Assistance from clever people requested

I have a really great project coming up. Dark Garden and Catherine D'Lish will be collaborating on some of the sparkliest, most luxurious corsets you've ever seen.We've worked together for years on Dita's corsets, and made the red tails for Christina Aguilerra together. We've worked out many of the logistics, but need a name. The obvious simply won't do...Dark and Delicious conjures up too many double entendres of the juicy sort. Our friends in Pittsburg already have Delicious Corsets...Delicious Garden is just silly. So - I appeal to you, my literate friends. If I use the name you come up with I'll give you something really good - not just the first T-shirt.

Life is Beautiful

DG won Best of the Bay...Thank you all so much for your support !!!!

And on a personal note, the end (I believe) of the car saga....I got my dream car !!!! It's a lovely little black Mini with a white top and white wheels..and I'm taking her on her first road trip to LA in a matter of minutes. I'm thrilled and delighted to have a nearly new car for the first time in my life, I feel like such an adult...and I love those car payments, yeah, mmm hhmm.

Dark Garden Rummage Sale

It's time for a little shameless self promotion....

Sunday July 15th, 11am - 5pm

============ ========= ========= ========

It's time once again for that rare and exotic beast –
The Nearly Annual Dark Garden Sample and Rummage Sale!

We'll be opening on a *Sunday* to give you access to some great deals.
We're selling off selected Ready-to-Wear size samples & shop-worn
Custom samples or abandoned (Can you believe it?!?!) Custom creations.
We're taking $25 off Ready-to-wear corsets in stock.
10% off hosiery, jewelry, gloves, and many accessories.
We'll also be offering 10% off CUSTOM CORSET orders placed that day !!

We'll be selling off fabric bolt ends, and we'll even have fabric
scraps sold by the pound– perfect for crafters, quilters and costumers.
Fabric $1 a pound Leather and patent leather $3 a pound

Dark Garden offers a new service ONLY at the Rummage Sale:

Have you, or perhaps your corset, shrunk (isn't it amazing they can do that
just sitting in the closet)?

Would you like to see if someone else wants your Dark Garden corset?

Please bring your DG corset in before 5:30PM on Saturday the 14th (if you
need to bring it by Sunday morning please call to set up a time). We
will have a special area dedicated to Dark Garden corsets that have been gently
worn. Pieces will be sold on consignment, so please be prepared to
tell us what price you want for the corset. The consignment agreement
will include a 10% markup, and we will need to see a photo ID when you
complete the paperwork when you drop off your corset.

We look forward to seeing you there! Don't know where "there" is ??
321 Linden St Between Gough & Octavia, parallel to Hayes & Fell in lovely Hayes Valley, next door to the illustrious Blue Bottle Coffee

no, that photo isn't me - wouldn't that be nice though ? Perry Gallagher took that picture of the beautiful Anyssa

Please help Dark Garden win Best of the Bay...today by 5pm !!!

Kitty and Garden Friends...

We have an emergency on our hands. While the Kitties and one head Gardener have been skipping all across the US of A the annual vote for SF Bay Guardian's "Best Burlesque Act" as well as "The Best Place to get your Wedding Wear" has been taking place. If you are all as fabulous as in years previous, it'll be the Garden's 5th year of being recognized as "the Best"

YOU HAVE UNTIL 5PM on 6/27 (that's TODAY folks) to vote.

You don't have to be a current Bay Area resident to vote, fyi.

Just go to www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/
Go to Page 2, number 29 for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang
Go to Page 5, for Dark Garden

Pretty, Pretty Please.... with sugar on top.

What, you ask, have the kitties been up too?

Well, the kitties are secretly sweating away at a new set of numbers more fabulous and fantastic than ever before. Top secret stuff if you know what I mean. Cotton Club meets Shanghai 1930...

Did I mention that we are going to be on the cover of "Biker Beauties Magazine?" How we got that privilege involves a trip to Luray, Virginia and 10,000 bikers. Call any of us up and we'll tell you the tale over a nice Manhattan.

Think about it. Who do you depend on for quality entertainment time and time again? Who delivers the goods and brings a smile to your face?

The vivacious vixens of the Barbary Coast KITTY KITTY BANG BANG!!!!

VOTE NOW!!!

And Dark Garden ?

We've been dancing with Pirates at the Northern California Pirate Festival - in fact, I was seen on posters as the Pirate Cover Girl...Tee Hee..I mean...Arrrgghhh

Our once a year Rummage sale is taking place on Sunday July 15th from 1 - 6pm...a few corsets and bits and bobs, as well as 10% off jewelry and custom corset orders placed that day.

What else ? Dark Garden wil be turning 18 next month - can you believe it ? My little baby is all grown up !! Next thing you know, she'll be out...uh, never mind, your imagination can do the rest.

