Now Playing: Twilight Trickery (Sepulterror, Pt. 3)

A favorite track from KULT FM, the latest album from the guys at Halloween at High Noon.

Click below...

Or click here for youtube.

Count BoJo's FANGTASTIC Spooky Mix Tape 2025

Click below for the latest from BoJo...

Now Playing: KULT FM

The new album from the guys at Halloween at High Noon.  Really digging this one.

Click below...

Or click here for Bandcamp.

Catching Up

Still playing catch up from a busy Halloween week.  Currently working on the photo gallery and hope to have that posted to the blog very soon.  

Despite the unseasonably warm weather, the big night was pretty perfect.  The regional drought continues, so rain wasn't a threat this year.  The warm air and low winds created the perfect conditions for the fog machines (we used two this year).  The fog was creeping like a Hammer horror film for most of the night.  

The Haunt was very well received, despite being a little on the dark side this year... though there were quite a few parents who decided to move on to the next house, rather than bring their small children up to the porch for candy.  The ones that made it to our front door were greeted by an unseasonably warm Michael Myers.  One trick-or-treater was nice enough to shout in Myers' face "MICHAEL MYERS, YOU'RE SWEATY!" (Well, in his defense, I was leaking water from the neck of my mask.)  

Speaking of Myers... for some reason it was bugging me that Michael Myers was in the same universe as this ancient Witch, with her strange triangular sigils.  It occurred to me that the terrible sixth film in the franchise (Halloween 6:  The Curse of Michael Myers) involved the Cult of Thorn.  Sure, it was terrible writing, but it involved a small, somewhat-triangular rune which appeared on the wrists of those who served the cult.  Apparently, this rune gave Myers immortality and a compulsion for killing.  An hour before trick-or-treaters arrived, Jenna drew the rune on my wrist.  Hopefully someone saw it as I handed out candy (they probably didn't).  

Inside the house, we had a wonderful turnout for our Halloween party.  Great music, wonderful food (thanks to Jenna), and a load of laughs.  

Click here to listen to the wonderfully witchy and party-appropriate playlist curated by Jenna.  It's pretty awesome.

Feeling incredibly grateful to her as I write this post.  We had an amazing Halloween season once again, as we visited haunted attractions, unique taverns and restaurants with autumnal offerings, and the glorious Halloween town that is Lambertville, New Jersey.  We worked really hard this year to make this one look as creepy as it did, and it wouldn't have looked half as dark had it not been for her ideas and her hard work.  

Now Playing: BoJo's "Mix From The 13th Floor" 2024 Spooky Mix Tape

Another amazing mix by Bojo.  You know it's Halloween when Bojo the Ghost appears with his musical prowess.

Click below...

Black Cat Bakery Cupcakes

I posted about the Black Cat Bakery HERE and mentioned how we planned to return in October.  Over the weekend, we took another trip to the region.  Came home with these beauties.  Each one is amazing in its own way.  Whomever creates these wonderful cupcakes is an evil genius.  You can figure out which is which by the beautiful designs...

Wolfman
Pumpkin chai spice cake, frosted in turmeric Swiss meringue buttercream.

Creature from the Black Lagoon
Chocolate zucchini cake, frosted in dill Swiss meringue buttercream.

Dracula
Nutmeg cupcake filled with sweetened spiced beetroot compote, frosted in nutmeg Swiss meringue buttercream.

Devil May Care

Dark chocolate cupcake with rich chocolate fudge center and topped with salty peanut butter buttercream

Click here for their full menu.

Now Playing: The Skeleton Key Halloween Playlist 2024

Another great Halloween playlist from K.O., over at The Skeleton Key blog.

Click below to listen...

Now Playing: Tubular Bells

By Book of Love.  

It's not every day Tubular Bells can be sassed up with a fresh beat, but this actually works really well.  

Click the sweet girl below...

Now Playing: Witchcraft

By The Spiders.

Click below...

Noir Dark Spirits

Back in February 2023 I blogged about a Scranton, Pennsylvania bar/restaurant called Noir Dark Spirits.  The gothic atmosphere looked to be off the charts.  Since that blog post, Noir moved to a new and larger location.  On Saturday we took a road trip to see if something called Noir Dark Spirits could live up to all the expectations we placed upon it.

It did.

