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Date Night!

August 20, 2012 by kitty  · 46 Comments  · 1570 Views

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So, did anyone notice that this poor blog disappeared for nearly a week? ;) I had just moved it to a new server about a month ago, and after putting in an estimated 20 hours (probably more) transferring it over and setting it up in WordPress, the server died. I would like to think that this blog is just so incredibly amazing that the server just couldn’t handle all that awesomeness, but really it was just a bad motherboard. I’ve been using this server for personal projects for nearly 15 years and this is the first catastrophic failure I’ve experienced, so hopefully things will be stable for another decade or so!

Well, once again I am feeling like a nightclub orphan. The Los Angeles underground club scene has been shifting again, as it did about a year and a half ago. Venues are closing left and right, leaving the promoters scrambling to find new homes for their clubs. Sometimes a venue change is a good thing… Often it is not. Currently, there’s really nowhere good left to go except Bunker, and I’m not really that into Industrial music… Perversion still totally rocks at its new location, but the insane drink prices and unisex bathrooms don’t appeal much to me, plus Thursday nights are not ideal.

So, since I probably won’t be clubbing much for a while, I figured I’d better get used to Gothing it up for more mundane activities, like movie night. In order to make it more special, Mr. Kitty and I have decided that pretty much any time we go to a movie, we’re going to go down to the Arclight in Hollywood. Yes, the tickets are more expensive (but still cheaper than a night of clubbing) but this place creates a truly delightful movie-going experience. There are no children and no disrespectful teens. The theater won’t allow people in after the movie starts, and everyone actually sits there quietly and watches the movie. It’s immaculately clean, and theater staff even come in beforehand and announce the movie. It feels like a grown-up evening out. Plus I don’t feel as out of place dressed nice in a theater like the Arclight, as I do at the local mall movies!

Do you like to go out to see movies? If so, do you have a nice theater near you? What do you wear?


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46 Responses

  1. Guin says:

    We don’t club much – my husband doesn’t care for the scene where we live (which is such a shame, as I come from a small town where there was no scene at all). So I goth up for random things. Today I gothed up for our local musical theatre’s production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. It always amazes me when little old ladies complement me on those sort of outfits…but they do. A lot!

    • That IS a shame! Maybe you can make him understand that it would be a new experience for you and he would support you by going to the clubs at least occasionally? You are right, an “okay” scene is better than no scene at all, so I shouldn’t complain! I’m glad you still dress up for other events. I’ve found that many older people who have moved past their prejudices love glamourous alternative fashion. I’m happy to hear your are appreciated in that way!

  2. Miss Gracie says:

    In the town I’ve been living in over the summer we have a cute little movie theater. It’s very very old and used to be for live theatre, tickets are only $5.00!

    • What an awesome place for an inexpensive night out! I love places like that. I’ve seen them randomly in small Midwest towns and such, where they don’t just tear down any building that’s more than 20 years old!

  3. TanteFledermaus says:

    I have a theater less than a mile from my house. It’s comfortable enough, but there’s no bike parking that isn’t sketchy as hell, so I can’t ride there. I don’t trust people around my precious Spectra.

  4. I don’t go to clubs and I don’t like to go to the theater. It’s became pretty expensive in my country (8€ = +/-$10), so you have to choose a good movie and you can’t even enjoy being with your friends because most of the time, there’s no intermission anymore. So for this price, I prefer to rent a dvd and enjoy it at home, or to go to some pub, with good music and good drinks! ^^

    • Wow! $10 is a lot for a movie. I think normal evening shows here are $8, and the Arclight is $16. Double the price, but more like a nice night out than a quick run to the movies. We rarely have an urge to see movies in the theater, so it’s worth it to sound the extra money 2 or 3 times a year. Pubs are excellent for a night out too (I love a good evening at home with my Netflix, but then there’s little motivation to dress up, even though Mr. Kitty would still like it if I did!).

  5. Lynoire says:

    We don’t club at all, but we love to go to the cinema. Actually, we just love movies. ^^

    Going to the cinema is a rather casual happening, unfortunately, there wasn’t anything fancier, than the mall – cinemas in our area. But our new rent is only two corners away from the oldest and classiest thater of Budapest, so we’ll certainly pay a visit there soon! ^^

  6. Sophie says:

    I really enjoy a movie night with my husband. Mostly after work so I don’t goth it up as much as I’d like to because I’m still in my office clothes, but I plan on going all-out when we’ll go see Imaginaerum (the Nightwish movie).

