Punk My Little Ponies + Museum of Ephemerata

So in honor of the Favorite Toy poll that we ran here at That Austin Girl last week - and then I promise I'll let it go - we had to talk about these special new edition My Little Ponies.

To celebrate My Little Pony's 25th year anniversary, Hasbro is having celebrities decorate their own My Little Ponies, auctioning them off, and donating the proceeds to sick children. Isn't that great? (Boo-ya, Legos people!!) Even more great, though, are some of the participating celebs...which are a little more random than you may think.

Now, asking celebs to do anything is always a gamble, so I should start out by saying how wonderful it is that they are even participating. That being said, John Stamos (i.e. Uncle Jessie), Kimora Lee Simmons, and Amy Grant (?) all have decorated My Little Ponies that are making me giggle. Kimora Lee's in particular, which could totally kick John Stamos' pony's ass. Check out the full gallery here.

Speaking of galleries, celebrities, and toys. Have any of you all been to the Museum of Ephemerata? It used to be in this fabulous little house on 34th St., but now it has moved to the east side (of course!) and has set up shop at 1808 Singleton Avenue. I haven't been there in years, but R. and I went once when we were first dating. The visit is a little fuzzy, but I do remember it was the place where I first discovered kombucha (they make their own, and host workshops), learned how to play a Jew's harp, and saw a vial filled with somebody's sleep. As in, the stuff from the corner of your eye. Which is a little disgusting, but also incredible (once you get past the disgusting).

If you haven't heard of it before, the Museum is basically a little collection of curios and oddities that date back to 1921, which are owned and proudly displayed by Jen Hirt and Scott Webel. The top attractions? A lock of hair from the head of Elvis (word), a two-headed ant, and - if memory serves - a stuffed jackalope. (Which looks like this and this. I know, the realism is stunning).

Anyway, all this talk about toys reminded me of the Museum of Ephemerata, which is getting kind of famous these days! The Chicago Sun-Times included them in an Austin travel story earlier this year (writer Lori Rackl also took note of the sleep), and I remember seeing the museum's two curators on the cover of the Chronicle this summer. So, Scott and Jen: Any plans for a "toys" exhibition in the future? (And might I suggest a rare Kimora Lee Simmons edition My Little Pony if so?)

Lastly: New poll everyone. Favorite (mainstream) superhero - Spidey, Aqua Man, or someone else entirely? Go vote at the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Margaritaville + Reason to get excited about September 15

I don't know about you guys, but I love shocking my non-Texas friends when I tell them how hot our state is. "103 degrees?? Are you joking?" It's a badge of honor, in their minds at least, to merely exist in this climate. But hey, it's not like we don't reward ourselves - we lead the nation in bars per capita, after all.

So with heat and alcohol in mind, my new friend Dave Crey just forwarded me a fun tip - a margarita tasting happening next week at The Belmont. Y'all interested? It's one hour, and if you go, you receive a Belmont $25 gift certificate. I think it's even free.

Tim Sabo is coordinating it, so if you wanna go, email him at tim.sabo@ideacity.com along with answers to the following questions:

1. Your Name

2. Ague

3. Gender

4. Are you available on Monday, August 11th?

5. Do you prefer lunchtime or after 4:00 pm?

--And that's it.

Oh Belmont - I love that Monday margarita tasting, during lunchtime on a work day per question #4 and 5, isn't even a second thought! Just a preference. They might as well ask, "would you prefer to drink before your afternoon meeting with sales, or after?"

This is the reason my company needs to have a downtown office.

In other news, do you guys all remember Rene Geneva? Girlfriend is kind of a big deal - in fact, she was on WE (Women's Entertainment) Network last night (channel 28 for local cable-users), on their program Wedding Central. She did a show with them called "Amazing Wedding Gowns," where they picked just three wedding dress designers to feature - including VERA WANG - and Rene was one of them!! Would you like to see one of her dresses?



I know, holy ridiculousness. She does tons of other stuff too, and it's double-neato because it's all eco-friendly. What else? Oh yeah - Thievery Corporation is wearing her stuff on tour (with a stop at this year's ACL, y'all!) right now. Can you believe this badass?

Anyway, that brings me to September 15, when 44 Whole Foods stores around the country will start carrying Rene's stuff in their "Whole Living" section. And p.s. - they already do here at the Austin Whole Foods. So when this girl explodes, which is not even a pipe dream with the whole green fashion craziness going on right now, just remember - you heard it here first.

Lastly: has anyone noticed how freaking every Hollywood family is having twins these days? Angelina, Jennifer Lopez, Marcia Cross - even P. Diddy and Elvis Costello?? What's up with that? Well, KXAS-TV in Dallas has a little theory about that.