Valentine's Guide: Ophelia's Art

Witty, pretty and just a little bit retro, Ophelia's Art on Cafepress is a one stop shop for Valentine's gifts with a twist. Sweet and not so sweet graphics with a gothic sensibility can be found on everything from camera flip phones, tees, mugs and pillows. Lots of vintage-inspired images are paired with tongue-in-cheek sentiments. This artist has also taken skull motifs and manipulated them into a satire of girly Valentine's conventions. If your love has a sense of humor, or you just want to send your single friends some fun tokens of your affection, browse the artful selection here.

Vampire Name Generator

This very simple and silly web page allows you to enter in a mundane first and last name and it will generate a "Great Archives" name and worldly title for you. I guess it could be very handy if you find yourself writing erotic bloodsucker fiction and at a loss for a character. Just don't let me see it on your business card...

Gothettes In Training: Goth Punk Barbie

When your favorite little girl or that once cool niece of yours has succumbed to a phase of frothy pink crap, turn to the Hard Rock Cafe for redemption. Bring them to the dark side slowly, it IS Mattel) with Goth Punk Barbie. With eyeliner, corset dress, fishnets and guitar, she rocks it hard and good. One the sweet little thing has been swayed, you can introduce her to deeper and darker goods of the culture

Macabre Travel: The Darkside Store in Toronto, Canada

I'm so sorry for not writing sooner darlings. I was paying a visit to my friends in the North. The lovely city of Toronto is a rich source for Gothic style and lusciously brooding lovers. On a quick stroll of Queen Street West, always a hotbed of fashionable dark frocks I discovered delightful boutique. The Darkside Store is a wonderful shop dedicated to horror. A beautiful collection of books, cards and artwork is for sale by a talented artist calling herself Creepy Christine. Apparel with graphics from your favorite spooky cinematic moments are here as are a myriad of other collectibles. The facade on the street is lovingly created to resemble a haunted house. The store's website isn't quite up to date with all of the merchandise yet, but it lists many of the horror scene's great events around town.

Skull a Day

Are you sick of the lame skull motifs on every piece of lame merchandise these days? Enough of bad design. The Skull-A-Day website profiles true art inspired by the skull. Sculptures, paintings, installations, graphics and fashion, in a range you never knew existed. This site elevates and redeems the skull as a worth muse for true creatives. There are prints for sale for the connoisseur, otherwise, check it out for some beautiful work.

Macabre Travel: Goth Cruise for Thanksgiving...

Embarking this week over Thanksgiving, is what sounds to the Courtesan, like one of the biggest oxymorons of dark culture. Goth Cruise, sailing through the sunny, happy seas of the Mediterranean carries a bunch of dark lords and black-clad divas through the waters. A subject of a an IFC documentary, the Goth Cruise has characters like "Resident Evil" as perhaps a replacement for "Julie" or other perky cruise director. Sunscreen-devoid shipmates adorn corseted, high-heeled or other cruise-appropriate outfits to stroll through the casino or midnight buffets. Be careful not to catch your lace sleeve on the railings little buddy! For more information, see their website.

Dia de Los Muertos

Decorated some sugar skulls, create an elaborate altar with flowers, bake some sweet bread inthe same of body parts, and honor your loved ones. Dia de los Muertos is a A holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Some of the beautiful crafts associated with the holiday are catrinas and the tiny dioramas featuring scenes of the dead. Oaxaca, Mexico is home to one of the biggest celebrations, you can learn more here.
Bakeries and restaurants around North American may host some special menus and baked goods tonight in honor of the day. Several children's museums are hosting activities this weekend to educate about the meaningof the holiday as well. Check your local listings.