Burning Man 2012: How was your trip?

A frequent conversation I've been having lately-

Person I know:
Hey how was your trip? 

Me:
*Pause*
*Huge deep breath*...Well I...

White Trash Minnie Mouse and her megaphone

introduced myself to Kostume Kult for the 10th time - saw people smile at me like it was the 1st time, felt a REAL hug, reaffirmed what I already knew - people will do whatever you tell them to if you are speaking into a mic or megaphone, rode on a tiki bar with 12 people during a daylight whiteout while Riders on the Storm played on the stereo, climbed a sinking pirate ship, biked in the bumpy ghetto of 2 to 3 o'clock, zipped down a very unsafe zip line, was lectured by Safety Taco, had a personal dream come true by getting a tour of the Never Was Haul with Tempe, complained about being a sober Runway MC - 10 people ran to me with booze, took a baby wipe shower - felt pretty good about it, took at real shower - felt like a new person, peed in a hot sauna of a porta potty at noon, heard Jungle in the morning OOohhing,  AAhhing and complimenting mostly women on the runway, ate next to nothing all day then ate gourmet food every night that saved my life, asked a dead sexy man via megaphone to rub his scruff on me, said some more inappropriate things while MCing, carefully climbed to the top of Mal-Mart to marvel at the view of Black Rock City, dove down 20,000 leagues deep under the playa with sexy pirates aboard the Nautilus X,  danced with hot pirate maiden Laura, resurfaced at a movie theater, resurfaced at concert of fire jets, lost my freaking mind, jumped ship, swam with Tom back to camp, collapsed in my tent, ate pancakes with Poddy All The Time, talked to so many strangers which I normally hate doing, hugged everyone again, had a moment at the Temple of Juno, cried over other peoples dead pets, made promises to myself that I probably won't keep, helped Cha Cha build the balloon chain, didn't turn on my cell phone, faithfully followed our fearless leader DK, became one with the dust, was a Zombie/White Trash Minnie Mouse/Bad Bunny/Pirate Captain/Santa/Pink Kitten, dressed a man in a prairie dress which he loved, changed peoples perspective on costumes, felt proud when I told people I was a member of Kostume Kult, made people "get sexy with it" on the runway, couldn't quite get anywhere on time, indulged in the simple act of cuddling, saw rain and lightning for the first time on playa, danced at a safari with hot Australian giraffe and buffalo, showed off my assets, watched a Dragon Theater Shadow Show, waved to art car riders, pedaled a bike bar, got dirty with a dusty boy,

Riders on the Storm

hopped in the Billion Bunny March, marveled at how that silver spaceship stays upright, did a pickle back *or 23*, rode my bike drunk with a drink in my other hand, practiced safety third, fell off a piece of art, fell deeply in love with everyone in KK, was very entertained by Johnny Letrik, had a white wedding with Noodle, laughed with Dusty Lashes, marveled at Charlie Won's energy, was rubbed down with SPF by Babba the Love Sponge, had a tent party at Cowboy Roys, watched the Bull burn with Constantino, was envious of Maddie's free spirit, shared my secret crush(s) with Maria, heard a lot of tent sex, nearly came face to d*ck with a shirt c*cker, saw the sun come up MULTIPLE times, watched a lot of sh*t burn, was in awe of how attractive everyone in our camp is, enjoyed the sound of my own voice on a megaphone, acquired a lot of new costumes, watched our frontage come down, demooped for hours, wished I could stay just a few more days, watched the playa disappear in out the back window.

Passenger aboard Nautilus X.

Most frequent responses:
*Blank Stare*
Wait, were you just telling me about a dream you had?
You went to Birmingham?!
I just couldn't deal with no shower for a week.

Bad Bunny's Good Side

Its hard to put into words for others an experience that forever alters your life, even the second time around. Each burn is different but so far both of mine have started the same. The first night I have anxiety that a week is too long to spend in this desolate wasteland. "What have I done?!", I think. The next few days are filled with people and things that do not exist out side of this dried lake bed we inhabit for such a short time. The hours and days fly by. My body acclimates to the new environment and I stop noticing there is dust all over my fork when I put it into my food. The energy builds steadily throughout the week and when the man finally does burn that 1 mile circle is the center of the universe. You can't imagine there is anything else going on in the world. Its a beautiful week long escape. Everyone asks me if I will do it again next year, my inner burner smirks, she will be back. 

Below is the video I took this year. Unfortunately a dying battery prevented me from taking more. 

Find a Haunt - Haunted House Locator

Haunted house fans looking for the best scares around should use the services of Find A Haunt.
Find haunted events in your address or zip code on the main page and the site automatically propagates a map showing every Halloween event within 75 miles. The attractions are listed by distance away from the searcher. This useful tool can help you organize Haunt Hopping with your Halloween loving friends! Check it out by clicking the banner below. 

