The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

New York, New York. So fabulous they named it twice.
03:01 Feb 23 2011
Times Read: 673

First off, this entry is going to be lengthy AND interactive so get your beverage of choice and take a seat!



This was actually a fairly impromptu trip. Turns out a friend was having her little birthday celebration in the city and asked if I could drop down. I was more than happy to come do dinner with them but thought, 'Hmm, what else could I get up to while down there.' As it would be a Saturday into a Sunday, I KNEW there would be something going on.



I hopped onto VampireFreaks which is where I go for all things music and/or NYC dark scene related news. As it turned out, a DJ I know down there was online so I just asked him, 'What's going on Saturday night?' It was also HIS birthday and he was going to be spinning for Stimulate.



First interactive piece:

Yeah, that flyer should give you an idea of what I was getting myself into.



So that left finding a place to crash once the insanity was over as I had little desire to plop myself on the Metro North at 3, 4 or 5AM for an hour and a half train ride back. Hotels.com, here I come. I thought, for laughs, let's see what's available for $100 or less IN Manhattan and doesn't have less than a 4 out of 5 guest rating. As anyone who has ever tried to get a hotel in NYC, I was on a fool's errand. BUT, would you freakin' believe, there's a place called The Jane Hotel which had JUST that. Now please, do yourself a favor. Go visit their web site - spend some time there. This place was so insanely perfect and I'm amazed I'd never heard of it before. http://www.thejanenyc.com/



So done and done. I hopped on the train that afternoon, got to the hotel, laughed hysterically at my 'room' and then booked it on back out because that's what you do in NYC. I got over to the VampireFreaks store and my DJ friend was there. He of course had to promptly suggest a couple things for which I couldn't justify the expense. Nonetheless.....me want!









So after chatting a bit more about the evening, I headed down for the dinner and to hang with the normies. Let me pause right now for an important public service announcement. If you know anyone on the verge of becoming a hipster, do them and everyone else a favor. Beat them senseless. Then tell them they'll get twice the beating if they ever contemplate something like that again. That concludes this PSA. Seriously - they were freakin' EVERYWHERE and it took everything in me to resist mauling them right then and there. Hahaha, it did make for an amusing text to a friend. "I'm outta here to be with our people before you have to visit me while I await trial for homicide." His reply? "I think a judge would throw it out if it was a hipster."



So back to the hotel and my cabin. On the way there, I had my obligatory "NYC crazy person experience." This one was pretty good. Getting off the subway train I was on, I noticed everyone was clearing out of one of the cars of the train on the opposite side of the platform. As I walked down the length of the platform, I started to see cops converging on that same car. As I got closer to it, I realized why. A man, starked naked - not even socks - was casually sitting on one of the benches. Now, this was odd of course but what struck me is that it was also about 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside. At what point had this guy decided he had too much clothing on?!



So getting back to my little cabin, I confess that initially, I plopped down on the bed for a bit of R&R and before I knew it, I'd apparently misplaced my motivation for going out. Fortunately, The Jane helped me rally. The place was really starting to rock and roll (at about 11PM) and so I knew there'd be no way I could just watch TV and 'chill.' I put myself together...



....and headed out the door.



I got to the club around 12:30 and it was hopping already. I confess, I spent a good chunk of time just propping up a wall. I wasn't quite feeling the music and as I was a 'visitor' I was content to just check the scene out.



Eventually, the music kicked in and I started to get into it. After a couple of good songs, including a great mix of Infinity, I popped up to the DJ booth say hello to my friend, give him the high fives and what not and then back down to the dance floor. The highlight of the evening had to be Darryl Hell and his live scratching/drumming to THIS song in particular with the video on the screen behind him:







This will come as SUCH a shock, I'm sure but the club went freakin' wild over this. From that point forward, the music was ON. I had a great time up until the point I had a heinous collision with some drunk bitch who decided it made sense to bring a full drink to the middle of the dance floor! Talk about a downer.



At any rate, I sat down to keep from eviscerating said drunk at which point some silly little 'show' started. Some woman in a white dress dances with a guy, gets upset with him, rips his heart out, chews on it a bit, causing all this clearly fake blood to run down her dress. I found it mildly amusing that this whole scene was greeted with complete apathy by the audience. Ah New York, your standards are so high!



By that time though, I realized we were approaching 4AM. I decided one last cheers with the DJ who was back up in the booth after the 'little show' and it was time to beat it. I was safely in my room, shades drawn by 5AM. All in all, it was quite a successful short trip to the city that never sleeps.

Fangs
16:36 Feb 17 2011
Times Read: 694

So I traveled to Valhalla again (that would be Haven the weekly goth/industrial night here in New England) this past Tuesday. Sadly, I had to go alone as my usual partner in crime was out of commission this week.



Nonetheless, I walked in and felt right at home per usual. I did a quick circuit of the place, got a look at the various freaks in attendance and then headed over to the fangsmith.



I have to say, he did an amazing job. But there were two things that really struck me during the whole process. First, every time he pulled one or both of them out to refine them, it was, in a word, traumatic. A scene from True Blood flashed before me. Those of you who know it may recall it: before Bill is put on trial before the Magister another vampire is having his fangs ripped out as punishment for taking another vampire's 'meal' from him. Um, yeah....



The second thing that happened that was just one of those moments...I was sitting there before the fangsmith and there was a giant mirror behind him so I could see people walking by behind me. Who should walk up to say hi? The very guy, from almost a year ago and whom I haven't seen since, who recommended this fangsmith to me. Cue up whatever strange coincidence music works for you.



So that's been my excitement since taking and passing a big exam for a certification I need in order to rake in big bucks!

The Seasons
18:53 Feb 03 2011
Times Read: 726

So as most know, I freakin' love winter. It might be, as I've also pointed out, I'm somewhat impervious to cold. I feel it but only the way most people feel a breeze. As in, "Oh, there's a breeze" I go out in 30 degrees and think, "Oh, it's cold."



As this winter has been particularly hard, I've had an opportunity to really compare how different my reaction to it is compared to others. I have a huge urge to go out trekking about in the woods while everyone else whines and complains. Sadly, it will be my turn when July/August roll around and it's bright and sunny and hot.



That got me to thinking. How would I describe each season in just ONE word? How would others I know describe each, again in just ONE word, for themselves. It might tell us a lot about one another. So, for my dear readers (you few dedicated out there!) here's mine. What are yours?



(Please note, I've attempted to stick to positive words only.)



Winter: Darkness

Spring: Thunderstorms

Summer: Heat

Fall: Color