DONATE TO JAPAN: RAISING MONEY AT MR. BLACK NIGHTCLUB IN LA. BISHI, LENORA CLAIRE, SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS, BLACK VEIL BRIDES.
The fundraising whirlwind has commenced! Every single day, Sebastiano Serafini and I have been sponsoring events and collecting donations for Japan, in Los Angeles.
Big hug to Mr Black club organizer Luke Nero and hostess Lenora Claire (left) for inviting us to set up a donation table last Tuesday night. We were photographed for LA Weekly by Curious Josh.
(Why does the Japan flag say “Black Veil Brides”? Tomorrow, you’ll find out on my blog… and on Huffington Post!)
The lovely Phyllis Navidad (of Pop Tart gallery) greeted us at the door. That evening, it was doorgirl Larva’s birthday and a Love Boat nautical themed party.
We set up a booth, and collected donations for Doctors Without Borders (who already have medical teams in Sendai). It felt good to talk to people about Japan, and the ways they can help.
La Carmina is wearing: Skull headband and silver bead/bow bracelet gifted from Soho Hearts (thank you to the Amsterdam-based designer for sending me jewelry!) The vampire jacket is gifted from Lip Service; the top is Putumayo from Closet Child.
Sebastiano is wearing: panda bear necklace gifted by Soho Hearts, cross necklace gifted by Diablo (Seba models for them), mesh top bought in Harajuku, tshirt from his TV drama (Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo).
We’re teaming up with familiar faces to encourage donating to Japan. UK singer/DJ Bishi, and vocalist Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons were among the flag-bearers at the nightclub. Tomorrow, you’ll see how Black Veil Brides joined in. (If you missed it, I interviewed singer Andy Six in Seattle a few months ago.)
Like Kamen Rider, Sebastiano is putting his heart into helping those in need. (I got the shirt years ago, from the little boy’s department of a Hong Kong store.)
Seba and I did a video interview about Japan with TV host and YouTuber Andrea Feczko, to be released soon.
Japan needs donations to recover — we urge you to do your best to hold fundraising events, or even talk to people about the earthquake (every little effort counts). Tonight, please join us at the Q Pop art fundraiser in Little Tokyo; tomorrow, we’ll be at the art event at JapanLA on Melrose. (Full details about our LA events for Japan are in this post.)
PS: Seba and I dyed our hair yesterday! Can you guess what color? Hint: it’s to show solidarity for Japan. (Thanks Toni & Guy Academy in Santa Monica for the styling.)
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LOS ANGELES EVENTS TO HELP JAPAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: Q-POP ART FUNDRAISER, GIANT ROBOT LA, SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS ON THE ROX.
The amount of damage from the Japan disaster is still not known. But the casualties are now in the thousands, and believed to be in the ten thousands.
Sebastiano and I want to return to Tokyo as soon as everything is less volatile. We feel that for now, foreigners especially can help the most by raising money for reputable charities in Japan. We think supporting the professionals – medical teams, rescue crews – is the best course of action for the time being.
Seba and La Carmina are planning many events this week in Los Angeles to raise money. We collaborated with a well-known band (to be revealed soon), and collected donations at Mr. Black for Medecins Sans Frontiers / Doctors Without Borders. (Seba crafted a “Donate To Japan” sign in less than 10 minutes – impressive!)
Thanks to everyone at Mr Black LA for generously donating. And to The Orlando Hotel for hosting and supporting us — we’re overjoyed to be back.
Some updates… My schedule for the next few weeks remains unclear. My Belgian TV show and the NOH8 campaign in Japan are certainly postponed.
Fortunately, Yukiro made it to Sweden after a harrowing Narita airport experience! Many of our friends in Tokyo have moved to areas such as Kansai and Kageshima, just as a precaution.
Tonight, we will be raising awareness and funds at On The Rox, the weekly LA party by Semi Precious Weapons (who toured with Lady Gaga). Hope to see you there.
La Carmina and Sebastiano Serafini are sponsoring the Q Pop art auction for Japan this Friday, in downtown LA. The Japanese clothing store is now accepting donations of artwork. All proceeds will go to select local hospitals, shelters, and relief groups in all affected areas in Japan.
Please join us at the silent auction on Friday, March 18th from 7-11pm. Q Pot Shop is located at 128 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles.
Participating artists include Junko Mizuno, and illustrators for Power Puff Girls, Samurai Jack and Pixar. (Works will also be sold online.) Tune in Tokyo is spinning tunes, and there will be live music from Dig Jelly, Stephanie Yanez and guitarist Po Lo.
We encourage you to support your local events to help Japan. Other events in Los Angeles:
MARCH 17, 8-11pm: We <3 Japan: One Day Art Auction and Celebrity Signing at Meltdown Comics. Info here.
MARCH 19, 6:30-10pm: Giant Robot Presents Water Works – Fundraiser for the Devastation in Japan. Info here.
Also on Saturday March 19th, please join Seba and La Carmina at the #PrayForJapan art fundraiser at JapanLA. Details are in this post.
Keep us posted about you and your friends. How are you doing? Have you been taking action to help Japan?
PS: I’ve gotten some emails, and I think people should be more concerned about Sendai and NOT about whether they can still take shopping vacations in Tokyo in a few weeks. Not the time to be a tourist…
LA CARMINA
