All Good Dogs Go to El Dia De Los Perrios: A Canine-Themed Day of the Dead Supports Animal Charities This Saturday in East Atlanta

Posted on: Oct 14th, 2011 By:

With Halloween right around the corner, the Kool Kats behind the Rockabilly Luau are taking Mexico’s DAY OF THE DEAD and giving it literally to the dogs to raise money for three animal rescue charities on Sat. Oct. 15. EL DIA DE LOS PERROS a free family-friendly public festival features Mexican-themed games, food, craft vendors, a costume contest (for both humans and dogs), kids craft and activity area, and a mariachi band from noon to 5 p.m. at 559 Flat Shoals Ave. (30316), the same open meadow that hosts the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market.

You don’t have to dress up, but ATLRetro agrees with Ink for Paws cofounder and event organizer Chris Mattox that you’ll have more of a treat of a time if you do. “Any costume (for people or dogs) is acceptable, but we’re most fond of ‘sugar skull’ faces,” he says. “Women can dress in Mexican tunics which are often embroidered, or they can wear Mexican flamenco dress. Men can wear Quechquémitl, which is similar to a festive poncho. Anything is welcome, but the more elaborate the better.”

The vendors’ market isn’t vintage per se or dog and Day of the Dead-themed exclusively, but being full of handmade items, it’ll definitely take you back in time. Chris says there’ll be dolls, hats, blankets, baskets and crafts of all kinds, as well as a groovy Dia de Los Perros-themed raffle. “For those diehard Dia de Los Muertos fans, we have some amazing items up for grabs,” he adds.

Be sure to bring the kids for bouncy village, piñata, face-painting, puppets, and a crafts corner, too. “Kids can purchase a slab of tickets and play all day,” Chris says, which he compares to Chucky Cheese—but with a much more creative twist. Indeed, we’d much rather think about kids learning about a different culture’s take on Halloween and playing with skulls, though.

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Kool Kitten of the Week: A Pinup Girl And Her Pups: Brook Bolen and the F’n Heartbreaks Rock Out for Pitbulls

Posted on: Aug 10th, 2011 By:

Brook Bolen poses as Miss April in the Pinups for Pitbulls 2011 calendar. Photo courtesy of Pinups for Pitbulls.

There oughta be a song about it. Guy dumps girl. Girl gets dog, starts a rock band called the F’n Heartbreaks, poses with her dogs as Miss April in the Pinup for Pitbulls 2011 Calendar to help more dogs, and performs at DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, Pin-Ups for Pitbulls’ latest fundraiser this Friday night (Aug. 12) at The Basement beneath Graveyard Tavern in East Atlanta.

While that fairy tale could be Brook Bolen’s life story, this fun fundraiser is for anyone of either sex who loves dogs, especially pitbulls, and righteous Retro entertainment. In addition to The F’n Heartbreaks, there’s the Hot Rod Walt Trio, an offshoot of rockabilly daredevils Psycho DeVilles (read ATLRetro’s recent Kool Kat interview with Hot Rod Walt here), and plenty of burlesque goodness from the tantalizing Talloollah Love, the sexy Sadie Hawkins and Barbilicious of Blast-Off Burlesque, and Little Darling from Pennsylvania, who also is the charity’s founder. Plus merchandise for sale, a raffle and silent auction to support the cause, and pinup girls aplenty!

ATLRetro caught up with Brook to find out the full scoop on Friday’s festivities, as well as a little bit about the F’n Heartbreaks, her passion for pitbulls and how you can become a Pinup for Pitbulls calendar girl, too.

Pitbulls often get a bad rap. How did you get involved with Pinups for Pitbulls and why does supporting this charity and pitbulls mean so much to you?

I discovered Pinups for Pitbulls about four years ago and was immediately drawn to them because they fit me effortlessly. I have two pitbulls, love pinup style and was literally heartbroken from working in a high-kill animal shelter where I saw countless pits die needlessly. This charity is the perfect way for me to effect some positive change in a way that is authentic to me. Our work is fundamental to me not only because of my own pitbull babies but because of the tens of thousands I met working in Animal Control who were also wonderful, loving companion animals.

How did the idea for Pinups for Pitbulls get started? Wasn’t it founded by a burlesque performer?

It was founded by an amazing pinup model and burlesque performer, Deirdre “Little Darling” Franklin. Her lifelong love of animals led her to volunteer in an animal shelter, where she fell in love with a pitbull but was prohibited from adopting it. She learned that many shelters employ similar policies—so going to shelters is essentially a death sentence. She decided to use her pinup/burlesque fan base to start educating and advocating for the breed.

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