The Vintage Inn

First off I’m super behind on posting all the fun events I attended this summer, so bear with me as I unload Summer 2013 on you over the next week or two 🙂

First up..Toronto Vintage and Retro Society “Tiki-Tacky Retro Patio Party” that happened in July at the always fun “Cadillac Lounge“. The event was created after the FB page reached 1000 followers and the creator wanted to thank all her fans by throwing a summer Tiki party. And as an active participate in this Facebook group I was thrilled to have been able to help plan and run the event along side other fab TVRS.

Here I am with the lovely Jacquie aka creator of the “society”

(my blue and white Hawaiian dress is from Di Brooks-Outer limitz)

The Party

The day ended up being nice and warm and we really could not of asked for better Tiki party weather and I also think having such a nice day was truly the perfect backdrop.

So after a crazy morning rush of blowing up pink flamingos and hanging patio lanterns (amongst other décor) and me doing my best to not sweat my set right out off my head lol We were all set to party.

Here is some pics of our hard work.

Pink Flamingo anyone? hehehe one of these guys ended up coming home with me 😉

Oh dear the tiki bar is closed 🙁

YAY the tiki bar is open!

Highlights from the party included an awesome Surf Band-The Calrizians, totally amazing raffle prizes (like a paddle boat lesson, pinup photo shoot and much more), a beautiful Tiki burlesque performance from the gorgeous Dolly Berlin and lastly a small vendor area to stock up on all things well…Tiki! 🙂 It was a jam-packed day of fun fun fun!

Here are some of the beautiful Tiki clothes (sorry for blurry pic)

Awesome vintage Hawaiian outfits for sale.

One of the sponsors-Make Up For Ever.

The raffle and vendor table.

The Beautiful Dolly Berlin starting her burlesque performance.

We also had some yummy Tiki drinks at the event, complete with pink flamingo stir sticks.

Me and one of my gorgeous friends

Photo booth fun! Yes that is a flamingo between my legs lol!

Winners of the best dressed prize! This family was on the ball when it came to planning coordinating Tiki Outfits.

The party ended with dancing and a limbo contest.

The event was really fun and a wonderful success I just LOVED meeting everyone that attended and I look forward to future parties with all my fellow AND Future TVRS.

If you would like to check out some professional pictures of the event, please visit the following posts/links:

Courtney Reader-Photographer. This event was so great because it allowed myself and fellow TVRS to finally meet in person as opposed to just seeing our profiles on FB. One of the lovely fans was the delightful and talented Courtney Reader, who was dressed in the most beautiful Hawaiian top and cute head scarf that day. Her pics are beautiful as well as her post, so please check them out.

SNAP. SNAP Downtown Toronto is a FREE monthly print publication specializing in a “non-political” friendly and entertaining photographic view of living in our community. They compiled many of the images from the event and wrote a lovely post about the party. So check it out as well.

Liz 🙂

Ahhhh….Frankenmuth. When I was a kid I remember jumping in my grandparents motor home and driving the hour and half to Frankenmuth, chatting excitedly with my brother about what we will see at the worlds largest Christmas Store-Bronners and what yummy delights we will eat the Bavarian Inn. Those memories I still cherish today and so it was with excitement that I was able to take my husband to this little Bavaria in the heart of Michigan and show him what I enjoyed as a kid.

Take a trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan to experience a little bit of Germany

Frankenmuth History

The city’s name is a combination of two words. “Franken” represents the Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria, home of the Franks, where the original settlers were from. The German word “Mut” means courage; thus, the name Frankenmuth means “courage of the Franconians.” The area was settled and named in 1845 by conservative Lutheran immigrants from Roßtal area of Franconia (now part of Bavaria) in Germany. The group of settlers left Germany on April 20, 1845 and arrived at Castle Garden seven weeks later. They traveled via canals and the Great Lakes from New York to Detroit and arrived in August 1845. Sailing on the Nelson Smith, the settlers made their way to Saginaw and travelled over land to the present location the city of Frankenmuth. Originally part of Bridgeport Township and later Frankenmuth Township, Frankenmuth became a village in 1904 and finally a city on October 1, 1959 (Wikipedia).

