Archive for the ‘News & Events’ Category

The vixenry and aristry of Darkgarden.com

Dollys and Dandys, how much do I love living in the Bay Area, a treasure trove of creative swirly heads who put up their tent pole to create  a sublime subculture out  of history, a little steel, a bit of steam, a little lace and quite  possibly, a snifter of absinthe. This, my kumquats is where myself and the mister are spending our weekend: in a sliver of history that might have been. Make sure you check out the launch of Dark Gardens haunting and haute new Dollymop line at the fab fashion show on Saturday night: Alterna-bridal (and boudoir) looks to be displayed. Mon Dieu! See you there!

Event of the Season

The Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition returns to the San Francisco Bay Area March 12-14, 2010 presenting a world of polished mahogany, leather and brass, where steam power, airships and clockwork are the cutting edge of technology; a neo-Victorian experience, spanning from the 1830s to the early 1900s and from cultivated London to the rugged coast of San Francisco. The Exhibition has moved to the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville, CA for 2010, preparing to host an estimated 1000+ attendees. It will offer a huge Traders’ Concourse and over 25 programs in three tracks including academic presentations, panel discussions and hands-on “Maker” workshops. Our Guests of Honor are: James Blaylock (Author of Homunculus, The Digging Leviathan, Land of Dreams), Phil and Kaja Foglio (Artists of Girl Genius), and Jon Sarriugarte (Maker of The Golden Mean, Electrobite and much more). Appearances also include “Steampunk Scholar” Mike Perschon, Tor Books Editor Liz Gorinsky and acclaimed new Steampunk author Gail Carriger (Soulless, Orbit Books).

New for 2010 is an amazing outdoor Exploratory Steam and Kinetics Enclosure, featuring The Golden Mean snail art car, Tom Sepe’s “Whirlygig Emoto” hybrid steam motorcycle, and steam vehicles, boilers, Pandemonium and Caliope from the Crew of the Neverwas Haul!

For evening entertainment, Exhibition guests can trip the gaslight fantastic at the Steampunk Ball, don their Steamy best to compete in the Costume Competition and gather for the illustrious Party-at the Center of the Earth. Special $99 room rates are available at the hotel for Nova Albion guests on a first-come, firstserved basis and can be booked at: www.steampunkexhibition.com/hotel-reservations/.

The Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition is a celebration of all things Steampunk, from Gaslamp fantasy to clockwork mechanicals, and everything in-between. The event is a chance for fans, authors, makers, tinkerers, adventurers and folks of all stripes to gather, converge, discuss and experience the excitement and the possibilities of an alternate History-That-Might-Have-Been.
$60 Early Bird tickets are on sale now at: http://www.steampunkexhibition.com/tickets – prices will increase to $75 at the door.

Photography: Russ Young
Excerpted from www.steampunkexhibition.com

Our Story

While meeting over breakfast one morning, each of us realized that most couples do not have updated professional photographs of themselves. This is especially true for couples who have been married for several years. This Valentines Day, we want to give back to the awesome couples of New York City and offer a complimentary photography session to you. Please see below to learn more…

How to Participate?

•    Any and ALL couples are welcome. Whether you be Newly engaged, newly wed, dating, married with children or married with grand-children….please come out and spread the love!

The Meet Up?

•    On February 13th, we will meet at Madison Square Park from 3:00pm-5:00pm
•    The meeting point is famous 5th avenue clock (5th Avenue and Broadway) located between 23rd and 24th Streets
•    After a brief introduction we will begin working on-location with with you

Next Steps…

•    Each photographer (3 total) will have 5 minutes to work with you to conceptualize and document a unique image/moment
•    On February 14th by 2pm, a single image from each couple will be posted independently on the wedding photography websites of: Parris Whittingham Photography, R Wagner Photography, and Threshold Visions.

The Contest

•    Anyone can vote on their favorite image on each of the 3 sites
•    Voting closes Tuesday February 16th at 9:00pm
•    The selected images/couple with the most votes across all 3 sites will be declared the contest winner

The Grand Prize

The winning couple with the most total votes  (from all 3 sites) will receive:
•    A complimentary engagement session with the photographer of their choosing (over $400-$1000 value)
•    $200 print credit
•    $100 gift certificate to Mario Batali’s OTTO Restaurant

NOTE: All couples who participate (by working with each photographer) will receive a high-resolution files from their photography session. Couples must consent to signing a model release to have their likeness publicly displayed. Portraits will be taken on a first come first service basis. We suggest arriving slightly before 3:00pm. Friends, employees and relatives of the photographers are allowed to participate, however, they are not eligible to win the grand prize.