Steveness

Craig’s death prompted passionate outpourings of grief from the many artists, city employees and small business owners he came to know throughout his many years in Tacoma. Craig was considered a pioneer in the Tacoma arts scene, opening the funky RampArt gallery and antique shop in 2004 to dozens of avant-garde and emerging painters, photographers, video artists and sculptors who were invited to show and sell their works in his affordable gallery. Craig was known to work hard by day and to play hard at night, endearing him to the local urban denizens and night owls. Matt Nagle/Tacoma Weekly

To memorialize, to celebrate his life, to mourn the loss of our long-time friend and business partner, funkoma vintage and Rampart will have music, food and fun with local musician
Steve Stefanowicz !

In June 2008, Glen Ripple, Mark and Tressie Schindele revived the beloved building, clubhouse/wacky parlor, known in Tacoma...as Rampart. We have many delightful memories of Rampart and Steve and some are family-safe and some are not.
It's not easy being cheesy and Steve stayed true to the Tacoma of our moldy dreams.

Now, at funkoma vintage and Rampart redux, we are sad, yet proud and resigned to the fact that we'll only have Steve Craig in our memories and nightmares.

Please join us this Third Thursday Artwalk, February 19, Music from 5 pm to 7 pm...party till it's time to leave......Fun, Food and Music !

here's a picture of Alan Gorsuch in Steve's apartment after he died (Steve not Alan!) I stole the pic from the TNT....

Save the date....Artwalk...

for February will be special in a special kind of way..

Why? Because dear, not only is it Artwalk for February '09 in the year of our new funky president........
But February 19 is the One Year anniversary of the stupid and untimely death of old friend Steve Craig....


hard to believe he's been gone a year already...

We'll be celebrating, er, uh, remembering Steve...
and remembering his part in so many artistic art-like endeavors, people and parties...







AND !!
Steve Stefanowicz has agreed to play music for us here at funkoma vintage world wide headquarters from 6 ish to 7 ish........

I think your head will pop pop pop...from all the
Steveness that will be happening...
it's all happening....
02 -- 19 -- 09

first some pics of Folksingers In Hell...
you missed a great show......first David sat out on the street on a frigid Tacoma night...and wailed on the elektrik geetar...
Then he came to his senses and he and Heidi sang new and old songs of ye old folk...
Heidi sang her groovy song homage to Brown and Haley makes 'em daily Candy Factory Worker Blues!!
and David regailled up with The Suitcase Song for which he won an actual Cash prize !!

and I think you should now consider becoming a Myspace friend...then I can send you this as a Free Thank You Gift !!

Inside the shop.........Can you believe it?

MidCentury Modern

and uh, I have some new auctions on ebay, and adding new stuff to etsy, and if you can find the time...I have tons and tons, and I mean tons of new stuff in the shop...
Chartreuse loveseat.........50 MCM plywood chair....victorian carved furniture ...so steampunk....



ebay.

Wanna go to see it on ebay? clicky

Free Fun, 712 Broadway, Free Music, Artwalk.....

A Gay Disco or 2 or 3

This has been going thru my head and now I want to put it in yours.....
I'm sorry...



And for dinner music last night.....I went to The Mix myspace page to check my new pals who get what I like in life ! fun, chattin', music and drink !!
It was fun to listen to their playlist.....since I was home and not there.....
And thanks MIX ! for putting me under Kelly on your Friends roll........I always wanna be under Kelly forever and always......SHOES !

And just in the last few days, I've been thinking again about Steve.....he had an amazing presence in Tacoma....the different kinds of people he knew from the bottom to the top ......income and education-wise......
But I learned much from him, and while I won't do some rotten things he did !!
I do appreciate that he Had a home on the side of the road, And was a friend to Man....
which is pretty darn Jesus freak, for a Jew.......

Thanks for coming down!

and seeing us on Wednesday.....the first of many many non-events/events we Broadway Babies......will plan for you in the months to come. Lots of folks came down to see us and spread a little cash in downtown T-Town.....
Big Props to Melanie.....the beautiful raven-haired Vanity owner !
Mel's not on our block (up on 6th) but she knows a good time when she sees one for sure.....
All of us in T-Town that sell the vintage and retro are a fresh conspiracy of sorts....We want to take over the world!

What's the RAIN doing here ????
Waaah.....I want my hot weather for Hot Rod A Ramaaaaaa..... Man dig these vids.....FAn -f'n-ing Tastic View of our beautiful little city.....


back to this:
Tacoma is an easy town to get around in....all the vintage and retro shops are within a few miles of each other. Julie's at Urban Xchange down on Pacific near the UWT......Cedar and Jim up at Rector's next to Jason Lee on 6th.......and the world's largest concentration of Vintage and Retro indie shops on one block !!

Since we opened ....thanks to my relentless blabbing (thanks Meghan!) and hard work (thanks Jennifer!)
we're making tons of people happy. Some drop in to see what's going on with the Rampart bldg.....some wanna know where's David? (up on 6th at Vintage Arts)
and some are just amazed at what is packed inside....
pics will arrive in next weeks post about the shop.....
more props to defunked......go read a fun blog about vintage T shirts.....you know we love 'em......

