new moon -- who's with me?

As a longtime fan of most things vampirish in nature and also a longtime fan of cheesy teen dramas, I am of course very excited for the release of New Moon on Friday, 11.20.09. Have you seen the lovely photo shoot for Vanity Fair featuring Miss Stewart and Mr. Pattinson, our very own Bella and Edward? And more importantly, do you have your ticket yet?


I think the books and movies are so great because they show teenage infatuation in all of its exhilarating, humiliating, un-self-aware glory. That's what made those times so poignant and meaningful to you; you were too young to know or care how ridiculous you looked. And so you surrendered completely and everyone made fun of you. And I can't think of a more fitting portrayal of that unabashed type of obsession than Stephenie Meyer's series.

Though I confess I'm a diehard TEAM JACOB girl, I must clarify that I'm Team Jacob for Bella's sake and Team Edward for my own sake. Either way, we all win with New Moon. Can't wait to see it!

happy (next) halloween!

I'm back! Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween...as you know, I believe it's never too early to say Happy Halloween and start preparing for the next one (less than 12 months to go, people!). If you haven't seen the Midnight Society's Guide to Haunted Richmond, a piece I wrote for RVANews.com, please read it! It features some of the sites nearest and dearest to my black heart.

• Loved these Mr. Yen papercut signs, featured by poppytalk.
  
• Check out the "Poe's Women" exhibit this week at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen. The exhibit runs from November 12th - January 10th and features paintings by Poe Museum curator Chris Semtner!
• Spooky road trips on I-95? Yes please.

Hope you enjoy these few tidbits as I get back into the blogging groove here.

the ghost machine.

Who's ready for Halloween? My all hallows' eve-related blogging is minimal this year, because I'm actually enacting the spooky rite of marriage on Saturday. But that shouldn't stop you from getting all the info about local haunted events and attending them religiously!

• These lovelies remind me of old Vincent Price movie posters.
• Speaking of movies, the Byrd is playing classics next week! It's your duty to support.
  
• An amazing story in paranormal history: Edison and the ghost machine.
  
• The best Halloween costume idea EVERRRRRRR.
• VASPER is putting on a paranormal investigating workshop on November 15th, so please get connected with them if you'd like to attend!
• File under Oh My Goth: a lamp that's powered by blood.
• Spiders: creepy, useful.
• Local Ghost Hunters: Edgewood Plantation style!
• Scary wall embellishments: so necessary.

haunters and the haunted.

Get it now from the Central Virginia Haunted House Enthusiasts: your very own "VA is for haunters" t-shirt. From CVHHE:

I have shirts in all sizes: S, M, L, XL, and XXL

Pricing is $15 plus shipping. If you want more than 1 we can work out a deal. Send me a message on Facebook or contact via E-mail: rsligh [at] gmail.com

Thanks!

- Ryan

grim indeed.

• Gris Grimly will be signing books at the Poe Museum's September Unhappy Hour, September 24th at 6pm. I've been a huge fan of his since my mom bought me Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Madness, which he illustrated. Some of his original watercolors will be on display, and they'll also be showing the film The Black Cat starting at 9pm.
  
• A couple of Poe's tales have been released on Librivox, the best place to get free audiobooks of public domain works!
• Get your own household Nosferatu!
  
• This bat backpack is so over-the-top and too amusing not to post.
• Three more amazing photo sets of abandoned places from opacity.us. Seriously this is one of the only sites that consistently leaves me speechless after all these years.