Category: Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Vamp Jenn’s Crypts: Welcome to Vamp Manor

by Jennifer Vasquez9 Comments on Vamp Jenn’s Crypts: Welcome to Vamp Manor
Photo credit: Lady Vamp Manor
Photo credit: Lady Vamp Manor

On this edition of Vamp Jenn’s Crypts, we’ll be visiting Vamp Manor based in Townsville, a city in Queensland, Australia. It’s the place Lady Vamp and The Wolf call home, as well as the namesake of their brand. The power couple, Kyra and Richard, established their online shop out of their love for handcrafting dark decor. The pieces they sell are custom made and exquisitely detailed, inspired by the macabre and occult. Since they are so gifted at creating their own ornamentations and have an eye for style, it comes as no surprise that their residence is magnificently furnished.

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Art, Events, occult

H.R. Giger Tribute Art Exhibit + Joe Vaux’s “Escape Pod”

by Jennifer Vasquez8 Comments on H.R. Giger Tribute Art Exhibit + Joe Vaux’s “Escape Pod”
"H.R. Giger" The Tourist X Peter Lorre
“H.R. Giger” The Tourist X Peter Lorre

Copro Gallery in Santa Monica has unveiled its latest exhibitions: “Brain Salad Surgery,” a H.R. Giger tribute group art exhibit, and Joe Vaux’s solo show, “Escape Pod.” I attended opening night, and it was incredible to see so many stunning pieces in person.

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Lifestyle

Welcome to Vamp Jenn’s Crypts

by Jennifer Vasquez18 Comments on Welcome to Vamp Jenn’s Crypts
Welcome to Vamp Jenn's Crypt
Welcome to Vamp Jenn’s Crypt

I’m introducing an all-new blog series titled Vamp Jenn’s Crypts! I’m so excited to finally launch this project. I came up with the idea more than two years ago while watching an episode of Architectural Digest featuring burlesque star Dita Von Teese. It got my wheels turning about how awesome it would be to see inside the homes of individuals who are darkly inclined. It also brought to mind the early 2000s show MTV Cribs, which, if anyone recalls, took viewers inside the dwellings of celebrities.

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entertainment, Film, holidays

9 Horror Films to Watch on Valentine’s Day

by Jennifer Vasquez17 Comments on 9 Horror Films to Watch on Valentine’s Day
Samantha Robinson as Elaine Parks in The Love Witch (© Anna Biller Productions)
Samantha Robinson as Elaine Parks in The Love Witch (© Anna Biller Productions)

Blood, death and love are in the air this Valentine’s Day. For those who prefer to keep things spooky when February 14th rolls around, I’ve curated just the list for your viewing pleasure. If your plans are to stay in and watch a movie, why not make it a horror movie? As the holiday of romance draws nearer, I got to thinking about creepy and tragic love stories. Of course my incessant need to give every holiday a macabre makeover is part of it too. So, following is a selection of films I’ve personally handpicked and seen that I find appropriate for Valoween. They’re a delightful mix of dark comedy, gothic and scary, and I present them here in chronological order. Enjoy!

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entertainment, Events, holidays, Lifestyle, Nightlife, Travel

Odd & Macabre Events 2023

by Jennifer Vasquez11 Comments on Odd & Macabre Events 2023
Vamp Jenn at Midsummer Scream
Vamp Jenn at Midsummer Scream

It’s 2023, and one can’t help but marvel at all the upcoming spooky and dark-filled delights the new year has awaiting in the shadows, ready to come forth and lure people in. Vamp Jenn’s Corner has established a tradition around here releasing its annual Odd & Macabre Events Calendar in January. I’ve scoured the beyond to find the most magical experiences slated to happen in the coming months, so you can all set dates and plan outings. Of course, I hope to attend as many of these events as I can as well.

The offerings featured here are taking place in Los Angeles and across the U.S., but I am trying to add events happening internationally too. What follows is what’s been announced thus far, but new activities continue to come up as the year goes on. I also include spooky holidays and special occasions. I will be updating this calendar throughout 2023, so make sure to check back often. Cheers to a New Year of the most sinister escapades yet!   

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holidays, Lifestyle

Macabre Holiday Gift Guide 2022

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Macabre Holiday Gift Guide 2022
Photo credit: Robin Mikalsen
Photo credit: Robin Mikalsen

What’s on everyone’s wish list to Sandy Claws this year? There are many new things that debut annually, so I’m mainly highlighting goodies that unleashed in 2022. Plus, what I mention might ignite inspiration and more ideas for you. Whether you or the person you’re shopping for have been naughty or nice, I’ve included a little something to appease many tastes and desires. This gift list is full of treats to brighten up dark souls, and I hope it makes the holiday season, or shall I say the holi-ween season, a bit spookier.

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Fashion, Lifestyle

Spotlight on Eclipsed Emporium: A New Goth Fashion Boutique in Long Beach

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on Spotlight on Eclipsed Emporium: A New Goth Fashion Boutique in Long Beach
Inside Eclipsed Emporium (Model: Angelina Sambrotto/ Photo credit: Anabel D'Flux)
Inside Eclipsed Emporium (Model: Angelina Sambrotto/ Photo credit: Anabel D’Flux)

As a goth resident of Long Beach, California, I was thrilled when I heard about the new boutique that opened up for the darkly inclined fashionista, Eclipsed Emporium. It’s nestled in the borough of Bixby Knolls and, when it comes to this part of town, is the only one of its kind and a veritable jewel. Outside of Los Angeles, the only other goth apparel and accessory shop I knew of was Ipso Facto in Orange County. Now there’s a spot in my neck of the woods, and I’m here to share it with you.

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Events, Lifestyle, Spiritual

Celebrating El Día de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

by Jennifer Vasquez14 Comments on Celebrating El Día de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Vamp Jenn at the Dia de los Muertos event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Vamp Jenn at the Día de los Muertos event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Since 2000, Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles has been home to the largest Día de los Muertos celebration outside of Mexico, and I attended for the first time this year. For 2022, the festivities centered on Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of fertility and the agave plant. There were separate daytime and nighttime events happening, and I went to the latter, Noche de los Muertos. It was an evening filled with beautiful performances, rituals, altars, and so much more.

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Events, Lifestyle

Countdown to Halloween 2022 Guide

by Jennifer Vasquez10 Comments on Countdown to Halloween 2022 Guide
Halloween guide (Photo by Pixabay via Pexels)
Halloween guide (Photo by Pixabay via Pexels)

We’re at that point in summerween when it’s time to start preparing for the upcoming spooky season! For those who don’t know, the much anticipated 100-days to Halloween countdown happens every year on July 23rd, and I’m releasing a special guide for 2022. I published one of these in 2021 and plan to make it an annual tradition so people can have a helpful resource to refer to as they plan their ghoulish festivities for the fall. I’ll be sharing where to shop, my costume predictions, event happenings and a few other tidbits.

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Lifestyle, music

Experiencing the Goth Subculture Through the Music

by Jennifer Vasquez23 Comments on Experiencing the Goth Subculture Through the Music
Gothik: Special Anniversary Edition CD compilation
Gothik: Special Anniversary Edition CD compilation

When I started getting into the goth scene, I went on a mission to navigate my way through the numerous bands that existed. Since it is a music-based subculture, I wanted to have at least a general knowledge of what had been and was continuing to be produced. One of the beautiful facets of goth is its rich musical heritage. There’s an abundance of beats and sounds that have been created within the genre, and others that have sprouted from it, such as darkwave, ethereal, deathrock and coldwave. For World Goth Day, I’m going to share what I listened to and some of the core groups that were my gateway to the music.

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