Speakeasy Dollhouse theater: Cynthia Von Buhler’s immersive murder mystery play, 1920s New York Prohibition & Edgar from Oddities.
I’ve been dying to see Speakeasy Dollhouse, an immersive play enacted by my friend Cynthia Von Buhler. Guests are encouraged to dress up, mingle with the actors, and try to unravel the 1920s murder mystery of her grandfather.
Jenny Knifefight and I met at Spano’s Bakery in the Lower East Side.
I’m wearing accessories gifted by Kreepsville666, Yosuke shoes from Marui One Tokyo, and a dress I got years ago in NYC. (Remember I also wore it at Luisaviaroma’s Pink Carpet party in Florence, Italy?)
We whispered the secret password to the policemen, and met Frank Spano and his gun-wielding wife.
The instructions urged us to “be nosy and talk to strangers. Wander. If you sit in one place, you will miss everything.”
A card game in the bakery. At times, it was hard to distinguish between actors and guests.
Bartenders served whiskey in coffee cups, and flappers did the Charleston to live music.
Countess Cynthia in green, and legendary playright Edgar Oliver (he’s a character in the play). Perhaps you recognize him from the Oddities: “Is that a straightjacket?” I recently filmed with the Discovery TV show; it should air this fall!
In one room, we participated in an autopsy. In others, we witnessed scenes of fighting, birth, and murder.
Like in a mystery novel, we gathered clues and tried to unravel the puzzle.
From the lush rooms to the seedy characters, it was a beautiful recreation of speakeasy times.
I can’t reveal all the secrets. You’ll have to attend Speakeasy Dollhouse for yourself. The play runs through December; tickets via the website.
Are you intrigued by Jazz Age culture? Have you ever attended a performance where you take part in the action?
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Hawaiian Paradise! Beautiful Maui, Hawaii hotel: Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea. Chef Pang of Ko restaurant, plantation cuisine.
La Carmina in Hula-Land! I love how my Nanette Lepore dress flows; she’s an incredible designer.
Red Malibu silk dress: gifted by Nanette Lepore. Get the same one here, or try the strapless version.
Wedge sandals: Kenneth Cole (available here.)
Black cat on my purse: by BlaBlaHospital, stolen from Seby
For the last two days of the Maui press trip, I stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea. I had a large one-bedroom suite to myself, with a balcony overlooking the pools and gardens.
My filmmaker Melissa and I felt like we’d tripped into Kubla Khan’s Xanadu.
The Fairmont Kea Lani has several swimming pools (including adult-only), private beach access, and a koi fish pond that my cat would love.
I turned the flowers around me into a hair fascinator. My skull-tastic bracelet, gifted by Good Art, matches my nail art.
We filmed at the new open-air restaurant Ko.
I adored Chef Tylun Pang. His menu is lovingly inspired by plantation cuisine (a harmony of influences from the workers’ home countries of Japan, China, Philippines and Korea). As he put it, “The folks in my kitchen are cooking their grandparents’ recipes.”
Ingredients are sourced locally, from relationships of trust. We said “cheers” on camera and tried his ahi tuna on a stick, grilled on hot stone. Phenomenal.
Everything we tried was clean, simple, fresh. I ended up drinking three pomegranate cucumber mojitos (right).
Examples of his Asia-Hawaii dishes: shrimp and soba, poke (raw fish salad), calamari.
The macrobiotic bento box was perfectly balanced. Ko’s menu has entire categories for raw, vegan, gluten-free, and heart-healthy.
Eating sushi with Chef Pang, overlooking the pool… one of the most heartfelt dining experiences in my life. I interviewed him for my travel video, so you’ll see more of our interactions soon.
What’s the most memorable meal you’ve had recently, and why? What would you most like to eat from Ko’s menu?
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