Chalk It UP !!

Come one 

come all.......

to the Olde Rampart...July 17th at 6 pm......

712 Broadway ....is Now..

Amocat Antique Market

and Funkoma Vintage.....

come On Down to Broadway,

Funky funky Broadway.....

and chalk a little.....

We have some chalk

We have no attitude..

Or talent.....

Bring talent, or no talent.....

Bring yourself..Bring some chalk...

Or bring yo' momma......

Warm up for Friday at Frost.....

Test your techniques.....

Everyone else does it.....why not us??

We're not reclaiming or proclaiming anything but good times....

Moving right along.....

the deck is built, mostly, the rumpus room will happen here, and stuff, we got stuff.....
from this.....to this!




Kelly will set up here and below is the beginning of the Rumpus Room...with a TV showing vintage b&w movies.......



perennially Arrrgggghhhh!












What's in funkoma?? Lilly Pulitzer with a fishy necklace



lots of vintage vinyl



gold mini boots



cute feet



Try it on in here! Matey!



Words to live by......

See My 'Hood on the TV Screen.....

Some planet-destroying car company will be driving aimlessly around downtown T Town on Sunday....on my street ! As Derek exit133 has mentioned, they taped a notice to our doors informing us that business as usual is over on Sunday.
I can't park at my shop to unload fresh new vintage......and neither can you.
My notice said they'll be driving up Broadway between ninth and seventh, and looping back around Angel, er, Whore, er, Opera Alley.......around and around for 4 hours.
Just so you can see how pretty a new car looks while driving in the edgy urban environment......
You'll catch a glimpse of Tully's, Sanford and Son, Me, Parking Garages, and a peek-a-boo view of The Tideflats, The Elks Building, A few empty buildings and sweet lil Soiled Dove Alley........

So, speaking of the gays, and Out In The Park......
I wish this was my ebay auction:
ANTIQUE-BOX-4-CLEAR-RECTAL-DILATORS-DILATOR-DRS-ESTATE
that's a pic of them up there!

Dumb Asses .... Terry Lee, Shawn Bunney, Dick Muri and Roger Bush

Chairman Terry Lee and council members Shawn Bunney, Dick Muri and Roger Bush casting the “no” votes. They’re all Republicans......voted against saying: a proposed proclamation supporting Out in the Park, a celebration of the South Sound’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community Saturday in Tacoma.

Apparently....Lee, Bunney, Muri & Bush didn't get the memo!
This is 2008. Gay-Hating is over.
How embarrassing...to go on record as a hater.....
What are you so afraid of?
Voting to support a gayness-day in a park is not the same as......
paying for sex in a bathroom......
paying for sex in an east Washington town.....
or even actually being gay.....
It's about acceptance...
and.....acting like a human in the modern world.

What is it about Republicans and their worries over their butts?
Sure Dems can be all about Gay-Hating.....
But this is now and here.
Funkoma Vintage is proud !
to be partners with the gays, selling to the gays, and renting ....
between Tacoma's 2 downtown gay bars...
I don't count that toilet bowl....down on Pacific....that place is just gross and yuk.

Let me tell you what Steve's sign says:
Notice !
No sex allowed in this Restroom unless you are a U.S. Republican Senator

Lights Camera......Action....

What a yummy day it was ! the vintage shops in Tacoma were open, people were walking downtown from their offices, their condos and busing and driving in .......
'




Planted the box outside with pretty purple alyssum, petunias, salvia and nasturtiums...lychnis and a buddleia that simply frightened Dino since he is not a fan of Butterfly Bush.....Yes, true, they can be rangy and weedy.....oh, but don't you love the honey scented purple candles in midsummer...the butterflies do.....I will sit for hours this summer at Rampart.....and watch the urban butterflies and bees give a show of thanks for the buddleia........
and of course, you probably have many near you if you live or work downtown...they grow in the gutters at the Luzon....just to name one urban garden location....
Purple and Chartreuse paint for the outside is on the June agenda...



Tropical delight....


Lights...


Dress Up



Converse among your selves....

Well, We're on the Move to Downtown Funkytown

Yes, finally.....me and my hooptie automobiles are packed to the headliners and we are moving to the Rampart bldg.
Aimee got the red Rampart letters, so that's so sweet, I want to cry. She spent most of her growing up years down there.
I'm so happy. I'm happy to be back. I'm off my head with Joy. It's bittersweet. Well, that's life isn't it?
As I'm standing around and staring at the ceilings, at the big white walls, the roll up garage doors....and I stand on the sidewalk...
I still expect to see Steve walk down the red stairs or walk across the street from the Mecca with his cigarettes.
But .....only in my mind.
I hate it when people I love die.........duh.
I hate that I got Rampart because my friend died.
I am very aware that I have to always be a good girl and be worthy!
Rampart has changed many times in recent memory.
Eric, Glen and I were reminiscing about the old days.
David was there, then he was down there. We were there, then we were over there.
Eric was down here, then up there. Glen was everywhere.
So our anarchist underground antique society of wholly off center semi-capitalists are moving in.
We'll paint the outside, and plant flowers.

