This past weekend, DeadStarlet and I attended the Hello Kitty Fan Appreciation Party at Royal/T — the meow-off event for the first ever North American Hello Kitty Exhibition …ever! A MUST for all those who claim to love HK.

The Appreciation Party is the first in a series of HK-themed events dubbed Three Apples, celebrating 35-years of feline cuteness. Don’t miss the HK Halloween Party this Saturday, October 31st (with pumpkin carving and costume contests and prizes). And Hello Kitty’s B-Day party on Sunday, Nov. 1st. FREE goody bags for the first 100 visitors! Check out a more detailed schedule here.

But, don’t worry if you can’t make it for the weekend parties you can still go on the weekdays, browse the amazing HK-inspired art and eat HK shaped food ^_^.  Yummy goodness for all kitty fans!

HK Artists Simone from tokidoki and the legendary Yuko Yamaguchi Hello Kitty Mama sign fan art.

Die hard HK fans Judy Chung, Tara P. and Ariene Brandt waited in line for almost three hours to get into the Party last Saturday.

Some people waited all day just to get their artwork signed.

Hello Kitty Exhibition van outside of Royal/T.

Inside, the place was packed. We took a ride on this kitty-licious interactive theme park experience by FriendsWithYou!

More fun and games. I took my chances with the crane machine. Lost!

A room full of every Hello Kitty item in the world! I would stampede a class of 3rd graders to get in there first.

Julie T. and Jennifer Ernester enjoy some cake and tea.

I hate to say it, but Paris Hilton is photographed wearing this dress. Did Hello Kitty just throw up in her cute little mouth?

Hello Kitty is redeemed by Sid Vicious of all people.

DeadStarlet hiding next to a little HK playhouse.

Beautiful sparkly handbags by Judith Leiber. The exhibition was curated by JapanLA and featured 80 other artists, like the 7 foot sculpture featured below by Colin Christian.

What: High-end designer tag sale
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
Where: 466 East 18th St., Costa Mesa
How much: $10 to get in with amazing deals and consultations from top-tier SOCAL interior designers

The post mortem from August is below…

(Postdated August 10, 2009) : What’s not to love when your friends throw a not-so-secret interior design party in Venice beach?  Our Tag Sale last weekend was a resounding success, with lots of rabid early shoppers and sunshine a plenty.  Much props to Vanessa De Vargas (Turquoise), Vanessa Kogevinas, and Amy Swift (SMARTY) for keeping the mood light, and of course thx to Dj Stephen R, and Haizee for joining me on the decks overlooking the crowd. The NYTimes even showed up and wrote a succulent expose.

Leave it to Culver City’s adorably naughty Japanese-style cosplay café, ROYAL/T, to be the first North American venue to purr like a kitty.

The “Three Apples” Exhibition: Celebrating 35 Years of Hello Kitty will meow-off this FRIDAY, Oct. 23rd. That’s right; Hello Kitty is a Gen-Xer. And like any good Gen-Xer, she knows how to throw a birthday party.

Curated by JapanLA, 80 artists will take on Hello Kitty in everything from paint to fiberglass to a super secret interactive theme park. The proceeds made by the artists’ work will go to the charity L.A. Works.

If an art show isn’t kittycore enough for you, then show up on SATURDAY, Oct. 24th, for The Hello Kitty Fan Party.  The head Hello Kitty designer fresh from Tokoyo, Kitty Mama’ Yuko Yamaguchi, & tokidoki creator, Simone Legno will be giving a special signing. After you drool all over the creators, you can participate in artist workshops, nibble on Kitty sushi, drink Kitty cocktails, and sing Kitty Karaoke. Free goody bags for the first 100 visitors.

But . . . if that’s still not enough Sanrio kitten porn (you cute little freak), ROYAL/T will be hosting several insane Hello Kitty Parties over the course of the next THREE WEEKS, including a Halloween party, a Goth Party and a Hello Kitty Birthday Party.

If that doesn’t make you feel like a Sanrio character on steroids, then you should just move to Japan.

ROYAL/T

8910 Washington Blvd.,

Culver City, CA 90232.

This fall’s Affaire in the Gardens Art Show celebrates one of Los Angeles’ most precious and upscale resources: water. I guess they want to keep their professionally landscaped lawns that bright green color. And you should come and enjoy it. It’s FREE. And it’s certainly prettier than Chinatown.

For those of you that know the beauty of a community art show, Affaire in the Gardens shouldn’t be missed. The show features over 200 artists, a wine garden, live music, local cuisine, art demonstrations, local celebrities, art collectors, and the kind of chic sunshine and flora that only Beverly Hills can buy.

 So, turn off your TiVo’s and spend your weekend outdoors for a change, rubbing elbows with Los Angeles’ richer, prettier half.

Affaire in The Gardens

Santa Monica Blvd. between Rodeo Dr. and Rexford Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

October 17th & 18th

10am-5pm

If you’re post-Pop and all Pop Surrealism (or your date is), may I suggest you take a gander at La Luz de Jesus Gallery’s latest show featuring artists John Puglisi and Mitch O’Connell (October 2^nd-31^st).

O’Connell, one of Chicago’s most treasured illustrators and well-know lowbrow artists, is all brand names and cheer as he perverts pop art with his cartoony and disturbingly cute style in his collection “Pre-engagement Ring.” He’s got Marilyn, Jane Mansfield and adorable woodland creatures. He’s even got a salt’n pepper shaker that resembles a dildo. Or maybe that’s just me.

La Luz is a hybrid between a historic, groundbreaking art gallery and eclectic gift shop, where you can buy anything from Alien action figures to special edition art books to sushi-themed shower curtains to an original Mark Ryden or Nathan Ota.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery

4633 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone 323-666-7667 Fax 323-663-0243
800-YRU-POOP

This Saturday I’ll be holding down the turntables at this year’s Designer Tag Event in my favorite LA enclave (Along with Stephen R. and Haizee). Expect free food from vendors, giftbags, a special appearance by my friend Baiyina Hughley from A&E’s “Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design” show, and more.  Here’s the scoop from Vanessa De Vargas at turquoise-la.com.

The Designer Tag Sale is an interior designer yard
sale/tag sale organized by interior designer Vanessa De Vargas and
design editor Vanessa Kogevinas. Hosted by entrepreneur Amy Swift (SMARTY.),
the sale will feature over ten top Los Angeles designers selling items
from their personal inventories including small furniture such as
side-tables, lamps, rugs, pillows, art, accessories and more at
incredibly low prices! Nothing will be over $200 and prices will run as
low as $5.

Find out more at designertagsale.blogspot.com and  quirkylivingla.com

Saturday August 8th : 10am-4pm : 2500 Grandview Ave Venice CA : Enter through the alley