We discovered this rad little link with information about rainbow roses (pictured above) via Pee Wee Herman – he knows about everything! Anyway, we thought these flowers were so cute; who wouldn’t love to be given a psychedelic rainbow rose? Click the link for instructions about how to “grow” them yourself…it doesn’t sound too hard.
This week’s Red Light Radio playlist comes from that evil mastermind, Ryan, our visuals manager. Red Light Radio #3 is a mix of Ryan’s semi-obscure favorites…the songs customers always ask us about! Cazwell, Ssion, Leslie Hall (who you might spot shopping at The Red Light when she’s in town), ELO and more all make it onto this week’s Radio. Check it out here, on The Red Light’s Grooveshark channel (where you can find a host of playlists curated by Red Light staff)!
Right now we’re wishing r/t tickets to NYC weren’t so expensive in the summer because we’d love to jump on a Jet Blue flight to New York for FIT’s current exhibit, “Eco Fashion: Going Green.”
Don’t be dissuaded by the title; this show is truly investigative, not just spouting more environmentally-friendly fashion b.s.
“Eco Fashion” at FIT surveys environmental issues in fashion over the past 250 years, finding trends good, bad and just weird (a dress dyed with arsenic, see pic above, courtesy of Fashion Institute of Technology. Admittedly, the color is fabulous!). The show touches upon manufacturing, labor, animal rights and farming, among other current hot-button political topics, while showcasing an impressive array of style, from Balenciaga and Halston to no-name mid-19th century “shirt waist” manufacturers (the early predecessors of fast-fashion chains like H&M and Forever 21).
This LA Times review makes the exhibit sound like an incredible trove of fashion trivia, while photos on the FIT exhibit page suggest that this show doesn’t skimp on style while pondering sustainability.
We’re not sure what the curators’ conclusion is – it’s already well-documented that the fashion industry is terribly polluting, unfortunately, and that the only truly environmentally-friendly style is vintage – but it’s rad to see a more inquisitive approach to the history of this complex industry.
Here’s to hoping this turns into a traveling exhibit destined for Portland!
Since so many customers ask us what music we’re playing in the store, we decided to start Red Light Radio – bi-monthly playlists that feature what we’re listening to now! Listen to our first playlist now (designed to help you cut a rug anytime), and check back here or on www.facebook.com/redlightpdx for new playlists every other Friday.
Got a favorite song you heard at The Red Light? Holler and we’ll do our best to include it on the next installment of Red Light Radio!
…but we thought it was cool and wanted to share. According to DiscoveryNews, there is a new test program training dogs to locate endangered species by sniffing out their poop! For reals!
By training dogs to recognize the unique scat scents of rare animals, scientists hope to be able to locate, track and study more of the endangered species. Read the article for the full scoop and you’ll have all the details necessary to impress total strangers at the next cocktail party!
Tomorrow kicks off Portland’s awesome 2 week celebration of all things BIKE, Pedalpalooza. You don’t have to be bonkers about bikes to join in the fun…There are tons of different themed bike rides, pretty much ensuring that there is at least one ride for everyone. Events are open to the public.
Here’s a few of the rides you might spot Red Lighters at:
Friday, June 11th: Hot Sock Ride II, a ride organized around Portland’s awesome sock culture. Wear your snazziest hosiery, hop on your bike and get treated to tours and treats with the city’s leading sock taste-makers and manufacturers.
Saturday, June 12th: Pee Wee’s Bike Adventure. It takes a black heart to resist anything Pee Wee Herman-themed.
Friday, June 18th: Pride Kick-Off Ride, the bike ride launching PDX’s Pride weekend!
Saturday, June 19th: World Naked Bike Ride, exactly what it sounds like! Just as entertaining as our Naked Shopping Spree…
Check out the Pedalpalooza site for a complete list of rides and events – it’s pretty darn impressive!
Metal master Ronnie James Dio passed away last month from stomach cancer, but he’s already been given a pretty rad memorial: the city (OK, not Portland, but Los Angeles – although who’s to say it won’t happen here too?) has officially declared May 30 Ronnie James Dio Day.
Hearing this got us thinking…Why Dio? Certainly there are many famous, dead rock stars who are equally worthy of such civic recognition? And, on that note, what other famous, dead rock stars already have their own “Day” in cities around the world?
Does PDX have any dead rocker “Days” we don’t know about?
This gnarly story from New Zealand has nothing to do with fashion or Portland, but it makes for good cocktail conversation and we think that counts for inclusion on The Red Light’s blog.
According to the story, 72 year old Indiana native, Pearl, only met her biological grandson a few years ago; she gave up his mother for adoption as a new born. After many years of searching, he located Pearl…and, boy, did they connect!
Pearl is in her seventies, her baby daddy grandson is 26 and they are having a child via surrogate.
Makes you appreciate your own weird home life, huh?
This article on CCN.com details how the denim industry is ruining China’s famous Pearl River, for centuries a center of the Chinese economy. Denim factories are dumping waste chemicals, particularly dye, straight into the river. Denim scraps along with miscellanious trash line the riverbanks. Gross and scary stuff…And all the more reason to make vintage a regular part of your wardrobe!
Buying and selling your clothes at stores like The Red Light is one of the easiest ways to stop pollution – at home and around the world.
Little 4 year old Taylor, aka Tater Tot, has slightly long hair – and because of it, he’s been suspended from his pre-K class in Texas.
It must be tough to grow up in Texas.
Watch the AP coverage here.