Glen and his fabulous antiques in the front. Me in the back sharing with a friend or 2. New vendors will move in as the month progresses.

If we have a guiding light, it is partly David and Steve and what they created......a big-city vintage shopping experience in humble downtown funkytown.
This is my town. Despite my childhood home, Yountville, tattooed on my arm!
25+ years ago I came with my family. One of the first places I drove to from South Tacoma, was downtown to pay my energy deposits.

I fell in love with the movie-set miniature downtown. Tacoma has everything. And small enough to fit in your hand.
All of May as I negotiated my rent, I just kept repeating:
Be The Change You Wish To See.....
which was my Greener graduation class motto in 2005.
I've always loved that Gandhi thought...
It was the only valuable thing I got from Evergreen. Oh, that and 25,000. in debt.
So shop with me Early and Often!!!
I'll be open to give you a funkoma experience & take your money on Friday the 13th. (also, it's the Mark & Tressie wedding anniversary)
Glen will be open every time the garage doors are open.
So Hi, to my old loves.....Hello to my new neighbors.

Open and Closed.....wait..reverse that.

closed on E 26th........
Opening at 712 Broadway....the Rampart Building....


downstairs.....with several dealers of antiques and funky stuff just the way you like it......


look for funkoma in the back

we don't know the hours /days yet...and opening will be about June 1st or so...........
oh boy!
Yes I'll be neighbors with the Silverstone.....Glenna, Phil and Charlotte. PSP. Ida's .....ha ha ! The Helm.......The Porn Star Condos.......oh you people are in for some BIG fun now.....I get the whole downtown all to myself to annoy the living shit outta yuppies ! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

*************************
this rather explains it> We won't be like alan's little Alandom......we are unorganized and pay little attention to convention......
we have decades of antique/funky stuff/party giving experience.....and boy, it feels good to be going back home again.....the 2 main partners have all been downtown for years but were on hiatus.......
As we get our act together more next week I'll just keep blogging and announcing what the Hay is going on......
we're making it up as it goes along!

Thanks for the publicity

When Alan Gorsuch was sued for fraud and misrepresentation in 1999 in the Titanic boat ticket auction, one of the reasons why he was found guilty of fraud and misrepresentation was that it was seen that he misrepresented the possible value of the ticket.
The man who originally sold the ticket to Alan had no clue what the possible value might be. Alan allowed the man to "name his price". He did. Alan auctioned the ticket.
Made bank. Big Big Bank.
How to judge if something was a case of fraud is that a buyer of the widget has to prove they did the best they could to give the seller of the widget a fair price. The court found Alan didn't do that.

When I was taking law classes, in my Litigation class, we studied the Gorsuch case as one that is so Crystal clear about what constitutes legal fraud.

I think about this all the time. I buy stuff. But unlike Gorsuch, I have little expertise in anything but crackpots, liars and vintage clothes.
Oh, I also know a lot about children, gardening, and marriage.
I know a lot about loyalty.
I know a lot about Good Faith.


If you want to read the trial documents and make up your own mind, click the link!
Court of Appeals Division II State of Washington
Opinion Information Sheet

Docket Number: 26013-1-II
Vern Westby, Respondent
v.
Alan and Cheryl Gorsuch etal, Appellants

Pierce County Superior Court Civil Case 99-2-08134-5

Case Title:	VERN WESTBY VS ALAN GORSUCH ET AL
Case Type:	Commercial
Access:	Public
Track Assignment:	Standard
Jury Size:	6
Estimated Trial Length:	4.0 days
Dept Judge:	09 SERGIO ARMIJO
Resolution:	12/14/2000 Jury Verdict after Trial
Completion:	03/09/2001 Judgment/Order/Decree Filed

Rampart.

So after the auction, I met my lovely husband and the effervescent Kelly who did attend and buy a dead man's stuff. I have to say that from time to time. Steve is dead. I danced and sang karaoke last night at the Silverstone, and just missed a crying jag. Also, stayed quite sober (a first for me!)
So..

This is the perfect portrait to illustrate that which was Steve. No wait....This does.

this was Steve. Focused on the penis and hilarious commenter of the passing parade of 2 faced hypocrites. He knew bullshit, was full of bullshit ,and, my favorite. Called bullshit on bullshit.
He used to ask us what Grapes of Wrath car did we drive into Tacoma today.......each time we came up to see him. Funny, Steve. And, um true.
We drive pieces of crap. because we are not materialistic and we are not defined by what we drive. Other than,obviously....we are not materialistic and we are not defined by what we drive.

So,while I was up in Steve's 3rd floor lair, I kept looking at all the stuff we sold him over the years. I kept staring at the bed. To erase the picture of the scene on that terrible day in February, I just kept the good times in my head.
How many times had Steve and Mark and I lolled around on the bed, watching movies, drinking, laughing and cutting up.

It's kinda funny to hear Steve being discussed....I know who knew him. I know who hated him. I'm sure he's looking up/down and laughing and making fun of you.
But not me. He knows Mark snagged the penis. And one of the last perfect "poems" Steve wrote to stupidity and alacrity and mendacity that men do.