MAZATLAN, MEXICO FOR HALLOWEEN & DAY OF THE DEAD! HEAVY RED ALICE IN WONDERLAND, HIGH QUALITY GOTHIC COSTUMES.
I’ve been teasing you about my epic Halloween plans. Ready to find out where I’m travelling?
Last year, I went to Candy Spooky / Satan, Torture Garden, and a Goth wedding in Tokyo. This time, I’m experiencing a new country and celebrating a legendary festival: Day of the Dead.
Si, amigos: I’ll soon be in Mazatlan, Mexico, courtesy of the tourism board!
This will be my first time in Mexico. Never been interested in places like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo (we Goths aren’t exactly spring-break-lie-on-the-beach types). But I’m fascinated by Mexican dark art and festivals, especially dia de los muertos, and Mazatlan is a cultural center. Sugar skull makeup, graveyard ceremonies, bread of the dead!
My trip’s not all play. I’m hosting and producing a travel video about Mazatlan’s Gothic/spooky culture, so you’ll be able to see the celebrations up close. Of course, I’ll find time to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Coast beaches.
Can’t wait to sample the fresh seafood (fish tacos!) and do a photoshoot in the Gothic-Baroque Mazatlan Cathedral, completed in 1899. (Previous two photos by Rob Lee via Creative Commons.)
The big question… what to wear on the most important day of the year? Heavy Red, the LA Gothic brand that made my costume last year, has a new Dark Alice design.
Innocent and vulnerable, yet undeniably sexy — the finely-made costume is inspired by the heroine whirling down the rabbit hole. Heavy Red’s Alice en déshabillé in Wonderland costume is a unique vision of dark beauty, customizable in a variety of ways.
Unlike most Halloween costumes, this is a quality garment, available in size small through 3X. There’s still plenty of time to order (with express shipping, US customers can get it the next day, and international takes 3-5 days).
Noir Alice costume is available by itself (cream dress, blue corset, harlequin stockings included) or with an accessory package (net and ruffle gloves, necklace of choice, temporary tattoo of choice, decorative pocket watch, costume ring, black teacup handmade hat).
Don’t have a Halloween costume yet, and looking for something very special? I hope you’ll consider Heavy Red’s beautiful selection here — you’ll be belle of the ball!
What will La Carmina wear for Day of the Dead? Only time will tell. I have a feeling this will be my spookiest Halloween yet. (Photo by Demonbaby)
The gorgeous sugar skull photos are by Glitter Machine in Vancouver, the team that did my Alt Noir shoot. Wardrobe and styling by Deadly Couture and Tracy Cake. For full credits and more pics, see this and this Facebook album.
Have you ever been to Mazatlan, or anywhere in Mexico? Recommendations, please! Which cultural aspects would you like to see in the travel video?
And what are your plans for Halloween 2011?
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WISCONSIN HOUSE ON THE ROCK RESORT, ATTRACTION & INN: WORLD’S CREEPIEST HOUSE? WIN TICKETS TO SEE MIYAVI LIVE.
What, what? You haven’t yet seen my travel video for Huffington Post, where I visit the world’s freakiest house? Sunday is perfect day to give it a view!
If Alex Jordan were alive today, he’d be on the TV show “Hoarders”.
The Wisconsin eccentric wasn’t happy with a single tea set. He had to own a dozen. Instead of two creepy dolls, he amassed two hundred. Three medical vials? Try three thousand. You get the picture.
Jordan’s knickknacks fill every inch of House on the Rock (5754 State Road 23, Spring Green WI, (608) 935-3639).
He supposedly built the 200-acre complex to show up Frank Lloyd Wright (who called him an incompetent architect). When Jordan finished the home in 1959, curiosity-seekers convinced him to turn it into a museum.
It’s a dizzying walk through the House’s three sections. This is not a trip for the weak-stomached. A few areas smell like a cross between rotten cheese and wet cat.
I slumped through mole-like passages that opened into monstrous displays. Such as, “Heritage of the Sea,” a 200-foot whale and squid locked in a battle to the death, wrapped by a staircase lined with sailboats. “Music of Yesterday,” coin-operated ghost orchestras that bang out circus songs. “World’s Largest Carousel,” hundreds of fairytale beasts spinning under the glow of chandeliers. “Hallway of Infinity,” a glass walkway jutting out high above a valley, with no supports underneath.
The sensory overload left me (and other visitors) battered. I was in awe of Jordan’s grandiose vision, the magic and wonder he created. At the same time, I wanted this claustrophobic flea-market nightmare to end. Wisconsin’s House on the Rock, you will haunt my dreams.
What’s the strangest museum you’ve ever encountered? Would you set foot in this one? See the wonder of House of the Rock in my Weird Wisconsin video.
And stay tuned for the next Coolhunting episode, where I visit a top secret restaurant/bar in Milwaukee.
PS: Absolute last chance to WIN Miyavi Halloween concert tickets for his What’s My Name tour! Tell your friends and enter here; it’s easy.
I previous reviewed his Neo-Samurai tour in this post.
PPS: I’m featured as subculture guide in the Japan episode of Australia’s travel TV show, Roam. It’s airing on National Geographic Adventure in October and November; here are upcoming showtimes.
Song of the Day: Whatever’s your favorite Miyavi song… if you tell me on Facebook, you can win the ticket giveaway!
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LA CARMINA
