13 spots to see in gothic Chicago
Chicago is where it all started for us. Planning a visit?
These are our top 13 suggestions of spots NOT to miss!
Do you have any to add to our list? Please share!
We like to explore at home AND away!
Chicago is where it all started for us. Planning a visit?
These are our top 13 suggestions of spots NOT to miss!
Do you have any to add to our list? Please share!
People ask “What Goth likes Star Wars?” Or “What does Spooky have to do with Star Wars?”
Hello Darth Vader, Dark Side! And what about the iconic gothic elements of the visual style, storylines and character paths?
For me, personally, I found Star Wars before I found Goth. A long time ago (1977), in a galaxy far far away (small town in WI) my dad, mom and aunt took me to see Star Wars: A New Hope. And from that day forward I was convinced that a Princess could be powerful, Villains conflicted, and you could find hope anywhere in the universe. And who wouldn’t want to be a smuggler with an awesome ship and cool best friend?
Now for DavidB, Star Wars: A New Hope was his FIRST movie ever in a theatre. It was his birthday party in 1977. Rumor has it the theatre even looked like a giant spaceship. Cementing his love of space, ships and storytelling (not to mention behind the scenes details to inspire him to continue his study of design, photography, video and film in college).
So, when we received an invitation to attend a Cast Member Preview of the new Star Wars Galaxy Edge, we hopped on a plane with expectations set high.
AND EVERY EXPECTATION WAS MET AND EXCEEDED!
Let me break it down.
SPACESHIPS – so many FULL size ships, with the Millenium Falcon grabbing center stage. Must confess to a few tears when walked around a corner and it came into view. Flying the Falcon was the best experience on an attraction yet. I was a gunner. DavidB was an engineer. Our team flew well and finished the mission together. Let’s do it again!
FOOD – Delicious. Different. We had frozen blue and green milk from a stand. Tried some drinks and snacks in Olga’s Cantina with DJ Rex (originally of Star Tours fame voiced by none other than PeeWee Herman’s Paul Reubens) playing tunes. Half expecting to hear a lightsaber or blaster in the booth next to us. Lunch at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo was filling and the desserts fun! There was a wide variety of food for meat and non-meat eating folks.
SHOPS – From Mubu’s Droid Depot to the Black Spire Marketplace to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities we spent some credits on amazing items. We ran out of time to see Savi’s Lightsabers and the shop near the TIE Fighter Echelon. Things to do on our next visit for sure.
Speaking of photos, we weren’t allowed photos or phone use while we were there. But Disney provided photographers to capture the moment. Take a look at all our personal and PhotoPass Photos on Flickr.
PS Today (05/31/2019) is the Official Opening Day! Check out the live stream ceremony!
Celebrating 20 Years of Spooky at the Park!
When we heard this would be the last Bat’s Day Weekend, we knew we had to go and show our support!
(Good news – the annual meet up will continue on, just not the entire weekend of events – whew!)
This Bat’s Day was full of friends, fun, corsets, parasols, meet ups, new friends and of course, many rides on the Haunted Mansion.
Our photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidbchicago/albums/72157666859370437
Articles with photos:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/02/say-goodbye-to-bats-day-weekend-at-disneyland-2/
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/05/02/say-goodbye-to-bats-day-weekend-at-disneyland/
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/11/arts/goths-disneyland-bats-day.html
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAwCzbUu3c8 (you can see the back of DavidB’s head in the crowd!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opwcuAOk8d4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-PIZd17EHA
Stay up to date:
http://www.batsday.net/
http://batsday.tumblr.com/
The World Famous Museum of Death was founded in June, 1995, originally located in San Diego’s 1st mortuary in a building once owned by Wyatt Earp. Evolving from the controversial art gallery the Rita Dean, founders JD Healy and Cathee Shultz realized the void in the death education in this country and decided to make death their life’s work.
Reopened in Hollywood, California, the Museum of Death houses the world’s largest collection of serial murderer artwork, photos of the Charles Manson crime scenes, the guillotined severed head of the Blue Beard of Paris (Henri Landru), original crime scene and morgue photos from the grisly Black Dahlia murder, a body bag and coffin collection, replicas of full size execution devices, mortician and autopsy instruments, pet death taxidermy, and so much more!
Also on display are videos of autopsies and serial killers, the Heaven’s Gate Cult recruiting video, and the infamous Traces (not Faces) of Death video, all real (not re-enacted) death footage.
The Museum of Death is a self guided tour, lasting approximately 45 minutes to an hour, but those who can stomach it stay as long as they like. The movies run for hours.
We’re located at 6031 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Admission is $15 per person.
There is no age limit for the Museum of Death, because WE ALL DIE, but we STRONGLY recommend MATURE AUDIENCES! There have been a number of falling down ovations (people passing out) at the museum (mostly men)… so we stress that you should be prepared for a good dose of reality!
For our seventh Death Salon, we are partnering with the University of Washington School of Social Work and various artists and the robust alt-death community of Seattle. Feel free to use this space to chat with each other before the event!
If you enjoy dressing up, putting on makeup, having fun on the weekend AND hearing people scream in terror, then you, my fiend, may be destined to work at a haunted attraction. 👹
Click the link to find haunted attractions that are currently hiring.
http://www.hauntedwisconsin.com/news/news/events/451/
Is your haunted attraction hiring? Let us know and we’ll add you to the list.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of SpookyInc.com (aka GothicChicago.com) by sharing memories with #SPOOKYINC20 AND check out our NEW book “Vicennial – 20 Years Into the Night“ highlighting 20 years of spooky stuff for spooky people!
We owe many a special memory (and long time friends) to Doombuggies.com and when he was having his 13th Anniversary party – we had to be there to support and enjoy in the spooky fun! Swinging Wake Panel of Haunted Mansion specialists, music, dinner, Club 33 tour, merchandise and of course, rides on the Haunted Mansion made this a night to remember! See the photos!
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of SpookyInc.com (aka GothicChicago.com) by sharing memories with #SPOOKYINC20 AND check out our NEW book “Vicennial – 20 Years Into the Night“ highlighting 20 years of spooky stuff for spooky people!
What happens when a friend decides he wants to open a Haunt? Well you join him at Transworld Halloween Expo Chicago to learn from the panels, see the new haunt tools and network network network! Fright Kingdom is going strong (if you are in NH check it out!) If you want to learn more about the Haunt business, visit haashow.com for upcoming details.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of SpookyInc.com (aka GothicChicago.com) by sharing memories with #SPOOKYINC20 AND check out our NEW book “Vicennial – 20 Years Into the Night“ highlighting 20 years of spooky stuff for spooky people!
This time Walt Disney World got a bit more spooky by hosting the Happy Haunts Ball! Friends from SpookyInc, Bat’s Day and Doombuggies gathered to haunt the park. Wish they did this type of event more – it was not-to-miss-fun! See the photos for proof 🙂
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of SpookyInc.com (aka GothicChicago.com) by sharing memories with #SPOOKYINC20 AND check out our NEW book “Vicennial – 20 Years Into the Night“ highlighting 20 years of spooky stuff for spooky people!
Bat’s Day in the Fun Park (another ongoing event you should not miss, check out batsday.net for upcoming details) had been around a few years but we just kept missing it on our visits to California. But in 2006 everything lined up perfect and we got to be part of the Goth meet up at the park. Over 2000 of us! What a great way to experience Disneyland with so many friends wandering around looking fabulous. (Thanks to NoahK!)