Boobies and Beer: Bender's Tavern Hosts Burlesque Hall of Fame Benefit

Forget about 5k's and telethons, bring on the bustiers and nylons! Last Thursday night Bender's Tavern hosted a naughty little affair when some of Colorado's most talented vixens of variety teamed up!  Their goal was to raise money to help send the legends of burlesque to the Burlesque Hall of Fame event in Las Vegas, NV. It is the only gathering of its kind, with the primary goal of preserving Burlesque as an American art form by immortalizing the daring women who embraced it.  Finally!  Strip tease artists are getting their due. What the hell took so long? (We Americans just can't seem to shake those aggravating Puritans who, while settling the country, indelibly set forth sexual conservatism to the extreme. It's astounding, really, that they managed grow the population.)

Cora Vette

The show was presented by Burlycute, a local troupe spearheaded by Miss Cora Vette. Sundry performers, from freshies to established minx types swizzled our sticks! And some gals even traveled several hours to do so. Thank you ladies - you were worth the wait, and we're sure your burlesque goddess-fairies will be appreciative.

Whoopsie Daisy

By the end of the night there was only one thing to say. "Oh baby, baby! We love the way these ladies raise money!" When they wiggle and grin, eyebrows raise... When the audience can't wait another moment, skirts raise... When the dirty joke is a screamer, drinks raise! When it all happens at once - pow! It's sexy philanthropy at its best.

Honey Touche'

Scroll on to enjoy photos of many of the night's "thighlights". Saucy!  Alas, some of our favorite performers are not shown here, because the low light setting made our photos a bit swishy.  But suffice it to say they ALL delivered on the promise of great entertainment. Including three chanteuses who proved that a living, breathing, sexy woman who knows how to sing is still one of the mostly classically arousing performances out there. In fact, any breathy, glowing lass who struts her stuff on stage without apology is sexier than a magazine model or MTV pop star any day of the week.  At least in our opinion.  Which is the only opinion that counts here because this is Denver Subculture and we do what we want!

F$%# the mainstream!
   

Holly DeLite of the Cupcake Cabaret

Vivienne Vavoom

The Haute Toddies

Cholita Bang Bang

Lily D'Lovley

Fanny Fitztightlee

Midnite Martini

Bang Bang Von Loola of the Cupcake Cabaret

Veronica VanTassel

Ava L'amour of Peaks & Pasties

June and Rose
Show attendees &
Graduates of Vivienne Vavoom's School of Burlesque

 A fan of the show - dressed to the nines!

Preshow panache with Veronica, Honey and Fanny

2 of the treats from the Cupcake Cabaret

Luke - Ornery yet generous Bender's Mastermind who showed his
support by providing the stage for the crazy (nearly) naked ladies!
He's also part of the kickass band King Rat.
Check'em out - unless you're a sissy bitch.
This band has balls.

Mama - Gracious Head Mistress of Benders who showed
her support by providing the crazy (almost) naked ladies
with the perfect venue for their show.

Click here to gawk at Bender's Tavern event calendar.  And if you enjoyed this display of subculture at its sexiest, subscribe to the Denver Subculture feed and Like us on Facebook.  We'd love it if you shared this with your friends too!  When possible we've included links to the various web pages that are associated with these performers.  Click their names to be zipped away to their sites where you can learn more.

And if you stand out in a crowd in an ostentatious way - drop us a line at denversubculture@gmail.com.  We're always looking for people and passions to feature.

F$%# the mainstream!

Trexy? Who Knew a Truck Could Be So Sexy.

We found this example of Denver's good taste on Blake Street

It's as if a classically stylish truck, a pinup girl and the city's best autobody shop all got married and had a baby. What shall we name the baby?  Badass.  We don't know who it belongs to, but if you do - send them our way so we can offer the appropriate praise.  Then we'll ask to see under the hood, then beg to ride in it. 

F#$! the mainstream!

