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Inkcarceration Returns to Ohio State Reformatory

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The Best of Metal and Tattoos Return to Infamous Ohio State Reformatory

July 14th – 16th, 2023

The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield Ohio welcomed metalheads and inksters from all over the country for its 5th edition of the Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival. The jam-packed festival represented all things metal with three straight days featuring 12 nonstop hours of heavy hitting music, moshing and crowd surfing. Fans got to experience new up-and-comers on the scene along with some of the biggest names and pioneers of the genre. If the music wasn’t enough, attendees also got to experience free tours of the famous and supposedly haunted reformatory. Along with the tour, was a tattoo expo featuring some of the best artists in the nation competing in a contest. The festival also featured a haunted house in the basement of the haunted prison aimed at scaring your socks off. Campgrounds were also available with a shuttle that ran back and forth all day to the site. 

Day 1 started the festival off with a mixture of different metal sounds, but no shortage of big names throughout the day. The stage setup was a bit different this year as there was one main stage (Inkmates) along with another smaller stage (Inked) right by the entrance. There was also another mini stage by the reformatory that featured many up -and-comers. Both the Inkmates and Inked stages alternated between some of the biggest hitters of the metal scene for the last 30 years. Coal Chamber, Hatebreed, We Came as Romans, Suicide Silence and Highly Suspect kept fans rocking all throughout the day as then venue filled up to capacity. 

POD. photo by Steve Thrasher

The night finished off with a bang starting with P.O.D. closing down the Inked stage. The San Diego nu Metal band showcased their catalog of hits that took over the scene in the early 2000’s. There was no lack of energy from lead singer Sonny Sandoval as they even brought up a fan to help sing one of their biggest hits “Youth of the Nation.” Volbeat continued the trend of the first day variety with their unique heavy sound. The Danish group rocked the house with their most popular jams including “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown,” “For Evigt” and “Still Counting.” The main headliner of the day finished things off without disappointment. Limp Bizkit has always brought a unique and controversial show dating back to Woodstock 99. This did not change at Inkcarceration as Fred Durst was up to his same old antics that everyone loved. The band played all their big hits like “Break Stuff,” “Nookie,” “My Way” and even did a cover of “Killing in the Name” as a shot at Rage Against the Machine from a beef that started 20 years ago. A really cool moment during the set, saw a fan get on stage to sing with Fred on “Full Nelson.” Limp Bizkit finished things off with “Take a Look Around” while concluding a successful first day of Inkcarceration.

Limp Bizkit. photo by Steve Thrasher

Day 2 featured another impressive lineup throughout the day. From Ashes To New, one of a few last second fill-ins due to cancellations just a week before the event took place, got things going on a rainy gray afternoon. That didn’t stop fans from flocking to the reformatory grounds to rock out with Memphis May Fire, Underoath, Motionless in White, In This Moment and local fan-favorite Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead. photo by Steve Thrasher

Saturday’s headliners were a blast from the past who have had major impacts on metal culture. Megadeth were on top of the world in the 80’s and 90’s, but showed Inkcarceration they could still rock with the best. They got the pits buzzing and the surfers soaring with their fast pace headbanging mastery. They ran through their big hits with crowd favorites “Symphony of Destruction,” “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” and “Tornado of Souls.”

Megadeth’s performance set the stage just right for another legendary band, Pantera to finish the night out. Although the band is not in its original form after the deaths of the Abbot brothers and just coming back after a 20 year hiatus, they still rocked the house. Their set started with a video montage of their career, which turned into an explosion of pyros that sent the crowd wild. The energy never had a chance to slow down as their performance was nothing short of mayhem. The band had a very heart touching tribute to deceased band members Dimebag Darrel and Vinnie Paul with “Cemetery Gates” as well as “This Love,” “Walk” and “Cowboys From Hell.” The night ended with an encore from the band playing “Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit.”

Pantera. photo by Steve Thrasher

Day 3 featured a very mixed array of bands along the metal spectrum. The lineup didn’t miss on big names with Fame on Fire, Crown the Empire, Wage War and Dayseeker during the afternoon. In the evening we got to see GWAR put on their one-of-a-kind act in monster costumes while shooting fake blood into the crowd. However, Flyleaf put on a great set themselves as Lacey Sturm sang her heart out. Bush lightened the mood a little bit, but put on a memorable performance when Gavin Rossdale went into the crowd and even walked all the way up to the blanket area. Pop Evil, another last second edition, shut things down on the Inked stage setting things up for the final headliners of the festival.

