Gearhart the Gentleman: Salutations! By Sir Gearhart
QuailBellMagazine.com
Dear fledglings,
My name is Sir Gearhart and I am unequivocally a gentleman. I thrive upon the 1810s London social scene, where I wine and dine with the finest minds, hearts, and faces that come to England. It is not out of false modesty that I assure you how inferior my own personal qualities are compared to these beautiful and brilliant men and women. Having observed their eloquence, wit, and charity, I feel privileged that I am able to comment intelligently upon the most succulent philosophy of my era.
By Christine Stoddard I understand that you come from the future and that you, being delightfully inquisitive, possess many intriguing questions about my time and place. I also understand that more notably you come seeking my advice on the very matters that would concern a Regency gentleman such as myself. You lament that vulgarity and malice of all sorts have poisoned your very period in history and, for that, I am deeply sorry. Therefore I am uproariously happy that I may be of some service to you. Should I assist you in restoring dignity to your sinful land, I would be obliged to thank God himself for the opportunity.
With that, I pray that you write me soon, asking any and all questions pertaining to life and its delicious mysteries. As previously stated, I would feel fortunate to come to your aid.
Most sincerely,
Sir Gearhart
Check your heart and guts at the front door. By Ani Mikaelian
QuailBellMagazine.com
Every year, Knott’s Scary Farm Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Vista, California begins on the final Friday in September and lasts through Halloween. The park's packed with a total of thirteen mazes, three scare zones, and seven different shows.
Three of the thirteen mazes are brand new this year. “Invasion Beneath” takes place at the park’s well-known Calico Mine Ride, but twists and turns literally fill the adventure. “Delirium” shows you just how insane your worst nightmare could be whilst revealing how much your own present sanity is lacking. Another new maze, “Endgames,” throws you into an apocalyptic world where anyone and everyone in your path is an enemy.
An eclectic variety of seven shows—from a hypnosis to a hanging and even the pranks of celebrity magician, Ed Alonzo--merge together for additional volumes of horror.
Four scare zones mark the park, with creatures scattered all over the grounds. “Necropolis” brings you vampires, where you’ll have to run to keep your blood safe. “Carnevil” is a freak show gone terribly wrong, and now the clowns want more than applause and laughter. “Ghost Town” loses you in its smoke, and you just might come out soulless yourself if you’re not careful. Finally, with “Gypsy Camp,” remember that while the Roma may charm you, looks can be deceiving.
Knott’s has put together quite the ensemble of performers this year, filled with the few who come at you personally and others who simply glare at you from afar. The park has come a long way from what its tamer origins in 1973. What makes the experience? Everything, high and low, prompts a haunting chill.
Knotts.com
Such Scandalous Language! By Paisley Hibou
QuailBellMagazine.com
All those images of ribbon and lace have probably convinced you that the Victorians cared more about modesty, propriety, and all that other boring stuff than they did good ol' sensuality. Well, that's not as spot on as you think. Pick up a little Rossetti and your perception might change. Victorians may have been more naïve about sex than today's parties, but they still had it. (Otherwise, you wouldn't be here.) They talked about it, too.
By Christine Stoddard The difference between us and them is that the Victorians treasured the art of the conceal while we prefer the art of the reveal. Why else would Victoria's Secret posters be such mega boob fests? See, take that word: “boob.” That's our word for breast. It's not clinical; it's slang—and Victorians were not without their vulgar diction, either.
Go ahead, be ironic. Latch onto a few of these words and phrases to “update” your sexy time vocabulary. You might just outcool your way to a lifetime cover charge waiver at a steampunk bar.
Then You Must Be a Quail Bell(e). By Starling Root
QuailBellMagazine.com
If you love history, then you are a Quail Bell(e). If you love magic, then you are a Quail Bell(e). If you love oddities, then you are a Quail Bell(e). If you love stories, then you are a Quail Bell(e). If you love the intersection of the imaginary, the nostalgic, and the otherworldly, then you are a Quail Bell(e).
Make Your Own Creepy Collage Self-portrait By Paisley Hibou
QuailBellMagazine.com There's still plenty of time to change your Facebook profile picture to something gruesome, fantastical, or just plain creepy in honor of Halloween. Begin by sifting through all the photos you have of yourself. Scan prints or find digital files you fancy. Then let the Photoshop ax-wielding commence! Adjust the brightness and contrast to cast weird shadows across your face and figure. Play around with the hue and saturation to give yourself an abnormal complexion. Green, yellow, and purple skin tones are usually safe bets for icky, monstrous looks, whether you're going for Medusa, Frankenstein, or simply generic zombie. Don't be afraid to touch those brushes or use filter effects, either. Cut up other photos and collage them into the image, either using the traditional scissors and glue method or by doing it in Photoshop. Once you've completed your bizarre masterpiece, feel free to share it with the editors of Quail Bell Magazine (submissions@quailbellmagazine.com)!
