Miami Vice I: A Look Miami's South Beach Art Deco Decadence and Neon Nights

Three years ago during the spring of my 24th year I drove five hours south to the picturesque Post Card Florida scene that is Miami's Bustling South Beach. It was an unplanned trip of twists and turns  (lost, gas ran out, scared a nanny away, rode as a motorcycle passenger with a stranger-to-me for the first and last time) with a friend and her toddler. She told me she was going for business but that was a ruse for sexy-time business in a love motel with an old fling. (They're married now.)

Other than a meet-up with an acquaintance of my scandalous travel-mate ("Oh, no, you're not going to draw here, are you?" said the middle-aged image-conscious South Beacher when I reached for my sketchbook at an ocean-front bar) I spent most of my time alone soaking in the atmosphere and taking hundreds of photos of every muse. Which was around every corner. The city is vibrant and stimulating, and I'll be back for my neon Art Deco fix. For now it's inspiring enough to look back at the old photos, remember, and plot the next adventure.

Next time my bike has to come down with me! Parking's a bitch down there. Expensive and rare enough to fight for, like ravenous hyenas sparring for scraps! On my next trip to South Florida I want to explore the Keys again (this time with group familiar with Hemingway!), The Everglades, and The Dali Museum. So much to explore in the kitschy raised sand bar I call home, even though it's all hours away from me at the start of the state!

Any Travel Recommendations for Florida and beyond? I've got the travel itch! I'll be updating with more photos of cool bars, hotels and art deco buildings from Miami and beyond in my new travel-look-back series (ideas for names anyone?) to inspire you like they inspired me!

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Thrifters Around the World: Natasha's Thrift Journey Across the USA

Thrifters have dreams, and embarking on a thrift road trip across the USA is high on the list! Work and daily life stops you from renting a van and hitting the open road, so let's travel vicariously through adorable Natasha. She's an avid thrifter and owner of the groovy Halmoni Vintage. (@halmonivintage)

Natasha has thrifted in California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois Hawai'i, Washington, Oregon and New York! She's also thrifted abroad in London! It's a feat so amazing I had to map the adventure. There's a screaming star on every state she's thrifted in. Follow along class, there's a quiz later!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Natasha.

My name is Natasha Harden and I was born and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx. I have a brick and mortar vintage boutique in Oakland, CA, named HALMONI. I created my "Dream Job" so that I can fuel my love of vintage and addiction to thrifting.

2. When did you start thrifting?

I was trained to thrift when I was in 5th or 6th grade by my best friend's older sister would let us tag along with her on thrifting adventures. She showed us all the spots and taught us everything.

3. You tell me you've thrifted in London, what was that like?

It was amazing thrifting in London. It was the first time I traveled outside of the country and I went with really good friends who were super into thrifting too. Our whole trip consists of shopping at thrift stores, vintage boutiques and outdoor flea markets.

4. You've thrifted all across the United States too, what were your thrift stops? List each state you've thrifted in again for the lovely readers?

I recently went on a road trip across the country to my hometown in the Bronx from Oakland, CA. Along the way I thrifted in California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and New York. I've also made some weekend trips to Oregon and Washington. I lived in Hawai'i for a few years and thrifted there extensively.

5. Hot Damn! I'm envious, envious I tell you! Which were your favorite states to thrift in?

California is my favorite place to thrift right now because I have a new obsession with old California based department stores that are no longer. Since I am a vintage boutique owner I come across something new all the time so I am constantly learning. I think that I just appreciate living on the west coast because it has such a different history then the east coast.

6. Which states yielded the most vintage goodies?

Believe it or not anywhere I go yields the most vintage goodies. I think I have a different point of view on vintage so I think it just depends on what you are looking for.

7. NYC is your hometown, what do you like best about thrifting in the big apple?

NYC is also my favorite place to thrift. I think part of it is because it is my hometown but the other part is that NYC is one of the fashion meccas of the world so there is lots to be discovered.

8. What did you like the most about thrifitng in Iowa?

Iowa seemed like a dream. I don't know if it was just good timing but it felt like I was in the thrift stores alone, low traffic with prices that seemed unreal. 