Our Trip

No trip to Frankenmuth is complete without stopping in at the “World’s largest Christmas Store-Bronners” on your way into the city. This place is so HUGE and is wall to wall Christmas every day of the year, complete with Christmas music and giants Santas. I even ended up spending my yearly “new ornaments” Christmas budget in a matter of 20 mins here…opps lol!

Santa statue at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My husband makes me laugh all the time 🙂

Giant Christmas Balls at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My best pin-up pose with a polar bear lol 😛

Polar Bear seat at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Visit the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

This is what you see EVERYWHERE in this store! Christmas explosion!

Christmas Tree Decorations at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My husband’s fav tree….The BEER TREE!

Beer Christmas Tree at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Me in a sea of pretty Christmas Trees.

Blue lights for Christmas Trees at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Frog tree anyone?

Frog Christmas Tree at the World's largest Christmas Store-Bronners in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

After Bronners we drove into the city and decided to hit up the oldest brewery In Frankenmuth that has been around since 1862.

Funny story, my husband sat down at the bar and asked the bartender “if the brewery had been around a long time?” and she responds with “you could say that” lol! That was before we read our menu that said the history of the brewery.

Frankenmuth Brewery-Oldest Brewery in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

We wanted to try all the beers and the best way to do that is with a sampler, but look how they are served?? In the cutest littlest steins EVER! love love love 🙂

Selection of Beers at Frankenmuth Brewery

Enjoying mini samples of beer at the Frankenmuth Brewery

After sitting at the bar for a bit we were able to get out onto the patio for a pint and small bite to eat (don’t want to ruin our german meal later on).

Just look at how pretty the view was and check out the cool boat coming down the river! It was a really good place to just hang out and enjoy the warm summer weather.

Frankenmuth Brewery patio view of the river and a mini steamboat.

After our beer and snack we wandered the city for the next while, taking in all the European style buildings and fun stores.

Frankenmuth, Michigan-The Marv Herzog Hotel looking like a Bavaria, German building.

Welcome to Frankenmuth, Michigan's little Bavaria

Along with Beer, my husband and I also love Cheese! So it was with great excitement that we found this cute guy outside of the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. Many pictures were taken and lots of cheese was eaten (not from this block though lol).

Frankenmuth Cheese House / Haus featuring a statue of a giant mouse poking it's head out of cheese.

Such a pretty town.

We wanted to learn more about Frankenmuth so we took a stop into the museum and of course I managed to find the coolest pic from the 1950’s of a German party complete with cute dirndls and Lederhosen. This pic reminded so much of the images I have seen of my Grandparents partying it up in the German club in the 60’s that I just had to take this picture.

The one below is of a girls sports team in the 1950’s I believe and I just thought they looked so adorable in their matching uniforms.

1950s Vintage Photo of a 1950's of a German party complete with cute dirndls and Lederhosen seen in the Museum at Frankenmuth, Michigan. The pictures also features the Frankenmuth 1950s Cheerleaders.

In our travels we found a “Swing dancing beer!”. The Lindy Hopper I am squeals in delight 🙂

Victory Beer-Swing a session saison beer.

The beautiful Bavarian Inn where we had a traditional German meal. I will admit though that while the food was good my Omi’s & my mom’s German dishes are better…sorry Bavarian Inn!

Frankenmuth-Bavarian Inn searving the world famous chicken dinners in their cute Bavarian style buiilding.

Beer Garden complete with the CUTEST couple singing German Oktoberfest tunes all afternoon.

Frankenmuth-Bavarian Inn bels, clbock and a patio.

Ohhh a pretty 1920s car!

Frankenmuth, Michigan 1920s car on display.

Covered bridges are the best!

Adorable shopping area they created to fit the look of the other businesses already established in the town.

Maggi…Growing up my mother always had Maggi in the cupboard and when she cooked she would always say “Add Maggi it makes everything taste so much better”. My Omi (grandmother) has Maggi on hand as well and so does her boyfriend but I thought it was just my strange German family who liked it. UNTIL…we went in this store and everything in this store was “Bavarian Specialities” direct from Germany, nothing cheap and cheesy here and there was THIS display of Maggi on the shelf, right above the red cabbage. So the mystery is solved, it is a German thing! lol