Statesville Prison

Ok, first of all, I was taken there by reps in a party shuttle with boooooze, food and music. And, would really like all future haunt excursions to start and end that way. Alas, I do not think that will happen.

Statesville is very good. I saw the guy who runs it give a presentation on basically wrangling his actors at HauntCon and he was extremely engaging. That's part of the reason I was really looking forward to it. And, for the record, his talk gave excellent suggestions on how to encourage your actors into being good haunt actors.

The haunt started out with a huge disadvantage in that it was rainy and cold. Luckily, the rep upgraded our tickets to VIP and we got in straight away.

I know I've become kind of numbed by going to so many haunts, so it's always great to go with non-haunters. And, let me tell you, these folks from work were definately non-haunters. The girl right behind me went through the whole thing screaming and near about pulled my shirt down and right off. I had to ask her to please let go because I didn't want to be walking around topless.

There were some really good scenes and scares in the haunt. The clown room particularly stands out. It was red and white checked with tons of misdirecting mirrors. The floors were slanted and the ceiling got lower and lower until you were completely hunched over. Then, it just stops at a dead end. While I was able to lead my group through the rest of the haunt with no problems, it took someone yelling at me from behind that it was a door to make me realize what a bloody idiot I am.

This is the first time that I've actually thought there may have been too many actors. You didn't get a chance to be startled because you could always see another actor right up the way.

The only other troublesome thing was that they had not one, not two, not three, but four of those squoosh you wall things. One would have sufficed. And, the last one was losing inflation so we were all tripping over the back half of it.

So, those two things said, I must say, the rest was very enjoyable.

Now, having been to three local haunts so far I can tell you my favorite has been Dream Reapers.

Next week, I hope to hit Fear at Navy Pier. I'll also be going to Franken Plaza to see Midnight Circus. I'll let you all (and by that I'm sure I mean 1 or 2 of you) know how it is.

Dream Reapears ROCKED!!

So far, I've hit two haunts, Chronicles of Hades and Dream Reapers. As you can see by the heading, one of them was amazing.

Chronicles of Hades had virtually no scenery and absolutely no automated props. It was pretty much like going through a cattle shoot all the way through. Now, that said, the actors and the make-up were really good. But, for $20 (I got a half-price ticket online, thankfully), you expect a little more.

Now, Dream Reapers, on the other hand, was one hell of a good time. I have been to so many of these that I rarely jump or scream. I actually did here. And, the folks I was with pretty much screamed all the way through. There was something to see at every turn. The props and scenery were beautifully incorporated into the haunt. There were a few water features I want in my own garden.

And, the actors were great. High energy and not so much screamers as creppy or funny. The make-up was also insanely good.

So, if I were you, I'd by-pass Hades for Reaper.

Go forth and scare!

I've got my horns in a twist

Another Halloweentastic Weekend

So, here's this weekend's game plan . . .

Friday

Fear at Navy Pier- Revised - Not going until next week now. Steakhouse instead.
http://www.thefearhauntedhouse.com/

Then add my final touches to the halloween movie before previewing it for the others and getting their input.

Saturday
Final, FINAL run through on the halloween moving followed by seeting up all the props, decorations, etc for next week's HUGE Halloween party.

Sunday
Dream Reapers (after a fabu meal at Bull and Bear)
http://www.dreamreapers.com/index.php

Hope everyone's Halloween dreams are coming true!

Kinda windy out

Blew my horns straight back.

More gray horns to match another gray day

Plus, further proof that I style my hair with an electric beater.

Gray horns to match this gray day

I enjoy being a girl (demon)

Nothing says pretty demon like pink sparkley horns.

Who's Watching You in the Shower?

There's an app for that!!!

Kate and I were perusing the iPhone apps online and ran across a "Ghost Radar". She bought the app and we've been enjoying it all night. It translates quantum flux readings into words. After hearing several, like escape, love, gold, bad, enough, loud, morning, may and others, I decided it was time to pull out the camera and videotape the device. We were able to catch two of the words before the world's tiniest memory card gave out.

Cool, huh? We're trying out this bad baby everywhere we go.

Halloween-centric Weekend

Ok, ghouls and goblins, things are really reving up for me this weekend. Tomorrow is all about finishing up editing the Halloween movie and getting all the party decs ready to go for set up next weekend. On top of that, I'm hitting a haunt tomorrow, Chronicles of the Cursed (link below). And, as if that were not enough, on Sunday, it's time for my annual trip to the Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles (link below for that as well). I know the Festival seems cutesy, but there are these two little old ladies there that make the most amazingly scary candlesticks and serving dishes. That alone is worth the trip.

Then, next week, I will be hitting Dream Reapers (link. . well, you get the idea). And, the week after, Statesville Prison!! Oh, good times. I also have one more here locally, Fear, I'm going to try to see. Plus, Midnight Circus at Franken Plaza.

Here's all those links . . .

Chronicles of the Cursed
http://www.cursedchicago.com/?ref=chicagocursed.com

Scarecrowfest
http://www.scarecrowfest.com/

Dream Reapers
http://www.dreamreapers.com/index.php

Statesville Prison
http://www.statesville.org/

Fear
http://www.neofuturists.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=%20201

Chicagoween's Franken Plaza
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/events/mose/franken_plaza__daley.html

Shout-out to Glen

Hey Glen. . . we here at the blog (read as me) wish you a speedy recovery and really hope we (again, read as me) get to see you when we (I'm) out that way later this month.

And the parade of horns continues. . .

Today's horns seem to be the favorites for everyone thus far. Here's yesterday's. I've already had to promise them to a co-worker to use for Halloween. Many people have suggested I rent them out. What's a fair price?Demon Down! The Human Flu took alot out of me. I had to stay safely tucked away in my underground lair for two days. Stupid humans and their stupid germs!

Monday's would stink without horns

Hornucopia - Day 2

Do these horns make my butt look big?

Hello you beautiful October!

I have an extensive horn collection. Enough, in fact, that I can wear a different pair every day of October. Some call it obsessive. I prefer impressive. And. . . here is the first pair. (um. . . no. . . that's not my natural hair color. . shhhhhhhhhh)