NYC GOTH CLUBS & LOLITA CLOTHING STORES. NEW YORK GOTHIC INDUSTRIAL FETISH PARTIES. ALTERNATIVE NIGHTLIFE MANHATTAN.
New York City is known as Gotham for a reason: it’s one of the best cities for all things Goth. Here’s a round-up of my favorite NYC spots for darkwave/industrial/neo-Victorian clubbing, shopping (including a boutique that carries Tokyo Gothic Lolita brands), alt-punk neighborhoods and more. (Photos by Shichi.)
ST. MARKS PLACE & LOWER EAST SIDE remains the Goth/Punk hangout.
† Tokyo Rebel (above) is a boutique that carries Japanese Gothic and Lolita brand clothes, such as Angelic Pretty, Sex Punk Revenge, Algonquins, Atelier Pierrot and more.
† Trash and Vaudeville sells punk and Gothic clothing such as Lip Service, Shrine and Tripp. Downstairs, there’s a great selection of hair dye, accessories and shoes. The exterior is also an ideal spot for a photoshoot.
† Search and Destroy is packed with vintage punk tees, gas masks, horror hentai…
† Kenka is an authentic izakaya (Japanese homey bar food) — one of my favorite places to chow.
† Tokyo Toy, a store filled with Japanese figures and collectibles, is around the corner.
† Check out this post for more alternative/Goth shopping recommendations, mostly in the East Village.
† Don’t forget to stop by Kinokuniya Bookstore to stock up on Japanese fashion magazines and drink tea. You’ll also find my books on the shelves.
NEW ROMANTIC GOTH ROCOCO PARTIES & JROCK CONCERTS
† Dances of Vice is your go-to for Rococo, Victorian, Jazz Age and New Romantic parties in NYC. The Edward Gorey-themed Halloween ball was filled with wonderful costumes.
† Glamdammit puts on glam nights, such as David Bowie birthday party.
† Killer B’z Productions specializes in events with dark themes, such as the Vampire Masquerade Ball.
† NYC is a gathering place for steampunk. There are often designer markets or special events, such as the Steampunk Haunted House.
† New Yorkers are lucky: many J-rock and Visual Kei bands pass through the city. I saw Lilac, Gurigula and Uzuhi at Webster Hall.
I’ve added links on the right sidebar to the rest of my Goth Tokyo and LA city guides. If you or your friends are travelling to any of these cities, I hope you’ll find them helpful. Please pass along the links, and feel free to ask me questions in the comments.
† WHO IS LA CARMINA? † I am a professional Goth/subcultures blogger, travel TV host and arranger, author of 3 books (Penguin USA and Random House), designer and CNNGo.com writer. My popular blog on Japan Gothic Lolita fashion / Visual Kei – www.lacarmina.com/blog – has been featured in major publications (The New Yorker, Washington Post, WWD, Village Voice, Time Out New York, LA Times). I’ve appeared on The Today Show and co-hosted an episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern for Travel Channel, which airs in 75 countries. NHK Japan filmed a documentary about my work; recent TV hosting and arranging credits include Dutch Pepsi, Sony Australia, Canal Plus France, and CNN International in Tokyo. I will be the Asia host for educational travel TV series, Project Explorer.
View my TV reels and full biography.
I run a coolhunting / trend consulting / TV hosting and arranging company: La Carmina & The Pirates.
– We specialize in Japan, Goth, alternative, cosplay, burlesque, LGBT, fashion, pop culture.
– Our services include TV production coordinating, on-camera hosting, Japanese translation and guiding, coolhunting, consulting.
– We’ve worked with CNN, NHK, Travel Channel, Canal Plus, Sony Australia, Dutch Pepsi, NRK Norway.
– For more about our services, please visit our Pirates website.
Please feel free to contact La Carmina if you’d like to work with me in any capacity (TV hosting, arranging, writing, etc.) You can also keep in touch via my social networks below. Domo arigato gozaimasu!
Japanese Word of the Day #11: Funeral = O-soshiki
Song of the Day #352: Glamrock – Crucified (an Army of Lovers cover. The makeup, OMG!)
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LA CARMINA
41 Comments
Don’t forget Book Off. The best place in the states to get VK/JRock CDs and DVDs.
Ahh yes indeed! I saw your photos of the new store – very nice.
The maid dress is so cute.
Don't forget Book Off. The best place in the states to get VK/JRock CDs and DVDs.
Ahh yes indeed! I saw your photos of the new store – very nice.
The maid dress is so cute.
Please let us know where we can see the Documentary!
Please let us know where we can see the Documentary!
Me like =)
Thanks for posting this.
Cute maid outfit and You saw Lilac! So amazing and talented!
Me like =)
Thanks for posting this.
Cute maid outfit and You saw Lilac! So amazing and talented!
