FabSugar

The Origin of Guidos

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:16 PDT

The Jersey Shore gang is back tonight with season two of the fist-pumping show, forcing me to think deep questions, like "where did guidos come from?"

The g-word began as slanderous term for lower-class Italian-Americans, but the youth of New York and New Jersey embraced the term and made it their own in the 1970s.

Dr. Donald Tricarico, a sociology professor at the City University of New York, points to Saturday Night Fever as the movie that supplied the guido myth. Working-class Italian-Americans found an escape in underground dance clubs of the '70s. They created the leisure-meets-greaser look by maintaining their cultural identity while adding American status symbols.

Today's definitions range from "Italians who conduct themselves as thugs with an overtly macho attitude" to "a pejorative word to depict an uncool Italian who tries to act cool" to "a good-looking Italian guy" (compliments of Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino).

Probably the best explanation of "guido" is borrowed from Italian. Fred Gardaphè, professor of Italian-American studies at Queens College, points to the idea of bella figura. "It basically means, to put on a show so people don't know the real you," he said. "If you're poor, you make them think you're rich. If you're rich, you make them think you're poor."

Source: Flickr User Annie Mole

FABTV: Saturday Night Fever Dance Scene

FabSugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:23:22 PDT

There's nothing sexier than a man with moves. Dance moves, that is. So many people cite Saturday Night Fever as a favorite movie, but really, it gets kinda depressing towards the end, no? I guess they're just as romanced by the disco and the dance as I am. I do have an obsession with disco - what I would give for one night at Studio 54. What can I say, I love the night life. But back to Travolta. I have tried to memorize this dance routine, it's a goodie. Travolta had the looks and the bravado, but he also had the flexibility and the funk. Let's face it people, he gets down and dirty. Doesn't this make you want to go disco dance the night away? Go!

Movies For Those Who Love to Dance (or Just Watch It on TV)

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:30:40 PDT

Do you feel that, too? That giant hole in your Wednesday and Thursday nights that used to be filled with glorious dance (and Nigel Lythgoe)? It's just one week since the finale, and I'm already suffering withdrawal from So You Think You Can Dance. My backup dance show, America's Best Dance Crew, is also nearly done. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite dance movies of all time to get me through these tough times. To see some of my picks, hit "Start."

Photo courtesy of Fox

Fashion 101

FabSugar — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:00:22 PDT

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Welcome to the World Katie Sugar. . .

DearSugar — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:14:48 PDT

I am so happy to be here in San Francisco to meet her! She's beautiful, and as Brian wrote on PopSugar, Pop and Katie are doing great! I wanted to share my take on the baby's arrival story with all of you dedicated and supportive readers.

I came to San Francisco from NYC on Wednesday morning for Sugar Publishing training. I was so pumped to find out that we were going to the Madonna show that very night in San Jose. What a concert - Madonna is #1! - and Katie loved it too. Pop's belly was a whole other show worth watching. Katie danced along and especially loved the Saturday Night Fever-esque disco version of Music. We made some great friends in front of us - all of who were willing to stop dancing and help POP make a fast exit if Katie just had to Vogue .
By 3:00am, Katie was getting restless and Pop was up for the rest of the night. She and hubby made a dash to the doctor at 10:45am. All of Sugar Publishing was anxiously waiting (trying to work on our training) in their kitchen.
By 4:00 it was GO TIME - and Pop was off to the hospital ready to Pop - in true POPSUGAR fashion. Only she could make labor look so easy. Angelina, eat your heart out.
I was at the hospital by 10:00pm to see the glowing, happy and best of all - healthy Sugar family. It is with great pleasure that I can report live from San Fran about this beautiful baby story. I feel so lucky to have been here for the big day! Congratulations POPSUGAR!