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Friday, September 24, 2010

Ellicott City, Maryland

I have a favorite place to stop every time I visit my parents in Virginia- Ellicott City, Maryland. I discovered it in 1994, right after college at University of Maryland. Or rather, it was discovered for me by a guy I was dating at the time. He thought I would like it because it had a lot of quirky, artsy, Witchy type stores there.

He brought me there and I certainly DID enjoy it, although at the time it was just simply because I could have a good time browsing the stores. Now, 16 years later, I returned there with Jason. He immediately was impressed by some of the stonework in the buildings, and how some of the buildings were built right out of the living rock. That coupled with the rather esoteric flavor of the place lead me to think "Masons!" which was shortly confirmed when we came upon this sign:

Chartered in 1843?  That's a very established Lodge indeed.  Here are some more pics of the stone houses and street:






We continued to explore, and visited a number of lovely places like a Victorian Tea Room called TEA ON THE TIBER. Even the East Village of NYC can't boast a true Victorian Tea Room.  When I returned home I looked up Tea on the Tiber and I was shocked to find that there are a number of Tea Rooms around the country, and not only that, there are tearoom review sites like this one:  TEAGUIDE.NET.  I hadn't realized that Tea Rooms were making a comeback.  I adore tea so this is a good find in my opinion.

I then got curious about the name of the place- Tea on the Tiber?  I looked up Ellicott City's Wikipedia article, and found that, like Rome, Ellicott City is reputed to be built on seven hills, and the river that flows there is named the Tiber just as Rome's river is named Tiber.  The builders of this city had Rome in mind for sure (and possibly Rome's Pagan beliefs as well? Hmmm...).

There are other facts about Ellicott City in the article, such as it is reputed to be one of the most haunted small towns on the East Coast.  It was also home to The Enchanted Forest, a fairytale-themed amusement park that closed in the early 90s.  In addition, it is listed as one of the most affluent communities in America, and since 2005 has been ranked 4 times as "one of the best places to live in America" by Money and CNNMoney.com.  So strange with it's esoteric themes and wealth!  It's definitely a place I love to return to again and again on my way up and down the East Coast.  I invariably find something I'd love to take home.

Here are some pictures from a store in Ellicott City I always make a stop at, THE FORGET ME NOT FACTORY.  The website doesn't really do the place justice, because it's an ancient stone house with three levels that is simply STUFFED with anything and everything you could ever hope to look at or want if you are into anything even vaguely esoteric, faerie, witchy, alternative or mysticaly minded.  When I say stuffed, I mean really covered- every surface, walls, floor, ceiling, etc is just loaded with things.  It would take more than a day to examine it all- I often don't buy anything because I'm feeling overwhelmed in there.  You may see Jason in some of these pics, much to his chagrin:):).


  





And of course, when we left, Jason who is ALWAYS on the job made sure to leave some of our flyers in their flyer basket.  Jason never forgets this all-important task, even though I sometimes do.  Thanks, Jason!




Saturday, September 18, 2010

XTINE and MICHAEL STRANGER and FRACTIONAL perform @ COURT OF LAZARUS Sunday Sept. 19!

THE COURT OF LAZARUS, NYCs Original Salon Noire, will feature a performance by Myself(Xtine) and MICHAEL STRANGER Sunday Sept. 19th(tomorrow!).  Three Vingettes from Phantom of the Opera will be performed:

Why Have You Brought Me Here

Raoul I've Been There

Reprise

There has been one previous performance at ABSOLUTION on July 16th, 2010.  Here are some stills from that performance taken from the video:




In addition, COURT OF LAZARUS will also be featuring Belgian IDM and Electronica band FRACTIONAL.

Blood from Fractional Blood on Vimeo.


This will be an unforgettable Court of Lazarus, which will be held at, interestingly enough, MADAME X.  Doors at 8pm.

THANK YOU!!!

I wanted to issue a collective Thank You to the wonderful and thoughtful people who brought me Gifts last night at my Birthday Party @ ABSOLUTION, and the wonderful people who showed up to say Happy Birthday.  Thank you so much!  I had the best time ever!