Vendors, Performance Artists and Attendees Shine At Cirque Voltaire

The Mad Tatters:  Brandan Styles and Ellie Rusinova
Local artists and creators of Cirque Voltaire
Photo courtesy of Brandan's FB profile

Last Friday night, two well regarded, local artists known as the Mad Tatters hosted Cirque Voltaire - Denver's first surreal circus art event.  Denver Subculture attended and not only were we impressed by the success of the show, we also had a damn good time!

Salon style display of some of the 30 artists featured
at the event. Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.
See more of Klint's event photos on Facebook.

The Mad Tatters, Ellie Rusinova and Brandan Styles, greeted their guests in character as Dr. B. Zurk and Madame Madness.  They delighted everyone with art and entertainment that was whimsical, mysterious, bizarre, even shocking. They also provided something which heretofore did not exist in Denver - an opportunity for unusual artists such as themselves to experience community with each other. Harkening back to the Dada movement in Europe nearly a hundred years ago, The Mad Tatters sought to create a haven where the modern world’s lack of meaning and depth is conquered by artistic collaboration. Cirque Voltaire was so-named as a tribute to Café Voltaire, where many of the Dada artists met to express themselves without risk of oppression.

Local act Tovio and Kalliope.
Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.

There were greater than 30 artists showing impressive work, as well as numerous live performances that were highly entertaining.  But we have to admit that we were rather taken with with the vendors and the costumed crowd (some of whom were perfomers as well - but they were working the crowd and we were digging it!). Vendors displayed remarkable talent in crafted items that were both anachronisitic and macabre. We delighted in getting to know their creators.  Without a doubt, they were jovial, charming people who were genuinely pleased about the positive response to their work.

We LOVE this.
Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

To our pleasent surprise, after the event, we also discovered a few striking black and white photos of Cirque Voltaire. While stalking everyone on Facebook (sketchy? maybe. creepers? for sure!), we encountered local photographer Dave Wood who gave us his permission to feature his work here as well.

Below, you will find some of our favorite encounters from the night.  Hopefully you get an opportunity to seek out these people around Denver, and find out for yourself that they are as strange as they look.  Which is why we here at Denver Subculture love all of them!

Keile Ament Altair and Stephinity Salazar
Owners/Artists:  Boutique Alchemystique

Our favorite item of the night.
Stunning top hat embellished with numerous vintage items.
By Boutique Alchemystique.   

Gorgeous vintage style hat.
All headpieces by Boutique Alchmystique are
adorned with authentic antique items such as watches.

Xavia Schmidt
Owner/Designer: Discerpo Necto Decrepitus

Among items such as miniature hats and bloomers, Xavia
also designs the lovely chokers shown above.

Rin Stewart-Thomas and friends support the event
by donning original designs by Xavia and gorgeous
makeup fit for surreal circus.

We don't have the artist's name but this piece
really caught our eye!

Local burlesque performer Tata Tatiana.

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Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Handmade dolls by Hope Morgan of Haunted Sparrow.

Maximilian Shiffman - Drummer for Narwal Birdskull.

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com.

Professor Phelyx - A fine Mentalist Magician!
Flanked on either side by unknown,
yet equally silly cohorts.

Ammy Whiteunicorn Gione.
Snakecharmer. 

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Dylan Johnson of Cerrious Design,
with Katelin Stagliano.
Offering iPhone covers and usb drives
a la Steampunk inspiration.

Event attendee Aimee L. Matheny wowed us with
her gorgeous getup.

Last but not least, the obligatory Kiss costume.
Worn by George Peele
Baritone Tunesmith and Custom Singing Telegream artiste!

We hope you liked our freak show!  To see more of Denver's rebellious-best, subscribe to our feed.  Like our Denver Subculture Facebook page too. Or we'll find you and kill you.

The long link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-Subculture/204833952880524?ref=ts

F#$! the mainstream!