today me + my missingmen finished all the basic tracks for out upcoming “static” album at casa hanzo w/peetzo here in my pedro town… here’s a a photo I took of bof my missingmen raul morales (l) and tom watson (r) when we got doing it, yatta!
“Michelle Remembers” is a book published in 1980 that claims to recount a woman’s recovered memories of childhood Satanic abuse. I read the book when I was in 8th or 9th grade. Even at that age I was dubious about claims that the Virgin Mary and Michael the Archangel appeared to her while she was hanging in a cage. The part about crazy people in a cult eating babies was much more believable.
The story takes place in Victoria, Canada, and Michelle says male members of the cult cut off their ring finger to prove their allegiance to Satan. Well, I have family in Victoria and soon after I read the book my family went to Vancouver Island to visit them again. There was a man in the market with that exact finger chopped off. I looked at him wide-eyed and he gave me a scary look. I interpreted it as, “You know I’m in the Satanic cult! I may have to sacrifice you!”
It probably meant, “Goddammit, ever since that stupid book came out, people keep staring at the finger I lost in that logging accident.”
* indicates that this title is also available to rent, stream, or purchase on various platforms. Please note that streaming options may differ from these home video presentations in terms of visuals, supplemental features, etc.
“The Wait” * (2023, Film Movement) A foolish decision causes Victor Clavijo, a gamekeeper for wealthy landowners in a rural Spanish town, to lose his son and wife in rapid succession. But his search for answers to the tragedy – motivated largely by guilt – reveals that their deaths may have been part of a strange ritual involving the town and all those who previously held his job. What begins as a revenge thriller in modern Western dress takes a turn into supernatural horror with religious (established and folk) overtones; all sides are deftly handled by writer-director F. Javier Guiterrez, who also focuses on the rash emotions that fuel them. The striking and often nightmarish visuals are photographed expertly by Miguel Angel Mora; currently available as a VOD title on various platforms.
Usually for big tiki events you have to travel to San Diego or Palm Springs, but this one is happening right in our own backyard! Come on down to Long Beach Saturday, October 19 from 2-9 PM!
Presented by Flor de Caña Rum, The Freaky Tiki Happening is taking over Shannon’s Corner in Long Beach. The space features four floors of stairwells, a grotto, and a hidden entrance. Get wild with two stages, dozens of lifestyle vendors, the Marvelous Mavens circus performers, a bartender/mixologist battle, rum tastings, a costume competition, plus an exclusive sneak peek preview of the upcoming musical, Shag with a Twist !
There will be six Rum Tasting stations spread around the event on different levels. According to the press release, “Each patron receives a Treasure Map to locate the various rum companies, and when all of them are checked off, a free Mai-Tai will be waiting for you at Secret Island!”
Wicked Witches Afternoon Tea at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. Photo credit: Wonho Frank Lee, @wonhophoto
A celebration of both the Season of the Witch and the much-anticipated release of “Wicked”
Celebrate both the witching season and the upcoming theatrical release of “Wicked” at the Wicked Witches Afternoon Tea! Taking place at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills, this seasonal take on the stylish hotel’s popular afternoon tea will leave you spellbound.
Starting this Saturday, October 12 and taking place each Saturday and Sunday through November 3, this magical experience will allow you to enter the world of Elphaba and Glinda while savoring a special menu that includes featuring London Tea Sandwiches (Black Brioche with Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraiche; Crab Toast with Green Chili, Dill, & Lemon Aioli; or Apple Roasted Chicken on Onion Profiterole), while the Witches Brewed Tea Selection features Butterfly Pea Flower & Lemon Verbena, Fantastic Mushroom, and Wild Mountain. The “Not So Wicked” sweet pastries and cake selection includes Ube Mousse Cake, The Wicked Witch Macaron, The Good Witch Meringue Tart, Poppy Fields Shortbread Cookie, and Flying Monkey Frozen Soufflé. Round out your tea with the signature Wicked Cocktail, featuring green chartreuse, gin, and maraschino.
* indicates that this title is also available to rent, stream, or purchase on various platforms. Please note that streaming options may differ from these home video presentations in terms of visuals, supplemental features, etc.
“Friday the 13th” * (2009, Arrow Video) Polished studio revamp of the enduring slasher franchise attempts to lend context to its slaughter parade – specifically, that masked killer Jason (played here by Derek Mears) was motivated by the murder of his mother, who was herself responsible for the death of counselors at Camp Crystal Lake – before settling into kill spree territory. A high-gloss “Friday” from, among others, director Marcus Nispel and producer Michael Bay (and series creator Sean S. Cunningham as co-producer), may not be a selling point for horror fans – Nispel/Bay produced an equally upscale remake of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” to no good end – and their take, while visually attractive (thanks to cinematographer Daniel Pearl) and quite gruesome, can’t quite surpass or reproduce the Big Dumb Fun and chief appeal of the original “Friday” films (Nispel is a particularly dour and humorless filmmaker). Others may find its lack of kitsch and relentless approach a draw, and to that end, Arrow’s 2-disc, 4K Ultra HD presentation offers a comprehensive package of “Friday” ’09. Both the theatrical version and a longer, gorier “Killer Cut” are included, along with new commentaries by and interviews with Nispel, Pearl, writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, as well as a track with historians Alexandra-Heller Nicolas and Josh Nelson. Archival material includes several making-of featurettes with cast and crew interviews, a showcase of its murder set pieces, deleted scenes, and extensive liner notes.
Pool party shenanigans at Caliente Tropics in Palm Springs, California, for Tiki Caliente, May 3, 2024. Photo by Kari Hendler.
Once again, Circa Caliente returns this week to the Palms Springs midcentury modern beauty, the Caliente Tropics, for bliss in the tropical sun, Thursday, October 3, through Sunday 6, 2024.
In its near 16th year, the sister event to the Spring’s Tiki Caliente comes once again to issue out the last days of Summer in a four day party event that includes two restaurants–The Reef bar and Sancho’s Restaurant and Cantina, the pool, jacuzzi, patron and sponsored room parties for the famous Room Crawls, a marketplace, sponsored cocktails, entertainment throughout, costume meetups and parades, and more.
Tiki Caliente, was born in 2008, using the hotel’s iconic mid-century modern A-frame and Polynesian-inspired motor motel style as a fitting back drop. Since then, with new ownership and accompanying thoughtful care and renovation, the grander space greatly compliments these events with its wood carved tikis and Polynesian motif.
Circa Caliente mixes tiki culture, exotica, themed costumes, informational symposiums, art, fashion, and TV pop culture–from Magnum P.I. to The Love Boat, and from Three’s Company to I Dream of Jeannie–the door is wide to creativity, fashion expression, and a truly groovy party vibe. Continue reading →