9. You find the most AMAZING vintage in your shop. Don't hold out on us, top three vintage hunting tips. Go!

1. Look through everything! EVERYTHING! You never know what you will pass up being all rushy rush.
2. Make sure you don't let the excitement of what you find blind you. Look for stains and holes! Thrift stores don't usually have the best lighting.
3. Don't be afraid to pile your shopping cart up to the sky just edit yourself. I usually go through the clothes at least 3 times to make sure I love them.(Humans work at thrift stores so remember to be courteous and put everything back and not just shoved in any aisle. They appreciate it, A LOT!)

10. And finally, vintage owls versus groovy mushrooms, battle to the death, who will win?!

Owls EAT mushrooms, THE END!

* Photo Credit: First photo of Natasha by DRKRZ.

* * *

  If you would like to be featured in Thrifters Around the World, shoot me an e-mail.  I would love to interview you and chat about thrifting where you live.

Past Thrifters Around The World Interviews:

[2/15/2011] Thrifting Pro Miss P From the UK (Part I)
[2/22/2011] Thrifted Treasure's Alice from Australia
[3/01/2011] Thrifting Pro Miss P From the UK (Part II)
[3/08/2011] Switcheroom's Elle From the Philippines
[3/16/2011] eLousion's Cindy From Puerto Rico
[3/30/2011] Ashleigh's Thrifting Tales from Taiwan and Tokyo
[4/15/2011] Kimberly's Thrifting from France to Germany
[5/13/2011] Thrift in Vancouver, Canada with SixBalloons
[5/19/2011] The Vintage Cabin's Becke from Toronto
[6/17/2011] Planet Fur's Marlous from the Netherlands

[6/22/2011] Thrifting in the Arctic with Mali of Arctic Mum
[6/29/2011] Marco from Italy and Amsterdam
[9/08/2011] Thrifting in the Desert with Fenna

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

A Journey to Okinawa: The Japan Trip Highlight Reel

My childhood buddy JR is stationed at an U.S Air Force base in Okinawa and offered to show me around the enchanting island. Free board and tour guide? Visit an old friend while saving thousands? I’d be remiss not to take advantage of the opportunity! It's time for me to fly back to Florida, but at I have photos to look back on.

Here are a few highlights from our explorations:

1) Delicious food and tea was EVERYWHERE.

Ah, the motherland for Japanese food and tea lovers! I documented every meal, the grocery stores, and even the drink vending machines you’ll find around every corner. Above is an inexpensive Family Mart convience store bento lunch I enjoyed with an delicious bottled oolong tea at the beach.

2) 100-Yen Stores and Shopping.

There were bento boxes, tea cups, and more that cost a fortune in the states available for cheap at 100 yen stores in Japan. Besides the 100 yen stores, Window shopping was very rewarding. Attention to detail is evident in everything; for example, above is a selection of bath rugs in the prettiest collection of patterns and textures I've ever seen.

3) Castles, Shrines, Culture, History

We did a lot of sight-seeing. We saw all the ancient castles Okinawa had to offer, caves, kitschy tourist attractions, and secret shrines in clandestine mountain caves and proverbial cubby holes. Finding and exploring these hidden sights was my favorite part of the trip.

4) Beautiful Beaches and Mountains: Sea and Sky

Okinawa, Japan has a tropical climate. When it wasn’t raining I was able to enjoy the pristine white-sand beaches and calm, clear waters. I loved hiking through the mountains, swimming, and exploring the diverse landscape.

5) That gorgeous vintage shop in the mountains

Of course the vintage shop and café we stopped at deserves another mention. It was such an unexpected treat. I love taking less-traveled paths to discover the unusual, I find the best thrift stores and vintage treasure troves this way.

Honorable Mention: The Worst Karaoke You'll Ever Hear...




You can't visit Japan without singing Karaoke with some locals! I laugh every time I watch this! By the way, I was in heaven because this Karaoke joint had a HUGE selection of early, hard-to-find Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson tunes! But not “Dick in a Box” which has become my trademark Karaoke jam!

It’s been a beautiful, dream vacation for this Japanophile. I’ll miss Japan, but I’m eager to get home and work on my Twelve before 2012 list, have meetings with my business partners, and spend time with friends and family.

