Tag Archives: Halloween

Dispatch From NY #3

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The update on Manhattan today is still very much ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. From 39th St. down to the tip of the island remains completely without power while life above 39th St. carries on pretty much business as usual.  North of 39th the streets tonight are throbbing with trick or treaters and overbooked restaurants however my son reports the scenario downtown is quite a different picture. Very dark and abnormally quiet, for the most part it appears people are staying calm, cool and collected and behaving incredibly well given the circumstances. Neighbors are being neighborly and basically New Yorkers are doing what they do best-being NEW YORKERS. Still, there have been some reports of robbers dressing as utility repair people  to get into buildings so people should be extremely careful of anyone trying to gain access without proper identification. Fingers crossed that the mild weather stays until the power is turned back on. Busses are back in service and even some subway lines have re-opened but it will still be quite some time until the isle of Manhattan becomes one again.

Slim Paley photo

Snapped on the streets of NY today

Oh oh…it’s my hands again!

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Storm of the Century and all, I can’t let one of my favourite holidays go by without wishing everyone a VERY Happy Halloween!

and if you have little trick or treaters ENJOY EVERY STICKY MOMENT!!!

Those are my most poignant memories of my boys when they were wee lads.

my wee Mummy

Links;

Haute Halloween 2011

Frankenstein Was a No Show 2010

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Dispatch from NY #2

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Well then. How was that for timing??

And to think I didn’t check the weather (most unlike me) until the day I was coming to New York.

Rather incredible to be in the belly of the beast, so to speak, for “The Storm of the Century”.  To be honest, although it was ferociously windy and raining up here on the upper east side of Manhattan, we were very lucky as we never lost power. The hotel I’m staying in is very cozy. They kept guests regularly updated on the impending storm, distributed flashlights and apologized that room service and housekeeping would be on a limited basis only. They warned that in the case of a power outage the elevators would not be working. Which basically meant it would take the same amount of time it usually does to get down from the 15th floor in this charming but old building.

They also slid a letter under the doors assuring the bar downstairs would remain open :)

All public transportation was shut down by 7pm Sunday night while through the day and into Monday the city, dripping with Halloween decorations, awaited the sinister storm. Sunday afternoon the streets were eerily quiet. I popped out and walked down to the “Archivia Bookstore” to see Heather Clawson from “Habitually Chic” and pick up her new book (which is fab and will post about soon)  Then, with plenty of forewarning from hyperventilating weatherpersons, I picked up as many last minute provisions as would fit in my mini bar and with nothing else to do really, I put on the television and waited…

A most surreal Halloween weekend

My NY Son’s apartment in lower Manhattan lost power, as did most of the lower part of the city. Thankfully we were able to be in constant contact via cell phones and his building, a very old one, sits high off the street so while dark, it stayed dry.  Not so dry was the bar next door to his place which also remained open. Neighbors brought a boom box and by the glow of candlelight  the locals watched the storm lash by outside.

My son’s girlfriend and their friends found a cozy spot in lower Manhattan to wait out the storm

Ground Zero last night

Probably the biggest story of the night must have been the loss of power at NYU Hospital, followed by complete generator failure, resulting in over 200 patients, including tiny ICU babies having to be evacuated to other hospitals throughout the city all night long. The efforts of the hospital staff and emergency relief teams certainly left me lump-throated and teary eyed. God bless those people.

Not quite sure how my son is going to get to work tomorrow as he takes the subway…

For all those in New Jersey, all along the coast and lower Manhattan, and they are millions, who’ve suffered power outages and water damage I truly hope that life will get back to normal for you very soon. No doubt the damage and disruption to life here in NY is going to be felt for weeks if not months to come.

photo via Habitually Chic

But if any city in the world is great at bouncing back, God knows it’s New York.

~

Haute Halloween

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Slim Paley photo

This ghoulish fellow caught my eye as I was driving home from Ojai yesterday

I just loved his macabre farming equipment

Cape Agnes B, Dress Vivienne Westwood Gold Label

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Slim Paley Photo

Happy Halloween Eve All!

I have lots of Treats and NO Tricks for you so get your pillowcases ready!

PS. OK I know my photo is just a crow, not a Raven, but I think he’s striking a rather “Ravenesque” pose so please, work with me here ;

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered – not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.’
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.’

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From The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

In entirety here; The Raven  (1845)

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Gabriella Kiss earrings

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Nyasha Matonhodze

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TRUE! –nervous –very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?

From “The Tell Tale Heart” also by Poe

Poor Poe…

Haider Ackermann.