  7. I noticed that the site was down at some point over the week. I have to admit, I’ve been on a forced “internet diet” and haven’t really been spending time reading blogs everyday. I’ve set time to read blogs, answer comments, and blog, etc. I’m just too crazy at the moment! sigh …. stress.

    We have a bunch of nights that had to scramble for new locations because of new zoning laws and clubs moving into Brooklyn or closing all together. I’ll admit, I haven’t been out much in the past two years and I’m ok with that. The NYC nights, while relatively good, start SO late in the evening that I’m ready for bed by the time the doors open. Seriously, they usually open around 11:00 and don’t get started until midnight. Too late for me these days.

    Anyway, you look beautiful! Dressing up for “mundane” events isn’t all that bad and I find it to be quite fun.

    • I don’t blame you a bit! One can only dedicate so much time to blogging. I had to cut back a lot, too, with this job.

      Wow – I’ve heard that NYC wa a late-night city, but wow! I’ve noticed the LA club scene is shifting later and later, too. when I first started going our some 13 years ago, the clubs opened at 9:30. Now, 10 is standard and some are 10:30. I don’t mind staying up super late, but tack on a 1-hour drive home and it gets really rough.

      Dressing up for everyday stuff is fun, but I long to be surrounded with others of my own kind, in a world where I don’t stand out, just once in a while!

  8. gothbarbie says:

    We’re having club withdrawal over here too! The biggest shock was the longest running goth/industrial night in Philly CLOSING last month. SO SAD.
    Nocturne Wednesdays were awesome and really good for the scene.
    The worst part, is that so far our favorite DJ isn’t showing up at any of the new club nights that are trying to fill in for all the ones that closed down.

    the Mr. and I plan to set up a cool space in our next house where we can dance and have our very own goth night!

    I really like your plan to make movie night a special night, I’ll dress up for almost anything and it does make even the mundane more exciting!

    I’m crossing my fingers that a great new club opens up for you and for us SOON!!!!!

  9. Linnea-Maria says:

    Oh you look absolutely amazing! Nice to see you in fully goth outfit after a couple of corp outfits (Even if I also enjoy them and find them inspiring). That is sad that there is no proper club to visit for you, I know how much you have been enjoying it. There are no clubs at all where I live that I could think of visit. Maybe a gig at one of the local bars or out in the bushes (yeah music life is far more better on the countryside than in town here). We have a movie theater in town with 4 screens. Go to the movie is actually one of the things we do most to amuse ourselves and I try to dress up a little more than usual.

    • I should clarify; there are several clubs, but at my age I’m picky and my time is valuable. ;) sounds like your town is quite small! But at least you have some movie options, and sounds like you take advantage of that opportunity. Music in the bushes is giving me images of bonfires and crazy dancing… ;-D

  10. Violette B. says:

    Unfortunately, there are not goth events at my city at all. Many years ago it wasn´t like that, but this is a small place and most of our regulars left or moved to bigger places. As a consewuence of this, I tend to goth it up to any special event and even in daily life. In fact, the only context in wich I really tone it down is job. Educational environment is not alternative friendly at all.

    In relation to theatres, well, we mainly have this kind of mass-comerical-cinemas inside malls that I don´t like at all. However, there are a couple of little charming theatres around and they organize festivals twice a year. The next one is over November. I am dying to get the tickets, those nights are magical.

    By the way, I do like your outfit. May I ask where did you get the gorgeous skirt and shoes?

    • Movie festivals sound like such fun! I would be looking forward to that too. There used to be a Silent Movie Theater that played really old stuff (not jus silents, but 30s and 40s stuff too). I think they’ve gone to just showing new, artsy, low-budget independent stuff. That can be fun too, but usually not my thing. ;)

      Thanks! The skirt is from Ross, and the shoes are Pleaser (ordered online).

  11. Hexotica says:

    Lovely to see your stairs there! Your house looks as clean and polished as you! Sorry to hear about the lack of great clubs. We are very spolit here in Melbourne; goth clubs are better than they have ever been right now!

    • So good to gear from you! Our stairs will actually be the next home improvement project – that’s the last of the grey carpet, so we’ll be removing that, putting down white stairs with a runner, and replacing the balustrades with iron ones! I’ll post an “after” shot for sure! :) I’m jealous about your awesome club scene… We do have a lot of choices, but I’m picky with my valuable time and money and a lot of the Hollywood stuff is trashy, crowded and the DJs get toooo creative for my taste!

