Hold onto your top hats: Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina are returning to California!

We’re being flown in as Guests of Honor at Ani-Jam anime convention in Fresno, CA (near Los Angeles and San Francisco). Seba and I will be leading panel discussions, and hanging out… we hope to meet you there!

WHAT: Ani-Jam anime convention
WHERE: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2233 Ventura Street, Fresno, CA
WHEN: August 20 and 21, 2011
PRICE: Here’s the link to discounted registration for you. Only $25 for 2 days of fun.

Please tell your friends and save the date. Can’t wait to see you.

I’m continuing to spruce up my website (I hope the blog is loading faster, especially for overseas readers). The Media section has been re-vamped, so that all my press clippings and links are on one page.

Profiles include: The New Yorker, Washington Post, WWD, Village Voice, Fox News and LA Times.

I’m always open to answering interview questions. If you’d like me to participate in an interview or feature, feel free to contact me.

Big hug to Samantha Parkinson for the beautiful artwork above. She wrote: “I have been enjoying your blog and reading about your adventures and travels for several years, and thought I would create a piece of art as a gift for you.”

Got a drawing of me and/or my cat, Basil Farrow? I invite you to submit it, and I’ll post it on my blog, with links and credit to you.

PS: Please keep the entries coming to win hair bows & accessories! It’s simple to enter; the instructions are here.

I’m enjoying your Facebook comments about your summer plans and goals. I’m responding to everyone’s questions and giving advice; I hope you find it helpful. (To participate, leave a comment on my Wall.)

Song of the Day: Lime – Come And Get Your Love (A total Italo Disco summer track.)

I’m going back to TOKYO! La Carmina & The Pirates have locked down a big new TV job (research, translation, arranging, hosting), from late July to August. But first, I’m tackling a travel hosting project… in Wisconsin? Details below, keep scrolling.

(I’m wearing t-shirts from our HOPE collection, with funds going to the Japan earthquake and tsunami victims. You can learn more and nab one here, thanks for your support.)

Naomi and I are the Tokyo fixers for Strangers in Danger, a ridiculous travel adventure show — starring BMX riders Zach “Catfish” Yankush, and Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla (perhaps you know him as Kat Von D’s roommate on LA Ink). The guys take on ridiculous and risky challenges in each country they visit, from deactivating Vietnamese landmines to biking Bolivia’s road of death.

We can’t reveal what we have planned for the Japan episode, but with Pirates involved… bring on the crazy! Strangers in Danger premieres September 6th on Fuel TV, and will be distributed internationally by National Geographic and Discovery Channel. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my appearance. (You can see my previous TV clips on my YouTube.)

This is my first return to Tokyo since the earthquake; I’m curious to see if/how things have changed. I’ll be sure to take plenty of photos for you, like these Sweet Lolita ones from the 2009 Gackt concert. (More pics and show review here).

But first, I’m headed to a place I’ve never been… Wisconsin, USA! Why? How? I can’t tell you yet, but it’s for a project involving travel, culture, and on-camera hosting. (Basil Farrow will miss me, as always…)

All in all, the TV work’s been coming along nicely. You can find out more about The Pirates on our site. In addition to film arranging and hosting, we also offer coolhunting, subculture consulting, and Japan brand connecting.

Coming up, more pop culture and fashion reports from Italy and Hong Kong… and the travels aren’t about to end. Seba and I are lining up several more sponsored trips this year. We’ll keep you posted on our whereabouts.

What type of Tokyo coverage would you like to see on my blog? Stores, concerts, people, events? To start, I have a zillion Tokyo Gothic Lolita Punk store photos from 2008-11.

PS: Would you kindly add my Facebook Page and give my site a thumbs up (click below)? Thanks you, Pirates! We couldn’t do any of this without you.

Song of the Day: Jack Off Jill – My Cat (“is amazing… he can play the guitar…”)

Back to Hong Kong for a quick science lesson… involving hard liquor! I subjected myself to cocktail experiments at Hush, a mod bar in Lan Kwai Fong / Central, Hong Kong. Mixologist Gibson Chan specializes in molecular cocktails, using ingredients and techniques typically found only in labs.

In this new video, Gibson shows La Carmina how to make a deconstructed margharita, with a salty foam created with a fish tank pump. Then, he mixes a cocktail made with what looks like caviar — but what is it really? Watch the video to find out!

I was happy to learn that the strange-looking powders were actually made from natural ingredients. Each drink was a topsy-turvy experience — the flavors and textures turn the expected on its head. Sip a glow-in-the-dark cocktail at Hush, 2 Glenealy in Central, Hong Kong.

I also went to Ozone, the rooftop bar of the new Ritz Carlton Kowloon. My ears popped as the elevator shot up to the 118th floor. But it was worth it for the killer view of Hong Kong at night, with nothing overhead but the sky.

