Whatever Tattoo II

I just got back from getting my tattoo at Whatever Tattoo II, now called Moonlit Studio, & the guys are great. Tattoos are priced okay… the studio and artists are definitely worth the money. My artist, Alex, offered to retouch my first tattoo (that I had gotten at the shop a year earlier from a not so good guy who no longer works there) for no extra cost in addition to doing my new tattoo. And when I almost passed out (I’m a wimp), they got me lying down & bought me a Coke! lol But really…
I love this shop and the people in it. (Ask for Alex! He’s great!)

I went last night to get my first piercing (an eyebrow) and although I was nervous, and the place the customer’s looked a little shady at first, the piercer was REALLY nice to both me and my friend, and I would definitely go again for a piercing or tatt.

I want to know why the person gave this place 5 stars!
When my (then) boyfriend wanted an eyebrow piercing — he was 15 — and they asked for no IDs, so he went and got it done. Simple, shady obviously because they didn’t ask for ID. BUT a few months later it got disgustingly infected and just looked GROSS. It was oozing! Eyebrow piercings are dumb in my opinion, anyway, but looking at an infected one was even worse. Oh, and it was $ 20.
Go to Addiction on St. Mark’s.

Whatever Tattoo gets three stars, because at least they try to be sterile. Somehow, it’s just a little shady. (I know this actually for a fact because one of the guys who works here deals with someone I know)
Round 1: This someone I know accompanied me to WTii for some piercings and a tat estimate. I know nothing about tattoo pricing, but this is where he goes for all his tattoos now. I myself was looking for a second hole and a cartilege piercing. It seemed acceptable; it didn’t hurt much. The guy cleaned it with something before he used a needle for both holes. i walked away with a barbell for easy cleaning and about fifty dollars poorer. Once again, this seems to be normal for New York prices, but I wouldn’t know. All I know is there’s no way I was doing it myself.
The artist who gave my pal an estimate started describing how he could do a huge tat of an iris on my stomach, blossoming around my waist. He gave me his card. I won’t be calling.
They told me not to sleep on my right for 3 to 6 months. After six months, off and on infection, and finally swapping the barbell for … what is apparently called a circular barbell from another shop, my ear is finally painless, for the most part. (tip: a crushed aspirin and water mixture pasted around a piercing dulls pain, since you can’t use neosporin or standard cleaner) I’m thanking the other shop for the new earring though. The guy there berated me for just touching my ear without thoroughly washing my hands.
Round 2: My friend wanted a tattoo. So we went to WTii. She had a dove done on her wrist. She was a little sketched out, and the tat artist was an arrogant jerk. The three of us made conversation, but he thought he was the greatest artist ever. My friend and I were a little tense the whole time. And then this tiny outline of a dove cost her about $ 60. We figured she wouldn’t find a better price anywhere else, but still.
Whatever, Tattoo 2. You’re a little weird but not wicked cool.

sixteen years old, grimy with days old crusted makeup in my eyes, in New York. crashed at an unbelievable apartment on fifth the night before and was stalking the city like a ghost. unbelievable like gold-​plated sinks and on-​demand cable c. 2002, an apartment that took up the entire floor of the building and a poor little rich girl inside whom i met that summer. came here, got a fake ID, state: Delaware, age: 21.
i’m almost positive this wouldn’t happen again. if this blows anyone’s cover, i’m SORRY, but can’t you see i’m a WRITER