The amazing Neo-Medieval Gothic band KARPATHOS played upstairs, and we were treated to Bellydancing, Drumming and Bagpiping- Everyone went crazy during the Bagpipe Solo! That was very impressive!  I wish I hadn't been in the middle of Birthday Drinking so that I would have had the presence of mind to take a few pics:P.  KARPATHOS played today at the NY Renn Faire in Tuxedo, where they have regular bookings.

Here is a photo of some of the things I received last night....Hugs and Kisses to you all!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Another Turn of the Wheel

Sept. 15th will mark another Birthday for me on the calendar.  This past year has shown a lot of manifestation of ideas that were started for me in 1997.  Creating a Nightclub, Music and DJing, Singing and Performing...it has has come to fruition in this past Year.  This was also my first year with my wonderful partner Jason. The years just get sweeter and sweeter as they come and go.  Did I say it was easy?  No, No, No.  Some days I have felt like I can barely go on.  However, now more than ever before, I am working my Will.  I think that young people who fear their middle years should take heart- there is nothing to fear and everything to gain!

I have a unique horoscope:



As you can see I've got some major planets like the Sun, Mercury and Mars in the Eighth House which, with it's Pluto and Scorpio associations is the House of Sex, Death and Regenration.  In the rest of the chart, I've got some other major planets which are Venus, Jupiter and Neptune in Scorpio.  At this rate, I should be an honorary Scorpio even though my Sun sign is Virgo.

 Any Astrologers, Pychics, Tarot readers, etc. who would like to give me the gift of a reading of the coming year for my Birthday, please feel free!  I love Astrology almost as much as I love Divination.

I will be celebrating my Birthday this year at ABSOLUTION, I'd love to see you all there!  Here is the invite:

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Hippopotamus

An aquaintence gave me a book of T.S. Eliot's poetry for my birthday recently.  I like some of the poems very much, and I think this may be my favorite:



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS
by: T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)
      HE broad-backed hippopotamus
      Rests on his belly in the mud;
      Although he seems so firm to us
      He is merely flesh and blood.
       
      Flesh-and-blood is weak and frail,
      Susceptible to nervous shock;
      While the True Church can never fail
      For it is based upon a rock.
       
      The hippo's feeble steps may err
      In compassing material ends,
      While the True Church need never stir
      To gather in its dividends.
       
      The 'potamus can never reach
      The mango on the mango-tree;
      But fruits of pomegranate and peach
      Refresh the Church from over sea.
       
      At mating time the hippo's voice
      Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd,
      But every week we hear rejoice
      The Church, at being one with God.
       
      The hippopotamus's day
      Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts;
      God works in a mysterious way--
      The Church can sleep and feed at once.
       
      I saw the 'potamus take wing
      Ascending from the damp savannas,
      And quiring angels round him sing
      The praise of God, in loud hosannas.
       
      Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean
      And him shall heavenly arms enfold,
      Among the saints he shall be seen
      Performing on a harp of gold.
       
      He shall be washed as white as snow,
      By all the martyr'd virgins kist,
      While the True Church remains below
      Wrapt in the old miasmal mist.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Shoot with Natasha Gornik

Photographer NATASHA GORNIK did a shoot with Jason and I last week.  We loved the results so much that we decided to use one of the shots on the main flyer for ABSOLUTION.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

NERGAL of BEHEMOTH has Leukemia

I have just found out, belatedly, that NERGAL, the lead singer of Polish Blackened Death Metal band BEHEMOTH, has been diagnosed with Leukemia.

I only had the opportunity to meet NERGAL once, after his concert at NYC's Irving Plaza in 2007. He graciously explained to me where he gets the Bibles to destroy in his concerts(used book stores), about the huge metal double-headed Eagles he had onstage during the show(an artist friend makes them), and the best place to order statues of Sumerian Gods and Goddesses(online). NERGAL, thank you for answering my fannish questions, and get better soon! Our thoughts are with you in NYC!

Here is a message from NERGAL about his illness:

MESSAGE FROM NERGAL

Some of my favorite BEHEMOTH pics: