Announcing TWO Los Angeles Cute Yummy Time book signings! I hope to see you on Saturday, Nov 28 and and Sunday, Nov 29 from 2-4pm. Come to Kinokuniya Bookstore, 123 Astronaut S Onizuka #205, Los Angeles CA. If you’d like to cover the event or interview me for a publication, please contact me.

Onto Day Two of Halloween (Oct 29). I was invited to attend Lady Victoria’s Vampire Masquerade Fetish Ball — and the promise of darkness and decadence was too strong to resist. Her NYC-based company, Killer B’z Productions, specializes in events with dark themes — such as the upcoming “Gothic Vampire Anti Christmas Party” in December.

I’m fascinated by haunting Venetian and Eyes Wide Shut masks (remember these photos?). I went to a few West Village costume stores but was disappointed by the uncomfortable, badly-made masks on display (not to mention the price tags). When all fails, you’ve got to DIY! So I headed to my beloved New York fabric district. $15 bought me a meter of black fringe and blue feathers. The glittery black skull tinsel is from a Tokyo dollar store. A couple of twists and bobby pins and voila — a spooky veil for a Vampire Fetish Masquerade.

Skull dress: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Shinjuku. One of my favorite new purchases.
Glossy black purse: a gift. My h.NAOTO Hello Kitties and a Gloomy Bear dangle from the handle.

(All photos below by Efrain Gonzalez and Pepper Negron.)

Funny story: I got into the F train and bent down to check the subway map — and the woman sitting under it nearly had a heart attack! (I didn’t mean to freak her out, I swear. I simply forgot that I was scary-looking.)

Inside the Lower East Side venue (Element/Bank), I was warmly greeted by Lady Victoria and her friends. I’ve been to hundreds of Goth parties, which range from ultra-friendly to snub-snobby — and let me tell you, I felt at home from the moment I arrived. Pepper Negron’s Goth/fetish photography danced over the stage, Efrain Gonzalez showed me his pictures and videos, and others introduced themselves like old friends. Before long, we were twirling to the 80s, darkwave, industrial sounds of DJ Krieg.

Later in the evening, a woman swallowed swords and lay on a bed of nails and put other oddities down her gullet (I’ll spare you the details, as they may make you choke!) There were some extremely creative and intricate outfits in the room, and I took home a New Goth City t-shirt in the Costume Contest. If you’re in NYC, check out Lady Victoria’s site for upcoming Goth theme parties.

Need a break from work? Come read my new CNNGo article: 6 embarrassing travel moments for Asian celebrities. Have you found the CNNGo website useful? What are your favorite features?