Category: Culture

Culture, Film, spirituality, TV

New Series ‘BRUJITAS’ Highlights Women of Color Coming Into Their Power

by Jennifer VasquezLeave a Comment on New Series ‘BRUJITAS’ Highlights Women of Color Coming Into Their Power
BRUJITAS series panel
BRUJITAS series panel

BRUJITAS (Spanish for “little witches”) is an upcoming sci-fi dramedy series centering on a group of women of color who are discovering their inner powers. Created and written by Natalie Garcia, the series stars a Latina cast and weaves the magic of culture and spirituality into the narrative. Recently, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles hosted a panel called Mujeres Taking the Lead: A New Era in Film and TV. It brought together the cast and crew for a fascinating discussion about the project.

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Culture, Lifestyle, Travel

La Carmina on Her Alternative Fashion Blog & Gothic Adventures

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on La Carmina on Her Alternative Fashion Blog & Gothic Adventures
Photo credit: La Carmina
Photo credit: La Carmina

La Carmina has established herself as an authority when it comes to alternative subcultures and eccentric adventures. She launched her travel and fashion blog La Carmina in 2007, making her one of the pioneers of blogging, particularly in the goth space. Over the course of nearly 20 years, she’s worked on amazing projects and earned many accolades.

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Culture, Travel

Spooky New Orleans Travel Guide

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Spooky New Orleans Travel Guide
Spooky New Orleans
Spooky New Orleans

Welcome to my spooky travel guide to New Orleans! I visited the Crescent City during Halloween season and came out with multiple blog posts, each one dedicated to a different experience. I wanted to create a page that houses all the content I published for that trip so it’s easier to find. I do plan to return to NOLA in the future and will add links to related content here. Get ready to discover the dark side of New Orleans.

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Culture, Events, music

A Limited-Time Selena Exhibit Graces the Grammy Museum

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on A Limited-Time Selena Exhibit Graces the Grammy Museum
Selena: From Texas to the World exhibit at the Grammy Museum
Selena: From Texas to the World exhibit at the Grammy Museum

The most recent exhibit I attended had nothing to do with Halloween or horror but was special for me to experience—Selena: From Texas to the World. Selena was a Tejana singer who made major strides in the music industry as a Latina and Mexican American artist. For a limited time, the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles is hosting a pop-up exhibition showcasing personal items from the icon’s collection. Let me take you inside.

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Culture, Dining & Drink, Travel

Sinking My Fangs Into the Vampiric Side of New Orleans

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Sinking My Fangs Into the Vampiric Side of New Orleans
Vamp Jenn enjoying a Blood Bag Mocktail at the New Orleans Vampire Cafe
Vamp Jenn enjoying a Blood Bag Mocktail at the New Orleans Vampire Cafe

While I can’t explain why a vampire mythos surrounds New Orleans, there’s no denying that these nocturnal creatures have a connection to the city. One major reason is likely due to Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. NOLA was such an integral part of the series and her characters, especially for Lestat, Louis, and Claudia in Interview With the Vampire. During my recent trip, there were three spots in particular that I was eager to visit because they’re entirely dedicated to the vampire figure.

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Culture, Lifestyle

Puerto Rican Horror Hostess Melanie Ramos Welcomes Audiences Into Her Dark Universe

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Puerto Rican Horror Hostess Melanie Ramos Welcomes Audiences Into Her Dark Universe
Horror hostess Melevill (Photo credit: W.V.)
Horror hostess Melevill (Photo credit: W.V.)

From the depths of hell comes the demonic horror hostess of your nightmares—Melevill! This is the alter ego of Melanie Ramos, a multifaceted artist who hails from the South of Puerto Rico. She developed a fascination with the horror genre at a young age and now dedicates her time creating a variety of horror content.

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Culture, Travel

Exploring New Orleans’ Unique Cemeteries

by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments on Exploring New Orleans’ Unique Cemeteries
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

One of New Orleans’ distinct characteristics is its cemeteries. Mausoleums populate the landscapes of the city’s graveyards, encapsulating the remains of families, notable individuals, and numerous citizens. During my trip to NOLA, I had the opportunity to visit a couple of historic burial sites—St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and Metairie Cemetery. I was in awe of the elaborate architecture and sentimental significance behind these landmarks of death.

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Culture, Events, Literature

Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration

by Jennifer Vasquez11 Comments on Remembering Vampire Author Anne Rice at the All Saints’ Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints' Day Celebration
Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration

I first got hooked on (or shall I say sucked into) Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles when I was a teen, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans. This city is Anne’s birthplace and a significant location in her notorious vampire novels. Because of this, the city has become synonymous with these nocturnal creatures. I dare say, it’s as much a vampire capital as Transylvania! I had the great fortune of being able to finally travel to New Orleans to attend a special event commemorating the author—Anne Rice: An All Saints’ Day Celebration. It was an experience that had a remarkable effect on my soul.

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Culture, holidays, Literature

‘A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding’ Teaches Kids About the Day of the Dead

by Jennifer Vasquez9 Comments on ‘A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding’ Teaches Kids About the Day of the Dead
Woman holding a kid's picture book
Vamp Jenn reading A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding

El Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries between November 1st and 2nd. It’s believed that the spirits of loved ones come back to visit the living. The occasion, which has roots in indigenous Mesoamerican traditions, is meant to honor the memory of the deceased and embrace death. While many adults look forward to the Day of the Dead, the concept behind it can be difficult for children to grasp, especially when they believe death is meant to be feared. However, a children’s book titled A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding sets out to change that.

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Culture, entertainment

Digging Into the Paranormal With Chillers & Thrillers Podcast

by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments on Digging Into the Paranormal With Chillers & Thrillers Podcast
Chillers and Thrillers podcast logo
Chillers and Thrillers podcast

If you enjoy podcasts about the paranormal or are searching for one to add to your rotation, then allow me to introduce you to Chillers and Thrillers. Creator and host “M” likes to keep the mystery alive, so they only go by their first initial. M launched the project in 2023 after noticing that most spooky podcasts overemphasized gore or comedy in their retellings of accounts. M set out to produce a show that shared true eerie stories in a family-friendly way. Over the course of just two years, Chillers and Thrillers’ reach has grown to thousands of downloads monthly and its audience continues to expand.

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