Let's all take mini-vacations every weekend. Even if it's a picnic at an unexplored park in our neighborhoods; it's good for the soul.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: Thrifty Holiday Shopping in Japan (100-Yen Stores)

With a selection of 100-Yen Stores (equivalent to Dollar Stores in the U.S) to choose from, I've been able to get in some thrifty holiday shopping while I visit here in Japan. My favorite of the 100-Yen stores I've visited was Seria, which had an aubundance of colorful, quality home supplies.

Here are some of the gifts I've bought for friends and family. Each gift was inexpensive, yet completely unique and loaded with personality:

Tomorrow I have another giveaway and on Wednesday I'm sharing a special look at an enchanting vintage shop we encountered in the mountains in Okinawa. I can't wait to share them with you!

What did you find this weekend?
Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Japanese Business Inspiration: Art, Craft, and Design Overload

I knew I’d become overloaded with business inspiration while parousing the streets, shops, and sights of Okinawa, Japan. Japanese art and culture has always been my biggest inspiration, so I couldn't help but shamelessly drag my camera along to document every inspiring moment:

I'm mildly obsessed with Japanese bowls and cups. Envisioning them lined-up neatly on shelves in my store will invigorate me through the hard times of opening a brick and mortar shop.

Jasmine Tea and Okinawan cookies. Tea and snacks will be incorporated into the Thrift Core menu.

The colors and textures in Japanese fabric are my favorite in the world, hands-down. This reminds me to think of harmonious color and texture when it comes to collecting vintage for my shop.

I appreciate hand-drawn signs, and they're everywhere here. This one is in front of a grocery store pharmacy. Note the man's triumpant pose, simple yet effectively communicated.

A green tea latte from a cute seaside cafe. Sitting for a tea or coffee with friends is the best anti-depressent, it's good for the soul. I'm excited to provide this therapy for my future customers.

I can't wait to incorporate Japanese elements into the Thrift Core brick and mortar shop. When I get back from Japan I’ll be ready to research, draw, craft, and sell-up a storm!

What keeps you inspired with your own craft and business ideas?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Florida Road Trip Recap + Key West & Sarasota Travel Tips

Ah, last weekend's trip to the Florida Keys was just beautiful and everything an adventure should be; chaotic in the best ways. My travel mates Daniel, Jeylene, and Brian were hilarious and we had a blast making jokes, drawing silly crap, and singing on the epic pilgrimage to the literal southernmost point in the USA. Here's a recap of all the fun and some tips for when you make your way down here someday!

First, Sarasota is a statuesque city with plenty to explore. It's pretty like a post card photograph. The nationwide top-rated beaches are picturesque, a serene tableau of white sand and jewel-hued waters; perfect for swimmers.

We found a plethora of Sea Beasties at the beach in Sarasota.

There's a vibrant antique and secondhand market in the retiree-friendly city. I'll take more photos of these secondhand shops on my next visit. My best friends Ruthie and Huy go to college in Sarasota so I try to visit every chance I can.

Next stop was our virgin trip to the Florida Keys. Key West is tiny so it would be easy to cover every sight in a day if you desired. It was more touristy than we anticipated, but all of the locals are very friendly. Talk with them and visit State Parks to get a feel for the real laid back Florida Keys charm.

Goofing off atop the windy Bahia Honda State Park bridge

Anyone who knows the Florida Keys well knows one of the greatest local pastimes is fishing! So we followed suit and took a speed boat ride out deep into the sea to fish from the clean, clear waters. You could see a rainbow of colorful fish  all the way to the ocean floor!(You could see the ocean floor!)

The collective fishing haul,. Nope, I didn't catch a single one of these fish.

 

As a word of warning, deep sea fishing is not a good plan for people who get motion sick easily, we were dropping like flies! When standing I experienced vertigo, but when I laid down on a bench the rocking boat actually lulled me to sleep!

The entire trip was relatively thrifty. We split the inexpensive hotel and gas expenses four ways. The only thing we splurged on was food! Sarasota and the Keys had amazing eats and we chomped them down. Real Florida Key's Key Lime Pie, how I love thee!

Night life in Key West. It's beautiful. There's Drag Shows on Duval St. I wish I could have checked out!