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(Sorry- I’ve lost the credit. But I like a person who measures in gluggs. especially when it comes to cocktails)

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Remember this?

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Gareth Pugh

If you bought this too and we’re going to the same event, Callsies!

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Alexander McQueen

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photo via Vogue

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Alexander McQueen

Someone’s turning into a pumpkin…

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and has the shoes to go with…

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Haider Ackermann

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Find the No Bake recipe on Chocolate Shavings  

So easy a corpse could not bake them.

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Adapted from Betty Crocker

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A darkly sophisticated table setting

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Alexander McQueen

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McQueen

OK,  I could make these!

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photo Steven Meisel

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Steven Meisel (2003)

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Frankenstenia 

Not sure what it says about me, but I could have stayed on this website for hours. My parents used to put me to bed very, very early on weekend nights so I could get up at midnight to watch all the old horror films on “Nightmare Theatre” by myself.

 Strange child.

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.Photo Zhang Jingna

Alexander McQueen

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The Haunted Hotel Georgia Cocktail 

via Lola’s LA

“This is one of our new Fall / Halloween Martinis …all are an homage to Haunted Hotels. This is my personal fav!! It is a delightful old school mix of almond, orange and nutmeg with a frothy egg white top, so it is light,  yet carries those distinct Fall flavors .. yum !!” Lola

adapted from Hotel Georgia, circa 1945    

Ingredients:

1 egg white

1.75oz plymouth gin

.75oz lemon juice

.5 oz orgeat syrup (we use Giffard brand)

6 drops of orange blossom water

Method:

beginning with the egg, combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
Shake the mixture briefly. (dry shake)
Add ice and shake vigorously.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled cocktail glass.
grate some nutmeg onto top of drink. Enjoy.

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I can’t seem to remember where I found these hEYE-ball glasses :)

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Hand painted pumpkins
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Slim Paley Photo

Also snapped on the way home from Ojai yesterday

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PS.  Now I hate to regurgitate…

but for newer Slim Paley readers who’ve never been Trick or Treating with me before,

A few links to Halloween Posts past;

FRANKENSTEIN Was the Only No-Show

We’re Getting Close!

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Movies, Monsters & What Will I Wear?

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Be Afraid.  Be Very Afraid.

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Movies, Monsters & What Will I Wear??

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Slim Paley photo taken from “Bat Balcony”

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HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEN!!!!!!

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Some lovely Halloween inspired passementerie by the very talented Jessica Light Trimmings UK

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Thank you so much to all who responded to the previous post and especially for sharing your own personal experiences as well! 

Very funny and I will credit you all in my “Fifty Fahbulous Ways to Bag a Bat” book available on Amazon soon!

In the meantime, I’ve styled my “Next Encounter With The Dark Prince” wardrobe.  It’s a tad chicer than what my husband cobbled together for his performance the other night , but to be fair, he didn’t have the gift of time.

But I SHALL be ready – Vampires seldom ring ahead…

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I’m having a super tough time deciding between these two looks.

The bottom one is sexier, that goes without saying really,  but the top one will showcase which ever shoe I ultimately choose as well as provide much more neck protection.

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(Victor & Rolf)

What say you?

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My choice for a clutch is a No Brainer  (literally :) )

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My gloves;

Duchess of Windsor- Girl, Eat your heart out!

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Oh Hellooo.  I might just wear these Monday for No special reason

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But then again, These Louboutins are also very “wingy”

Wouldn’t you know, I can’t decide on the shoes either.

 

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Chanel “Steel” on the toes, of course.

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What I’ll be drinking…

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Blavod black vodka

 

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What I’ll be burning…

Modern Alchemy “Dia De Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) candle

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Slim Paley photooooooo

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Modern Alchemy “Salem” Skull candles

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Doggy in a Skull “Outfit” photo by Tom Flach

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And while I await  said Dark Prince sweeping into my life again, I might check in with a few scary old flicks;

 

The Haunting of Hill House  (1964)

“An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored. Hill House had stood for ninety years and might stand for ninety more. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.”

Who could leave a hand or foot hanging off the bed a centimeter,  after seeing this movie the first time?!

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Black Christmas (1974)

with Olivia Hussey and Margo Kidder

Possibly the first “Don’t pick up that phone!” movie?!

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Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

I know the movie is a little dated (my son thought the pay off wasn’t as scary as he’d expected after all the build up) and quite frankly if I’d been Mia I think I would have murdered the neighbours before my second trimester,  but I never tire of watching John Cassavetes, despite him being such a  $%^* in this movie.

