Category: History

History, Travel

Chasing Vampires in NOLA with Haunted History Tours

by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments on Chasing Vampires in NOLA with Haunted History Tours
Vamp Jenn at the gates of Jackson Square
Vamp Jenn at the gates of Jackson Square

Some believe real vampires have inhabited New Orleans for hundreds of years, emerging at night to seek out fresh prey. Author Anne Rice put these nocturnal creatures right on the map in NOLA when she penned her Vampire Chronicles. There’s no question that the city is laden with vampiric mythos, and like the vampire enthusiast I am, I had to book the vampire tour offered by Haunted History Tours. To top it off, I partook in the experience on All Hallows’ Eve!

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History, Travel

Exploring the Haunted Side of Long Beach on the Driver Horror Tour

by Jennifer Vasquez2 Comments on Exploring the Haunted Side of Long Beach on the Driver Horror Tour
Vamp Jenn hopping on the Driver Long Beach Horror Tour
Vamp Jenn hopping on the Driver Long Beach Horror Tour

The shuttle company Driver is offering a fun way to explore Long Beach, California, with their fleet of street-legal golf carts. Not only do they offer rentals for locals and visitors year-round, but they’re also hosting a special excursion for Halloween season. The wonderful people at Driver invited me to be part of their first-ever Horror Tour and I’m so thankful they did!

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Film, History

It’s Horror Galore Inside the Halloween: Dungeon of Doom at The Hollywood Museum

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on It’s Horror Galore Inside the Halloween: Dungeon of Doom at The Hollywood Museum
Vamp Jenn entering The Hollywood Museum's Halloween: Dungeon of Doom
Vamp Jenn entering The Hollywood Museum’s Halloween: Dungeon of Doom

The Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles is a great place to explore if you want to immerse yourself in the city’s cinematic history. It’s located inside the iconic Max Factor Building. Max Factor was a renowned makeup artist to the stars during Hollywood’s Golden Era. His clientele included silver screen goddesses such as Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Jean Harlow and many others.

My first time here was around 2012 when I checked out the Marilyn Monroe exhibit. The structure has multiple stories, each featuring a different exhibition. It has been years since my last visit, and this time I descended to its lowest depths into Halloween: Dungeon of Doom.

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Events, History

Victorian Horror Stories Come Alive in an Immersive Experience

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Victorian Horror Stories Come Alive in an Immersive Experience
Vamp Jenn attending Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark at Heritage Square Museum
Vamp Jenn attending Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark at Heritage Square Museum

I am utterly fascinated with the Victorian era, so when I got wind of an event called Victorian Horror Stories in the Dark, I had to check it out. The immersive experience was presented by the creators of the podcast Terrifying True Stories and took place at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles. The evening included four haunting tales staged in four different Victorian manors.

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Culture, History, Lifestyle, Literature

9 Books on the Goth Subculture

by Jennifer VasquezLeave a Comment on 9 Books on the Goth Subculture
Photo credit: Sierra Koder via Unsplash
Photo credit: Sierra Koder via Unsplash

Much has been written about the goth subculture, ranging from scholarly literature to pop culture reads. I must admit that I have not read many books on goth. When I first started getting into goth as a teen in the late 90s/early 2000s, I got most of my information from the internet and personal experiences and observations. At the time, there weren’t many books published about the subculture, so I learned about it by browsing the web via goth chat rooms and websites that were around then. 

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History, Travel

Piecing Together the Mystery of The Black Dahlia with Grave Line Tours

by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments on Piecing Together the Mystery of The Black Dahlia with Grave Line Tours
Vamp Jenn with tour guide Blaze
Vamp Jenn with tour guide Blaze

Despite the Hollywood glitz and glam that mainstream media likes to boast about Los Angeles, there’s no question that a dark energy also plagues the City of Angels. Grave Line Tours highlights the seedy underbelly of the town, “putting death on the map,” as they describe it. They offer various experiences exposing the tragedies that have occurred here, from the Manson murders to haunted sites. I went on an excursion to retrace the steps of the infamous Black Dahlia, a cold case that continues to mystify the public and remains unsolved.

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History, Literature

10 Fascinating Facts About Edgar Allan Poe

by Jennifer Vasquez9 Comments on 10 Fascinating Facts About Edgar Allan Poe
Image by Angela from Pixabay
Image by Angela from Pixabay

No stranger to death, ghosts, hauntings and the occult, Edgar Allan Poe was right at home among the macabre. These morbid themes became great companions of his as he’d write his poems and short stories. His dark imaginings continue to bring readers into realms where the spectral reigns. A few years ago, I wrote a blog post celebrating the birthday of Poe, who was born on January 19, 1809. In it, I dedicated a small portion to interesting facts about the writer. I decided to expand on those and create a special feature to commemorate his birth. While many aspects of Poe’s life remain a mystery, the following are a few pieces to add to the puzzle of his existence.

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Culture, History, holidays

10 Sinister Facts About Krampus

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on 10 Sinister Facts About Krampus
This photo and top image by Alessio Zaccaria on Unsplash
This photo and top image by Alessio Zaccaria via Unsplash

It may be difficult for some to believe that the holidays have a dark side, but they do and Krampus is legendary proof. Tales of the demonic figure have existed for centuries, and his origins are shrouded in mystery. However, scholars have managed to uncover a few essential facts over time and truth be told, he’s more popular now than ever. Brace yourself because I’m about to divulge a few ghastly details about this demon of Christmas.    

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Dining & Drink, Events, History

The Vogel Victorian Hosts a Haunted Tea Party

by Jennifer Vasquez10 Comments on The Vogel Victorian Hosts a Haunted Tea Party
Vamp Jenn in front of The Vogel Victorian
Vamp Jenn in front of The Vogel Victorian

You are cordially invited to attend a haunted tea party at The Vogel Victorian. Nestled within the historic district in downtown Santa Ana, CA, is a beautiful 19th-century structure that’s 125 years old. The lady of the manor is Diana Vogel who lives on the property with her husband and children. She has opened her home to guests and created an intimate experience that gives people the opportunity to explore the grounds and learn about its intriguing history.

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Film, History, Travel

Malia Miglino on ‘Haunted Discoveries’ & Becoming LA History Girl

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Malia Miglino on ‘Haunted Discoveries’ & Becoming LA History Girl
Malia Miglino
Malia Miglino

She’s a historian, researcher, traveler and full-time content creator, and she does it all in style. I’m talking about Malia Miglino. For her latest venture, she’s the historical researcher and one of the TV hosts of the upcoming paranormal series Haunted Discoveries. In addition to that, she’s been staying busy, continuing to produce content centered on Los Angeles history and beyond. Let’s dive into what she’s been up to.

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