Taxidermy, bizarre art, dark fashion, skeletal creations, antique finds, jewelry and medical objects were just a few of the curiosities on display at The Oddities Flea Market. The event debuted in 2017 and originally takes places at the Brooklyn Bazaar in New York a few times a year. This was the first time the market had come to Los Angeles, so of course I had to attend. Continue reading “The Wonders at The Oddities Flea Market”→
Middle image is of a séance conducted by medium John Beattie in Bristol, England in 1872
Séances, also known as spirit circles, first gained widespread notoriety during the 19th-century Spiritualist movement in late Victorian England. They were gatherings where individuals sought to contact the “other side” to communicate with the dead. Although some were exposed as nothing but smoke and mirrors, there were devout Spiritualists that took the ritual seriously and strove to tap into a Higher Self. More than 150 years later, the practice is still alive. I recently attended a spirit circle at Ipso Facto, a goth/alternative shop in Fullerton, California, that has been hosting séances for the past two years. I’m going to share my experience, plus my Q&A with shop owner Terri Kennedy. Continue reading “Channeling Spirits: An Evening Séance at Ipso Facto”→
Top 10 2018 Los Angeles Halloween Haunts (Photo by Neonbrand)
The spooky season is upon us and many Halloween haunts are already in full swing! Do you relish in a good scare? Enjoy being made to scream? Seek out dark and frightful experiences? Well, I do, so I’ve compiled a list of a few of this year’s most talked about haunted attractions happening in and around the LA area. I’ve included not only big-name theme parks, but also a few interactive and more intimate haunts. Some I’ve done in the past and others I’m hoping to do for the first time this year. Here are my picks of the Top 10 Los Angeles Halloween Haunts for 2018. Continue reading “Top 10 Los Angeles Halloween Haunts”→
Scare LA was the first weekend-long horror convention of its kind, debuting back in 2013. It inspired others, such as Midsummer Scream, another event dedicated to resurrecting the Halloween spirit during summer. This was my first time attending the festival, which took place in mid-August. If you haven’t experienced it for yourself, here’s a look at what happened this year. Continue reading “The City of Angels Goes Dark at Scare LA”→
August 30th is Frankenstein Day, a date that honors the classic novel by Mary Shelley, as well as her birthday. To commemorate this annual event, I thought it would be fun to share some ways we can all pay tribute. There may not be a time machine to transport us to 1818 (the year the book was released) to chat with the author, but why not use the imagination to bring to life our own monstrous creations! Here’s how you can celebrate Frankenstein Day. Continue reading “How to Throw a Frankenstein Day Bash”→
I had the awesome opportunity to be interviewed by my friend and journalist Virginia Isaad for HipLatina! The article sheds light on being Latina in the goth community, and embracing this diversity. I hope you have a look and enjoy the piece.
This year marked my first time attending Midsummer Scream — a Halloween and horror convention that happens in Long Beach, California. The annual two-day event is fairly new having been around for just three years. It took place the last weekend of July and paid special homage to the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein. In case you haven’t heard of or been to this ghoulish festival, here’s a look.
From left to right: “Micro Waist with a Pale White Feline Face” by B2rian LS; “The Fish Man” by Mescalito; “Breathe” by Maricela Avina
It was the grand unveiling of the latest exhibit to take over The Mystic Museum in Burbank, California — “Vampira Introduces The Shape of Water” art show. If you keep up with my blog, you may have read posts about past events I’ve attended at this oddities shop, which have had fun horror themes. I was especially excited about this one because of my love for the original glamour ghoul and Guillermo del Toro! So, cue the haunting music and imagine Vampira drifting down a foggy corridor to present to you this sneak peek.Continue reading “Debut Night of “Vampira Introduces The Shape of Water” Exhibit”→
Image from the official Dita Von Teese Facebook page
In a previous blog post, I wrote about Dita Von Teese’s first burlesque tour Strip, Strip, Hooray! and briefly touched upon her newest U.S. production The Copper Coupe. Well, she and her entourage just completed taking the show around the States and I went not once, but twice! It was a must since she will not be touring stateside for the next two years.
With Dita Von Teese & The Copper Coupe, the queen of burlesque teamed up with Absolut Elyx to put on one of her best spectacles yet. She introduced new numbers, costumes and music that included tributes to George Michael, Amy Winehouse and Prince. For those curious as to what a copper coupe is (also known as a champagne saucer), it is a stemmed glass with a broad, shallow bowl. So, let’s raise a glass and toast to this savory look at her latest revue. Continue reading “Dita Von Teese and Friends Heat Up the Stage with The Copper Coupe Tour”→
When I joined Instagram, most of the initial accounts I followed, besides family and friends, embodied a dark aesthetic, from art to fashion to music and travel. The fact that Instagram is all about the pictures makes it an awesome platform for creative people to show off their work, and not just professional photographers. For those that have an appreciation for the strange and unusual, or are just plain curious about it, these are my top 10 picks of the best macabre individuals and brands to follow on Instagram.