Located in the old lobby area of the historic Ritz movie theater, the bar appeared to be one of those places you'd see in a movie or an old 90's series about vampires - one of those places you'd wish were a real thing.  A real gothic vampire bar.  Something with gloomy red lighting and long dark shadows wherever you looked.  There were alcove booths along the wall, each table with a metal plaque in the center listing one of the seven deadly sins (our table was Pride). 

We ordered our first round of drinks:  The Emperor for me (their version of an Old Fashioned [with a flaming sugar cube]) and for Jenna - The Confessional.  The friendly server informed her that the drink would be served in a small black confessional box.  Upon its arrival, we were told, Jenna would have to confess a sin.  The cocktail arrived in a tiny gothic church-shaped box, glowing red from an LED tea light.  The beautiful drink was bubbling with the help of some dry ice.  The presentation was flawless and hilarious.  

A sin was confessed.

We ordered some more drinks and some eats:  the Devil's Board (a really tasty charcuterie board) and the Phlebotomist Dough Injections (dough skulls stuffed with three cheeses and served with syringes poked through the eyes...syringes filled with marinara diavlo).  The second round of drinks arrived, and you could spot Jenna's from across the bar.  Called The Re-Animator, it was glowing green from a tiny glowstick hoop and bubbling frantically like a potion Grandpa Munster would make Herman drink.  

For dessert - a delicious raspberry cheesecake skull, with a thick outer layer of hardened white chocolate.  It came with a metal mallet...  so you can bash your dessert's head in.  

Despite the theatricality of the cocktails and food, they were actually quite good.  Everything was.  I think I was a little worried it would be style over substance in there.  Every aspect of our visit was a blast, and the best way I could describe it would be that it's like having the option to attend a really hip Halloween party literally whenever you chose to do so.  The mood, the atmosphere, and especially the music, make Noir Dark Spirits a really special place.  We wish it were closer than a couple hours away, but I have a feeling we'll be having this particular Halloween bash about two or three times a year.  It really was that good.

Below are some photos Jenna took, and definitely CLICK HERE to see some more images and a couple of neat videos over at her Instagram.

Click here for their website.

Now Playing: Magneto

We had the great pleasure of seeing the Messer Chups live in West Chester, PA this past weekend.  What a show.  They're a surf rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia and every tune they played could have been something heard at the Halloween barn party I've been planning in my head for the last decade.  

Click below for their song Magneto...  

Some Friday Music

Mad Witch, by Dave Gardner.

Click below...

Black Whiskey

I would be out of control if I won the lottery...

Von Payne Black Blended Whiskey infused with Natural Black Currant crafted to have a unique taste that fills your senses with unexpected pleasure. Slightly tart and subtly sweet, it goes down smooth with the rich flavor of Black Currant and a warm wave of a 90-proof premium blended whiskey.

Haunted Graveyard - A Halloween Cocktail

Bourbon
Maple syrup
Fresh orange
Bitters
Rosemary stems

Not a very spooky recipe, but it sure looks neat.  I think I would switch out the maple syrup for some Amaro Montenegro (40 botanicals including vanilla, orange peels and eucalyptus).

Click below...

1987: A Playlist

Catching up here and celebrating a wonderful Halloween in the bag.  I'll be posting more photos in the days ahead and featuring some favorite Haunts, but we wanted to share the playlist that was playing during the evening.  It was a great Halloween gathering and we got a nice crowd of family, friends, and neighbors.  As the Hallmark Howl-o-ween soundscape played on the porch outside, songs recorded in 1987 and prior were playing inside.  It was a very nostalgic evening, and everyone seemed to really appreciate a throwback Halloween, both inside and out.

Click below for the Spotify Halloween 1987 playlist (and shuffle that thing)...

Halloween Pizza

When a favorite pizza joint decorates like they're on a sitcom's Halloween special.

Now Playing: After Midnight

By Dream Visitor, on the new release from Halloween at High Noon.

Click below...

Now Playing: The Lurch

Now on Spotify.

An amazing song by Night Crawler.  From the new release by Halloween at High Noon.  This entire album is a literal Halloween party.  These guys are insanely talented.  If my massive Halloween Barn Party ever comes to fruition (and you're all invited), I'll fly these guys in to DJ the event.  

Click below...

Now Playing: Repulsion Nocturne

A Friday the 13th release from the guys at Halloween at High Noon.

Currently enjoying a mini release party here.  

We've been playing a spotify mix of all of their releases from over the years and it's been the best Halloween vibe this season.  So excited to have another album.

Click below...