HAPPY HOPPITY HALLOWEEN!

I had an absolutely wonderful time at the Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres, which I took part in yesterday, October 30th. The attention to sooooo many details, the costumes, make up, the decorations and installations, and the performers made this event a true Halloween fantasy.

I had my own little log cabin front porch to play on, and I was very lucky for I got to spend the day with little kiddies dressed as ladybugs, witches, vampires, pirates, firemen, pumpkins, cats, dogs, bears, and of course - princesses! Ooh, I even got a big hug from a little Cinderella.

Kids are great, have I said that already? Well, they are. They have a great little hoppity dance style of their own, but before they break out into a freestyling hop they stare at me, completely bewildered. After sussing me out, they smile but then get a confused look on their face as they see what I'm playing... So there's keys, and over there there's buttons, and a big fan in the middle, and it's moving, how is it making sound? What is this thing!?

Smiles all around, we danced and said 'hello'. Thank you for dancing with me!

A big THANK YOU to Shine*ola Productions and Intrepid Theatre for having me!!

Halloween week...

I think I'm enjoying Hallowe'en more as an adult, then I ever did as a child! Things are frightening when you're little, the world was a big scary place, not having the lights on was enough to leave me unable to sleep soundly, so, having people dressing up as witches, blowing up firecrackers, watching terrifying movies, and strangers handing you candy is an overload for a little kid.

Today, as a 'big' kids, we seek out the spooky, magical, and wild imaginations in the world...

As the cast of "The Fall of the House of Usher" enters the final week, I have to say it has been such a pleasure working with everyone involved, and such a great feeling to be enjoying the company that I am around during it!

This show, as far as I know, is nearly sold out for the run - if not completely. Check out this website to get any remaining tickets! http://ticketrocket.org/events/

Freaking out an audience every night is too much fun, and here's some good words to tease you with:

http://janislacouvee.com/fall-of-the-house-of-usher-craigdarroch-castle/

http://culturevulturevictoria.com/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-an-exercise-in-atmosphere-john-threlfall/  

http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/thrilling-theatre-at-craigdarroch-castle/

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I'll be performing, with my accordion, on Sunday, October 30th from 12-5pm at this weekend's "Enchanted Halloween". This fun event is happening all weekend long, Friday, October 28th through to Sunday, October 30th. You can get your tickets here: tickets! in case you haven't gotten them yet!

For more information please visit: http://www.enchantedhalloween.com

Tickets: 
On sale now!
$10-$15

When:
Friday, October 28th 5-9pm
Saturday, October 29th 5-9pm
*Sunday, October 30th 12-5pm (*Natasha Enquist will be performing on this event date)

Where:
Saanich Historical Artifacts Society – HERITAGE ACRES
7321 Lochside Drive, Saanichton BC

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Lots of magic shows going on right now, bookings for Christmas parties coming in, The Great Giffoni is a fantastic addition to your birthday, holiday, or staff party! 

I have to say, conversations with children are THE BEST! My favourite part about working at Walt Disney World was interacting with all the kids. I had the best little chats with the little Princesses, Minnie's and Mickey's, and Jack Sparrow's at EPCOT - WDW, and the fun chats continue on.

There was a wonderful magic show with The Great Giffoni this past weekend, filled with great chats with the kiddies! One in particular: a sweet little boy started up a conversation with me, with his big eyes staring deep into mine, and smiling sweetly, "Have you seen Mary Poppins?". Excellent question! I let him know I had, and we discussed which parts of the movie were our favourites. He told me he liked when the bed flew, which I don't recall happening, and I told him I liked it when the chimney sweeps danced on the roof - which left him looking puzzled. I don't know if we were talking about the same movie after all, but he definitely was charming me :)

At a magic show last week there was a handful of little cutie kids. One little girl, with chocolate smudged on her face, was running around with an adorable red dress on with a certain mouse eared lady on the front. I asked her about her dress, and who was on it. She burst into a cheerful scream with "MINNIE MOUSE!!" Ya!

Disney continues :)

If you would like to book The Great Giffoni Magic Show please get in contact through Facebook, and "Like" the page! http://www.facebook.com/thegreatgiffoni

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HAVE A FUN, SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWE'EN WEEKEND!!

xoN

The Fall of the House of Usher

"The Fall of the House of Usher", by Giggling Iguana Productions, opens this week at Victoria, British Columbia's own heritage mansion, Craigdarroch Castle.