But don't let me distract you from the VERY IMPORTANT task at hand.
VOTE NOW !!
Just go to www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/.
Go to Page 2, number 29 for Kitty Kitty Bang Bang
Go to Page 5, for Dark Garden

May I also recommend Avalon Rising, Cat Taylor's band, for Best Indie Band ?

Love and Scratches,

Honey Le Bang aka Mizz Garden, Autumn Adamme

www.kittykittybangbang.com
www.darkgarden.com

I'm performing on Thursday night at Little Minsky's....

Anyone else recovering from the Las Vegas Exotic World weekend? If so,
you maybe experiencing withdrawal from four days amongst some of the
most talented and gorgeous burlesquers from across the country. In that
case, our doctor recommends adjourning to Little Minsky's this Thursday
for a fix of vintage frivolity and sumptuous showgirls. (We have the
very best doctor, even if she does look suspiciously like a bartender.)

Comedic mastermind RJ Owens hosts a luxurious line-up including
tantalizing troupes Vima Burlesque and Peek-a-boo Burlesque, the
melancholy-sweet melodies of jazz band Tin Cup Serenade, enchanting
vocal duo The
Bluebelles with Michael McIntosh (of The Cottontails), and high-heeled
diversions from Esperanza, Rose Pistola, living legend Isis Starr, Lady
Monster & Mariel a la Mode, and Honey le Bang (of Kitty Kitty Bang
Bang (hey, That's Me !))

Stay tuned for some special appearances in July as Little Minsky's
hosts the Hollywood Burlesque Tour on the 12th
(www.myspace.com/burlesquetour) and another extra engagement is in the
works...

See you at the bar...


LITTLE MINSKY'S

BURLESQUE
Vima Burlesque
Peek-a-boo Burlesque
Lady Monster & Mariel a la Mode
Honey le Bang (of Kitty Kitty Bang Bang)
Rose Pistola
Isis Starr
Esperanza

VARIETY
Tin Cup Serenade - crooning modern old-style jazz
The Bluebelles w/ Michael McIntosh - silky-voiced duo and piano maestro

MC
RJ Owens - the big magic funghi

DJ
Oran - swingin' dance tunes

Thursday, June 14th
Club Deluxe
1511 Haight St (at Ashbury), San Francisco
9pm - 2am, Show at 10:00pm
$5, 21 and Up

Every Second Thursday

Performer Info:
RJ Owens - rjowens.com
Vima Burlesque - www.myspace.com/vimadancestudio
Peek-a-boo Burlesque - www.peekabooburlesque.com
Lady Monster - www.ladymonster.com
Mariel a la Mode - www.republicofmariel.com
Rose Pistola - www.myspace.com/pistolarose
Honey le Bang - www.kittykittybangbang.com/honey.html
Tin Cup Serenade - tincupserenade.com
The Bluebelles - www.thebluebelles.com
Michael McIntosh - www.thecottontails.com/bios.html#mike

LGBT Community Service announcement

Please take 3 minutes to read about the horrific murder of Erika Keels, a transgendered woman, and sign the petition demanding a police investigation.

Dear friends, I am writing to ask you to support work that's being done
with the Justice 4 Erika campaign in Philly.
Erika Keels was murdered on March 22, 2007 on North
Broad Street in Philadelphia.

Witnesses saw an assailant eject Erika, a 20-year-old
black transwoman, from his car, and intentionally run
her over four times, killing her and leaving the
scene. A medical examiner's report supports these
eyewitness accounts. But police ruled Erika's death an
accident and have refused to conduct an investigation.
The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but
he has yet to face criminal charges 97including "hit and run" charges.

When Ms. Keels' friends, who are themselves trans,
questioned police officials about the classification
of her death as an accident, they were asked to
disclose their "birth" names and told they were
"trying to make something out of nothing."

Our immediate goal is for the Philadelphia Police
Commissioner and the Accident Investigation Division
to reopen Erika's case and conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances
surrounding her death. We want to send a powerful
message to the Philadelphia Police Department that we
stand together to demand justice for trans and gender
non-conforming people, police accountability, and
respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every
person.

Things you can do to help:

1. Sign our community support letter :read below and
sign at www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK...on.html

2. Get organizational sign-ons from groups you're in or connected
to. (Organizations should email Justice4Erika@gmail.com to confirm their support.)

3. Go to the Justice 4 Erika demonstration on
Thursday, June 14 at noon @ 6th and Arch in Center City Philadelphia.
4. Sign up for weekly email updates on the campaign
(email Justice4Erika@gmail.com)

5. SPREAD THE WORD. Write letters to local
newspapers. Ask everyone you know to sign on to the letter.

Thanks so much !

COMMUNITY SUPPORT LETTER
www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK...on.html

To: Captain Michael Murphy
Accident Investigation Division
Philadelphia Police Department

Cc: Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson
District Attorney Lynne Abraham
Michael Hinson, mayor B9s liaison to LGBT communities
Mayor John Street

June 2007

Dear Captain Murphy,

Young transwomen of color living and working in
Philadelphia know they are at risk of physical attack
at any moment, and many experience layers of hate and
harassment on a daily basis. Erika Keels was one of
our own.

