Portland’s Still Weird! Jupiter Next boutique hotel review, Freakybuttrue Peculiarium Goth alien creepy art museum.
Blink, and you may have missed that I spent a few days in Portland, Oregon!
On this short but sweet trip, I got to catch up with my pirate comrades and hang out in the stylish new Jupiter Hotel Next.
I haven’t been to PDX for a few years, and am pleased to report that yes — Portland is as weird as ever.
Keep reading to see our adventure at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, where I got probed by aliens and sat on Krampus’ knee!
In 2013, I visited Portland, Oregon for the first time and stayed at the original Jupiter Hotel. I had fun shooting with the space-inspired rooms, and exploring the kooky and Gothic subcultures in the city.
This time, I rested my head at the Jupiter Next, the hip new outpost of the Jupiter Hotel located right next door.
Opened in 2018, Jupiter Next is a sleek and stylish boutique hotel set in a funky six-floor building.
The lobby is an airy space featuring concrete planes, walls of plants, and giant windows that let in plenty of natural light. Many of the staff and guests are tattooed and pierced types with colored hair… The Jupiter is my type of place!
I put together an outfit with “Clueless” vibes. (The beret and yellow and black tartan are totally Cher Horowitz.)
My plaid skirt and bats beret are by Sourpuss Clothing, criss-cross top from Forest Ink, and my black platform pumps are found here.
Every morning, I made it a routine to get free coffee with oat milk downstairs at the Hey Love bar. The baristas also have a spectacular handmade pumpkin latte…
Hey Love, their resident restaurant, serves tropical-inspired dishes and cocktails. Loved the brunch presentation that included edible flowers on a generous platter of chilaquiles.
Be sure to take a break on the rooftop terrace, which has sweeping views of Portland’s historic buildings and mountains. The hotel is located in East Burnside, an easy walk from plenty of chic cafes, bars, and the Lovecraft Bar (a favorite Goth party space).
The Jupiter Next is also a home for the local art and performance scene. There’s a music venue on the property, and regular events and partnerships with creatives. (Hotel pics by local artist Naomi Rubin.)
The art in each room sums up this design hotel’s playful Portland vibe.
Each room is outfitted with cozy modern amenities, and has fabulous views of the city from a big picture window.
You can compare the Next to the original Jupiter Hotel, where I stayed on my first trip to PDX. The original has more of a motel and partying feel, while the new one is a more chic and upscale “big sister.”
Close-up on my hoop pearl earrings from Stephen Einhorn — I’ve been wearing them non-stop. The medium hoop Creole earrings have an elegant French vibe, and stand out with an all-black outfit and dark hair.
My black beret with flying bats is by Sourpuss Clothing.
Close-up on my Dainty Skull bangle, also from House of Einhorn. (The British designer is famed for his fine Gothic jewelry, including the rings Johnny Depp wore in Dark Shadows.)
The silver double-skull bangle is a subtle yet striking piece, which can be worn alone or layered. You can also customize the eyes by adding in diamonds or gems for sparkle.
More from the Jupiter Next at the end of this blog post… But first, let’s go out into the city and get freaky.
I did my best to “Keep Portland Weird” — and I think I succeeded.
Wearing a neon green alien beanie and abduction hoodie, by Chicago streetwear designer Cryptic Apparel.
My pirate comrades and I were excited to experience the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, the craziest and strangest museum / art attraction in Portland, OR.
The exterior gives you a hint of the disturbing kitsch horror within… This seems like our type of place!
We visited the Freaky but True Peculiarium right before it moved to a new and larger location, with more exhibits. (Check their site to see the new address and details.)
The gift shop alone is worth a visit. You can spend a good amount of time here marveling at the quirky objects for sale, and taking disturbing photos with Sasquatch. Many of the offbeat works are by local artists, including a wall of comics by Portland creators.
The mish-mash of items ranged from funny to puzzling to terrifying. We were tickled to see vintage clown plates, chocolate chip cookies made with bugs, “anti-hipster” poison vials… If it’s freaky or peculiar, you’ll be sure to find it here.
