Up and Coming: Darkness Resurrected-Valentine's Day Hangover

It has been a while since I've mentioned anything here about Fayetteville's Darkness Resurrected Dance Night. Considering that most of my readers are not local to me, I thought it best to feature it in a post after the affair was held for the first time, but then move on to other topics; this, in spite of my continued enthusiasm for the bi-monthly event and my hopes for its continued success. 

This week however, I do want to talk about it again; and I'd like to do so in the context of of what appears to be an unfolding phenomenon across the nation, the incremental disappearance of goth clubs and goth nights. 

Why this is happening is open to speculation, but my opinion is that both the scene and many involved with it are getting older. It seems that every so many years some new alternative, musical style or celebrity comes along that catches the fancy of the younger generation for awhile, thereby setting the interested on a new and perhaps unique path. New subcultures develop. Then, there's the fact that as people get older, they become more settled and have less need to frequent night clubs with all the excitement that thrives in them. Speaking only for myself, I'm generally quite contented to watch an episode of Dark Shadows and then read a few pages in The Lives of the Mayfair Witches or whatever before turning in for the night; especially during these cold winter months. It's also quite common to hear folks complaining about the newer music played at various Goth or alternative venues. Many, it would seem, prefer that the music remain truer to the style of original dark wave or goth rock. 

Whatever the reason for the growing rarity of Goth events, I feel that we in the Fayetteville area should consider ourselves fortunate that we have Darkness Resurrected Dance Nights. After all, this is an event that continues the traditions of the original goth scene and for many, it's a chance to get together with old friends and acquaintances. I know that DJ Durandal and his fellow Deejays and supporters work hard and sometimes travel many miles in order to make these happenings successful. Now that's dedication to a cause!

After a bit of online discussion with DJ Durandal, an announcement appeared on the Valentine's Day Hangover's Facebook page.
It seems that a full hour of the older music will be offered, starting at 8:00 pm. An hour of old-school goth earlier in the evening? How can I resist?
The main event takes begins at 9:00 pm and runs until 2:00 am at the Stolen Glass in downtown Fayetteville on Saturday February 15. Lots of folks showed up for the Halloween costume party back on November 1. Hopefully, it will be the same this time around.        

Coming Soon: Vampire's Day Soiree

Finally, it's February! For a while I was wondering if we'd ever make it through the month of January. Sometimes I could swear that the month has 60 days instead of 31 as they want us to believe; especially, when the cold has been as intense and prolonged as it was this year. January just seems to drag on forever.

At any rate, we're through the most miserable month of the year and I find myself eagerly looking forward to an annual event that takes place on February 14. No, I'm not referring to Valentine's Day. Instead, I'll be participating in a celebration called the Vampire's Day Soiree, which is sponsored by Holly from the popular blog, Holly's Horrorland. As the creator of this affair, Holly describes the happening this way: "A blogger event and an alternative to Valentine's Day. For those who prefer love at first bite."

So how does a person participate? First, you'll need to get signed up by following this link to Holly's Horrorland
and then following the instructions. When the special day arrives, you participate by posting something on your own blog about our these blood-thirsty creatures of the night and providing a link back to the Horrorland's main page. That's all there is to it.

Over the last couple of years in which I've participated, Holly has provided both a forum for discussion among fellow bloggers and an opportunity to discover new blogs and perhaps, make new friends. What she has up her sleeve this time around is anybody's guess, but I'm willing to be that whatever she does will make participation enjoyable and worthwhile.

As for me, I plan on posting an excerpt here from one of my recent short stories entitled A Fall From Grace. So mark February 14 on your calendar, participate if this interests you and then join Holly and the rest of us for this special celebration. We'll see you then.
   

