Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society

By | May 4th, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Edwardian Era, Steampunk, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

What is Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society?   The Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society (PEERS) is a non-profit corporation based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The organization is dedicated to remembering, researching, and re-creating the performing arts of the past. Their goals include producing and sponsoring original and re-creations of [...]

Silverwood Theme Park

By | April 27th, 2015|Categories: Old West, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , |

Where is Silverwood Theme Park?   Silverwood Theme Park is located in northern Idaho, just north of Coeur d'Alene and about 45 minutes from Spokane, Washington. It is open from May through October each year. For one price, it features thrill rides, kids rides, fun-for-all rides, Boulder Beach Water Park, and lots of entertainment. The [...]

Old Town Temecula Gunfighters

By | April 23rd, 2015|Categories: Destinations, Uncategorized, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , , , |

Who are the Old Town Temecula Gunfighters? The Old Town Temecula Gunfighters are a group of folks who present Wild West reenactment shows spanning the post-Civil war era, from about the 1870s to the 1890s.  They entertain visitors every 4th Saturday of the month at High Noon and 2 p.m. in the section of Temecula [...]

Heritage Hill Historical Park

By | April 20th, 2015|Categories: Old West, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Where is Heritage Hill Historical Park?   Heritage Hill Historical Park is part of 60,000 acres of parkland, open space and shoreline set aside by Orange County, California for recreational use. Tucked away between a shopping center and riding stable in Lake Forest, this 4.1 acre oasis illustrates the early history of the Saddleback Valley [...]

Sea Change Theatre Company

By | March 19th, 2015|Categories: Old West, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , |

Sea Change Theatre Company's Story   Sea Change Theatre Company is a semi-professional nonprofit theatre company that presented its first season in 2012.  This new troupe is located in Beverly, Massachusetts, on the Atlantic coast about one half hour's drive north of Boston.   The company offers a series of four thought-provoking theatrical works, including [...]

The Victorian Vest aka: The Waistcoat

By | February 24th, 2015|Categories: Victorian Era, Victorian Fashions|Tags: , , , , , |

A short history of the waistcoat (up to the Victorian era) The waistcoat (commonly called a vest in American English) is a sleeveless upper-body garment. For men, this item is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and below a coat as a part of most men's formal wear. It is also sported as [...]

Victorian Shoes: Booting the boot and bringing in the heel

By | February 17th, 2015|Categories: Victorian Era|Tags: , |

When you imagine the Victorian era, you probably imagine huge sunhats, enormous dresses, gloves, lace, jewels, and decadence. In fashion, when an era is simplistic, the era after it usually is extreme. The simplicity of the Regency era meant only that the Victorian Era would be grander than ever. However, a part of the outfit [...]

Valentine’s Day and the Victorians

By | February 13th, 2015|Categories: Civil War, Fashion, Uncategorized, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , |

  Valentine's Day History   Robert McNamara, and expert in 19th century history relates that St. Valentine's Day celebrations date back to at least the Middle ages when the day was observed as Choose Your Romantic Partner Day "because it was believed that birds began mating on that day." (McNamara "History of St. Valentine's Day [...]

WBKB Insights Show Features Recollections

By | January 25th, 2015|Categories: Downton Abbey, Fashion, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |

  WBKB in Alpena, Michigan, produces a local public affairs show called Insights that airs on Sunday mornings. In December, we were approached about being on the show. That got us wondering, "what is it like to be part of a television show?" We found out on January 12th when Alexandra Johnson and her crew, John [...]