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.

The city has a shadow. Not an underside, but an Otherside. A Shadowground crisscrossed by phantom alleyways that twist between the no-longer, the never-ever and the farthest reaches of your imaginings. The dwellers here are myths and legends, only real to dreamers, only found when lost. Only in such a place can broken toys come to life. Only in such a place do marionettes come to wander…

I know what you’re thinking. Geez, this sounds a lot like that Laura Branigan “Self Control” video. I need to buy a ticket to that dark, sexy shit A.S.A.P.

We know you do. And that’s why deadstarlet is setting the space-time coordinates to her teleportation device for Boardners in Hollywood tonight – where the deliciously dramatic and dark Wandering Marionettes will be performing their Kabinet Theater once again.

With their dance macabre, stilting, juggling, acrobatics, and really creepy white masks, the Wandering Marionettes may look like real puppets brought to life by an evil Italian toy maker. But, don’t fret, they are actually are one of L.A.’s most celebrated circus-freak performance art troupes, who have worked with the likes of Cirque Du Soliel, Cirque Berzerk, Paramount Studios, Universal Studios, The Do Lab, Labyrinth of Jareth, Electric Daisy Carnival (LA), and Burning Man.

And it only costs $15 bucks to spend the night in their dark embrace.

Oh, yes. The ghost of Laura Branigan will be so jealous.

Music provided by Pumpkin (downtempo/dub-tech-house) and Andrew Orbit (trip-hop-dub-downtempo).

Buy your ticket here.

Wandering Marionettes presents Kabinet Theatre

Thursday, October 22nd 10pm – 2am

Minimum Age for event: 21 and over
Ticket Price: $15.00 * Plus $2.60 Processing Service Fee

Location Address:
Boardners
1652 N. Cherokee Ave
Hollywood CA 90028

by deadstarlet

Known for resurrecting dead and buried stars and starlets during their summer film screenings, the Hollywood Forever Cememery is also in the business of resurrecting the rest of us stiffs. Well, at least this Saturday they are.

In only a production worthy of it’s Hollywood location, the Cemetery’s Dia De Los Muertos features dramatic processions, vibrant cultural performances, musical productions, elaborate costumes and an altar contest. Yes, an altar contest. Because the dead like their altars and their trendy Hollywood parties.

Okay, so the plot kind of sounds like a cross between Death Becomes Her and a Romero flick. And maybe the colors are too bright for some of our gothier Halloween sensibilities, but according to the event’s website: The Day of the Dead is an ancient and enduring ritual when the living commune with the dead – a mystical night when the veil is lifted between their two realms and they may share a day together.

That’s pretty cool. And I do have a few questions for Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawkings. Wait, maybe Hawkings just looks dead. How the hell did he outlive Sagan?! Would the ghost of Carl Sagan even be caught dead in Hollywood?

I guess I’ll find out this Saturday.

L.A. Day of the Dead - Saturday 10.24.09- 4pm-11pm

General Admission: $10

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Photos courtesy of Lisa Bevis

Tucked away in Hollywood’s Theater Row, this quaint cafe, art gallery
and music venue is an L.A. vegan treasure. With playhouses right
outside it’s doorstep and an art gallery to boot, you can muse your
tummy while you muse your Bohemian mind. Oh, how Kawaii Chibi Kat
loves her Cafe Muse.

I can’t recommend just one dish; I adore them all. I haven’t tried
something and not liked it, although I do think their veggie burger
and yummy sweet potato fries with a side of Texas tangy BBQ sauce are all to-die-for. Going on their 2 year anniversary you’ll spot the owners Jennifer and Crystal at the register taking your order, how personal ^_^!

So, come and indulge your vegan tastebuds (or ominverous tastebuds–
it’s that good) and check out Cafe Muse’s featured October artist Joey
Mason. Or swing by in the evening for some FREE comedy or music.

Here are some of this week’s highlights:

Thursday, October 22nd, 9:30pm
Dana Freiheit & Friends
www.myspace.com/frihetdana

Friday, October 23rd
Elle Johnson & Friends
Young Artists Mixer, 8pm
John Statz & Cody Statz, 10:30pm
www.myspace.com/johnstatz

Saturday, October 24th, 9:30pm
Joe & Maryellen and Friends
www.myspace.com/joeandmaryellen

Cafe Muse

6547 Santa Monica Bld.

Loa Angeles, CA  90038

323-464-MUSE

East of Highland Ave, btwn Las Palmas & Wilcox Aves.
Street Parking/Valet Available Some Nights

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