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Punked-Up Barbies and Stripped-Down Kens

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I remember the first Barbie I decapitated.  It was much more difficult to re-capitate her than I expected, but the whole experience made me feel delightfully bad.  My sister and I gave our Barbies jagged haircuts, tattoos, and designed outfits for them out of Spider-Man Band-Aids.  I’m sure we weren’t the only little terrors running around.  Which limbs did you and your siblings enjoy pulling off the best?

Cartoonist Abby Denson has tapped into this world of made-over dolls and punked-up Barbies in her new graphic novel Dolltopia.  Known for her queer comic Tough Love: High School Confidential, Abby Denson takes on non-conformity, freedom of self-expression, and issues like depression, plastic surgery, and gender roles in her newest bizarre venture.  Illustrated in black and white (with splashes of pink), Dolltopia will delight the angsty, pimply pre-teen deep inside you.  There are even rock n roll paper dolls designed into the cover flaps!

This Sunday night you are invited to the launch party at Wonderland Beauty Parlor featuring an art show, music, slide readings, local cupcakes, and even a doll contest.  Creator of the coolest made-over doll wins a signed copy of Dolltopia, so get your dolls a-started!  Drink up, dress up, and gallivant around in pleather and fluorescents to your heart’s content.

Dolltopia Launch Party and Cupcake Tour
Sunday, October 25th
Wonderland Beauty Parlor
418 W. 13th St. (between 9th Ave and Washington St.) [Meatpacking District]
6pm
$FREE

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Danielle Levanas - Bargain Soul Huntress

Danielle Levanas - Bargain Soul Huntress

Danielle was raised by a pack of coyotes in the Los Angeles hills. Since arriving in NY in 2001, she has had any number of strange jobs, including back-up singing for JELVIS (the Jewish Elvis), starting the non-profit LYDIA, and writing political cabarets. A huge advocate for travel as a way of life, you can find her at the Brooklyn Public Library when her bank account is empty, fantasizing about where to head off to next.