Dining & Drink, Nightlife

Imbibe in Vintage Pin-Ups & Fine Wine at Sort This Out Cellars

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Imbibe in Vintage Pin-Ups & Fine Wine at Sort This Out Cellars
Wine Tasting Bar
Wine tasting at Sort This Out Cellars

I love good wine, old Hollywood glamour and pin-up girls, so when I discovered there was a wine tasting room in Solvang, California, that combined all three, I was thrilled! Sort This Out Cellars was established in 2007 by Michael and Gary Cobb to offer a unique experience from mainstream wineries, in terms of both wines and ambience. They wanted to channel a time “when men had character, and women had curves.” Here’s an inside look at this colorful spot.
Continue reading “Imbibe in Vintage Pin-Ups & Fine Wine at Sort This Out Cellars” →

Film, Lifestyle, Literature

The 10 Most Intriguing Vampires of Legend & Lore

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on The 10 Most Intriguing Vampires of Legend & Lore

Vampire Collage

Some of you may have suspected by my website name, Vamp Jenn’s Corner, that I’m fascinated with vampires. I’ll admit my fascination borders on obsession. Although my initial introduction to these figures was Sesame Street’s Count von Count, it was Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles that had me spellbound by these undead creatures. They exude mystery and possess multifaceted natures. Although they have a voracious appetite for human blood, we mortals cannot help but be entranced. They’ve been presented in many lights, from ghastly to charming, cruel to caring, repellant to sexy.

So, I thought, why not share with you some of the vampires with whom I have fallen in love over the years. Following is a list of 10 that, in my opinion, have been influential in shaping the vampire image in both history and pop culture. But this is not a definitive list. Here they are presented in chronological order. Continue reading “The 10 Most Intriguing Vampires of Legend & Lore” →

Events, Nightlife

Endless Night Los Angeles Vampire Ball 2019: Anti-Valentine’s Day

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on Endless Night Los Angeles Vampire Ball 2019: Anti-Valentine’s Day

Vampire Woman

The Endless Night Vampire Ball, presented by master fangsmith Father Sebastiaan, returned to Los Angeles for the third time. Hosted again at the historic Globe Theatre, this year’s theme was Anti-Valentine’s Day. I’ll share some details here of the festivities. Eat your hearts out fellow immortals! Continue reading “Endless Night Los Angeles Vampire Ball 2019: Anti-Valentine’s Day” →

Art, Events

The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Dakuato” & “12 Inches of Wood”

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Dakuato” & “12 Inches of Wood”
“Loveless” by Meimaro

“Dakuato” is the newest exhibition at The Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach, California, presenting the work of three artists hailing from Japan — Meimaro, Ren Hoshi and Niku. Also on display is “12 Inches of Wood,” a collection of provocative erotic art. Read on for a closer look at the artists and their intriguing and macabre creations. Continue reading “The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Dakuato” & “12 Inches of Wood”” →

Art, Events, Spiritual

Occult Art & Esoteric Delights at The Mystic Museum

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Occult Art & Esoteric Delights at The Mystic Museum
Baphomet
Baphomet

The Mystic Museum in Burbank, California, just launched its first art show of the year in collaboration with alternative apparel shop BlackCraft Cult and it is wickedly enticing! The theme is “Occult in History and Pop Culture.” I have had a longstanding fascination with the occult, so I was quite excited about the event. I invite you all to have a look at what opening night had in store. Continue reading “Occult Art & Esoteric Delights at The Mystic Museum” →

Art, Events

The Art of the Grotesque at Copro Gallery

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on The Art of the Grotesque at Copro Gallery
“Icon of Sin” by Christian Marchwinski

Located in Santa Monica, California, Copro Gallery showcases high-quality works by up-and-coming artists. This past weekend, I attended opening night of its latest exhibit, “Conjoined vs. Grotesque: Denizens of the Dark.” The event welcomed the public to enter a morbidly fascinating world created by some of the most talented individuals in the Dark Contemporary Art Movement, motion picture and music industries and beyond. I managed to capture countless photos, so, without further ado, here’s your look inside. Continue reading “The Art of the Grotesque at Copro Gallery” →

Literature

Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe

Raven in Cemetery

If Edgar Allan Poe was immortal or had an insanely long-life span, he would have turned 210 this January 19th. The American writer is renowned for his horror-filled works, where death plays a major theme. His poetry and short stories have been categorized under the Gothic fiction umbrella, and they have also been associated with dark Romanticism, a subgenre of Romanticism that fixated on the grotesque and morbid. It should also be mentioned that he had a major impact on the development of the modern detective story.

More than two centuries later from the date of his birth, his words continue to stir the macabre spirit within us. I still have the research paper I wrote as an undergrad about “The Black Cat.” Since countless biographies have been published on the poet, I will not retell the details of his life. Instead, to commemorate this occasion, I thought I’d compile a brief, but amusing list of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence in pop culture. Happy Birthday Eddy! Continue reading “Poe Pop Culture: A Birthday Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe” →

Nightlife

The Apocalypse Has Come to Long Beach in the Guise of The 4th Horseman

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on The Apocalypse Has Come to Long Beach in the Guise of The 4th Horseman
Inside The 4th Horseman in Long Beach, California.
Inside The 4th Horseman in Long Beach, California.

A dark and horror-filled restaurant has set up shop in Long Beach, California. Opening its doors this past November, The 4th Horseman is one of the most unique pizza joints to grace the city. I visited the spot and absolutely loved the vibe. If you haven’t been, here’s a look inside. Continue reading “The Apocalypse Has Come to Long Beach in the Guise of The 4th Horseman” →

Art, Events

Delving Into The Art of Mourning with Hayden Peters

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on Delving Into The Art of Mourning with Hayden Peters
Art of Mourning with Hayden Peters
Art of Mourning with Hayden Peters

Are you familiar with mourning jewelry? I did not know much about the topic until I attended a lecture at The Mystic Museum in Burbank, California, presented by Hayden Peters, the scholar behind the project Art of Mourning.  He gave a fascinating talk about the history of these sentimental pieces throughout the centuries showing photos of these relics, some from his personal collection. I’m going to share with you a few highlights and pictures of the evening. Continue reading “Delving Into The Art of Mourning with Hayden Peters” →

Art, Events

The Dark Art Emporium Presents D.W. Frydendall’s “Haunted Mansion”

by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments on The Dark Art Emporium Presents D.W. Frydendall’s “Haunted Mansion”
"Madame Leota" and "Watching Busts" paintings by D.W. Frydendall
“Madame Leota” and “Watching Busts” paintings by D.W. Frydendall

The Dark Art Emporium, a fine art and oddities shop in Long Beach, California, recently debuted the latest uncanny collection by artist D.W. Frydendall — “Haunted Mansion.” It commemorates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the iconic Disneyland attraction. I stopped in opening night and captured photos of the exhibition and more. Have a look! Continue reading “The Dark Art Emporium Presents D.W. Frydendall’s “Haunted Mansion”” →