Bram Stoker's Journal

Here is a report from the CNN website about the discovery of Bram Stoker's private journal by his great-grandson, Noel Dobbs. It sheds some light on his creation of "Dracula." Of course, it will probably not mention his "homage" to F. Sheridan LaFanu's "Carmilla." Nope, probably not.

Halloween Irish Syle

The Irish aren't foolin' around. They (or rather we...and i've got the blue eyes and freckles to prove my heritage) know how to do a holiday proud. Just behold the awesome events planned at the Irish American Heritage Center for Saturday, October 31st!

Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N KNOX AVE • CHICAGO IL 60630 • 773/282-7035

Children’s Area

Actor’s Workshop, Crafts, Magical Tea Party, Readings, Face Painting, Beginner Harp Workshop, Irish Dance Exhibition.
Halloween Costume Parade - Sat 1:45pm

Adult Halloween Costume Party
in the Fifth Province Pub
Live Music:
Dyed in the Wool - 6pm
Reilly - 9:30pm

Meet Dr. Elizabeth Miller, Bram Stoker expert and enjoy a multi-media presentation on the life of Bram Stoker, the Irish writer who gave the world Dracula. After all what would Halloween be without the grand-daddy of all vampires?

Samhain/Day of the Dead: Artists' Ofrendas

The IAHC and Windy City Arts present the annual art exhibit of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (sow-en) and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations this fall in its Art Gallery. Both festivals participate in the birth, death and resurrection cycle.

This year, artists will create an ofrenda (or offering), in the style of the Mexican Day of the Dead, dedicated to a favorite Irish author, visual artist or musician. The IAHC ofrendas will concentrate on the artistic work of the selected Irish artist.

Samhain/Day of the Dead: Artists' Ofrendas runs from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 15. Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1-4pm or by appointment. There will be an opening reception from 6 to 9pm on October 23.

Sales from the Crypt...

The Associated Press reports that in April, the horror and Sci Fi memorabilia collection of Forrest J. Ackerman will be going on sale. Thousands of items will be sold at an auction arranged by Profiles in History. Among the items up for bids: the ring worn by Bela Lugosi in the 1931 film version of “Dracula,” and the costume he sported in Ed Wood’s 1959 sci-fi train wreck “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” as well as first-edition copies of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” the latter signed by Stoker, Lugosi and Boris Karloff.

Ackerman, of course, was a writer, actor, producer, editor of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, and a literary agent who helped coin the phrase Sci-Fi. He passed away in December.