I know my life is confusing lately… so many travels and projects! I re-designed part of my website to reflect the changes. Here’s a breakdown of my current work:

† BLOGGING: I post near-daily about my underground fashion and travel adventures.
† TV HOSTING & COOLHUNTING: My Pirates business is currently in overdrive. We have our hands full with Tokyo TV jobs and subculture consulting (such as introducing Western buyers to Gothic Lolita Punk brands.)
† WRITING: In addition to my current columns, I’m writing for AOL Travel. My three J-pop books are also available here.
† FASHION DESIGNING: We just released the HOPE t-shirts to benefit Japan. You can see my previous clothing collections here and below.

These pages may also be helpful…
† BIO: A summary of my work, along with my TV show clips.
† PHOTOS: A gallery of my Goth-cute outfits and makeup.
† PRESS: Media mentions.

† CONTACT: Email me if you’re interested in sponsorships, advertorials, collaborations – or simply want to say hi! I try to reply to all messages, especially on my social networks.

Funny how I’ve become Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. There’s more international travel in the works, and major projects involving TV and fashion. Soon, all shall be revealed!

PS: I’m featured in a new Spanish book called Coolhunting Digital: A la caza de las ultimas tendencias. In the “Colaboradores” section, I’m photographed and interviewed about my work as a subculture/underground coolhunter.

I invite you to browse the new website pages; I hope they present a clearer picture of my work. And please enjoy my new video, where the Hush bartender walks us through molecular cocktail-making. There’s more fun food and bizarre theme restaurants on my YouTube channel (please subscribe).

Have you heard of molecular gastronomy before, or tried it? Do you consider it a mind-opening experience, or an overrated trend?

Song of the Day: Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science

Happiness…. our HOPE charity t-shirts to benefit Japan are available for sale! You can pick up our special design from the Like Atmosphere website (they’ll ship internationally).

Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina co-founded the HOPE project, a t-shirt line with proceeds going to the victims of the Japan tsunami and earthquake. Various artists contributed designs, which were printed on superior-quality cotton by Japanese brand Like Atmosphere.

Our design (above), by Alice and the Cat (left), was inspired by Seba and Carmina. The artist says, “The concept is love. In difficult times, embrace and love one another, and let’s help to build a better future.”

The t-shirt has the striking HOPE logo, and a Goth-aristocrat manga drawing of Seba and me. Red, white and black colors symbolize Japan.

The HOPE family includes a range of styles. On the right, Sebastiano wears the “holding egg” t-shirt by Like Atmosphere.

Here, we’re modeling the “Glue-boy” tee by Ricardo Cavolo, “Hinomaru” shirt by Phuc Van Dang, and “Patched” by Like Atmosphere. All of these designs can be purchased online here.

I’m so pleased with how the photos turned out! The shooting took place in Milan, in a studio near the Duomo.

Carlo Travaglio of Context Productions was wonderful to shoot with. He worked fast, and rocked the colors and contrast.

He also works on fashion apps, videos, and other multi-media projects — very cool.

Let’s support Japan in style! We hope you’ll pick up our HOPE charity t-shirt here (ships internationally, PayPal accepted). Available in men and women’s sizes, M or L.

PS: if you send a photo of yourself wearing the shirt, we’ll put it on the Like Atmosphere site!

Thank you for supporting our nonprofit work. Big hugs if you can help us get the word out on the HOPE t-shirts — perhaps you could write a blog post or Facebook note? You’re free to use these images; just link back to www.lacarmina.com

What do you think about our HOPE charity t-shirt project? Have you been continuing to help Japan’s recovery?

Song of the Day: Anosphere – New Hope (I heart space disco.)

As promised, we have groundbreaking news… Versailles, the Visual Kei legends, are embarking on a short Europe tour in early June. And guess who’s opening for the Italian concert?

Seba’s band DNR — Dreams Not Reality! They will be performing before Versailles on June 4th in Salerno (Area Mercatale, Cava de Tirreni, Italy). What an incredible honor to be chosen out of all the bands that applied for the opening spot.

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll come to see Seba play keyboards live. He will also be translating for the Japanese band members. The other Versailles tour dates are June 1st (L’Autre Canal, Nancy, France) and June 3rd (Uppsala Konsert och Kongress, Uppsala, Sweden).

Seba and I have insane travel schedules, as I’m sure you’re aware. We’re currently in Hong Kong; you can follow our updates about mod fashion and panda theme restaurants on my Twitter (please follow).

Next, Seba will be in Tokyo for a few days. He’s a special guest at New Lex Tokyo’s 4th Anniversary party, the evening of May 28th. You’re welcome to celebrate with him at the Roppongi club; full info here.

Did you faint when you heard DNR will be opening for Versailles? Is there anything you’d like to ask Hizaki, Kamijo and the other members? Maybe Seba can share stories about hanging with the Jrock giants!

PS: I’ve been to multiple Versailles performances in Japan. Click to read the Jrock concert reviews.

Song of the Day: Versailles – Destiny, The Lovers