Admission to the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is $5, but you get in free if you wear a hardcore costume.
Inside, you’ll find a hodgepodge of displays that don’t make much sense — but they’re all eerie, bloody or weird in some way. In this corner, you can sit on a leering Krampus and take photos –– much like pictures with Santa! (Or Satan…)
The emporium of oddities pays tribute to sci-fi, horror, urban legends and other weird niches. Two of my favorites were the Vampire Killing Kit, and a blood-spewed bathroom titled “Dude where’s my guts.”
This isn’t a haunted house, so you won’t experience any jump-scares. However, you’ll be certain to be creeped out by something in this enormous collection.
A Victorian dollhouse looks like an innocent playhouse for children… until you notice the murderous scenes in each room.
You’re encouraged to take photos at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, and many areas are set up for fun selfies.
A group of art students put together the wildest attraction of all… An alien autopsy in progress!
There’s a hole for you to pop your head out and be part of the dissection. I seem to be okay with having my organs harvested. Aliens need to learn human anatomy and eat protein, after all…
This mannequin in a bunny-suit, on the other hand, gave me the willies. Warning: if you’re planning to visit the bathroom here, you might be in for a spooky surprise…
Wearing an alien abduction sweatshirt and skullcap by Cryptic Apparel. Not sure if this Cosmic Portland portal is teleporting me to the future, or back to the 1980s.
I think I’ll press the Depeche Mode button, and wind up in a 1986 Goth club.
(The space vibes match my Alina Abegg alien pinky ring.)
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is one hell of a weird place — and that’s saying a lot, for Portland!
Speaking of devilish matters… I went on a hunt for Gothic and Satanic themed things in Portland.
I couldn’t resist trying a pentagram doughnut from the popular Voodoo Donuts. Called the Diablo Rex, this is a chocolate cake donut with red sprinkles, hailed with a white vanilla pentagram star.
(You can also ask for a pentagram pizza from Sizzle Pie, which has various locations in PDX.)
I stopped by Powell’s Books, and was in heaven — there were rooms upon rooms of esoteric tomes, zines, and novels. Everything is free to browse on the shelves… except the occult / Satanic books and tarot cards, which are locked behind a glass case!
Is it because books like the Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey are too dangerous for innocent eyes? The truth is more mundane: emo teenagers tend to steal these books, hence the extra layer of protection!
If you love eclectic shops, be sure to stroll along Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. There are plenty of alt cafes and two Gothic boutiques: Danse Macabre (above), and Another State of Mind.
Portland’s NW 21st and 23rd avenues also have funky shops, including Paxton Gate. Find two-headed skeletons, horned taxidermy, and rare fossils including T-rex teeth.
Death, 666, and upside down crucifixes are everywhere… Hail Portland!
So much wonderful street art to see all over Portland, including this grinning skull. “You turned around, and you had these wooden teeth!”
I kept warm in my Skandinavik pink Mongolian fur coat with a hood.
Another look at my Stephen Einhorn skeleton heads bracelet. A timeless piece and a perfect gift for anyone with a Gothic disposition.
If you’re curious about the original Jupiter Hotel, you can see my review here from a few years ago. It turned out to be the perfect place to wear my astronaut outfit for Halloween.
Very happy I got to experience the new Jupiter Next. Waking up to these views in the X Room was heaven.
If you’re looking for hip accommodations in Portland, the Jupiter Next Hotel can’t be beat for value and location. It’s also a great spot to grab craft cocktails or a meal with friends.
A salute to Weird Portland — there’s so much to love about this city, and I’m keen to come back again soon.
OOTD: Clueless plaid skirt and hat by Sourpuss Clothing, cut out black top from Forest Ink.
PS: For more alternative and Goth travel tips, check out my full Portland, Oregon series here. I cover The Lovecraft Bar, pirate Day-Glo golf, absinthe and Victorian theater, underground warehouse parties, and other weird and wonderful attractions!
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New York Fashion Week breast cancer runway show! AnaOno, Metavivor, Cancerland: NYFW metastatic research benefit.
If you think NY Fashion Week is all about frivolity… then you’ve never been to a breast cancer fashion show.
