Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with kitsch

Paging Bettie Page, Toronto edition

Schlimmbesserung — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:28:44 -0800

Where to find Bettie Page paraphrenalia in Toronto? A lady friend of mine is the biggest Bettie Page fan I've ever met, and she collects all manner of kitsch with Page's image on it. It's her birthday on Sunday and I'd love to add to the collection, but I'm both a) a terrible shopper and b) pretty new to Toronto.

Where are my best bets in Toronto for finding that kind of stuff? Bonus points for downtown, but anything within TTC range is doable.

(and yes, I know there's all kinds of great stuff online, but it's mid-morning on Friday now and the party is on Sunday. Life never gives me enough notice, and young love waits not for shipping)

Ho, ho, ho, Merry frickin Xmas!

bolognius maximus — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:20:20 -0800

I need Xmas gift ideas for someone who has everything! Help! I have searched previous posts, google, everything, and I have no ideas. He said he got me a really cool, kitschy gift (and he usually gets really great stuff for me), and I have no idea what to get him. Commence panic mode...

He makes a lot more money than I do, so he usually just buys whatever he fancies. I'd like to spend $300 or so max. He is a scientist. He likes bugs, SCUBA diving, running, art, books, and is a cook and food snob.

Examples of other gifts I have given in the past:

Nikon Field Microscope

A really cool bonsai tree

Art from The Bungled Jungle

I need ideas for something really cool, unique, off the wall, etc. I don't know why I can't think of anything, but time is running out, so I need help! Online or in stores, and I will be downtown Chicago tomorrow, so I will have access to stores there.

Thanks in advance!

What's the strangest, schlockiest, Obama-themed gift we can find?

bookish — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:08:47 -0800

My boyfriend's goofy father has requested kitschy Obama souvenirs for Christmas. I know there must be some truly ridiculous Obama-themed items out there. Help us find the absolute weirdest and kitschy-est of them all.

Help me find this incredible hat!

nonmerci — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:15:15 -0800

Help me find this hilarious hat, as seen on Danish TV! While watching an episode of the amazing Danish comedy series "Drengene fra Angora" with my father, we came across an amazing character equipped with an hilarious hat (can be seen around the 50 second mark). After google searching for 'novelty hats', 'clapping hands hat', 'flappy cap' and variations the closest I can come to is this embarrassing imitation. I want to find this hat online so I can give it as a gag gift for my father.

Please help me!

ABBAFilter: Has anyone done a DECENT 'hard' cover (or a remix) of an ABBA song?

Chorus — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:44:37 -0800

ABBAFilter: Has anyone done a DECENT 'hard' cover (or a remix) of an ABBA song? I'm thinking similar to what Marylin Manson did to 'Tainted Love'? Yes I've no taste. I'm particularly looking for metal/hard/rock/whatever covers/remixes of Money Money Money and Voules Vous.

German etymology of "kitsch"

Durhey — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:28:15 -0800

Please help me find the etymology for the German word "kitsch". Not the American word as we currently know it, but the original German one.

A print reference that can be cited would be best (it's for a thesis). Books in German are fine (I imagine that any books on German etymology would be). It appears to have entered use around 1860, if that's any help.

I go to Blackpool for my holidays...

champthom — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:10:12 -0800

What are some popular, regional touristy type attractions? What I don't mean is obvious tourist stuff - Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Mount Rushmore, etc.

What I mean is pretty much the following criteria places that are typically visited by people from the surrounding area. Put-In-Bay for Ohioans, Kennywood for Southern Pennsylvanians or places like the 1000 Islands for upstate New Yorkers like myself.

To some extent, I'd include places like Blackpool, England or Myrtle Beach. I don't mean places like Cancun or any other "package" city (though that would be an interesting question for some other time).

So essentially, I'm looking for places visited mostly by regional residents, mostly geared solely tourism, typically considered a "traditional" vacation, and ideally should have some kitsch factor involved.

Help me fill my shopping list as this forsaken town has nothing even close.

plumberonkarst — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:29:16 -0800

I am looking for some specific items to purchase in or around Toronto .I will be wandering the Kensington market area this week looking for the following: Reasonably priced Salvia (5 or10 x), silver Absinthe spoons, Kopi Luwak coffee, Costa Rican (or other) coffee sock, “Day of the Dead” theme imported pottery/tiles,Tibetan rope incense , hand operated conical burr grinders for press and Turkish coffees and a herb called "rum rau" aka Vietnamese coriander. I am also trying to locate a food bar called "Toast". Can anyone recommend some stores/areas to check?

Who first rapped "my name is __ and I'm here to say..."

k7lim — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 02:34:42 -0800

In what rap song do we first hear this much-imitated lyric pattern? "my name is ____ and i'm here to say... [followed by a line that rhymes with 'say']" Was there an actual sincere use of this rhyme by a hip-hop artist, or was this conceived of as a joke from the start? It may be hard to have an answer for sure, but perhaps we can approach the origins by listing examples and dates for the examples. One of the more ridiculous instances I've seen is the Sushi K rap in Snow Crash.