Flyleaf. photo by Steve Thrasher

Inkcarceration went out with a bang with two of the heaviest hitters over the past 25 years. Lamb of God returned for their second year in a row. Lead singer Randy Blythe showed up with a new look as he cut off his iconic dreadlocks, but that didn’t change the energy they brought. They unleashed an avalanche of solid hits such as “Memento Mori,” “Laid to Rest,” “Ditch” and “Redneck.” Their heavy set was a great segway for the main headliner, Slipknot. The group hailing from Iowa came out with a bang. Their set featured lots of explosions and pyrotechnics which enhanced their already unique look of 9 guys in masks. These masked looks fit in perfectly with the theme of the festival as they look like they just came out of the haunted house in the reformatory. Slipknot didn’t disappoint as they showcased two decades of hard hitting jams including “Phychosocial,” “Snuff,” “Wait and Bleed” and “Unsainted.” If that wasn’t enough, they came back out with a killer encore to play “Duality” and “Spit it Out.” Slipknot finished off in style in what proved to be another successful Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival.

Slipknot. photo by Steve Thrasher

Mansfield is most famous for the Ohio State Reformatory. The Prison was built in 1886 and was operated until 1990. It is most known for the filming of most of the movie Shawshank Redemption. Throughout the festival the reformatory was open for tours free to all. Here you could see where they shot scenes from Shawshank Redemption as well as the different parts of the castle-like institution. The tour showed inside the cells and different offices of the staff and warden. Not only was this an interesting piece of history to see, it helps give the festival another amazing dynamic,

Inkcarceration 2023 – Saturday – Experience – Lexie Alley

The Ohio State Reformatory is presumed to be haunted and has been well documented for paranormal activity. One of the rooms during the tour gives you an opportunity to experience this. The prison also plays host to a haunted house called “Blood Prison.” The haunted house tour takes you into the basement of the prison filled with startling props and scary live actors with the sole purpose of to scare you senseless. As far as haunted houses go this has been one of the best ones I have ever experienced. During Inkcarceration, there is only a limited section of the tour available. The full tour can be experienced in the fall months before Halloween. There is also a Christmas edition of the haunted house that will be open a few days in December. 

Blood Prison. photo by Nathan Zucker

There was also a section inside the prison dedicated for tattoos. Inkmates were able to get fresh ink from well renowned tattoo artists from around the country. The open was open to the public to watch them show off what they do best as well as buy merch. The artists also competed in contests which were sponsored by Inked Magazine. This was a sight to see whether you are a tattoo enthusiast or not. 

Inkcarceration 2023 – Friday – Tattoo – Lexie Alley

Inkcarceration welcomes Inkmates far and wide with open arms for one purpose; 3 days of head banging madness. One aspect of the festival that sometimes gets overlooked is the community aspect of this event. From the pits to the lines of crowd surfers, everyone seems to be looking out for each other. Inkmates of all ages,backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to rock out as hard as they can. Fun and safety are the main goals which were shown to be respected by everyone. With these missions in mind it is very easy to meet new people and share the same amazing experiences with other Inkmates.

I was fortunate enough to meet a group of amazing people in the pits. For three nights in a row I was able to experience great music, rowdy pits and hundreds of crowd surfers with these great people. The camaraderie felt inside the walls of the festival is surreal and seems to be a big factor in the rise of popularity of the event over the past 5 years. It should be interesting to see what DWP has instore for next year’s Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival.

Events

Art, Light and Motion: Majeed’s Miami Beach Debut

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Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club Debuts Hira Majeed’s Multidisciplinary Exhibition for Miami Art Week. (more…)

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Miami Art Week Belongs to Art Hearts Fashion

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Five days. Four iconic venues. One production shaping the energy, glamour, and momentum of Art Basel.


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week has been building momentum by the hour, and Art Hearts Fashion is clearly the driving force behind the excitement. After stepping into the opening atmosphere at Kiki on the River, it became obvious that the production isn’t simply participating in Art Week. It’s leading it.

But the attention now shifts forward.
Tomorrow is December 5, and Friday’s programming is positioned to become the defining moment of the week.

Friday at Queen: The Night That Sets the Tone for the Weekend

Tomorrow night, Queen will turn into a couture theater. The venue itself is already built with the kind of Art Deco glamour Miami never tires of, but on December 5 it becomes something entirely different—a stage where designers and creative houses will set the style language for the rest of the weekend.