In February 2020, I had one of the most meaningful weekends of my life cheering on bestie Molly, a Stage II breast cancer thriver, at NYFW! What a moment to see her and fierce mom Deborah (who also beat the disease) strut the runway.
I was moved to see a diversity of models — representing every stage from pre-vivor to metastatic — slay the catwalk in AnaOno (a lingerie and clothing line for breast cancer thrivers).
This meaningful fashion show partnered with Cancerland, with 100% of proceeds benefiting METAvivor (to conduct much-needed research for metastatic breast cancer treatment).
I hope you enjoy this very special report from New York Fashion Week 2020. (Please see photo credits at end.)
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 3 will have metastasis. These facts hit hard for me, as I have several close friends who were diagnosed with breast cancer — including writer Elizabeth Wurtzel, who passed in January (you can read my tribute to Lizzie here).
Molly Weingart has been one of my closest friends since we met on Halloween, at Columbia University. Years later, I still remember the feeling of shock when she told me she was diagnosed with breast cancer, at age 32. Her mom Deborah, above, also had and beat breast cancer 25 years ago. (Their walk was supported by Penn Medicine and V Health and Wellness.)
There’s no other way to put it: Cancer blows. I visited Molly in Philly during her second round of chemotherapy, and the side effects were unexpectedly rough. And we were traumatized by her experience at the hair salon, where she was forced to shave her head due to chemo. (Since then, I’ve been growing out my hair and appreciating the ability to maintain a long length!)
Molly is a warrior, and she’s now in remission. We celebrated by relaxing and shooting guns in the Dominican Republic!
Everything came full circle in NYC, the place where we met and attended many fab fashion events. In 2020, she and her mom were chosen to walk the runway for the AnaOno x Cancerland x Metavivor benefit show.
The annual NYFW catwalk has an important goal: to raise funds for metastatic breast cancer research and treatments, while changing public perception of the condition.
At the same time, this is New York Fashion Week — so everyone is encouraged to dress flamboyantly and have a fabulous time!
I debuted my Skandinavik pink Mongolian lamb fur coat, and it received a lot of compliments. The sheep are merely sheared to make this luxurious jacket, which comes with a hood and keeps you unbelievably cozy. You can find this statement coat and more, in multiple striking colors, on Skandinavik Fur’s site.
I’m also wearing a bats beret and heart cardigan from Sourpuss Clothing, and snakeskin platform boots by Acne.
I adore my new dainty skull silver bracelet, from Stephen Einhorn. The bangle slips on easily, and has a minimalist yet edgy style that goes with all outfits. The skeleton’s details are beautifully etched — House of Einhorn’s fine Gothic jewelry is always to die for.
I’m living for Stephen Einhorn‘s medium pearl hoop earrings, which stand out against my dark purple hair. These timeless hoops instantly add a dash of Goth glamour.
(Close-up on my voodoo heart cardigan and bat hat from Sourpuss Clothing.)
While I was taking street style snaps, Molly and her mom were hard at work backstage. Throughout the weekend, they were filmed for a documentary, and spent all day doing photoshoots, fittings, and runway walk lessons.
It was wonderful to meet the models and supporters, who embodied the fashion show motto of “#Fearless.” The ladies modeled glamorous garments by AnaOno Intimates and outerwear by Madison Chamberlain. Each look was personalized to fit their unique story of experiencing breast cancer.
Molly gives off J Lo vibes in this custom camo jacket, fishnets, and mesh panel black underwear. Love how they gave her a high braided ponytail and long eyelashes.
She gives us a peek of her tattoos, by Chicago-based artist David Allen. He specializes in tattooing women who had a mastectomy and/or reconstruction, transforming their scars into swirling flowers.
This year, the breast cancer fashion show focused on diversity, and bridging the gap between early and late-stagers. The women represented a broad spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and stages of breast cancer — including previvors that had a preventative mastectomy.
The AnaOno x Project Cancerland x Metavivor fashion benefit was such a success that the tickets were oversold. Everyone eagerly crowded into the Angel Orensanz Center, a former synagogue that has become a gorgeous event and performance space.
