Organizers Ted and Amy Marks from Nor Cal Tattoo expanded on their annual February Inked Hearts Tattoo Expo in Blue Lake by adding a first-ever Inked Hearts Summer Arts Tattoo Expo event on Sept. 13 and 14 in The Sapphire Palace room at the Blue Lake Casino and Hotel.
“It looks like a success, as 85 percent of the tattoo artists are new to Inked Hearts and their appointments are booked up,” Ted Marks said on Sunday afternoon. “Our goal was to have talented new artists with fresh new styles, and with lots of … appointment times available for anyone walking in to get a tattoo. We also added more and different types of art and jewelry vendors compared to our February Inked Hearts event.”
First-time vendor at Inked Hearts Sarah Jane Irwin, of Arcata, said, “Everyone is so nice and I even got this cow skull tattoo from my next-door tattoo artist Jessica Orsua from 12 Monkey Tattoos in Tracy.”
“Ted and I have fully taken over Inked Hearts and the venue in the Sapphire Palace inside the Blue Lake Casino remains,” said Amy Marks last February. “After considering moving it, we worked it out to keep Inked Hearts at the casino, as we enjoy having lodging, food and entertainment in one location.”
A wide mix of attendees seemed to be enjoying the quieter atmosphere in the venue, the availability of walk-in appointment times, the food truck vendors, live music in the evening and “Best of Day & Show Tattoo” awards and contests each day.
This article appears in Burger Week 2025.