did love to sing
LikeLike
Small museums are great and I don’t make the effort to explore them like I should. Silly me, I expected the couple to be dancing the tango… not the Grizzly Bear. My husband and I love to dance but we’ve never seen that one before… and I don’t think we’ll be trying that one anytime soon. You and Deb seem to be quite the BFFs lately 🙂
LikeLike
hahaha! The event wouldn’t have been complete without the tango and they did do it …. as well as a few others. What was fun was having everyone up to learn a modified tango. I think even someone clumsy footed like me could have done it 🙂
This summer certainly was a good one for Deb and I to connect on several activities we were both interested in doing. We still have one more on the calendar in a couple of weeks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, that looks like so much fun! 😊
LikeLike
It was quite different (in a good way 🙂). There was thought and effort that went into the program and I guess that’s what makes an event memorable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the dancing. Sounds like fun! I love old clothes.
LikeLike
Some of the clothes makes you wonder why on earth anyone would wear them … but then again, isn’t that true of a lot of fashion? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why did we were shoulder pads that were bigger than a football players pads? BTW I loved modest shoulder pads. Balanced the hips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow sounds like a fabulous time!
LikeLike
It was a lot of fun … but then again, we choose to make our fun, don’t we? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup–I know that song. My mother used to sing (along) with it on her radio station. This looks like so much fun, Joanne. I am glad you went and photographed it, too!
LikeLike
hmmmm – there are too many of you remembering this song. Maybe the song was an American thing … that’s my official excuse 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s official! You are excused. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
How interesting! The male dancer in the video looks a bit like a young Sam Waterston to me (think Great Gatsby days).
LikeLike
Actually, I can see why you say that … although I know him most recently from Grace and Frankie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Grace and Frankie! I have to catch up on some episodes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the series. I hope a new season will be released.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And, yippee, I spotted a suffragette! Yes, I know “I’m for ever blowing bubbles”, maybe it was better known over here. Funnily enough, the post I read before yours was about Dalgarven Mill, a small museum we like which has a costume section.
LikeLike
Actually the suffragette movement from the time was a big theme of the afternoon. Sadly, this is one of those events in history that I actually know little about. “Emmeline Pankhurst” paid us a surprise visit during our tea and gave a moving speech about women’s rights.
Talking about gratitude – this is one movement for which all women should be deeply grateful!!!
LikeLike
Yes, I’m reading a lot about them at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s very cool! I also know the bubble song, I think we used to sing it in the tub when we were little. Looks like a fun outing.
LikeLike
Gaaaah – how could my education be so lacking that I completely missed the bubble song???
LikeLike
That was a fun-looking dance. Stuff like that shows what people were willing to do for entertainment when there was no radio or TV.
LikeLike
Exactly my thinking too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate to say it, but I also know the song “I’m forever blowing bubbles” – but I don’t know how to do the Turkey Trot or the Grizzly Bear!!
LikeLike
I guess I’ve lead a sheltered life 😉
Is it just me or did this time period seem to have an unusual fascination for dances named after animals? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, lady, you’ve provided another learning moment here. Two posts in a row. 🙂 I knew I’d heard that song and wondered what year that Dean Martin recorded it – 1973. I have several small museums near me, but no fashion ones. I’m definitely not a fashionista and never was. When I worked, I spent a lot of money to dress well, The day I retired I donated it all to a women’s employment network. What I use to call business casual is now dress up for me, and I like it that way. 🙂 It looked like you two ladies had a blast and that’s what friendship is all about. 🙂
LikeLike
My mother was a huge Dean Martin fan so I’m really surprised I’ve never heard his version of it before.
I know what you mean about dressing up. It seems that once we are retired, there are few occasions to get really dressed up … which is just as well. As much as I am fond of shoes, my aging feet aren’t as forgiving 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you get out on the dance floor?
LikeLike
For all my sense of adventure, it doesn’t extend to the dance floor. I wasn’t about to demonstrate my lack of coordination!
LikeLike
Hah! It was the Grizzly Bear. Glad you enjoyed the Tea, Joanne. Always a pleasure to have you accompany me on an outing, even if it is only downstairs and across the street.
Deb
LikeLiked by 1 person
Distance-wise we didn’t travel far, but time-wise we certainly did!!
Looking forward to the next adventure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often think the best museums are small museums because they can be so focused on their mission. I’m sure you’ve been to the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, right? This summer (not using the past tense yet) we went to a small Black History Museum in Amherstburg which was filled with personal artifacts of families from the area. The young woman who was our tour guide and whose ancestors helped build a small church adjacent to the museum made it all that more personal.
BTW, I HAVE heard the song “I’m forever blowing bubbles”. My mother used to sing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been to the Bata museum a few times and I’ve heard of the museum in Amherstburg but haven’t been there. Isn’t there a cabin associated with the Underground Railway located in the area as well?
I found a Dean Martin version of Blowing Bubbles as well. My mom was a BIG Dean Martin fan and I’m surprised I had never heard the song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Add me to the “Yes I remember that song” list. But I wouldn’t have admitted it unless so many of your blog followers did first. Your museum trip was just the unexpected delight I love. When we were in Toronto I visited the Royal Onterio Museum, which featured many of the Xion Warriers: the Terracotta Army that is so amazing; every soldier’s face is different, and there are hundreds of them!
LikeLike
I’m embarrassed to admit I never got to the ROM to see the Terracotta Warriers. Stupid, stupid, stupid!! Maybe someday I’ll get a do-over.
LikeLike