HAPPY HAUNTING!

Burning Man NYC Re-Entry 2012 presented by Kostume Kult & PEX

THE VENUE FOR THIS PARTY HAS CHANGED!

IT WILL NOT BE AT DISTRICT 36.

IT WILL BE AT LIBERTY THEATER

234 West 42nd Street, NYC

A Trans-Dimensional Portal from BRC to NYC and all night dance party with one of the best sound systems in NYC

Saturday, September 22nd
9pm-4am

LIBERTY THEATER (Est. 1904)

233 West 41st Street, 

betw 7th & 8th aves,

Midtown NYC

STYLE/INSPIRATION
Time Bandits meets Priscilla Queens of the Desert with a dash of Flash Gordon. Interdimensional travelers with outrageous style with all forms of transformative, transparent or transgender fashions encouraged. Barbarella, SteamPunk, GlamPunk, PlayaPunk, Art Deco, retro-future, robot-chic, aluminum lingerie, rocketwomen & little green men, cross-gender, cross-species & cross-planetary fashions! Share tall tales of adventures had, lessons learned and booty plundered. Emerge from the 'Burn Gate' and sashay down the runway. 

TIME/DIMENSIONAL TRAVEL FASHION SHOW AT MIDNIGHT!  All can participate!

TICKETS on sale now
1st tier - $20 + fee (limited)
2nd tier - $25 fee waived
Door - $30 Kostumed, $40 Mundane
Drink specials all night

RSVP

ARTISTS, INSTALLATIONS & PERFORMERS

Time Travelers Fashion Show (midnight) with MC Christopher

Be transported through Matthieu Boardman's BURN GATE 

High Voltage Time Machine by Kimmy Dudek

ArtDeco Planet Metropolis

Body Art by Transformational Bodypainting & Kirkworx

Photon PhotoBooth by Jeffrey Grossman

Cosmotastic Projections by VJ Static

Playa Video Postcards by Tom Egan

Costume Accessories and Jewelry by Electric Candy Couture 

And YOU participating as you will!

*More TBA soon

DJs in two rooms!

Lee Mayjahs? (PEX, Playloop)

DJ Everyday (PEX, Playloop)

Boris "Burning Elf" (Kostume Kult, Toad, NYC)

Big Jawn & Teh Wallace Tag-team set (PEX)

Discount (PEX)

Orange Krush (Kostume Kult, Disorient, NYC)

Been Jammin (NYC)

DRINKS

(this is an upscale place doing special deals for us)

$6 premium beer

$7 well drinks & wine

$8 call liquors

$3 water bottles

To Volunteer, Propose Art or Offer a Time/Space-Bending Performance, email producer IRENE
ikmalatesta (at) gmail (dot) com
(Mention Reentry in the subject line)

FreaKKshow IV Saturday July 28th, 2012

Our annual circus themed, Burning Man camp fundraiser and all night dance party in an historic Broadway Theater

Saturday, July 28th

8pm-4am

Liberty Theater (Est. 1904)

234 West 41st Street betw 7th & 8th Aves

Midtown Manhattan

PICS

RSVP 

Tickets:

BUY NOW

1st tier - $20 + fee (limited)

2nd tier - $25 fee waived

Door - $30 Freakky, $40 Normal

Drink specials and food available all night

An ode to Ray Bradbury's Dark Carnival novel, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" about a twisted, traveling carnival and its ringleader, Mr. Dark. A good vs. evil story with normal people being tempted into a wicked carnival life…  Now, Kostume Kult beckons you into an artistic life, encouraging you towards your freakiest carny best and a wonderful creative community.

STYLE:  Dark Carnival, Circus Sideshow, Sexy Showgirl, Animal-Faced Humans, Bad Klowns, Misfortune Tellers, Toothless Huxsters, Contortionists, Evil Magicians, Body Art and more...  Be a player in our multi-ringed circus, produce your own sideshow attraction or game of chance... Characters from the Bradbury novel include: Mr. Dark - a sinister showman with tattoos for each person he has tempted into the carnival, the Dust Witch - A blind soothsayer-magician and Tom the lightning rod salesman turned insane dwarf. Invent new characters for this interactive remake and STEP RIGHT THIS WAY! into our Karny life!

DJ Duos spinning fantastically freakky sets including:

- Alex Funk (Kostume kult, Garden of Heathens) with Boris Burning Elf (Kostume Kult, Toad, NYC)

- "Jewmanji" featuring DK (Kostume Kult, Toad, NYC) with EZ (Space Pirates, Disorient, Philly)

- Deep C (Adults at Play & Bangarang!, Philly) and Nate Dark (Bangarang! Philly)

MORE TBA

ARTISTS and PERFORMERS... Full list TBA soon.