Friday’s runway features:

  • Capristan
  • Merlin Castell
  • Mister Triple X

Each brings a distinct point of view: editorial elegance, sculptural silhouettes, hyper-modern textures, and that unmistakable Miami boldness that has become the signature of this week.

Once the final look walks, the night transitions into its second act.
The crowd moves to LIV at the Fontainebleau, where Black Coffee will headline a packed after party that merges fashion insiders, artists, models, and the kind of Miami night owls who never miss a moment of the city’s cultural pulse.

Friday isn’t just busy. It feels like the center of gravity.

Saturday December 6 at 555 Studios Wynwood

555 becomes the creative heart of the weekend with two full runway blocks.

8 PM: Luxe Ilse, Marible JD, Slay Swimwear

9 PM: Chavelis Playhouse, Hiromi Asai, Sharnel Guy

10 PM: Bad Pink, Idol Jose, Pia Bolte

Afterward, the night moves again to LIV, where John Summit takes over. Saturday’s energy is expected to stretch deep into the night, blurring the edges between fashion event, art installation, and nightlife ritual.

Sunday December 7: The Finale

Sunday closes the week at 555 Studios Wynwood, beginning with a red carpet and Talent Awards hosted by Talent Management Agency. It’s a celebratory moment, but also a showcase of emerging creative voices defining the next wave of Miami and beyond.

Sunday’s runway includes:

  • Divaska
  • Isabel Original
  • Carolos Pineda
  • Giannina Azar

Then comes the final chapter: LIV on Sunday, the unofficial but undeniable conclusion to Miami Art Week’s most in-demand fashion program.

What’s increasingly clear is that Art Hearts Fashion has become the gravitational center of Miami Art Week. It moves with confidence, curates with intention, and delivers the blend of artistry, spectacle, and nightlife that defines Miami at its best.

Wednesday hinted at it.
Friday will confirm it.

For anyone planning their next move during Art Basel, this is the lineup that leads the conversation.

Full event details and guest list HERE

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Kiki Becomes the Fashion Launch of Miami Art Week

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Art Hearts Fashion turned Kiki on the River into a living fashion scene, complete with yacht entrances, dancing models, champagne-filled tables, and a crowd dressed to be part of the moment.


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week did not ease in gently this year. It strutted in wearing sequins and a perfect tan, and it did it at Kiki on the River. Last night’s opening event felt like the moment the city remembered who it is. Art. Fashion. Nightlife. A little chaos. A lot of beauty. And a waterfront runway that refused to take itself too seriously.

The party started the moment the models arrived on a yacht. People actually gasped. It was theatrical in the best possible way. Lights on the water. Music carrying down the river. Everyone already reaching for their phones. Kiki looked like a scene from a fashion movie and the night had barely begun.

A Runway That Became a Party in Real Time

The dinner began with Greek spreads and Kiki Fries, which is the most peaceful the evening ever got. Because once the music shifted, the whole room woke up.

Mister Triple X sent out bold, confident looks that matched the mood of the night. Berry Beachy brought swimwear that felt like Miami sunshine turned into clothing. Diyanni Yacht Club showed pieces that looked even better under pink lights than anyone expected. The models owned every inch of the space. Some posed. Some danced. Some teased the crowd with little moments that made the room erupt.

Then came the platform moment. A group of models climbed onto a white pedestal and instantly turned the venue into a high fashion nightclub. Guests cheered them on. People got out of their seats. Bottles sparkled. It was impossible not to smile.

If anyone thought the guests would blend into the background, they were wrong. The room felt like a casting call for Miami’s best dressed. Linen looks. Metallic minis. Printed sets. Statement jewelry. Everyone arrived knowing this was the first major night of the week and no one planned on being forgettable.

Tables were covered in champagne flutes and bright cocktails. Friends leaned into each other for photos. Strangers bonded over their love of a runway look. People watched the show but they also watched each other. That is the real spirit of Miami Art Week.

Kiki Looked Like a Fashion Dream

The thatched ceiling, floral lanterns, and glowing lights made everything feel warm and dreamlike. The river breeze floated in just enough to remind everyone that they were eating dinner inside a living runway. Kiki’s signature glamour mixed with Art Hearts Fashion’s energy created an atmosphere that was part dinner party and part full fantasy.

It was romantic.
It was wild.
It was absolutely Miami.

The Perfect Start to an Over the Top Week

Kiki on the River delivered something that felt bigger than an opening event. It felt like a welcome ritual for the entire week. If last night is the starting point, the rest of Miami Art Week is about to get louder, brighter, and more unforgettable.

