The Doo Dah beat goes on…

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It takes a little while, but slowly the memories of the 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade are trickling in.

 

Here’s a photo of me on McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World’s Queen of Arts float taken by my friend and co-worker Watchara Phomicinda.

 

My friend and fellow Doo Dah celebrant Elvirus has several great photos from the big day that you can see here:

 

www.PasadenaDooDah.com

 

If you have any 2009 Doo Dah photos or videos that you would like to share, send them in jpeg format or send a link to them to me at michelle.mills@sgvn.com

 

Now, carry on, as you were,

Queen Naughty Mickie

Doo Dah in action

It was a glorious day for the 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade ~ the sun was shining, spirits were high and everything was sparkly.

 

I arrived at Memorial Park in Pasadena a tad after 8 a.m. with my mother in tow. We looked over the slowly growing crowd of parade -goers and participants and I glanced up Raymond to see a castle on wheels turn the corner and make its way to the staging area.

 

McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World was sponsoring me as the “Very Outgoing Queen Naughty Mickie” with its entry ~ Queen of Arts. Designer Dave Lovejoy really outdid himself. The castle totally covered his ’70 Volkswagen Transporter and boasted towers, an archway and many details, such as dragons, “holes” for archers, sconces with flowers on either side of my throne, grates across the truck’s windows to serve as marshmallow deflectors and more. And everything was recycled, some items had been used three or more times for other things before the castle.

 

About half of our group arrived, so we went to the senior center for its pancake breakfast and then went back to the float. We weaved long tendrels cut from the gallery’s famous vine through the castle’s turrets and edges for a little more splash. I also draped a long piece of fabric left over from my dress from last year when I was the parade’s queen across my throne.

 

It seemed forever, but finally it was time to go. Dave took his place as castle driver with his wife Vera by his side. I assumed the throne in the back of the truck, umm castle, flanked by Princess Cindy, Princess Valerie, Princess Sarah and drummers Joanne and Jose. Walking the route would be Sir Ben of the Arts, Lady Deb, Lady Eve, Lady Lynn, Sage Cliff, drummer Ric and his friends Lady Lynn and Gentleman Frank, Wench Johnny and a few other assorted castle fans. My mother was seated in the Doo Dah VIP section, as she loves to watch a good parade.

 

Our entry was right in front of the 32nd Occasional Doo Dah Queen Skittles’ entourage and it was fun to watch them cavort down the route. I must remark that Queen Skittles was quite good on her horse, waving to the crowd and taking photos, but especially keeping calm when the steed became a little spooked by all the commotion.

 

As for Queen of Arts, Dave took his time meandering along the street, which was allowed parade-goers to get a good gander at our float. We received many positive comments and enjoyed sharing our joy with the crowd.

 

Get a peek at Queen of Arts in Doo Dah action here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psreLhL7cEg

 

After our run we returned to the staging area to say our good byes. Dave presented me with the plaque from the front of the float (which is now hanging up in my living room)  and I held back my tears~ what an honor.

 

And what a truly fantastic day!! 

Don’t miss the Doo Dah Parade Sunday

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I hereby request all my loyal subjects to once again enjoy a beautiful sunny day with me. You can honor my presence by attending the 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade Sunday stepping off from the corner of Raymond and Holly (Memorial Park) at 11:30 a.m.

 

I will be riding on the Queen of Art float by McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World. It is a virtual castle on wheels created almost entirely out of recycled materials. My throne will be turned backwards, as being the outgoing (sniff) Queen, I will be waving all of you a fond goodbye.

 

Here is some more information to better help you enjoy the day:

 

PARKING:
–Parking is available in the following locations:

Some free parking is available north of Walnut Street on Raymond Avenue. Please do not use the church parking lots.

Convenient, reasonably-priced parking is located in the Marriott Hotel structure. The entrance is located on Raymond Avenue just off of Walnut Street.

More convenient, reasonable parking is located in the Presbyterian Church structure, located on Holly Street, between Arroyo Parkway and Marengo Avenue.

There are many other parking structures in the immediate area, including Union Street, between Raymond Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue, and on Raymond Avenue between Colorado Blvd. and Holly Street.

