Hello everyone! Did you have a good weekend? We did, albeit the Peach caught a nasty cold and so we had a more mellow weekend than normal, but still so much fun!  Lots of TV watching and tea and of course looking for goodies online to share with you. And because it is officially February and we are spitting distance to Valentine’s Day, I thought I would use that as the inspiration for this week’s fings!  Enjoy!

Don’t you love this little folksie embroidered dressie? I do! From Etsy seller, sparv in the iele tree.

Who needs red hearts when you can get green ones? Like in this cozy ski sweater! From Etsy seller, Wee Little Ones Vintage.

A little embroidered heart goes a long way in my heart! From Etsy seller, the Little Plum!

Don’t you want a pair of heart corduroy flares? Well, today is your lucky day! From Etsy seller, Tea with Tilly.

For all those dollies you love so much–treat them to a sweet heart of a crib! From Etsy seller, Vintage Estate Lore.

I would never discard this book! It involves my two favorite things–Valentines and cats! YEAH! From Etsy seller, Vintage Book Bazaar.

I think I need a moment alone with this perfect little red romper. With the polka dot top hat, cane and mousie. LOVE! From Etsy seller, BreedBaby NYC.

Is there a more perfect game for Valentine’s Day than Hearts? Exactly! From Etsy seller, Chirp!

Oh, that Lishyloo has some seriously glorious holiday outfits. And she doesn’t skimp on Valentine’s Day.  Like this boom of a great hearty dress.

Ah, these darling little vintage elf shoes would look great on your little Cupid!  From Etsy seller, Uncommon Vintage.

Happy Monday, folks!

FEBRUARY is almost upon us, friends!

Do you want to gain a little more exposure for your Etsy shop or cool blog? Then why not become a Modern Kiddo sponsor!  Modern Kiddo has quickly become the go-to favorite for vintage lovin’ readers every where!  We love to showcase unique, creative  folks and help spread the world about your awesomeness.

Because February is a shorter month than usual (and because we loooooove you so) we are offering a special TWO FOR ONE deal. Sponsor Modern Kiddo for February, and get March free! Our rates are already totally affordable, so this is a fantastic deal. You’ll also be featured in our monthly “Sponsor Love” round up (see a sample here!).

To find out more or to reserve your spot, email me: alix [at] modernkiddo [dot] com.

Sunday nightI turned on the TV and came across something so spectacular that it almost made me forget to tune into Downton Abbey  and I had to share it with you.

Folks, it was the KOFY Dance Party.

I’m sure you are familiar with American Bandstand and my personal favorite, Soul Train, but I remember in the eighties a local dance show in Philadelphia where I grew up that came on after school, where you could watch cool teens with great hair and outfits dance to the top 40. One of the girls in my French class was on there regularly and I thought she was so cool.  She had permed her blonde hair and wore frosted pink lip gloss every day.  I thought she was pretty awesome. And I was particularly impressed when she dressed up as a bag of jelly beans for the Halloween episode but her dancing was pretty much just jumping up and down.  I never went on, but I did enjoy watching it!

Maybe that is why the KOFY Dance Party hit a sweet spot in my heart and made me stare mesmerized at the dance party for a good 45 minutes in awe.  I remember reading about it a few years ago and was planning on going with some friends, but we never got around to it. And I’ve even seen videos on  YouTube of it, but to see it in its full hour glory is pretty darn awesome.

But we need to start at the beginning in the 80s when the show looked like this:

Pretty rad, right?  Alas, not everyone thought so when this video was first posted in 2009 on YouTube.  One comment about the video was, “Why has the bay area allowed this catastrophe??? It’s like special olympics for Soul Train.” Different Strokes, Different folks…

The KOFY Dance Party launched in the 80s with much local fanfare to the delight to the local teens and young adults who boogied across that dance floor in all their early eighties splendor.

In the nineties it changed to fifties nostalgia dancing (which I would have loved) and then withered away, ground out by grunge.

But a few years ago KOFY got its groove back on and focused on 80s music and found a whole new following and now have lines of folks around the building waiting for their chance to grace the stage.

And the mix of dancers is wonderfully San Francisco–a healthy helping of hipsters, but just random nutty folks that love to dance.  And to watch them dance can’t help but make your feet itchy and have you singing along with the song.

I’m kinda loving the host and the way he kinda channels Don Cornelius.

The dance floor has pretty much remained in its low budget glory–which I think is kinda part of its charm. Pretty rad, right?

And boy do they get into it! With eighties outfits galore. Every girl can be Cyndi Lauper and every boy can be Will Smith.  Of course to truly enjoy it, you must watch them dance… Oh yes…

KOFY is still bring the dance party into Bay Area folk’s living room with so much joy that you can help but move the coffee table and do your best moon walk!

Did you grow up with a local dance show? Were you ever ON a dance party show?

Vivian and Marian Brown have been a beloved San Francisco institution for 40 years. They could often be seen walking through the streets of North Beach in their sassy matching outfits—always a hat and identical little hairdos. They had a fondness for leopard! It was always a thrill when you’d see them walk on by, with their bright and cheery smiles. We were quite saddened to hear that Vivian (the elder twin by 8 minutes) passed away last Friday. The two women were inseparable, so we can only imagine how Marian must feel.

images

image

images

Rest in peace, Vivian. You will be missed…