Fashion Week in MacTown

16 Friday Apr 2010

Posted by cheaterrainier in Antarctic Life, Special Occasions

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Amy, Antarctica, Ben, celebrities, Cindy, clothing, costumes, design, events, fashion, Fashion Show, interviews, Jackie, Kelli, Keri, MacTown, McMurdo, models, red carpet, Russell, shows, socials

Last Saturday marked the advent of what could become a McMurdo tradition: the first McMurdo Store Fashion Show!

Justin "Doggie"/"Muffin" Dolan, about to ♫ do a little turn on the catwalk ♫ (photo by James "Wally" Walker).

We got loads of new stuff for the store on the last vessel – clothing, accessories, trinkets, and gifts – and in order to showcase them, our brilliant and enthusiastic store lead, Keri, decided to host a fashion show.

Rich, our cameraman, with the visionary and fearless leader of the whole production: Keri Nelson (photo by Bethany Barfield).

She put out a sign-up sheet in the store for volunteers, envisioning something small but fun. The end result was something that far exceeded anybody’s expectations.

Rachel - one of many enthusiastic volunteers - putting up some "Starry, Starry Night" decorations (photo by Bethany Barfield).

There was a pre-show social in the foyer. The kitchen turned out a huge selection of snacks and appetizers, and community members donated wine. Russell played some live music.

Russell entertaining us during the pre-show social (photo by Don Duke).

Allison serving wine and star cookies to one of our very own MacTown stars - Corrine "Angie" (photo by Bethany Barfield).

“Starry, Starry Night” - a night with our local MacTown stars. A wide variety of “models” volunteered and got to be superstars for the evening. Many got convincingly into character.

Ben as the King of Pop (photo by Nikolas Sinkola).

We decorated Highway 1 with Hollywood Blvd-style stars on the ground for our celebrities to sign.

Jackie as Leo, signing his star with his kitty-cat (photo by Nikolas Sinkola).

Some technically-gifted volunteers also managed to set up a live camera feed from the foyer onto the big-screen TV in the Galley, where we were able to watch the parade of celebrities be interviewed on their way backstage.

Some celebs were not willing to be interviewed and rudely brushed by Kiki as she desperately tried to ask them about their dazzling success (photo by Nikolas Sinkola).

There was a special treat in the form of an extremely well-edited farcical video detailing the life and inspiration of the designer: McMurdo. A summary: McMurdo got locked in a shipping container full of fabric and a sewing machine while fleeing the scene of a sweat shop bust, had to live off of silk-screen paint, and the chemical reaction of the paint with his specially-formed brain spawned a wave of inspiration that produced our extremely fashionable line of apparel. HIL-arious.

The brilliant mind behind MacTown fashion: McMurdo (played by Nathan Murphy; photo by Don Duke).

: The brilliant mind behind MacTown fashion: McMurdo (played by Nathan Murphy; photo by Don Duke).

: Russell entertaining us during the pre-show social.

: Poobaca got a little over-enthusiastic with the costume possibilities and went Viking (photo by Don Duke).

: Michael Davis & Keri emceed while Kelli, Michael C., and Melanie modeled variations on the same McMurdo shirt (photo by Don Duke).

: Justin “Doggie”/”Muffin” Dolan, about to ♫ do a little turn on the catwalk ♫ (photo by James “Wally” Walker).

: Genevieve was a natural – look at her striking that pose! (photo by Don Duke)

: Rachel putting up some “Starry, Starry Night” decorations.

: Jackie “Leo” talking up his upcoming movie (photo by Don Duke).

: Some celebs were not willing to be interviewed and rudely brushed by Kiki as she desperately tried to ask them about their dazzling success.

: Beer coozies are in style this season (photo by Don Duke).

: Rich, our cameraman, with the visionary and fearless leader of the whole production: Keri Nelson (photo by Bethany Barfield).

: I got a front row seat to this season’s fashions, and now feel confidently able to put together my MacTown winter wardrobe (photo by Don Duke).

: “She’s saving the world, one Haitian baby at a time.” – Bradley “Pitt” admiring his woman, Corrine “Angie.”

: Allison serving wine and star cookies to one of our very own MacTown stars – Corrine “Angie.”

: Jackie as Leo, signing his star with his kitty-cat.

: Nathan “Mr. McMurdo” Murphy and Karen, the brilliant creator of the Mr. McMurdo biographical video (photo by Don Duke).

: Ben as the King of Pop.

: Corrine “Angie” leading the pack in their glorious, bathrobed exit.

Altogether, it was an extremely fun and creative evening. Go Keri and everyone who made it possible! Bet you wish you were in on the high fashion down here, eh?

Ceds

Sunset Boulevard, Antarctica

30 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by cheaterrainier in Adventures!

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Tags

Antarctica, Brad, Brooks, Castle Rock, Corrine, Craig, facial hair, frost, group activities, Justin, Kelli, MacTown, Marika, McMurdo, Nodwell, Sarah, sunsets, trips, winter, winterover

After a wonderful Saturday night of Wine Tasting and Hut 10 party (previous post), I would have been fine with a slow, restful, and uneventful Sunday. But this weekend was an all-out GREAT one, and it didn’t stop with Saturday night’s festivities. Sunday evening, thanks to Marika taking initiative and signing her, Brooks and I up, I was able to go on a sunset trip to Castle Rock. We met up around 6 on Sunday evening and piled into a passenger-outfitted Nodwell, and proceeded out to Castle Rock. Taking a vehicle meant cutting a six-ish hour hike into about a two hour round trip, which was rather nice for anybody out for a leisurely sunset viewing rather than a grueling expedition. Okay, it’s not that grueling, but definitely more intense than I was looking for on a Sunday evening.

This is a Nodwell, in case anyone was wondering what I was talking about.

Anyhoo, back to the trip. We weren’t actually able to climb to the top of the rock, as it has been closed for the season due to unsafe conditions during the winter months. We did get to hang out on the ridge by the rock, though, and watch the sun go down behind the Royal Societies. You can still see some open-ish water out by Castle Rock, and it was steaming, making a really cool ephemeral effect as the sun sank behind it.

Pretty sunset, pretty Brooks.

We were having a lot of fun with the frost building up on people’s facial hair and such.

Brooks rocking both BCGs and awesome beard-cicles.

Craig had some awesome frost on his eyelashes.

Not only were the views spectacular, but the group was great. As I mentioned, Marika signed herself, Brooks, and I up knowing that we’d have a great time together. Justin from Heat Trace, Craig the computer guy, Corrine and Brad, my old suitemate Sarah, and several other great people were also along for the trip, and Kelli was leading us. Half the fun was the ride out – Brooks was in charge of the passenger-cab radio and he had a running commentary going with an in-flight-intercom theme. Funny as.

A good chunk of those that went, though not all: Marika, Kelli, Sarah, Craig, me, Corrine, Brooks, Justin (behind Brad's arm), not sure who's in very back, Brad, and Jeanette.

: This is a Nodwell, in case anyone was wondering what I was talking about.

: Pretty sunset, pretty Brooks.

: A good chunk of those that went, though not all: Marika, Kelli, Sarah, Craig, me, Corrine, Brooks, Justin (behind Brad’s arm), not sure who’s in very back, Brad, and Jeanette.