The Island of the Dolls

Just south of Mexico City but still inside that country's Federal District, lie a series of canals in a borough known as Xochimico. These canals are all that remain of what was once an extensive waterway connecting area settlements long before the arrival of the Spaniards. Further, the aqueducts now connect a maze of artificial islands known as chimampas, which collectively, serve as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a tourist attraction accessible to visitors only by trajinera, a gondola-like boat. Located in remote part of these waterways however, is a unique attraction that is not a regular feature of the trajinera tours. In fact, it is a place that many natives and visitors alike distance themselves from. Indeed, The Island of the Dolls (la Isla de las Muñecas) is often referred to as the creepiest place on Earth--and perhaps, with good reason!

Visits to the island are expensive and by special arrangement only. Still, for those undeterred by the extra cost and local stories of whispering dolls beckoning outsiders to the island, a trip there will be a most memorable experience. 

 The first thing one sees upon approach is that the marionettes are everywhere and the sight is often described as horrifying and unsettling as they can be seen hanging by the neck from tree branches and every visible structure in various stages of decay. Decapitated heads, bodies and limbs sway in the breeze while the eyes of many stare into the distance menacingly. Equally disconcerting is the morose tale that describes the tragic circumstances that brought the dolls to this remote and otherwise insignificant island in the first place.


 As the story goes, the chimampa was inhabited by only one man decades ago. His name was Don Julian Santana. One day, he found the body of a young girl floating in the canal. She had apparently drowned. While overcome with grief over her death, he spotted a doll floating in the canal. After retrieving it, he hung the marionette in a tree in an effort to both placate the spirit of the dead girl and to ward off any evil that might come to his island of residence as a result of her drowning. Not satisfied with the protection offered by just one doll, Santana began searching the canals for others, which he in turn, also hung from the trees. It is said that over time, his never ending quest for more dolls led him to various trash piles. Each new one found was hung somewhere on his tiny island. According to his family, which now runs the island, Don Julian Santana collected and displayed the dolls primarily because he wanted the spirit of the drowned girl to be happy as well as to ward off evil. Many of them had previously been rejected by their original owners, which lends an even more creepy ambiance to Don Julian's former residence.

Since that time, many visitors have also left dolls scattered around the Island and today, there is no where a visitor can walk without being followed by the dolls' icy stares. In 2011, one visitor named Debrah Eastwood visited La Isla de las Muñecas and described her experience this way:

"It was frightening and very surreal...

"...I don’t look at the images too often, but when I do, it still brings back goosebumps and the sick feeling I had in my gut. It is one of the most unusual places I have ever visited, and for that alone I am glad; but if I ever go back, I will make sure to bring a friend and freak them out too."







I don't know about all of  you, but The Island of the Dolls sounds like a place I'd like to visit.    









To the best of my knowledge, credit for the top photo goes to Debrah Eastwood. The bottom two were found at Google's Island of the Dolls Photo Collection.

For more information visit the Island Review's Island of the Dolls page.


You can also go here  or or here
for more photos and information.

Adult Wednesday Addams

Okay, first things first: I'd like to wish a Happy New Year to all of you, my readers and followers. I hope you all had a great holiday season.

A short while ago, I discovered something of interest while visiting the The Gothic Tea Society's web page.
At the time, the society's most recent post had been in actuality,  a series of videos entitled Adult Wednesday Addams. I watched a couple of the video shorts and quickly came to the conclusion that they are absolutely hilarious.
The Adult Wednesday Addams series is the creation of comedy writer and actress Melissa Hunter, who plays the part of Wednesday, now a young adult finding her way in the world outside of the Addams Family household. Hunter sometimes refers to herself as Wednesday's alter ego and after watching her productions, it's easy to understand why. Gone is the cuteness and innocence of little Wednesday's demeanor from the original series however; instead, she's wonderfully morbid and handles each situation with an air of self confidence. The adult Wednesday is most definitely in control of every situation that confronts her.

I'm including Episode 2 here because it's my favorite, but you can find the others by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/heymelissahunter?feature=watch">Melissa's YouTube Channel,
where she plans on adding more of these comedy skits in the future. Enjoy!