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NEW YORK STEAMPUNK HAUNTED HOUSE: HALLOWEEN HORROR SHOW ART PERFORMANCE, HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT.


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I wasn’t kidding when I said I celebrated Halloween for five days straight this year. On Day 1 (Oct 28), I was invited to check out the Steampunk Haunted House at Abrons Arts Center (Henry Street Settlement). A brilliant concept: building a fright-house with clockwork and gears.

“Hold onto me,” said my agent as we crept down a narrow, ominous hallway. BLAM: a ghoul in a gas mask ran after us, scraping a shovel against the wall so that sparks flew. In front of us: another gas-masked man in a vest and top hat, holding a lantern that went out — pitch black. Lights on, showing he had moved backward… Lights off, lights on and he was now standing behind us!

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As we ran deeper into the steampunk haunted house, the scenes became less about screaming and more about the beautiful (though ominous) steampunk aesthetic. Two white ghosts, slightly cute, frantically swept their house and then tore off their sheets — they were giant spiders! A woman’s torso in a glass box, her body wrapped in white gauze and one eye covered with a brass device. A disembodied hand held out theater tickets; when we snatched them, an accordion player in brass goggles cranked a haunting tune while a Lolita-esque girl danced. Our favorite was the vintage theater: frozen Victorian mannequins and girls in toxic masks crawling barefoot over the seats; the stage illuminated a 1920s man on a clanging mad scientist bicycle while two undead ballerinas draped themselves over the stage. In the last nightmare, a red-haired woman sang and undulated her long, spindly metal legs. While we were distracted, a group of undead children crawled out from under a gate and surrounded us, closer, closer…

It wasn’t quite Halloween — but do I ever need an excuse to dress up? My scarred makeup is inspired by Sally, the heroine from Nightmare Before Christmas. (I was dying to see the movie in 3D but missed it by a day…). My sweater is Black Peace Now from Closet Child. The ridiculous silver and black witch’s hat is from the Philadelphia Kimmel Center gift shop. It was one of those things that I simply had to own. When you squeeze the bat that dangles from the tip, it emits spooky music! (Oooo-eeee-oooo-eee-oooo…)

Don’t forget to tell me your dream theme cafe to win an autographed Tokyo Theme Restaurants book. What do you think of the newly-released extended Alice in Wonderland trailer? I think I’m more excited for the Tim Burton retrospective at the New York MoMA, which opens November 22.

Song of the Day #234: Despair – Dance of The Murder (A Japanese underground goth/electro band heartily recommended by Kanae.)

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44 Comments

  1. LiTtLe_MiSs_PsYcHo
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 5:55 am | Permalink

    I've always been fasinated with steampunk fashion ^^

  2. LiTtLe_MiSs_PsYcHo
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:55 pm | Permalink

    I’ve always been fasinated with steampunk fashion ^^

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:05 pm | Permalink

      Same… I’ve now become friends with more people into it. Stay tuned for photos from a Steampunk Halloween party!

  3. Ildi
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:12 pm | Permalink

    wow that haunted house thingy sounds amazing! (0 o 0) so that was all…clockwork & gears? no people dressed up? or projections? i can't begin to imagine….but sounds brilliant, i'd want to see that for myself! ! !

  4. chaoticLady
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:12 pm | Permalink

    wow sounds very interesting

  5. stillprince
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    …..That is the most badass haunted house I've ever heard of and now I wanna go D:
    Btw, you don't need an excuse to dress up. It's just fun <— use that as your excuse XD

  6. stillprince
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    Oh and as far as the new trailer is concerned, I think it looks awesome >D
    Although, I do think that the Cheshire Cat should've stayed pink and purple, and that Alice should be a tiny bit younger – more between the ages of 10-13

  7. Ana Hi
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    I really want to go see Alice in Wonderland, I didn't know they made a new extended trailer I'll check it out!

  8. Inked Heart
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    Love that witch . . .!!!

  9. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:05 pm | Permalink

    Same… I've now become friends with more people into it. Stay tuned for photos from a Steampunk Halloween party!

  10. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:05 pm | Permalink

    There were people dressed up in Steampunk Scary fashion who spooked us. Tons of awesome lighting effects… it was fun!

  11. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:07 pm | Permalink

    Oy… I think with all the whispering about the relationship between Lewis Carroll and Alice, they thought it'd be wiser to make her older! ;)
    I think Yukiro should be the Cheshire Cat :)

  12. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:07 pm | Permalink

    Yeah! I have seen all of Burton's films, I think.