Beautiful in Death by Josephine Stone
QuailBellMagazine.com Richmond, VA
LA’s best haunted house yet!
By Ani Mikaelian
QuailBellMagazine.com
It’s that time of year again. October calls for the darker nights, chilling winds, and the haunting of houses. Or in this case—the haunted play house known as Delusion.
Delusion has opened its doors to daring audiences in Los Angeles, running from October 19 to the 31st. An organization known for its live and theatrical stunts, Haunted Play, produces the haunted house. No doubt this is all thanks to owner and professional stuntman Jon Braver, who has worked on "Ironman," "Star Trek," "Transformers 3," and "Indiana Jones 4."
Delusion focuses its plot on Dr. Frederick Lowell, the top physician at Agnews Insane Asylum in 1906. His colleagues have noticed the new treatments he’s been forcing on the patients and it’s enough to foresee a grave future—literally? That was the same year an earthquake shook the asylum and took Dr. Lowell and his patients to their graves.
Now in present day, you and your fellow guests are set on the path to realize what you’ve just heard is false. Dr. Lowell and his patients may have experienced death that day, but 105 years have come and gone to prove that their remains can be found in an abandoned mansion in the outskirts of Downtown Los Angeles.
Gents, consider yourself properly attired By Christine Stoddard
QuailBellMagazine.com For creeks of blood and old-time charm flowing through the veins of one sharp-toothed beast, meet the steampunk zombie. He's stylishly gory and handsomely macabre. Be careful when he kisses your hand—he might just gnaw it off. If your beau or brother still needs a costume idea for Halloween '11, sell him on this one. The steampunk zombie look gives him “danger” and “debonair” in one Edwardian package.
O Tannenbaum: Old World German Christmas By QB Social Butterfly
QuailBellMagazine.com
Check out what events the beautiful Hunter House Victorian museum in Norfolk, VA has to offer this Christmas season (yeah, yeah, we know Halloween isn't even here yet):
By Chris Martin Nov. 19 & 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: An Old World German Christmas
The atmosphere of a traditional European Christmas mart is created inside of the museum with local artists renown vendors offering a variety of uniquely craft items: German wooden holiday pyramids and figurines, glass ornaments, painted china, embroidered gifts and more. German sweets and treats also available. The Christmas Angel visits with children on Saturday for a sweet craft.
Dec. 11, Noon-4 p.m.: Waiting for Father Christmas (Open House)
Join us as we celebrate this Christmas season with a German accent.
Dec. 14, 15 & 16, 2 p.m.: Merry Christmas Afternoon Teas
Take a few moments for yourself to relax and enjoy a hot pot of tea and an array of afternoon tea sweets and savories. Please make reservations for this holiday treat.
Dec. 17, 2 p.m.: Christmas Storytime Tea
This afternoon tea for youngsters features the stories of Hans Brinker and Silent Night, along with, of course, cocoa and treats; reservations are required. Youngsters must be 5 and older and accompanied by one adult, please.
Dec. 18, 2 p.m.: A German Gingerbread Tea
Germany is famous for its gingerbread and you will sample it in many varieties along with other traditional German sweets; favorite holiday music performed on a heavenly harp. Please make reservations for this holiday tea.
RVA's Latest Slew of Scary Stories By Josephine Stone
QuailBellMagazine.com
With Halloween just around the corner, what better way to get prepared for the haunts that lie ahead than to curl up with a collection of horror tales written for the people, by the people of Richmond, Virginia?
Richmond Macabre is an assortment of 15 tales of terror from Richmond locals (natives and transplants), all based in Richmond.
"There is a broad spectrum of stories…They go from really calm, slow-reveal stories to running from zombies stories," says Beth Brown, author of Wicked Richmond (The History Press) and editor of Richmond Macabre. She and fellow editor Phil Ford gathered the content in the latter using Craigslist, flyers and word of mouth. Phil Ford is also a Richmond writer as well as a radio DJ for local station WRIR and a Henrico County Public Library Bookmobile staffer.
After going to a reading for the books Richmond Noir and Wicked Richmond, Phil noticed the true lack of Richmond horror fiction. That observation, combined with the force behind Beth's independent publishing company, Iron Cauldron Books, made it possible for Beth and Phil to create their publication in less than a year. That book, Richmond Macabre, allowed for many unpublished writers to break out onto the literary scene.
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