“I am not strange. I am just not normal.”
-Salvador Dali
Central Oddities
Kitty Otto
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do.”
-Amelia Earheart
Madeline’s Vastly Over-Eclectic Grand-And-Not-So-Grand Steampunk Ball
“The known is finite, the unknown infinite; intellectually we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability. Our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land, to add something to the extent and the solidity of our possessions. And even a cursory glance at the history of the human race shows that this has been the case—that every step in advance has been a step into the light.”
-Thomas Huxley
Prepare to be whisked away into a night of unparalleled revelry at our Not Necessarily Grand Steampunk Ball—a semi-spectacle of Victorian elegance, futuristic whimsy, nerds in sweat pants (we’re talking to you, Jeff Mach) and pulsating beats that defy the very fabric of time! Held in a magnificently adorned chamber (crafted with boundless imagination and a shoestring budget), this is no mere gathering—it’s a portal to an alternate era where steam reigns supreme and all are invited to join the dance.
At the heart of this extraordinary evening is the legendary DJ Ozno, the Original Time-Traveling Steampunk DJ, whose mastery of sound spans HOUSE, TRANCE, DUBSTEP, and beyond. Known for electrifying crowds at the Big River Steampunk Festival—America’s grandest outdoor steampunk celebration in Hannibal, Missouri—DJ Ozno doesn’t just spin tracks; he conjures an atmosphere, blending beats with a flair that’s as boundless as a rip in the chronosphere. Expect a sonic journey that’ll have gears grinding and corsets swaying!
YOU can wear what you want. Steampunk or otherwise, complicated or simple. (But please do wear clothing, unless you’re an otter.) Our cast of steampunk luminaries will dazzle in resplendent attire—think top hats towering like smokestacks, gowns glittering with brass and grit, and goggles gleaming with untold stories. But fear not, for this ball is a haven for all—whether you arrive in full regalia, a humble vest-and-trousers combo, or whatever your wardrobe whispers to you. From seasoned airship captains to curious first-timers, every soul is welcome to revel in the magic.
The room may be humbly decked, but the spirit is grand—draped in thrift-store treasures, twinkling lights, and a dash of DIY ingenuity that screams steampunk soul. This is your chance to dance, mingle, and lose yourself in a night where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. So polish your boots, adjust your monocle (or not!), and step into the Grand Steampunk Ball—where the only rule is to embrace the wonder!
Brad Wanik
Photography from the northeast U. S. and Alaska.
YenYorkCity Live at Wonderplace Alpha
YenYorkCity is a New York City based music podcast hosted by Yen York and Luna Soturi, where musicians from around the world share their stories, creative processes, and industry experiences. Through in-depth conversations, the show highlights diverse talents, offering listeners a mix of inspiration, behind-the-scenes insights, and real talk about the music world. Whether featuring rising artists or seasoned pros, YenYorkCity is a platform for authentic storytelling and meaningful connections in the music community.
For podcasts and more information visit: YenYorkCity.com
Scream Queens, Artists, Authors, Mad Scientists, and Other Odd Persons Collude: A Panel & Discussion
“The only way to deal with this life is to find it absurd and love it anyway.”
— Donald Barthelme
Questions and Concepts
- Origins of the Peculiar
- What drives someone to embrace the strange, the macabre, or the unorthodox in their creative or scientific pursuits?
- How do childhood fears or fascinations shape the work of scream queens, artists, writers, and mad scientists?
- The Scream as Art
- Is there a universal thread connecting the scream in horror, the chaos of mad science, and the raw expression of art or writing?
- How do you harness terror or madness as a tool for creation rather than destruction?
- Blurring Boundaries
- Where does the line between artist, writer, scientist, and “peculiar person” dissolve—and does it matter?
- Can madness in one field (e.g., science) inspire genius in another (e.g., storytelling or performance)?
- The Monstrous Muse
- What role do monsters—literal or metaphorical—play in fueling your work?
- How do you decide whether to tame the monster or let it run wild in your creations?
- Subculture Synergy
- How do subcultures like horror, steampunk, goth, or surrealism collide to birth new ideas among scream queens, artists, and mad scientists?
- What’s the strangest collaboration you’ve witnessed or dreamed of between these worlds?
- The Ethics of the Extreme
- Is there a moral limit to how far you’ll push your art, experiments, or stories—or is the peculiar defined by its rejection of limits?
- How do you respond to those who call your work “too much” or “too strange”?
- Time, Space, and Weirdness
- How does the liminal nature of Wonderplace Alpha amplify or challenge your creative process?
- If you could pull inspiration from any era or dimension, where would you go and why?
- The Audience’s Role
- Do you create to provoke, entertain, enlighten, or terrify—and how do you handle when the audience reacts in unexpected ways?
- What’s the wildest reaction you’ve ever gotten to your work, and did it change you?
- Tools of the Trade
- What’s the one tool, concept, or ritual you can’t create without—be it a pen, a scream, a formula, or something odder?
- How do you adapt when your tools fail or the experiment goes awry?
- Legacy of the Peculiar
- What mark do you hope to leave on the cosmos as a scream queen, artist, writer, or mad scientist?
- If your work outlives you in Wonderplace Alpha, what should future travelers uncover about you?
Northern Song Tie Dye
“Technicolor dreams are grooving in my mind.”
-Jimi Hendrix
I make tie dye clothing for adults and children and I sell at markets and festivals.
Psycho Signs & Crafts
“The telephone is a good way to talk to people without having to offer them a drink.”
-Fran Lebowitz
Darkmusic.net – for Darklings
We are proudly a part of Darkmusic.net:
“Darkmusic.net is your ultimate hub for dark music events, connecting the global community with a one-stop platform to post, manage, and discover gatherings. From goth nights and industrial concerts to darkwave streams and oddities markets, this site caters to fans of the shadowy and eclectic. A passion-driven project, it’s free to use, fostering a space where bands, DJs, and enthusiasts can share and explore the dark music scene without the clutter of social media.”
DBCreations
Dawn Belknap of DBCreations presents artisan gemstone wire wraps , many featuring self collected Herkimer Diamonds.
