Maker Faire: Steampunk vs. Mad Scientists?

Sorry this post runs a little off-theme...  I went to the MakerFaire at the Queens Hall of Science and had a ball at the Red Bull sponsored party.  I was invited by the fabulous event designer Adam Aleksander who has created wild events all over NYC (recently Gilt City's  big haunted prom for Halloween).  The party hosted cocktail-making robots that shot flaming absinthe, smoked from dry ice, or lit up neon tubes.  

During the evening, inventors were putting finishing touches on souped-up vintage motorcycles, rocket-propelled carnival rides and electrified fashion.  The most interesting part of the night's entertainment was the Tesla-coils zapping away during the concert...

Steampunk Fashion Show at Brooklyn Indie

Did you miss the Steampunk Event at Brooklyn Indie Market?  There were some gorgeous creations on display.  Here are a few of my favorites, photographer by Adam W.

Phantasmagorey Brunch for Halloween

Prefer style over spooky? Edward Gorey over gore? Have a decadent brunch on Halloween Sunday and enjoy a fabulous afternoon of jazz murder ballads, Gothic fashion, burlesque and morbid magic. The event is produced by the gorgeous team of Dances of Vice, famous for hosting wickedly glam parties all over town.  

EVENT - PhantasmaGOREY: Edward Gorey Halloween Spectacular
TIME & DATE: October 31, 2010 - 1:30-4PM
LOCATION: Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
ADMISSION: $20 In Advance - $25 Doors - 

Suitable for all ages.

Steampunk Haunted House

          

Halloween is about being stylish and scary...At least it is for me.  The Zack Morris team and Third Rail projects promises to take you to the  " beautiful and terrifying dreamscape of neo-Victorian elegance and phantasmagoric clockwork horrors".  The installation is part performance, exhibition and audience participation.  The shlocky cliches of blood and gore will be absent.  Look for sci-fi mechanized pieces, twisted eye pieces, period costumes in the century old Abron Arts Center.  

Catch it SOON, the house ends October 28th, 2010.  More info here.

Steampunk Fashion Show and Exhibition

                        

The Brooklyn Indie Market is having its annual Steampunk Fashion Show and exhibition this weekend. Check out performances by Lola Lola Dance theater and Tethered as part of the 4 PM fashion show.

The event is a celebration of the craftmanship and style of Steampunk.  

For more information, check out Brooklyn Indie Market's website.

Steampunk 101 at NY Comic Con

The elite of this country's Steampunk movement joined together for a panel at last weekend's NY Comic Con.  Writer G. D. Falksen led the discussion on how the culture originated as a literary one.  Jules Verne was an early inspiration to the movement.  Steampunk has now spread to music and fashion.  

While Goth is sometimes interpreted as dark and spooky to outsiders, Steampunk often gets an easier rep of being optimistic and fascinating.  It was explained as science fiction mixed with the time period before WWI back to Victorian times.  

The aesthetic is elegant and diverse.  One of the designers on the panel considered herself a Goth, but explored the time periods and science of multiple cultures for her Steampunk fashion designs.  The Steampunk "Boba Fett" was a terrific example of taking a modern pop icon and reinventing it as one's own character.  Outside in the NY Comic Con grounds, a Steampunk Iron Man also roamed the floors (winning Marvel's best costume contest).

Comic-Con Photos by Mariana Leung.  Iron Man photo by Judy Stephens

Yoshitomo Nara Nobody's Fool + Cosplay Contest

The Asia Society in New York is hosting a landmark exhibition of Yoshitomo Nara's work and its ties to rebellion, rock and punk music.  The neo-pop artist is known for his hipster creepy-cute images of children and animals.  

On Friday, October 15, the museum will host a Cosplay competition in the artist's honor.  Prizes from Forbidden Planet, Midtown Comics and the museum itself will be awarded.  Participants need to be in costume inspired by either anime, comics, video games or your own original concept.