The show got off to a rousing start, with several heartfelt speeches. I was moved by the speakers, who shared their fears and hopes at every stage of breast cancer — from preventative surgery to recurrence and metastasis.
On the right, I was happy to finally meet Dana Donofree, creator of AnaOno. When she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, she realized there was a lack of beautiful lingerie and loungewear for women who experienced breast reconstruction, breast surgery, or other conditions causing discomfort. As a solution, she launched her fashion line.
More than 30 models “werked” the NY Fashion Week catwalk, modeling AnaOno’s spectacular designs. Such an inspiration to see these women take back their bodies and celebrate living.
Unlike a typical New York Fashion Week show, this was a vivacious and touching occasion. It was fun to sit front row, and cheer our hearts out for the breast cancer thrivers.
The models showed a wide range of expressions and walks, each expressing their feelings about living with breast cancer — from anger to sadness and courage.
As each woman appeared, words flashed behind her that conveyed her greatest fears. Walking the catwalk let her own her vulnerabilities, and become fearless.
Knowing Molly’s journey firsthand, I screamed so loud when she appeared!
Her full statement: “I walk to use my body as a form of protest, to fight the stereotype that bravery means we should hide our fears related to this illness. All our fears are valid, from death to losing our hair.”
When she reached the end of the runway, she slowly took of the jacket and stood strong, revealing her bare chest and tattoos.
Molly describes the moment: “As that jacket made by Madison Chamberlain slid down my shoulders, I felt years and years of shame slide of my body in seconds. My story is in body and I don’t have to carry it.”
Molly shares her full story, from being diagnosed to getting tattooed by David Allen, here.
“The scars felt like a continuous reminder of what I had lost, what I would never be or do. I was excited to see something beautiful instead of destruction. I didn’t expect or even believe that getting tattooed by David could make me feel beautiful again— it did—or that instead of feeling like a medical oddity, I would feel like I’m a walking piece of art and my body is the canvas.”
What an emotional moment when Molly’s mother, Deborah Spitalnik, joined her on stage for a hug — and then walked the runway herself.
Deborah’s story: “25 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was more painful and frightening to see my daughter have breast cancer. I walk to support my daughter, to honor my mother who also had breast cancer and the whole breast cancer community. I fear recurrence in my daughter and myself, but I am inspired by the advances in treatment and restoration.”
With her energetic stage-dance, this brave mom got some of the biggest cheers of the night!
I was blown away by the strength of the women who walked in the breast cancer fashion show. I’m grateful I got the opportunity to connect with many of them over the weekend, and hear their stories.
Molly says, “These two photos capture the absolute silly, giggly parts and the quiet, tender parts of the relationship between my mom and me — which was strengthened through my treatment.”
(Credits: Backstage pro photos are courtesy Tammy Tarabola, and the professional catwalk photos of Molly and Deborah are by Carey Kirkella. The rest of the images are by me.)
Molly adds a tribute to her amazing father. “My dad stood by my mom’s side during her treatment years ago and then mine decades later. He bravely learned about things I don’t think most dads would consider their “department” — and of course, he was in New York to support them to the fullest.
When the hard work of modeling is over, it’s time to party! Molly put on a sheer bodysuit and glitter heels for the NY Fashion Week afterparty.
We hung out with her friends and supporters, and celebrated the success of the nonprofit fashion show.
As VIP guests, we left with a swag bag of delights, including ChitoCare Icelandic beauty products. Without doubt, this was my best New York Fashion Week to date.
Ah, I miss that NYC street energy… I’ll surely be back soon (and I have some additional stories from the city to share with you.)
Wearing a Sourpuss Clothing Goth beret, and Skandinavik Mongolian lamb fur coat of dreams.
Cheers to everyone who made the AnaOno x Cancerland x METAvivor fashion show a success! The funds raised 100% went to much-needed Stage 4 breast cancer research.
I’m keen to do more to get the word out — these ladies deserve our support, and I’m grateful I got to share in their NYFW 2020 experience.
LA CARMINA