  12. My husband and I rarely go out any more. In growing up I feel like I’ve had to sacrifice my own style to conform to the other thirty-somethings and suburban soccer moms. I’ve been a stay at home mom for a few years now, with some severe health issues, and it definitely took a toll of my sense of self, not to mention my style. I’ve embarked on a voyage to find myself in my “over-thirties” and your blog has definitely inspired me.

    When I get dressed, yes people look twice, especially at movie theaters and places like the Keg, but my husband appreciates it greatly, and I feel fabulous! Let them stare!

    • It’s wonderful that you are getting back to yourself. It takes courage and confidence to stand out from the crowd, and is definitely tougher as a grown-up. But you hit the nail on the head – it feels fabulous! I’m so glad your husband appreciates it; mine does too, and that always makes me so happy.

  13. What an amazing outfit! I have the same shoes, and I love them: they’re both effective and comfortable, and they go with pretty much everything.
    I really like your style, the lace gloves and top and the damask underbust corset match perfectly. The skirt is very elegant, too… and so is your house, from what I can see :) !
    I have your same problem, there are no clubs in my town (well, there is on but it’s all focused on ebm, which is not my cup of tea), so I end up dressing up to meet my friends at the pub or when I go to the movies :D unfortunately where I live theaters are just used for theatrical representations, so I have to settle for regular cinemas (covered in pop-corns and full of teenagers and children!).

    • These shoes ARE comfortable! I’m glad you can vouch for that. I try to tell people and they never believe me! ;-D

      We do have several clubs in L.A. but I’m picky, busy, and live an hour away so I have pretty high standards when I go out. I’d rather stay at home than waste my time with an “okay” club. And some are on weeknights, which is not an option for us.

      Boo for children at the movies! At least it sounds like you hVe some like-minded friends, and pub night can definitely be a good little escape!

  14. Sadly, for a city of a million people, we have only one indie theatre that isn’t a mall-type venue. And they usually show movies that I’m not terribly interesting in seeing, not that I would probably dress up as nicely as you even if I did go …

    That first picture of you by the staircase is fabulous! Does Mr. Kitty know how terribly lucky he is?

    • Haha! Yes, I think he does know. Plus I frequently remind him… ;-D Thank you!

      A million people and no good movie houses? :( I’m not into most of the indie stuff either (see my reply to Violette B. above). But things are always changing, so who knows what the future will hold!

  15. traicetrak says:

    Okay, tick this off as one of my FAVORITE outfits you’ve done. Yes, I’m starting to eye the details for how I might recreate it out of my wardrobe. Afraid I don’t have as beautifully romantic a skirt, but I’ll make do. :)

    As for the clubbing drought, welcome to my world. No dark alternative clubs in my town, so I’m always the overdressed weirdo (case in point, if you remember my death-rockin’ experiment during Mardi Gras a few months ago). X-D However, I am looking forward to dressing up for Beats Antique coming to town in October and The Psychedelic Furs on Halloween. Yay! =D We find ways, don’t we. Oh, and cinema-related, there’s an independent cinema that shows art films in the middle of our entertainment/night-life district. That’s a fun place the artsy people like to go, and they have events …. and they serve alcohol. X^9

    • Aww thanks! It’s one of my faves too. Simple and elegant! I just wish the corset was tighter, but I knew I’d be sitting most of the night so I took it easy. ;)

      You have the right attitude – we have to make the most of the opportunities available to us! You have some fun ones ahead of you to look forward to. I loved your Mardi Gras look!

  16. That is a very lovely outfit! The theatre sounds perfect! Sweetie and I love to go to the movies – I wear my normal outfits. We have not been to a movie in some time and a lot of things I wanted to see have sadly already left the theatres. We will be having a movie night in soon.

    I recently started going out to Goth Clubs after being a hermit forever. I’m really picky about music, and the clubs here tend to lean more electronic. There is one particular night on Fridays I really enjoy though. I love to indulge in giant hoop skirts for Goth Night.

    • Your “normal” outlets are much nicer than most people’s best outfits! You definitely count as making the most of opportunities to look your best.