  13. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:08 pm | Permalink

    Heee hee, when I saw the hat I simply had to have it. Even though it was hard to carry around!

  14. Anhedonia [Dyddiau Du]
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:18 pm | Permalink

    Freakin awesome, I love steam punk, Mawr ;P

  15. lacarmina
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 1:19 pm | Permalink

    <3 <3 <3

  16. Pseudohappy
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm | Permalink

    That…was so amazing… 0____0

  17. Pseudohappy
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

    That…was so amazing… 0____0

  18. Ildi
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm | Permalink

    wow that haunted house thingy sounds amazing! (0 o 0) so that was all…clockwork & gears? no people dressed up? or projections? i can’t begin to imagine….but sounds brilliant, i’d want to see that for myself! ! !

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:05 pm | Permalink

      There were people dressed up in Steampunk Scary fashion who spooked us. Tons of awesome lighting effects… it was fun!

  19. chaoticLady
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm | Permalink

    wow sounds very interesting

  20. stillprince
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    …..That is the most badass haunted house I’ve ever heard of and now I wanna go D:
    Btw, you don’t need an excuse to dress up. It’s just fun <— use that as your excuse XD

  21. stillprince
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    Oh and as far as the new trailer is concerned, I think it looks awesome >D
    Although, I do think that the Cheshire Cat should’ve stayed pink and purple, and that Alice should be a tiny bit younger – more between the ages of 10-13

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:07 pm | Permalink

      Oy… I think with all the whispering about the relationship between Lewis Carroll and Alice, they thought it’d be wiser to make her older! ;)
      I think Yukiro should be the Cheshire Cat :)

      • stillprince
        Posted November 10, 2009 at 3:10 am | Permalink

        Eh >_> People need to get their minds out of the gutter! D: She’s just a little girl… grawrg… oh well but still, =P

  22. Ana Hi
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    I really want to go see Alice in Wonderland, I didn’t know they made a new extended trailer I’ll check it out!

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:07 pm | Permalink

      Yeah! I have seen all of Burton’s films, I think.

  23. Inked Heart
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    Love that witch . . .!!!

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:08 pm | Permalink

      Heee hee, when I saw the hat I simply had to have it. Even though it was hard to carry around!

  24. Anhedonia [Dyddiau Du]
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:18 pm | Permalink

    Freakin awesome, I love steam punk, Mawr ;P

  25. Pseudohappy
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 10:04 pm | Permalink

    That…was so amazing… 0____0

  26. Pseudohappy
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    That…was so amazing… 0____0

  27. stillprince
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 7:10 pm | Permalink

    Eh >_> People need to get their minds out of the gutter! D: She's just a little girl… grawrg… oh well but still, =P

  28. Henry
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 8:28 pm | Permalink

    I wish I were there, I adore steampunk and there isn't much of a scene where I live.

  29. tor_hershman
    Posted November 9, 2009 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

    The party looks worthy of the super atomic rocket age.

  30. Henry
    Posted November 10, 2009 at 4:28 am | Permalink

    I wish I were there, I adore steampunk and there isn’t much of a scene where I live.

  31. tor_hershman
    Posted November 10, 2009 at 5:42 am | Permalink

    The party looks worthy of the super atomic rocket age.

    • lacarmina
      Posted November 11, 2009 at 4:52 am | Permalink

      Definitely! All we need now is a Klaus Nomi new wave martian party!

  32. lacarmina
    Posted November 10, 2009 at 8:52 pm | Permalink

    Definitely! All we need now is a Klaus Nomi new wave martian party!

  33. Lady Ari
    Posted November 10, 2009 at 8:58 pm | Permalink

    I so wish something like that would happen around here, but honestly, people here just wouldn't get it :sad sigh:

  34. Lady Ari
    Posted November 11, 2009 at 4:58 am | Permalink

    I so wish something like that would happen around here, but honestly, people here just wouldn’t get it :sad sigh:

  35. lacarmina
    Posted November 11, 2009 at 4:52 am | Permalink

    Definitely! All we need now is a Klaus Nomi new wave martian party!

  36. Lady Ari
    Posted November 11, 2009 at 4:58 am | Permalink

    I so wish something like that would happen around here, but honestly, people here just wouldn't get it :sad sigh:

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