Creepy Concoctions From the Beetle House Cookbook

Zach Neil's The Nightmare Before Dinner Beetle House Cookbook

I’ll be the first to admit that cooking is not my forte and I don’t do it often, but while brainstorming blog post ideas, I remembered I have a copy of The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die For. It’s the official cookbook of Zach Neil’s Tim Burton and Halloween-inspired Beetle House! The book features dishes and cocktails straight from the restaurant’s menu so that anyone can introduce a bit of spooky spirit into their kitchen. I figured if I’m going to whip up something, it might as well be food that feeds my dark soul. It was also a great way for me to recreate the macabre atmosphere at home since the establishment is closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. For the main entree, I tried my hand at the Alice in Wonderland themed Cheshire Mac and Cheese. And, because there’s nothing like a good apéritif to accompany a meal, I crafted The Beetle’s Juice cocktail.

Now, I must mention that since I’m not a food blogger, this post isn’t presented in the traditional format of a culinary blog post. I am going to include some details of the process, but this is more of a casual retelling of my macabre cooking experience. Enjoy! Continue reading “Creepy Concoctions From the Beetle House Cookbook”

The 7 Most Iconic Goth Couples

Still from Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula" (© Columbia Pictures)
Still from Francis Ford Coppola’s “Dracula” (© Columbia Pictures)

Flowers, chocolates and anything and everything heart-shaped blissfully emerge when February 14th rolls around. For lovebirds, it’s all red, pink and sweet for Valentine’s Day, no? Well, for those that have a penchant for dark romance, there’s nothing more amorous than a bouquet of black roses, a moonlit picnic in the cemetery and perhaps even a keepsake in the shape of a real, bloody human heart.

To commemorate this holiday, I decided to pay homage to some of history’s most quintessential pairs that put an entirely different spin on the old adage “romance is dead.” For the following seven most iconic goth couples, romance is at its peak when in the grasp of passion and death. Continue reading “The 7 Most Iconic Goth Couples”

Beetle House LA Revamps Its Look & Location

Beetle House LA
Beetle House LA

Any soul with a penchant for the strange and unusual has heard of Beetle House. Founder Zach Neil opened the first location in New York and brought it to the City of Angels in 2017. The restaurant and bar pay homage to the macabre and keep the spooky spirit alive year-round. All, from the ambience and décor to the menu and cocktails, is inspired by figures such as Tim Burton, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker and Alfred Hitchcock. Horror, the goth aesthetic and the bizarre are exuded at each corner. Here, every day is Halloween.

Update as of 4/2021: after being closed for a year due to COVID-19, the restaurant is now open for indoor dining and is accepting reservations! 

Continue reading “Beetle House LA Revamps Its Look & Location”

Inside The “I Like Scary Movies” Experience

In the
In the “It” room of I Like Scary Movies experience

Let me begin by saying that what I am about to describe is a horror fan’s nightmare come true. In a nutshell, I Like Scary Movies is an immersive art installation featuring five classic horror films — “The Shining,” “It,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Beetlejuice,” and “The Lost Boys.” But, it’s not your typical exhibit. Here, guests can experience and, literally, dive right into some of the most iconic scenes from these movies. Continue reading “Inside The “I Like Scary Movies” Experience”

A Spooky-Filled Birthday Weekend: Inside Horror Made Here & More

Sitting upon my throne at the Fangtasia Bar inside Warner Bros. Studios: Horror Made Here
Sitting upon my throne at the Fangtasia Bar inside Warner Bros. Studios: Horror Made Here

I’m an October baby, so every year for my birthday, I like to celebrate by hitting up a few Halloween haunts. I just had a weekend full of spooky fun and want to share it with you all! Continue reading “A Spooky-Filled Birthday Weekend: Inside Horror Made Here & More”

How to Throw a Frankenstein Day Bash

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein
Boris Karloff as Frankenstein

August 30th is Frankenstein Day, a date that honors the classic novel by Mary Shelley, as well as her birthday. To commemorate this annual event, I thought it would be fun to share some ways we can all pay tribute. There may not be a time machine to transport us to 1818 (the year the book was released) to chat with the author, but why not use the imagination to bring to life our own monstrous creations! Here’s how you can celebrate Frankenstein Day. Continue reading “How to Throw a Frankenstein Day Bash”

Must-See Contemporary Films & TV Series for the Victorian Goth

Photo courtesy of moviestillsdb.com
Photo courtesy of moviestillsdb.com

Pining to watch something that oozes sensual morbidity, gothic horror, tightly laced corsets, melancholy characters, and the backdrop of a gray and gritty England? The films and TV series featured here have at least one or a combination of these components. Although by no means an exhaustive compilation of cinema with a 19th-century dark edge, these are a few of the best contemporary works the Victorian Goth will fancy.

Continue reading “Must-See Contemporary Films & TV Series for the Victorian Goth”

A Bar for Dark Souls: Beetle House LA

beetlejuice

Those living in the New York City area may already know about the hideout dedicated to all things spooky and Tim Burton – Beetle House. Creator Zach Neil decided to give the City of Angels a taste of this wonderfully macabre establishment (much to my delight) by opening what was supposed to be only a pop-up location on Hollywood Boulevard back in May of 2017. More than a year later, the joint is still open and going strong. I’ve had the opportunity to return to this niche a few times and want to share my experience for anyone curious to know more about it. Continue reading “A Bar for Dark Souls: Beetle House LA”