Salon Saturday is a new format for my radio show. It expands on wine topics I previously wrote about to include Music, Film, Books, Locales, and Restaurants. Separate tabs will take the reader to that portion of the blog of most interest. Comments on the new format are always appreciated.
Introduction:
Last Saturday on the show we briefly took a look at scary wines for Halloween with a focus on Vampire wines, arguably the best scary wines out there for quality and imagination. We also looked for out of the ordinary restaurants to complement this ghostly month, and ghostly places to visit for Halloween season. We also paired wines with some horror movies, but of course we have more. This time we cover ideas for Halloween parties, more film and more books related to this time of year.
Halloween events, parties and pubs for October
Tractor Brewing is hosting another evening of the Strangest Things in Albuquerque on Saturday, October 26. Dance to 80’s beats in the early afternoon or jam out to rock n roll later in the night. Play one of the 23 arcade or pinball games and munch down on some waffles. Price: $18
The Cabaret & Variety Show at the Reptilian Lounge is Albuquerque’s longest-running-late-night-debaucherous-fabulous showcase: featuring a slew of local poets, musicians, actors, performance artists, fire-breathers, butter dances, shrimp acts, contortionists, and burlesque acts–really, it depends on the night–and accompanied by some of the city’s finest bands. Price: $8.77
Rio Grande Farm features the ZiaMazing Maze in the North Valley, which is a 3.8 mile, 8 acre corn maze cut in the shape of a zia symbol and is open October 11 – 31 from 10am – 10pm on Fridays – Sundays. The farm also features a pumpkin patch, hayrides, games, live music, food trucks and adult beverages. Halloween night features a spooky experience inside the Maze on one of the darkest nights of the month.
Night of the Living Cover Bands gives bands a chance to belt out songs from some of their favorite artists. Watch local musicians do their best impersonations of the Spice Girls, AC/DC, The Pixies and many more. Saturdays & Sundays, October 11 – 26. At Launchpad at 618 Central Ave SW, Price: $5
Try to Survive a Six Story Haunted House
Nightmare on Nine Mile Hill is a haunted house taking place on all six floors of Albuquerque Fire & Rescue Training Academy on Saturday, October 26. The family friendly event includes carnival games, food trucks, Trunk or Treat, face painting and more. Don’t have a costume yet? Spirit Halloween Store has donated hundreds and a pop-up store will be set-up for kids to shop for a new costume. Free
Holding your own party
Featuring a horror movie works, but much sure it is fast-paced, with the gore at a minimum. Hey, guests need to eat and drink, not blow chunks on the carpet, right? Don’t overdue the candy, and plan on sparkling water, sparkling apple or cider or mulled cider so guests can drink responsively. Let your guests know if costumes are required or just come as you are. There’s nothing worse than coming in a ridiculous costume and finding out you’re the only one!
Books for Halloween
Since we disgorged Halloween cookbooks last week, let’s look at some classic works by horror fiction writers. No surprise, there are lots to choose from. Many writers emerged from the pulp fiction magazines of the 30s and 40s, although the era began just before 1900. The term “pulp” derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed.
One of the most influential writers of this era was H.P. Lovecraft. He led a short but productive life, born August 20, 1890, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he also died on March 15, 1937. Reclusive but with a mind focused on otherworldly beings and a complete microcosm of hard to pronounce creatures like Yog Sothoth and the dreaded great god Cthulhu, which were Lovecraft’s Old Ones. The titles below have also figured in titles of movies based on them.
- The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories
- The Shadow Over Innsmouth
- The Whisperer in Darkness
- The Dunwich Horror
- At the Mountains of Madness
- The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
- The Shadow Out of Time
- Imprisoned With the Pharaohs – in collaboration with Harry Houdini
Lovecraft’s Necronomicon, the legendary and forbidden book of the dead was supposedly written by, the “Mad Arab” Abdul Alhazred. Although complete fiction, other writers have run with it. There have been several movies using a “book of the dead” as a catalyst for invoking things you really should not have invoked.
Local Wines and a Horror Movie!
Since I always appreciate our local wines; in fact I was enjoying one as I wrote this, this year we are pairing horror/sci-fi/fantasy movies with our local offerings. No excuses that you couldn’t find one of them; every wine shop carries some of our local wines. Since I was covering Lovecraftian horror, a term associated with many horror movies, whether accurate or not, that is where we begin with 11 of Howard Phillip’s best.
Annihilation (2018) Dir: Alex Garland with Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Watching this I realized the Lovecraftian influences to his book, A Color Out of Space, which is the title of another recent movie. In this tale an all-woman band enter the forbidden zone called the shimmering, which is what Lovecraft called the unworldly colors from space. Eerie mutations, plants and vegetation never seen before and a chilling presence hold buckets of suspense.
I’m going with Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, inspired by its Scottish heritage but infused with smoked mesquite for a true southwestern flavor. You’ll appreciate the warming notes as the movie gets chillier.
The Call of Cthulu (2005) Dir: Andrew Leman.
This film is done in a black & white 1920’s era film. Close to the time Lovecraft’s book of the same name came out. The book had been deemed un-filmable, but with the modern interest in all things Lovecraftian a filmic tribute has been crafted. H.P. would have approved.