On March 22, witnesses saw an assailant intentionally
run over Ms. Keels four times after ejecting her from
his car at Broad and Thompson Streets in North
Philadelphia, killing her and leaving the scene. A
medical examiner B9s report supports these eyewitness
accounts. But police have ruled the death
of this 20-year-old African American transwoman an
accident and have refused to conduct an investigation.

The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but
he has yet to face criminal charges --even "hit and run."
When Ms. Keel's friends, who are themselves transgendered,
questioned police officials about the classification
of her death as an accident, they were asked to
disclose their "birth" names and told they were
"trying to make something out of nothing."

We, the undersigned, refuse to be told that the murder
of Ms.Keels and the subsequent police denial of the brutal,
hateful assault on her are "nothing." The Philadelphia
police have failed to protect her basic human rights
and dignity. The schools and businesses of
Philadelphia never gave her a chance to choose a
career -they failed her, and she was forced to earn
her survival on the streets. The social services of
this city failed to shelter her in a safe place to
explore her own potential as a young person with
imaginative goals and opportunities to thrive.

We, as a community, will not fail her. We are
individuals and organizations representing Black, Latina/o and Asian
people; trans and gender non-conforming people;
lesbians, gays and bisexuals; youth; immigrants;
educators; students; social service providers;
activists; religious communities; professionals;
neighborhoods; and supporters around the world.

We demand a thorough investigation of the
circumstances surrounding Ms. Keels' death. Her case
must be re-opened. Now and in the future, the police
must follow their mandate to protect and serve all
Philadelphians, including those targeted for hate
because of their gender expression and identity. All
levels of city government and administration must
ensure that policy meant to protect human rights of
people in this city is followed in letter and spirit.

"At least you have your health"

It's been a week of lessons in "Be careful what you ask for"
The loudest lesson was around that adorable little car.
several times over the last month it's been hiding behind larger cars, and my first thought has been "Oh my God, someone stole my car."
Well, that finally happened.
The next part of that lesson was hoping that my car would be found, and that my shoes and costume bits would be in it still. I hoped my glasses might be in it as well, and at one point I said that I hoped for wheels too. Got it. All my requests ! I forgot to ask for a trunk lid, a hood, side panels, bumpers, gear box, stereo and cigarette lighter.
Sigh.
Well then....I want a two seated vehicle that I can put bio-diesel in, that looks nice, has some style, that I can park easily, that's in perfect running condition including sound brakes and working defroster/heater, that fits my budget, that I don't have to drive very far to get, that's safe to drive...what am I forgetting ? That I can see out of...
I promise that this time I'll get comprehensive insurance.

Yes, part of my lesson is to properly value and take care of the things that I have.

I'm trying very hard to end the pity party I've thrown myself, but it's alittle difficult to get out of the funk. Saturday I got literally bowled over by a teenager on a flying bicycle and was really banged up. Sunday I dislocated my shoulder; fortunately I had finished dressing all of the models for the fashion show that happened a bit later. Moday was a great day. Tuesday the car went for a disastrous trip.
Poor little me.

OK - My skin looks great from all the crying I've been doing, I have a wonderful significant other and a great deal of love in my life. Business is great. No one was hurt when my car was stolen. I've uncovered a bunch of emotional ick that was hiding behind some bravado and I've been going through it and cleaning it up; my dear friend Alexandra is in the same time zone for the week, so I was able to call her and cry on her shoulder and laugh at the situation in the way you can only do with your best friend; my Tribe friends helped me get my car back and made me feel tremedously supported and cared about. I got the circus costumes I took on when I really didn't have enough time to make them done in the nick of time and the client was so happy they tipped me enough to cover the towing and storage of my defunct car.

Now look at that - the 'good' list is much longer than the "woe" list. The pity party is over; it's time to wash the ashtrays and take out the garbage.

Alyscia just read the most absurd news story to me. A man in South Africa was forced to strip naked before being glued to his exercise bicycle by thieves who also glued his mouth shut before ransacking his home. It can always be worse, can't it ?

Ladies and gentlemen, please be so kind as to take a tiny moment of silence for "Little Blue", may she rest in peace.

My friends are the best !!!

I just got a call from Berkeley PD - the little car is in the pound in Oakland ! It's likely stripped, but it can come home as soon as it gets it's shots...I mean, as soon as I go to both Berkeley PD and Oakland PD.
Phew !!!
Thank you all for your homecoming thoughts...they worked !!
Hugs and love to you all.

help !

My charming little car was stolen this morning, with many important costuming articles and, horror of all horrors, 4 pair of shoes inside.
Pretty please, everyone who reads this - visualize my car being returned to me with at least the costumes still inside.
It's a silly little Aqua Honda del Sol and I miss it a lot already. The plate number is 3KNJ038
Thank you !!