This recap cannot be concluded without Daniel's BEAUTEOUS work, an exquisite drawing epitomizing our entire trip which he executed on the ride home. Let its exquisite beauty excite your eyes to tears, each graceful line will make you search for this same ethereal beauty in vain for years to come:

After Daniel showed us his masterpiece the conversation went something like this (all spoken between bursts of uncontrollable cackling):

Jelyene: What the HELL is wrong with my tits, why is one bigger than the other?
Me: Why do I have THREE eyes!?
Brian: Why is my head so SMALL?

Oh, good times! This drawing was the highlight of the trip back, I smile every time I think of it. You know you did your trip RIGHT when you're still laughing from it and smiling from ear to ear for days to come. Furthermore, I didn't know Jeylene and Brian before the trip, but we shared heart-to-heart conversations on this trip and bonded over laughter!

This trip was just what I needed to jump-start my slagging creative mojo. I've been writing and creating-up a storm ever since!

Are you squeezing in some late-summer thrifty adventures, too?

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Come With Me on a Kitschy Florida Road Trip

My vintage suitcase filled with all the necesities at our hotel in Sarasota. Next, the Florida Keys!

Remember when I said I was going to hit up all the wacky tacky vintage fun Florida has to offer this summer? My car broke down after the first adventure, but in true unpredictable adventure spirit I've hitched a ride south to the Florida Keys to make up for my lack of Summer explorations!



Summer is my time. Road trips, tiny dresses, picnics, hot days, cold beers, sexy music, the way a hazy summer day looks like a sepia photo...there's something so vintage and magical about the entire delicious season. Summer's not only vintage, it's nostalgic. We remember road trips with the family, leisurely school-free days, and hours in the pool. Don't you miss those simpler times?

The view from our hotel room in Sarasota, the flowers outside, and sunset at the beach last night...

The days won't cool for months here in Florida, but I'm mentally preparing for my glorious summertime to end and for Autumn to take over. Luckily there was one epic road trip literally beginning where Florida starts and concluding where Florida ends help me send "summer" off right.

What thrift (summer) adventures are you getting into this weekend?

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You Need an Adventure: The Vegas and Philly Recap

My Philadelphia and Vegas adventure was so necessary. This was my first week off from work in three years. I was run down not merely from overwork, but the bizarre betrayal incident I alluded to in my Risk post. I left Jacksonville broken-hearted, anxious, and tired. I returned revitalized.

I didn't do anything special. No shows, gambling or events. Instead I walked and walked, took pictures, and slowly absorbed the fresh environment. When I returned I finally felt like my old self again: social, fun-seeking, and adventurous.

I was only in Philadelphia for one day to meet up with my buddy Kira, her sister Stosha took me around downtown Philadelphia where I peeked at historical monuments. The highlight was their Chinatown, I wish we had one here in Jacksonville!

 [Glued to the hotel window, I watched the scene outside transform]

Tuesday night Kira and I arrived in Vegas (We had a Boondocks and Transformers marathon on the 5 hour flight there, it was lovely)! Glued to the 30th floor hotel window, I watched the Vegas scene transform from daytime to the glittering night view.

 [Snuck into the pool. Watched people on Cops. Watched people pass out.]

The rest of the days were spent exploring every crevice possible, basically walking the entire strip from one end to the other. I wanted to leave the strip to go thrifting, but we never found a chance before my four days in Vegas were up. The environment was addictive, and strangely homey for me.

Highlights of my Vegas/Philly Trip: 

• Philadelphia's China Town 
• Introducing Kira to "Transformers the Movie" (1986) and "The Boondocks" 
• Walking, walking, walking the night and day away
• Sneaking into the Ceaser's Palace pool, subsequently being escorted out of the casino by security
• Dubbing the specter the kept causing Kira and I to lose our paperwork "Luigi"
• Tipsy conversations with people from all around the world
• Magically surviving the trip without losing anything vital or breaking my camera
• Watching the Vegas view gradually shift from day to night, growing more splendid every second

I'm glad to be back in the mood for solitary adventuring around my deliciously tacky Florida home. I hope you won't mind when I share bits of my adventures here on the blog, of course I'll stop at our numerous thrift and junking stops along the way!

Make sure you go on an adventure this weekend, too!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.