      I’m picky about clubs, too. Electronic is fine for me, preferably mixed with old-school Goth, but so many DJs want to get all creative and introduce people to new, avant garde stuff that I just don’t like. :/

  17. Bane says:

    After living in places with zero clubs, I’m happy to be in a city that offers goth night at least twice a week. Now, if only I would actually get out and GO to the clubs…

    I’m lucky to have a nice theater about two miles from my house. It’s a typical multiplex, with the requisite giant posters and gaudy carpet in the lobby (what is it with eyeball-jarring movie theater carpet?), but it’s new and very clean. I don’t go often because I’m picky about what movies I’m willing to pay $9 to see. Mostly I reserve my big-screen time for action movies that have lots of special effects and/or explosions. ;) I should make it more of an event, but I usually go on a weekend afternoon and don’t dress up too much.

    • Get thyself out and go to clubs! Take advantage while you can – you never know when the scene will ebb and for how long…

      Lol! Yeah, those carpets… You get a pass on dressing up if you go to movies in the afternoon. It’s all good. Just enjoy those explosions! ;)

  18. Kitty =^.^= says:

    That is a beautiful outfit. Brocade and lace look good together and you wear it so well! And I like the gargoyle on the balustrade.

    P.S. Unisex bathrooms!?! Many boys can’t pee straight… ewwww!

  19. Beautiful outfit!
    Hubby and I have stopped going to the movies because we end up getting in fights with people at the theater. Seriously!
    We used to have a great place in Austin that sounds like the joint that you’re going to. It’s for people who actually WANT to see the movie? yeah. Same thing, you got kicked out if you were talking, no kids, no teenagers without parents, etc…
    Man I miss that place! Now we just don’t go. We actually planned to go last Friday and last minute decided that we shouldn’t because we’d just be miserable and probably get in an argument with someone. :( It’s hard to spend $30 when you’ve got a nice big screen tv and a comfy couch sitting in your quiet living room. ;)

    • I’m sorry to butt in, but when I read that you spend 30$ to see a movie at the cinema I couldn’t believe my eyes… is going to the movies so expensive in the whole U.S.?

      • I don’t know for sure about Lady B’s area, but most places in the U.S. the tickets seem to be about $8-9. But if you have a family, or get snacks, it adds up quick! A bottle of water is $3 at our mall theater!!

    • Lol! Yeah, that’s gonna happen to us someday at the local theaters… Our town features the most disrespectful teens in all of America, I think! :( I’m sad to hear that your grown-up place is gone! Yep, home is probably the better bet, and surely cheaper!

  20. Clementine Dahling says:

    Wow, you really do get all snazzed up for movie nights! I usually dress warm, as I get very chilly in dark, cold theaters. Or I dress steampunk, which are enough layers to keep me warm.

    Damn, I want that outfit.

    There are no real nice movie theaters in Pittsburgh. Well, I guess there is the Manor Theater in Squirrel Hill, but that doesn’t get a whole lot of moviegoers to begin with. Still, they do show rarer movies that the other megacinemaxs don’t show, so it’s a huge plus.

    • I know what you mean! I was surprised I wasn’t cold – maybe the “nice” theaters have better climate control… Yay for rarer movies – we first discovered the Arclight because we wanted to see the Jane Eyre adaptation that came out a year or so ago and no one else was playing it. Our good fortune! :)

  21. HouseCat says:

    The only regular Goth night in the entire Scottish Highlands, Alternate X, closed last autumn when the venue closed and they couldn’t find a regular slot elsewhere. So, no clubs at all for me!

    We do however go to the theatre- here that means plays, musicals, dance, shows, etc. and Eden Court is the fancy theatre in the city (I took some photos, up on my blog) and they also screen movies, including a lot of the ‘smaller’ movies, and they also have a very artsy cafe, where I frequently spot older goths with a books and coffee. I however, buy really indulgent cakes :P

    • No clubs?! Oh, but indulgent cakes will do!! And yes to older goths with books!

      We have both kinds of theaters – movie theaters and regular stage theaters. Other than our Phantom of the Opera obsession, we haven’t gotten into the latter much, but we keep our eyes open for a production at looks interesting!

  22. Crimson says:

    I love your lace gauntlets! I can empathize with the club shortage. I live in VA and the closest goth/industrial club is in DC, an hour commute from my house, 2 hours from work (by car and then metro train). I would go clubbing more often but I am currently in retail and if I am closing there is not enough time and if I am opening the next morning…well energy drinks can only do so much. As far as dressing nice goes, I am all for dressing up whenever one feels like it. Being put together makes me feel classier and a great way to showcase my creativity.

    • We have an hour drive to the clubs from our house, too. It makes for a rough drive home! Plus so many of the clubs are on weeknights, and we both work regular office jobs.

      I couldn’t agree more about the classy feeling that comes with dressing up nice!

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