Memorial Park Station is a stop on the Pasadena Gold Line, which will take you straight to the step-off area.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST:
–Take advantage of the Pasadena Senior Center “All-you-can-eat!” Pancake Breakfast. The Senior Center is located at Holly Street and Raymond Avenue and offers its annual fare of pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, eggs, OJ and coffee for $7 per person. Breakfast will be served 8:30-11:30am.

SOUVENIRS AVAILABLE:
–Official 2009 Pasadena Doo Dah Parade T-shirts can be purchased for $15 at the entrance to the Senior Center (corner of Raymond Avenue & Holly Street). Doo Dah pins are for sale for $5 and vintage T’s can be purchased for $10!  When you buy a t-shirt or pin, you are
supporting the whole Doo Dah Parade operation, with a percentage also benefiting the humanitarian work of the Lion’s Club of Pasadena, and your support really makes a difference to us, and to others who thank you with good karma points! The shirts will also be sold along the parade route.

OFFICIAL DOO DAH AFTER-PARTY:
–Please join us and your fellow participants at the official Doo Dah Wrap Party held at the American Legion Hall located at 179 N. Vinedo Avenue (91107) in east Pasadena (north of Colorado Blvd. between Altadena and San Gabriel). The Legion’s telephone is (626) 792-9938.
Don’t miss immortal Doo Dah house band Snotty Scotty & the Hankies and Horses on Astroturf as they entertain us until the cows come home!! Cover charge is $5, to a charity of the Legion’s choice.

 

I hope you’ll join me. And please do not hesitate to stop by the float or the after-party and say hello.

 

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Now, carry on, as you were,

Queen Mickie

31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Queen

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All the Doo Dah day… and night

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Saturday was a big Doo Dah day for me. It began at McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World, where I returned for more float building work. I spent just shy of five hours painting “mortar” patterns on piece of cardboard that will serve as the walls of our “stone” castle. I also took a test ride and learned some very interesting facts about the float.

 

Designer Dave Lovejoy told me that almost everything on the float is recycled. The cardboard is discarded boxes from a bicycle shop. The throne was originally an art installation piece that Lovejoy made from three old chairs. Adding to that, I brought ribbons and garlands that were on my cars in last year’s parade and were also used as Christmas decorations by one of my princesses. I brought some old hand-me-down curtain that we will be using to cover seats and for other decorative touches too.

 

All in all, the float is really shaping up and I’m sure will be a big hit on parade day.

 

Saturday evening I headed to the Old Town Pub in Pasadena for the Pre-Doo Dah Parade Party. Quite a few of my friends showed up and the place was packed. My friend Angela had helped me with my hair and makeup, turning me from a rockin’ belly dancer into a glamorous retro beauty ala Audrey Hepburn.

 

I had a beehive with a long ponytail to one side. My updo was graced with gold glitter dust, star clips and my traveling tiara (a gift from Princess Linda). My makeup was like something out of an old photograph and I wore a long blue/black gown flecked with sparkles of silver with a feather-hemmed peplum, long black glovelets and my pink glitter pumps.

 

When I entered the Pub, it took a minute for people to recognize me. Tom Coston of Light Bringer Project (which puts on Doo Dah) said, “Our little queen is all grown up.” I made time for everyone and joined former Queens Tequila, Kavita and Erica and current Queen Skittles singing backups for former Queen Mercy as she belted out “Respect” with the event’s hosting band, Andrew’s Bad Stuff.

 

Finally it was my time on stage. As I adjusted my microphone, a man at the edge of the stage caught my eye. He said he was a reader and enjoyed my columns. That made my night! Before I could do more than thank him, Andrew’s Bad Stuff launched into my first number.

 

I sang a bluesy/jazz version of “Fever” as sultry as possible and followed it with the HorrorPops’ “Hitchcock Starlet” – just add drama. I must have done well, as many in the crowd seemed surprised that I could sing and they enjoyed my dance moves too. Perhaps the best compliment I got was from Mercy (of the popular groups Mercy and the Merkettes and the Mercy Powell Quartet), who said I should be one of her Merkettes!

