Lifestyle – Page 3 – Vamp Jenn's Corner

Macabre Holiday Gift Guide 2024

November 25, 2024December 27, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments

Even a dark soul like me has an appreciation for the holidays. I compare myself to Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas. While Halloween Town is his domain, he can’t help but be fascinated by Christmas Town with all its jingles and bells. Plus, Xmas is celebrated when nights are the longest. It’s a vampire’s ideal time of year!

At Vamp Jenn’s Corner, it’s an annual tradition to come out with my Macabre Holiday Gift Guide. It comes in handy when you’re on the prowl for the spooky individual on your shopping list. I decided to change the format a bit this year. Instead of general categories with retailers, I’m listing specific items and including links so you can check out more of what they have. It means a lot to me to support independent creators and entrepreneurs, so the majority of items here will be from small businesses. Happy shopping!

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Events, Film, halloween, music, Performing Arts

LA Opera Brings the Spanish Version of ‘Dracula’ to the Big Screen

November 8, 2024November 30, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments

Vamp Jenn attending LA Opera's screening of the Spanish Dracula — Vamp Jenn attending LA Opera’s screening of the Spanish *Dracula*

Did you know there is a 1931 Spanish-language film version of Dracula? It was released the same year as the notorious adaptation starring Bela Lugosi. When LA Opera announced this would be their movie selection for Halloween, I was ecstatic. Every year during the last weekend of October, they choose a horror film to play that’s accompanied by live orchestra. I knew this was a rare opportunity I couldn’t miss, and I’m here to share it with you.

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Events, halloween

Getting Spooky at Knott’s Scary Farm

October 29, 2024November 23, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments

Vamp Jenn at Knott's Scary Farm — Vamp Jenn at Knott’s Scary Farm

I have to start off by saying that I hadn’t been to Knott’s Scray Farm in more than 20 years. The last time I went to the event was around 2000/2001 when I was a teen. I don’t remember much of my experience, and for quite some time, I kept hearing people rave about how good Halloween time at the theme park had gotten. So, 2024 was the year I planned my grand return, and I’m here to divulge all the details.

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Events, halloween

Inside Dark Harbor: The Spirits Rise on The Queen Mary

October 28, 2024November 23, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments

Vamp Jenn at The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor — Vamp Jenn at The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor

The last time I attended The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor was in 2019 before it went dark for the proceeding four years. Experiencing its return this spooky season was exciting and overwhelming to the senses. Where do I begin? Since I’m an October baby, I celebrate my birthday by hitting up whatever Halloween events I can. Of course, Dark Harbor was at the top of that list. It was a night filled with frights and delights, and I’m eager to tell you all about it and share a ton of photos.

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Culture, Film, Lifestyle

How Lydia Deetz of ‘Beetlejuice’ Influenced the Goth Subculture

September 5, 2024November 9, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments

Winona Ryder as Lydia in Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice' (© Warner Bros.) — Winona Ryder as Lydia in Tim Burton’s *Beetlejuice* (© Warner Bros.)

When Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice hit cinemas in 1988, the goth subculture was still in its youth, having only been around since the late 70s/early 80s. The scene was evolving and growing both in music and fashion, so for a figure like Lydia Deetz to pop up on the big screen, many black hearts in the audience must have stopped. How many teenage goths can you recall appearing in 80s films? While there may have been a few, none have left as lasting an impression as Winona Ryder’s macabre character. With the release of the sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I thought it’d be fun to take a look at a few of the influences Lydia Deetz has had on the goth community.

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Events, halloween

Midsummer Scream Slays Another Summerween

August 6, 2024September 17, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez12 Comments

Halloween was in full swing at Midsummer Scream! While I’ve made a tradition of attending this event annually, this year was the first time I purchased VIP Gold Bat Passes for the entire weekend. I was prowling the Halloween and horror convention Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. Plus, I attended the Saturday night afterparty, which was another first for me. Get ready for lots of details and pictures.

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entertainment, Events, halloween

Dark Harbor Returns to Haunt The Queen Mary

July 25, 2024September 4, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments

Photo credit: The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor/Thirteenth Floor

Spooky season 2024 witnesses the return of Dark Harbor aboard the Queen Mary. After a three-year hiatus, the Halloween festival is rising from the grave and is aptly themed, “The Spirits Rise.” Many were excited when the news was announced on April 30^th, which is Walpurgis Night and the halfway to Halloween mark. It’s no doubt one of the most highly anticipated events happening this fall.

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halloween, holidays, Lifestyle

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Guide

July 23, 2024September 17, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments

Photo credit: Marko Blažević via Unsplash

So here in the U.S., many have deemed the day after the Fourth of July the official start to spooky season. And, why not? There are no other major holidays that happen in the states until October. I noticed tons of people take to social media on July 5th announcing the official countdown to Halloween. It made me giddy! It also signaled that it’s time to release my annual Countdown to Halloween Guide, which I tend to publish around the 100-day mark on July 23^rd (because that’s also a big deal in the Halloween community). While not an exhaustive list, I’ve compiled information regarding shopping, costumes, music, events and more. Happy Haunting!

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Events, occult, spirituality

Exploring the Left Hand Path With Shea Bilé

July 19, 2024August 10, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez6 Comments

Shea Bilé's The Religion of Satan lecture — Shea Bilé’s The Religion of Satan lecture

I began to stray from my Catholic upbringing and explore other spiritual beliefs as a teen. There was something lacking in my religious education and so I found enlightenment elsewhere. It began with an interest in ancient religions and witchcraft. Then, my teenage self was in absolute awe when I learned there was a Church of Satan and that was how I was introduced to the occult. As I’ve evolved spiritually over the years, I’ve sustained a connection with the Left Hand Path. When I discovered The Crooked Path was featuring a series on the subject with Shea Bilé, who’s an authority on esotericism, I had to attend.

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Culture, Film, Lifestyle

Spotlight Feature: Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies & Beyond

June 10, 2024July 24, 2024by Jennifer Vasquez3 Comments

Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies and Beyond — Ivotres Littles of *Horror Movies and Beyond*

“Do you like scary movies?” -Ghostface from Scream (1996)

This is the question Ivotres Littles explores through her platform, Horror Movies and Beyond. Her YouTube channel is a treasure trove of horror content, from scary movie reviews to celebrity interviews to explorations into the unknown. Through her features, she analyzes, in an entertaining way, what makes horror so enticing.

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Category: Lifestyle

Macabre Holiday Gift Guide 2024

LA Opera Brings the Spanish Version of ‘Dracula’ to the Big Screen

Getting Spooky at Knott’s Scary Farm

Inside Dark Harbor: The Spirits Rise on The Queen Mary

How Lydia Deetz of ‘Beetlejuice’ Influenced the Goth Subculture

Midsummer Scream Slays Another Summerween

Dark Harbor Returns to Haunt The Queen Mary

Countdown to Halloween 2024 Guide

Exploring the Left Hand Path With Shea Bilé

Spotlight Feature: Ivotres Littles of Horror Movies & Beyond

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