Art Hearts Fashion is clearly leading the conversation this year. A yacht entrance. A runway that never stayed still. A crowd that looked like it stepped out of a magazine. This is the beginning of a week that will be talked about long after the models go home.

And it all started on the river.

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A Sunset Filled Evening at Copala Beach for the Daniel Dugan Swim Pre Launch

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Handcrafted details, warm coastal energy, and a boutique that felt like stepping inside an art piece


December 4, 2025

Miami Art Week unfolded another beautiful chapter last night with the Daniel Dugan x COPALA Beach Swimwear Pre Launch, a soft glowing event that traded the runway for something far more intimate. Held inside Copala Beach on Collins Avenue, the evening blended fashion, craftsmanship, and coastal artistry in a way that made the boutique feel like its own creative universe.

From the moment guests walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and personal. Instead of floodlights or booming music, the room carried the mood of a handcrafted paradise. Shelves held colorful woven pieces, each one a reminder of traditional artistry. Tables displayed symbolic beadwork, feathers, carved tools, and pieces that looked like they belonged in an exhibition rather than a retail space. Every corner seemed to tell a story about the materials, the history, and the communities that inspire the Daniel Dugan’s brand.

Clean, natural, coastal inspired and deeply rooted in artistic expression. His work always blends precision and calm and the boutique made his designs feel alive. It became clear that this pre launch was not only a reveal but an immersion into the world that shaped the collection.

Guests wandered through displays of handcrafted jewelry, natural pigments, woven symbols, and artifacts that felt like treasures. It was the kind of room where you slowed down and actually looked, because every detail deserved a moment. The textures and colors pulled people in. The lighting warmed everything. It felt like walking through a living mood board.

His pieces shone shelves lined with oils, beaded necklaces draped like artwork, and carefully designed pieces arranged with intention. Nothing felt commercial. Everything felt curated.

At the center of the boutique stood a musician in a flowing printed dress, playing a guitar with the gentlest confidence. Her sound softened the room and made the evening feel like a cozy gathering rather than a fashion event. Guests listened, swayed, and smiled. It was charming, authentic, and perfectly aligned with the brand. The music added magic. It created a lull in the usual Art Week chaos and invited everyone to settle in and just enjoy the moment.

A Reminder of What Fashion Can Feel Like

In a week filled with neon lights, mega clubs, and high drama runways, the Copala Beach pre-launch offered a refreshing shift. It celebrated craft, culture, storytelling, and a slower beauty. It reminded attendees that fashion can be rooted in place and memory, that a garment can carry a narrative, and that a boutique can hold as much artistry as a gallery.

Daniel Dugan’s collaborative collection felt right at home in this space. Natural. Clean. Emotional. Pieces created to be worn but also admired.

The event was peaceful yet alive, luxurious yet grounded, and filled with the kind of thoughtful detail that gives Miami Art Week its depth. Guests left with smiles, full hearts, and a sense of having stepped into a secret pocket of creativity.

It was not a loud night. It was a beautiful one.

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A Wicked Brunch to Remember at R House Wynwood

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Elphaba opened the show, Glinda brought the sparkle, and guests partied through a birthday twerk off that shook the whole room.


November 27, 2025

If you ask a local where to find the most iconic drag brunch in Miami, ten out of ten will point you straight to R House Wynwood. Wicked Release Weekend proved exactly why. The moment you walked in, the room was already glowing with fabulous chaos. It felt like Miami brunch energy collided with Broadway magic and decided to stay for bottomless mimosas.

Sunlight streamed in like it was part of the cast. Disco balls shimmered above the tables. Yellow umbrellas swayed outside in the breeze. Guests were already sipping cocktails with the kind of confidence that says yes, I came prepared for brunch greatness.

Then Elphaba stepped out first and the entire room snapped to attention. She entered in full green glory with shimmering makeup, a dramatic witch hat, and a black gown that moved like midnight smoke. As the announcer, she commanded the space with a voice that wrapped around the room and pulled every guest straight into the story. She owned the stage from the first beat and set the tone for everything that followed.

Glinda floated in next like a burst of sunshine. Soft pink feathers and rhinestones sparkled with every turn. She radiated pure joy, a perfect contrast to Elphaba’s darker elegance. Together they created a Wicked themed duo that felt theatrical and campy. The whole room lit up.

