You may have been left scratching your head if you drove past Modern Snack Bar in early June while loads of vintage cars filled the lot and women dressed in pinup garb took photos in front of the iconic neon sign.
Wonder no more, as this meetup is just one part of what the Rescue Vixens — a charitable group celebrating all things vintage — do. Founded by Virginia Scudder, who’s also the hero behind North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue, the Rescue Vixens host car shows and events and release a calendar every summer from their annual vintage style photo shoot at the charming Aquebogue eatery with proceeds benefitting the animal rescue. And when they’re not dolled up, the Rescue Vixens are getting their hands dirty helping animals in need.
“We don’t just do the pictures or the pinup contest, which is what a lot of other groups like us do,” says Scudder. “We are actual rescue people. We are out there, as the girls say, ‘heels on the ground or boots on the ground,’ doing that stuff.”
The Rescue Vixens calendar shoot. (Photo credit: Virginia Scudder)
Scudder has always been a fan of midcentury modern style. For over a decade, she’s utilized her passion and her love for photography to raise funds for animal rescue. Her non-profit organization started with cat rescues, using trap-neuter-return methods to humanely manage and stabilize feral and free-roaming cat populations on the North Fork.
Over time, these practices evolved into a full-scale rescue and preservation non-profit.
With that, the Rescue Vixens have scaled their mission. One of their largest annual events is the Deuces Wild Rockabilly Round Up for Rescue in Manorville where over 500 classic cars, trucks and motorcycles are shown, with live rockabilly music performances, raffles, food trucks and a pinup contest. The Rescue Vixens — Madame Purrr, Cate Chaos, Paula Pixie Dust and Devilynn Black — will all be there.
While the group has events around Long Island, they bring the fun back home too for brewery fundraisers and other happenings on the North Fork. (Photo credit: Virginia Scudder)
“We like to bring a lot of the things that you would see in Vegas — like the rockabilly shows there — to our shows,” says Scudder. “We’ve had burlesque dancers, all kinds of fun events and things that you might not see here on Long Island. It’s a party atmosphere where you get everybody together for the commonality of rescuing homeless and neglected animals on Long Island.”
Closer to home, the Rescue Vixens host brewery-based and other events on the North Fork with classic cars, pinup clothing and adoptable animals.
“What’s great is we get to work with our community members who have now become friends, and they help to advocate for the animals we rescue and we help advertise their businesses,” says Scudder.
And that photo shoot that may have piqued your attention at Modern Snack Bar — those vibrant, vintage inspired pictures — will be available in a calendar available come July 24 at the restaurant, the Deuces Wild Rockabilly Round Up for Rescue or by request.
Learn more about Rescue Vixens and North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue on their websites.