To Include:

Performers and Sideshows throughout

Aerialists

Feats of Strength and Absurdity

Multiple video projections throughout this spectacular space

Body Painters

Outsider, Insider and Undersider Artists of all ilks

YOU!

To propose art, a performance or a sideshow: 

http://goo.gl/J0D9Z

Want to Volunteer?

Baby Halloween Costume Ideas

I can't wait to have some kids mainly because before they learn to talk and thus protest, I can dress them up as whatever I want for Halloween!

When it comes to making your own baby costume, felt is probably your best bet. Cheap, easy to modify yourself and comfy to allow freedom of napping during your Trick or Treat stroll around the neighborhood to show those darn cute kids off. Check out this sweet little owl costume from Martha Stewart. Owls are EVERYWHERE in kids stuff. There are lots of good ideas on her site if you are the crafty type.

Here is a very simple tutorial for a No-Sew Infant Parrot costume. Best of all the feathers and wings are in the back so your baby will probably not even notice that they are wearing an adorable costume!

Not everyone has time to dust off the old sewing machine or glue gun though. Recently I came across a very cute site called Chasing Fireflies. Their costumes are on the pricey side, but your kid will be one in a million in their adorable tree frog costume.

Another unique option is finding kids costumes on Etsy.com. Let someone else do the heavy crafting and then reap all the compliments! Just make sure you order early to allow plenty of time for the seller to ship and always read entire listing carefully, especially if it is your first time using Etsy. The variety of handmade and unique items on Etsy is endless. A close friend of mine makes the MOST adorable crocheted mermaid tails for infants. Her shop is called Willows Garden and is filled with the cutest crocheted baby photo props and hats.

Full disclosure: I do not have kids yet and these are just suggestions that I think would work. When I have kids I will be dressing them as something so freakin cute for Halloween.

Mermaid Day Parade June 23rd 2012 Coney Island

The Coney Island Mermaid Day Parade is

celebrating its 30th anniversary!

As the first official day of summer approaches so does the premiere mermaid event of the year The Mermaid Day Parade. Sailor, Starfish and Mermaids get ready to for a colorful march down Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, followed by a ball at the New York Aquarium. 

The Mermaid Day parade starts at 2pm on Surf Ave and ends on the Boardwalk and a dip in the ocean.
Get there EARLY if you want to register without a huge line.

You can register as a single marcher, group or float at the Mermaid Day Parade website.

Quick Tips for surviving marching in this parade:
• You will stand around in the staging area for a LONG time. Bring water. Locate the bathroom.
• Apply sunscreen before your makeup or body paint.
• Check the weather. The parade marches on no matter what so pack an umbrella.

More tips and costume ideas

Mermaid Day Parade 2011 Recap and Photos

Video of previous Mermaid Days

I will be tweeting @kostumegirl during Mermaid Day Parade follow me and come say Hi! 

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Zombie Prom featuring GWAR June 9th, 2012 Irving Plaza

Whether you have fond or fuzzy memories of your own prom, relive the pomp and circumstance but this time with BUCKETS OF BLOOD and GWAR!!

It's the Zombie Prom June 9th, 2012 at Irving Plaza.

Hey Mark! You love Gwar! Why don't you join the band?

Mark, man, you play a mean guitar!

It's really a shame that you must DIE!!

There will be:

Professional makeup artists from NYC’s premiere costume shop ABRACADABRA NYC to help you get your gore on.

Official prom photo.

Receive your official prom pin.

Dress to kill for the Pageant of the Undead – Zombies don’t do beauty pageants…they do gore pageants!

Crowning of the Zombie King and Zombie Queen of the prom.

Prizes!

USE ZOMBIECON’S PROMO CODE “EATBRAINS” TO GET $20 OFF YOUR TICKETS AT:

http://gwarzombieprom.eventbrite.com/

DJ Angela Boatright and DJ Shanna will kick off this evening of the undead.

The Zombie King and Zombie Queen of the prom will receive special prizes.

Charlie Adlard, penciler and inker of THE WALKING DEAD comic books, has donated an original drawing of a full page from the comic! There will be a raffle and one lucky winner will walk away with a piece of original zombie history!

The grand finale? A very special performance by the sickest band in metal history…Hark to the hideous majesty of your MASTERS, rulers of Earth, the MIGHTY GWAR will take the stage.

There will be drink specials all night!!  $21 for a four-pack of beer, special Zombie Punch, add a shot of whiskey to any beer for $5, plus shot specials.

ABRACADABRA NYC will be offering 15% off on all merchandise and makeup to ticket holders and 25% off on all zombie costume rentals or zombification process. Non- ticket holders can still stop by the store and receive 10% off just by mentioning the event.

Tickets are limited and will sell out fast. Proceeds from this raffle will go to The Smoot Family Fund. This event is 21+.

If you are doing your makeup at home check out my video tutorial for Sexy Zombie Makeup.