Just when guests thought the show had reached its peak, a queen in a floor length silver sequin gown swept in like a walking disco dream. Her entrance was electric and her lip sync had the room screaming. People stood up. People filmed. People almost forgot their food entirely but honestly its so good, you cant. It was a performance that could live in a museum of iconic Miami moments.

Between each number, Elphaba kept the show moving with quick wit and crowd work that blended drag humor with Broadway timing. She teased the tables, hyped the guests, and made strangers laugh together as if they knew each other for years. It was R House at its best.

Then came the finale. Everyone celebrating a birthday was invited to the front for a twerk off and chaos in the very best way erupted. Guests in glitter, denim, bodycon dresses, and even a Patrick Star inspired outfit shook what they had with pride. The crowd cheered like they were watching championship finals. Every participant received a free shot as a reward for bravery and enthusiasm. It was joyful, messy, hilarious, and unforgettable.

This brunch had everything that makes R House Wynwood the heart of Miami drag culture. Unbelievable food, stunning performers, nonstop laughter, and a sense of community that feels like a warm, sparkly hug. Wicked Release Weekend was not just a themed brunch. It was a full emotional and theatrical experience that proved once again why R House continues to reign as Miami’s most beloved brunch destination.

To stay updated on events and weekend brunches, visit their website at rhousewynwood.com and follow them on Instagram at @rhousewynwood for upcoming shows, new menus, and behind-the-scenes fun.

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Flavors Beyond Borders 2025 Turns Miami Into a Global Culinary Dream

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A glowing garden dinner, world-class chefs, and Shaggy’s electric performance made this one of the most stunning food events of the year.


November 25, 2025

If Miami ever needed proof that food can be both chic and world-changing, Flavors Beyond Borders delivered it on a silver platter. On November 20, THesis Hotel Coral Gables transformed into a glowing garden soirée, complete with twinkling trees, polished gold flatware, and tables so gorgeous they could have doubled as wedding inspiration boards.

Walking in felt like entering a secret dinner party curated by the universe’s most stylish host. Rows of long, white-linen tables stretched under a canopy of illuminated greenery. Candles flickered between the crisp stemware and lush white floral centerpieces, which gave the entire room a soft, romantic glow. It was giving “Michelin-star fantasy meets Miami dream sequence.”

Once the chefs took over, the night became a full-on culinary passport. The amuse-bouche selection floated out first, each one plated so delicately that guests hesitated before taking the first bite. The butter-poached halibut course arrived like a little edible sculpture on a scalloped white plate, and the crispy duck confit followed with rich golden tones that matched the candlelight around it. Every dish looked straight off the cover of a luxury food magazine.

Performances matched the energy. Shaggy got the room moving with his signature charisma, turning an elegant dinner into a celebration within seconds. Later, Fabrizio Sotti shifted the atmosphere into pure late-night jazz elegance, the kind of set you’d expect in a velvet-wrapped European club.

Throughout the evening, CIA chefs and alums stepped forward to introduce each course with stories, technique, and a kind of heartfelt pride that reminded guests exactly what this night was really about. The event supports the Flavors Beyond Borders Scholarship Fund and the INMERSO Foundation, opening doors for rising CIA talent to chase their culinary careers across cultures and continents.

After dinner, guests floated upstairs to Ivy Rooftop where the vibe flipped into full Miami mode. Think crafted cocktails, cigars, dueling DJs, live percussion, and that unmistakable rooftop breeze that means the party is nowhere near over.

This year’s Flavors Beyond Borders wasn’t just beautiful. It wasn’t just delicious. It was a celebration of talent, culture, generosity, and pure Miami glamour. And judging by the plates, the music, the sparkle, and the crowd, 2025 set the bar very, very high.

For more on the Culinary Institute of America’s programs, restaurants, and student opportunities, visit ciachef.edu. To experience the stunning THesis Hotel Miami for yourself — whether for dinner, drinks, or an overnight escape — explore reservations at thesishotelmiami.com.

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Duetti x Billboard: Wynwood Comes Alive for Latin Music Week

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Miami Became the Capital of Latin Music and Duetti Celebrated It with a Party That Merged Art, Luxury, and Serious Industry Muscle. (more…)

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Tequila Fest Shakes, Stirs and Sends Mizner Park into Agave Overdrive

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Tequila Fest Pours on the Flavor at Mizner Park with Music, Margaritas and Maximum Vibes as Boca Raton Turns into a Toast-Ready Playground of Agave, Energy and Crowd-Shaking Celebration. (more…)

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