Dirndls and Lederhosen

Who needs tank tops and blue jeans when you can wear dirndls and lederhosen?

When my colleague Kelley and I set foot in Austria--after one or two crazy overnights in planes--and were shooting in no less than two hours.  That's the way we do it, the hard-workin' travel filmmakers we are.  Simple as it may sound, we had work to do...we had to capture the fashionably dressed men hoisting the grand maypole up for the May Day holiday.

We spent the week visiting gorgeous location after gorgeous location, while diving in to the world of fashion.  We were on assignment to feature former farmer clothes, the dirndl, and how this hot little number is making it's fashionable comeback in modern day society.  

 

 

 

Truthfully, I had never dreamed of going to Austria.  That was before, when I didn't know what I was missing.  Now, I know Austria is a fairytale place, just as beautiful as neighboring Switzerland, or New Zealand and colorful Colorado.  The classic architecture with beautifully carved porch details, flower-filled window boxes, surrounded by the gorgeous mountain landscape felt all too good to be true.  It reminded me of a place I called home for many years, Vail, Colorado, where Austrian influence is everywhere.  I suppose it would be most correct to say that Vail reminds me of Austria rather than the other way around.  Ah yes, the hills are alive in the place so proud to take a supporting role in the Sound of Music.  Maybe you prefer to associate Austria with the wiener schnitzel, Mozart, and lederhosen?  

Kelley and I had some time to play.  Okay, who am I kidding, we didn't have any time to play, but when you like your work, you are playing all day.  :)  

I really enjoyed the Salt Mine near Lake Hallstatt.  I wanted to lick the walls.  Seriously, there was salt accumulating on the walls.  We had to wear these sexy green jailhouse outfits with a reinforced bum patch, so you didn't get salt all over your clothes.  I mean, I never saw the white stuff fall from the sky, but the pants did come in handy when we slid down the wooden slide.  Thank goodness I avoided a second splinter in my butt that day (the evil wooden boat got me the first time).

While there was no time to party, but we did sample Austria's non-alcoholic beverage cabinet, including Flux, with the cute butterfly logo, and Amadudler, with the dirndl and lederhosen-clad couple on the bottle...CUTE!

 

By the end of the journey, we had our fashion fill.  It was so cool to see the fabric makers printing on silk with these ancient metal stamps, and watch the hat maker shape his caps, and see the shoe maker nail in the sole, and catch the seamstresses really work the thimble and needle.  Fashion...turn to the left.  Fashion...turn to the right.

We even got to meet the stunning Lena Hoschak and drool over her vintage and traditional line.  

Here's a little preview of what I saw through the lens this week; Kelley doing her thing:

And the reverse:

Prost!

 

Goodbye Mezz

After traveling all around the globe, chatting with folks from different countries and different cultures and learning a handful of life's little secrets, I've realized one very important thing: everybody needs a local.  :P  You know, a place that's close by, a place where you can relax and order "the usual", a place where everybody knows your name...haha!  That place for me is Mezzaluna in Vail, and it's so sad to see it go!

For years, I have joined friends over Coronas and Red Stripes, chatting about our days on the hill: from the stellar and unathletic students we taught, the inches and feet of freshies and the knee-deep stashes we uncovered, the blurry late nights with DJ Latenite at Ski Bar, the fast-approacting certification exams, the wild summers and the impending plans for next summer, and answering the the never-ending question of "What's for dinner".  For years, I never needed to ask anyone what or where they were going after work, because we always knew we'd find each other here.

 

Rumor has it, Mezz will no long be Mezz in the coming years.  Their lease is up, and likely a new tenant will occupy this gorgeous ski-stop with a view.  If Mezz does come back, it will be in a new location.  As I understand it, Mezz is closing, just like I witnessed the late and great Sundance Saloon close during my first season.

So, I thought it would be appropriate to host a toast to the place many friends gathered, where we've seen new kids become old kids and pale faces become shaded with raccoon masks.

Here's to years and years of memories...and all the friends who have been a part of the adventure.

Here's to goggle tans
Great styles
Generous pours (from the regulars and the ringers...the margaritas, Joey's Juicy Booty, Detroit River Water, the StanFish, White Russians and whatever the flavor of the moment was)


Plenty of pizzas

 

Goofy stunts

And most importantly, lots of laughs

 
  
 

   

We may not have taken a piece of the bar home with us...but we did leave a piece of us there!  ;)