 

 

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The Innocents (1961)

I rarely go to horror films anymore- they got too scary, no make that too dark and morbid for me.  I prefer the “oldies”

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The original Body Snatchers with Kevin McCarthy

Donald Sutherland in the remake of The Body Snatchers

One of the rare instances the remake is almost as good as the original

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And who could ever forget this little girl in

The Bad Seed ??!

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and my vote for one of the saddest scenes ever in a horror film;

Frankenstein

You gotta love the guy.

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I read somewhere that this film was good, so I ordered it to watch tonight.

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I reserve the right to add to my list if something else comes to me later, but I need to get this post up before it’s Thanksgiving.

What are some of your all time FAVOURITES??

 

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And if you’re hitting the streets tonight (with your kids that is…or, what the hell, even without kids)

Wishing you lots of fun and bulging pillowcases!

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~

 

 

 

 

 

Frankenstein Was The Only No-Show

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Slim Paley phooooootoooo

One year, we had a little Mummy…

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Slim Paley photo

Who sent Severed Fingered invitations to his Haunted House Halloween Party

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Slim Paley photo

The fingers nestled in their boxes of Spanish moss & lichen, all ready to walk…after sundown, of course

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Ahhhh…Those ghoulishly fun and delightful  times are but a memory now…

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Klaus Kinski’s Nosferatu (slowest best-worst movie ever?!)

 

And irony of ironies, as I post the above photo, my younger son (the cute little Mummy/Beaver) has just called to tell me he let his friend shave his head at school. I said “SHAVED“?  He said “Well Mom,  it’s not NOT shaved”

Aaarrrgghh- BOYS

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We had another little unexpected Halloween adventure this week that we won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Sadly, neither of our boys were home for;


THE NIGHT…

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A BAT CAME INTO OUR BEDROOM!!!!

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The one and only Bela Lugosi


Monday night; dark, windy… I’m in our bedroom office, having just finished writing my “Tranquil Palette” post (an ironic week apparently) My husband is quietly reading in bed.  All of a sudden, I see him leap up shouting “Is that a BAT??!!”  I run screaming into my office closet. Naturally, the  door, for reasons we won’t get into, would only close 3/4 of the way (note to self; clean out office closet) so I was trapped, leaving ample room for the crazed Vampire to still get in, tangle in my hair and burrow into my brain.  How do I know it was a Vampire bat you ask?  Because, one, it had those super arched up wings made of semi-support hose just like in the movies and secondly, it’s like 5 days before Halloween so what other kind of bat would it be??  Now I can see from around the edge of the door, my  naked husband wildly flailing his book around  (The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell) and shouting “He’s going for my Unit!! I swear he’s dive bombing right at my WANG!!”  I start to laugh uncontrollably  which, unfortunately, I sometimes do when I’m terribly nervous. Dear Reader- this is what my husband did next; he chased the bat into my office and quickly  shut the dividing glass doors leaving himself safely in the bat-free zone on the other side.  He then proceeded to yell to me my ‘Mission’ which, should I accept, was to run out of the closet, serpentine my way through the demented flight path of the wildly careening, apparently gay Vampire bat and “simply”open the balcony door for it to fly out. Like that was happening anytime this century. There was more likelihood of  the creature ‘cursed with eternal life’ dying before I was coming out of that closet.  I conveyed this information to my husband.  After wards, he said my muffled, high pitched screaming implied I’d already sent out Change of Address cards, so decidedly was I entrenched in my new ‘studio apartment’.  Meanwhile, the bat continued to screech desperately around the room searching for victims. Moments later, I see my husband, outside on the balcony, still in the buff, trying to open my office door, which of course, is locked. I’m pretty sure at this point, even the bat was having a laugh.  Eventually, suited up in two baseball caps (one facing front, one facing back to protect his neck, sunglasses, high tube socks and a heavy robe over his head, my Hero burst into the office and flung open the balcony door, releasing the blood thirsty beast back into the inky black night.   I’m still trying to remember when I last laughed that hard.

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Perhaps if I’d let him bite me, he’d have turned into this??

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No? My luck, more like this…

Max Schreck in a Still from the original “Nosferatu”  ( I look at his hands and wonder if  we aren’t related)

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Slim Paley photo

I took this photo in the early morning light- but for the sake of this post, let’s pretend it was the dark and stormy night. I was struck by how strong the silhouette of the etched glass hall lantern was against the staircase wall.

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Ok, I must bid you adieu, it’s after midnight.

Wishing you all Sweet Dreams tonight!