Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

Another birthday for that special little town founded on the deliberate sinking of a ship of (wealthy) lepers trying to better their lives.  In their defense, the lepers DID plan to move only a mile distant to their cozy little village.  I mean, sure they could have rejected their offer and told them to move elsewhere.  But there was all that gold in their ship.  And that would have helped their village form a charter and blossom into a real town.  

John Carpenter's THE FOG is still the most perfect Ghost Story.  And April 21st will forever be honored as the birthday of the fictitious town of Antonio Bay.  Founded on the principles of deception and murder.  

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Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

Suddenly, out of the night, the fog rolled in. For a moment, they could see nothing, not a foot ahead of them. Then, they saw a light. By God, it was a fire burning on the shore, strong enough to penetrate the swirling mist. They steered a course toward the light.

But it was a campfire, like this one. The ship crashed against the rocks, the hull sheared in two, mars snapped like a twig. The wreckage sank, with all the men aboard.

At the bottom of the sea, lay the Elizabeth Dane, with her crew, their lungs filled with salt water, their eyes open, staring into the darkness.

And above, as suddenly as it had come, the fog lifted, receded back across the ocean and never came again. But it is told by the fishermen, and their fathers and grandfathers, that when the fog returns to Antonio Bay, the men at the bottom of the sea, out in the water by Spivey Point will rise up and search for the campfire that led them to their dark and icy death.

October Creek

April 20: The six of us met tonight. From midnight until one o'clock, we planned the death of Blake and his comrades. I tell myself that Blake's gold will allow the church to be built, and our small settlement to become a township, but it does not soothe the horror that I feel being an accomplice to murder.

More images from October Creek here.

April 20th: Fog Day's Eve

Fitting that we spent 4/20 charring rosemary and filling the house with an earthy herbal smoke.  

We wanted to do something fun for the upcoming anniversary of the sinking of the Elizabeth Dane (and Antonio Bay's birthday).  As the new owner of a cocktail smoker, I wanted to come up with something that was appropriate for Fog Day and I think I did it.  Behold Blake's Revenge.  A smoking rum-based cocktail that even has its own piece of seaweed.

Blake's Revenge:

2 oz aged rum (we used an 8 year Barbancourt)

1/2 oz sweet red vermouth

1 Teaspoon lemon & charred rosemary simple syrup

Garnish with a sprig of charred rosemary

After you combine the ingredients above, smoke the cocktail excessively to obtain a miniature fog bank.

Our Fog Day's Eve happy hour needed a dip.  

Mrs. Kobritz' Famous Smoky Clam Dip:

1 Tin smoked clams, oil drained

4 oz cream cheese

4 oz sour cream

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Teaspoon paprika 

1 Teaspoon minced onion 

Salt and pepper 

Mix by hand or blitz in a food processor for a smoother texture. Enjoy with Blake’s Revenge on the 21st of April.

Happy hour came to a perfect close with a viewing of The Fog - perhaps the finest horror film ghost story of all time (definitely up there with The Legend of Hell House and The Haunting [in its own way]).

Long live Blake and his ghostly comrades.  And Happy Fog Day, everyone - the twenty-first of April.

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

The six of us met tonight. From midnight until one o'clock, we planned the death of Blake and his comrades.  I tell myself that Blake's gold will allow the church to be built, and our small settlement to become a township, but it does not soothe the horror that I feel being an accomplice to murder.

- The Journal of Father Patrick Malone, 1880

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

While the wrecking of that beautiful ship upon our coast was, of course, a tragedy to those who were in the ship, it was the catalyst that brought together all the people of this wonderful area.  They came together, they formed the charter for Antonio Bay.

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Now Playing: A Dock Of Departing Ships

By Underwater Sleep Orchestra.

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Happy Belated Birthday, Antonio Bay

A day late!

Click below for an oddity...

6 Must Die

Now Playing: Matthew Ghost Story

From THE FOG...

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

The six of us met tonight. From midnight until one o'clock, we planned the death of Blake and his comrades. I tell myself that Blake's gold will allow the church to be built, and our small settlement to become a township, but it does not soothe the horror that I feel being an accomplice to murder.

Fully Poseable Action Figure

Happy Birthday, Antonio Bay

6 Must Die

The Haunting

By Dance with the Dead.

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Blake And His Men

From Fangoria.com

Now Playing: The Fog

A short playlist of my favorite cues from The Fog soundtrack.

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Water

Something like an albatross around the neck. No. More like a millstone. A plumbing stone. By God. Damn them all.

Blake, The Fog


Image by pageofbats.


Screw you, Irene.
Pardon the French, but there it is.

Even More Blake

Before Photoshop.


And after.

6 Must Die

I made Blake to be photographed almost completely in shadows, but I thought this shot came out pretty neat.



Experimenting here with red lights in his eyes.