I want to go there!
I want to go there!
I wouldn’t say crucial but I’ll add some:
First – http://www.newgothcity.com for updates on many NYC gothic, fetish, and other alternative events.
The Pyramid Club might not live up to its old reputation but is still a staple. It holds gothic, industrial, 80’s and other events depending on the day of the week. (Lower East Side)
The Scarlette Parlour also hosts Gothic Victorian, Caberet and mini art shows (Chinatown area).
Crash Mansion also has a lot of different goth, fetish events in the Chinatown area.
Don Hills use to host a lot of events but doesn’t seem as active anymore it in SoHo/West Village.
I could point out a few others but I haven’t been to them nearly as often (like the Sullivan, The Baroness, Ravenholm, and the Court of Lazarus). The only other shops I can think of off hand is Vampire Freaks, which errs on the near Hot Topic side.
Excellent stuff! You know your Gotham. ;D
Slowly but surely! The more time I get off, the more I’ll explore. I could write about LI’s goth scene but our 4 million people don’t compare to NYC’s 8.6 million XD. Besides most, like myself, just go to the city (Especially as you have to drive everywhere on LI, and clubbing and driving in my opinion don’t mix, if nothing else just to tired to drive).
I wouldn't say crucial but I'll add some:
First – http://www.newgothcity.com for updates on many NYC gothic, fetish, and other alternative events.
The Pyramid Club might not live up to its old reputation but is still a staple. It holds gothic, industrial, 80's and other events depending on the day of the week. (Lower East Side)
The Scarlette Parlour also hosts Gothic Victorian, Caberet and mini art shows (Chinatown area).
Crash Mansion also has a lot of different goth, fetish events in the Chinatown area.
Don Hills use to host a lot of events but doesn't seem as active anymore it in SoHo/West Village.
I could point out a few others but I haven't been to them nearly as often (like the Sullivan, The Baroness, Ravenholm, and the Court of Lazarus). The only other shops I can think of off hand is Vampire Freaks, which errs on the near Hot Topic side.
Excellent stuff! You know your Gotham. ;D
Niceeee this will help me on my trip~!
Niceeee this will help me on my trip~!
Slowly but surely! The more time I get off, the more I'll explore. I could write about LI's goth scene but our 4 million people don't compare to NYC's 8.6 million XD. Besides most, like myself, just go to the city (Especially as you have to drive everywhere on LI, and clubbing and driving in my opinion don't mix, if nothing else just to tired to drive).
I’m the author/poet of Down the Rabbit Hole Sinister Vignettes by Zoe Vinyl, on sale late June 2010 on http://www.amazon.com about my troubled life growing up Goth.
I'm the author/poet of Down the Rabbit Hole Sinister Vignettes by Zoe Vinyl, on sale late June 2010 on http://www.amazon.com about my troubled life growing up Goth.
Hi, if you’d like to attend a true Gothic party that has been going on for 12 years or more, check it out online at http://www.absolutionnyc.com. This party happens every Friday night in the LES, 87 Ludlow street at the corner of Ludlow and Delancy.
I’d love to, the next time I’m in NYC! I’ll give you a shout!
Hi, if you'd like to attend a true Gothic party that has been going on for 12 years or more, check it out online at http://www.absolutionnyc.com. This party happens every Friday night in the LES, 87 Ludlow street at the corner of Ludlow and Delancy.
I'd love to, the next time I'm in NYC! I'll give you a shout!
Do you know any other places that sells Sexpot Revenge clothing that has a website that I can go to. I really love Tokyo Rebel now <3 But I'm dieing to know anymore stores :)
Hmmm try Closet Child and http://www.maruione.jp …
These are some cool sites :D Thanks so much for the help ^__^
Glad you found them helpful!
Hi, I really love romantic goth fashions. I found an online store while surfing the web the other day. They have some really cute outfits that are mostly original designs made by up and coming designers. The site http://www.chicstar.com. It’s a really neat concept. You can even vote on outfits and if the design gets enough votes ChicStar will make the outfit and sell it. Plus now through Nov 30 if you put coupon code HOTCHIC at check-out you’ll save 10% off your entire purchase.
Great post!
Do you know of any other clubs in NYC that are on the goth/industrial side?
Thank you for your time and answer!
For links to Gothic clothing, try http://www.nycdarkevents.com
were can i find raves to go to im 17
Try http://www.gothicromanticdating.com
do you know any local stores with websites that have small messenger or crossover purses. I live in the US and this will be my forever/first purse so I want it to be awesome
Hi Lucy, it’s actually great timing because I’m selling a ton of my fashion right now! Here’s the link to the listings – let me know if there’s anything you would like, and I can gladly bundle it for you at a discount.
Shop now: https://www.depop.com/en/lacarmina