 

If that wasn’t good enough, Andrew of Andrew’s Bad Stuff called me on Sunday and invited me to sing with the band again. Hmmm….. could be fun…

 

Enjoy the photo above from my big night… left to right is me, Roc, Valerie and Angela – four friends who just can’t get enough of that Doo Dah spirit!

 

Back to the present.. or perhaps the future.. stay tuned here for more Doo Dah Parade updates. The big day is Sunday- be there!

 

Oh, and carry on, as you were,

Queen Mickie

 

 

Get your Doo Dah groove on

Even though I am no longer the reigning Doo Dah Queen, I still consider you my loyal subject and therefore, I would like to invite you to join in the festivities which mark the countdown to the big Doo Dah Day.
 
 
You will have the honor of hearing me, as well as three other former queens, sing and you can meet 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade Queen Skittles, as well as many of our other cohorts.
 
 
 
H.R.H. Prince Andrew’s Pre Doo Dah Party
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10
Old Towne Pub
66 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena
(enter Pub via Electric Alley off of Holly Street or Haynes Passageway off of Union Street)
$2, to be donated to Tree People
(626) 577-6583
 
Meet many of the participants in the upcoming 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. There will be performances by Andrew’s Bad Stuff, Old But Not Dead and the Pasadena Scots, as well as appearances by former Doo Dah Queens Naughty Mickie, Mercy, Tequila Mockingbird and Kavita Sharma, plus a trivia contest. Ages 21 and over.
 
 
I hope to see you here!
Queen Mickie

Getting geared up for Doo Dah

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This weekend I spent a good portion of my time preparing for the upcoming Doo Dah Parade festivities.

 

On Saturday, I joined Ben McGinty and his legion of artists at McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World (www.galleryattheendoftheworld.com ) in Altadena to aid in their float preparations. Now you may be shocked to learn that someone as regal as I would be willing to sit on the floor and paint, but it’s true! I used a nice fat brush to make lines on panels of cardboard to create a stone and mortar effect. The panels will be used to cover artist Dave Lovejoy’s  (www.lovejoyart.com ) 1970 Volkswagen Transporter, turning it into a moving castle.

 

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I won’t divulge many more of the gallery’s secrets, save one~ I will be riding on the float as Queen of Arts, my outgoing hurrah on the famed Doo Dah route. For more, you’ll just have to come to the parade on the 18th. Visit www.pasadenadoodahparade.info for all the details.

 

On Sunday I practiced with Andrew’s Bad Stuff for the Pre-Doo Dah Party. Former Doo Dah Queen Tequila Mockingbird was there as well and she took the stage like the pro she is. In fact, I felt a little intimidated when it was my turn to take the mic, but then, Tequila can be found any given night just about anywhere between Pasadena and Hollywood singing her heart out. As for me, I did OK and I think my loyal subjects will delight in my vocal renderings, not to mention the band’s grooves. Come join the fun:

 

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H.R.H. Prince Andrew’s Pre Doo Dah Party

8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10
Old Towne Pub
66 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena
(enter Pub via Electric Alley off of Holly Street or Haynes Passageway off of Union Street)
$2, to be donated to Tree People
(626) 577-6583
 
 
Meet many of the participants in the upcoming 32nd Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. There will be performances by Andrew’s Bad Stuff, Old But Not Dead and the Pasadena Scots, as well as appearances by former Doo Dah Queens Naughty Mickie, Mercy, Tequila Mockingbird and Kavita Sharma, plus a trivia contest. Ages 21 and over.
 
 
Don’t miss a Doo Dah minute!!  Oh, now carry on, as you were,
 
Queen Mickie

Doo Dah grand marshal on the airwaves

32nd Occasional Doo Dah Parade Grand Marshal Charles Phoenix and Doo Dah Tsar and Light Bringer Project President Tom Costen were on KPCC yesterday on Patt Morrison’s show. They discussed the history of the parade, what to expect this year and future hopes for the event.

 

Spend 10 or so quality minutes of your life to listen in. Visit

 

www.scpr.org/programs/pattmorrison

 

or visit the main KPCC Web site, select Patt Morrison and scroll down for Charles Phoenix – Mr. Doo Dah!

 

Now carry on, as you were!