I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this performance, and happy to be working with such great people :) I've loved Craigdarroch Castle for a long time, visiting it during the Christmas season as a child, and now it will be my second home for the next 2 weeks!

Details about coming to the show are below: 

When:
October 20th at 8pm
October 21st & 22nd at 7pm & 9pm
October 23rd, 26th & 27th at 8pm
October 28th and 29th at 7pm and 9pm
October 30th and 31st at 8pm

Tickets:
http://ticketrocket.org/events/
$25 general admission and $22 for Castle Members (prices include HST). Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Where: 
Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria BC

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a seated performance. Craigdarroch Castle is a historic house museum. There are 87 stairs and NO ramps or elevator - it is NOT wheelchair accessible. Some content in this performance may not be suitable for children, parents please be advised.

The latest!

Meet Ella...

An informative and fascinating look into the life of Ella, an accordionist from Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. This accomplished accordionist is a 3-time record holder for playing "Flight of the bumblebee" for 4 hours straight.

More to come!

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Well aren't I pleased with myself!? I have graduated from an accordion corner to an accordion wall! It's like a candy store of instruments, and this isn't even all of the accordions I own!

By the way...

There are only 2 more days to vote! Find me under "Music & Vibes"!

CityHUB is an interactive virtual community showcasing Victoria BC's most loved businesses!

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves by accordiongirl

Autumn is amongst us. I love this time of year, more so than ever. Last year I was in the October heat in Orlando, and never experienced the beauty that is a west coast Canadian FALL.

The smell of the plants and trees breaking down, the crispness, the changing leaves, the crunch of the earth, the fashion - let's not forget the fashion! There's something about this change in season that the body needs. This part of Canada doesn't get as cold as the rest of the country, but I'd say it definitely becomes quite creepy, and that is part of the charm of autumn.

If you have a taste for terror, I recommend you come see the latest annual Halloween performance by Giggling Iguana Productions. "The Fall of the House of Usher", a ghoulish tale by Edgar Allan Poe, taking place at the heritage mansion of Craigdarroch Castle.

"The Fall of the House of Usher tells the unfolding drama of the Usher household - the mental deterioration of the master of the house Roderick Usher, the physical failing of it's Mistress, Madelaine, the machinations of the evil family Doctor, and the growing horror of the intrepid Narrator.  Usher will feature Rod Peter Jr, Tim Sutherland, Natasha Enquist, Ian Case, Theodore Sherman and Mily Mumford, directed by Case."

Tickets:
http://ticketrocket.org/events/
$25 general admission and $22 for Castle Members (prices include HST). Tickets must be purchased in advance.

When:
October 20 at 8pm, October 21 and 22 at 7pm and 9pm, October 23, 26 and 27 at 8pm, October 28 and 29 at 7pm and 9pm, and October 30 and 31 at 8pm

Where: 
Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria BC

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a seated performance. Craigdarroch Castle is a historic house museum. There are 87 stairs and NO ramps or elevator - it is NOT wheelchair accessible. Some content in this performance may not be suitable for younger audiences, parents please be advised.

I love Poe, I love creepy stories, and I love Craigdarroch Castle. One of my favourite rides at the Magic Kingdom was the Haunted Mansion, and this heritage mansion is the real thing! I'm excited to spend some time in this building - with all it's mystique, ornate interiors, old smells and creaky floors.

With October comes... Oktoberfest, which I will not have a chance to celebrate at the German club, here in town. I'm thinking of how to celebrate it on my own, with friends. Perhaps make some schnitzel and sip on some jager. I'll put on a few of my "German Drinking Songs" records, dance to some polkas, but don't be surprised if I refuse to play one! Ya, probably a shocker, "you play accordion but not polkas?". Yep, unless I'm paid a grandiose amount OR a little kid wants to do a hoppy dance for me! There's always exceptions :)

 

 

So... I have that disease... the disease that many a musician has... where you MUST SAVE THE INSTRUMENT!

How many accordions is enough? Just ONE MORE!!

I am not as bad as many musicians, I am more of a revolving collector of instruments. I adopt, and pass along as seen needed, and I don't collect instruments I don't know how to play.

I got this little sweetie the other day, "Camaro" Firotti. You would think this is Italian made, but it's actually from the manufacturer Fritz Rockstroh of Georgenthal, Germany circa sometime between 1920-60. Fascinating stuff kids!

She's kind of perfect for street performances, as she's virtually weightless. She'll fit in nicely for now. If she's bad, she'll be exiled. I have a feeling she'll behave.