Keeping with the black & white theme, we offer a Vara Silverhead Brut. The current version blends chardonnay and a dash of syrah from Washington state with classic xarel-lo and macabeo grapes used for Spanish Cava. Made in the champagne method, it’s honeysuckle-scented, crisp and citrusy, with notes of pears and minerals. Laurent Gruet joined Vara in August of 2022 to craft his new sparkling wine.
Castle Freak (1995): Dir Stuart Gordon with Jeffrey Combs
Gordon has done many Lovecraft-inspired movies, although more in spirit than slavishly followed. Drawn from Lovecraft’s The Outsider, about a man imprisoned his entire life who finally manages to escape, only to find that everyone he tries to relate to thinks he’s a monster.
I’m going with Milagro Cabernet Franc, a wine Rick Hobson does to perfection. A touch of earth, rich red fruit that perfectly complements King Kong roasted balls, one of my favorite concoctions. No I didn’t chase down Kong for these, are you kidding?
The Color Out of Space (2020): Dir Richard Stanley with Nicolas Cage
A very weird movie, but we did say Cage was in it and he’s quite believable as the husband and father of a family bathed in the otherworldly color from space after a meteor crashes near their country home. Expect some nauseous body horror in this one. Not recommended for your Halloween party.
That said I’d be very careful what food accompanied the Corrales Winery 2014 Crimson, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. This one is a powerhouse wine so be very careful what you pair it with; certainly no rotted flesh.
Dagon (2001) Dir Stuart Gordon
While named after a different Lovecraft story this one is primarily based on The Shadow of Innsmouth. Gordon worked with a limited budget but still created the atmosphere for a weird fishing village where fishing takes on a whole different meaning.
I’m going with Corrales Winery 2019 Viognier with good body, citrus, pear and good minerality. It will not exactly evoke the sea, but after watching this movie you’ll want to steer clear of anything fishy.
The Dunwich Horror (1970): Dir Daniel Haller with Dean Stockwell and Sandra Dee
An earlier stab at Lovecraft horror, which included Miskatonic University (http://www.miskatonic-university.org/). If you are into Lovecraftian lore this is one place you really need to go.
You might be wondering is this a serious horror movie with Sandra Dee in it? Actually it is very well done, even if the special effects were not up to modern horror films standards. Anyway it was remade in 2009 with a series of grislier images for those that like their horror as gruesome as possible. I’d stick with the older one.
For a slight change of pace how about Bite Me Hard Cider? Seriously, this is one of Black Mesa Winery’s well-crafted ciders. They began producing sparkling hard cider in 2017 using 100% NM apples. New Mexico’s 400-year-old tradition of wine production and apple cultivation are brought to fruition in their Bite Me Hard Cider. The apples are sourced from Velarde, Abiquiu, Acalde, Dixon, Espanola, and Taos neighbors. Some of the trees range from 65-85 years old. Older, more mature apple trees grow more complex tasting apples and ultimately make for more flavorful ciders.
The Re-animator (1985) Dir Stuart Gordon with Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton
This was Combs first outing as Herbert West, re-animator, a gleefully unhinged take that he reprised in two sequels. The scene with the lascivious talking head might turn your stomach unless you are well-fortified.
For that I’d suggest Vinos De Los Muertos New Mexico Rojo Dulce Red Blend, A sweet red blend composed of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Slightly spicy & peppery, saturated with juicy, ripe red fruits like raspberry and plum with leather accents. The producers suggest you make sangria out of it. Maybe add some vodka to the sangria when the severed head awakens.
From Beyond (1986): Dir Stuart Gordon with Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton
Yes, another Stuart Gordon movie inspired by Lovecraft and hardly his last. The stars of The Re-animator come together for another of- the-wall adventure, Lovecraft style. The shape-shifting beings do get a bit out of hand.
I’d suggest a Vivac 2018 Diavolo, a tasty red blend of 40% Tempranillo, 40% Aglianico, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in French Oak for24 months, ABV: 14%. Aglianico is a southern Italy red grape that is becoming more popular.
Necronomicon (1993): Dir Brian Yuzna with Jeffrey Combs
Three chilling stories based on that book and featuring Combs as Lovecraft in the wraparound segment. The first story “The Drowned,”is loosely based on Lovecraft’s “The Rats in the Walls.” Frankly, they’re all loosely based. I do know the story freaked me out when I read it a long, long time ago.
I’d go for a La Viná Primitivo, an early-ripening grape that grows best close to the border, which is close to where New Mexico’s oldest winery is located. They also have Howl-o-Wine on October 30. La Viná features many events over the calendar year.
The Whisperer in Darkness (2011) :Dir Sean Branney
The same team that brought us The Call of Cthulhu now imagines a Lovecraftian story set in the 30s and 40s. That essentially makes this film a merging of classic Universal horror tropes with Lovecraft’s pioneering brand of weird science fiction, which is particularly well represented in this story. It has a low budget, but with the enthusiasm of dedicated members of The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society. Need I say more?
I’m going with Pasando Tiempo’s 2019 Sangiovese, with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and made with grapes from the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The Carpenters host various events in Corrales, including Valentine’s Day and Bike & Wine weekends. Founded in 2011, they just keep getting better and better.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994) Dir: John Carpenter
He is working with Lovecraft’s inter-dimensional elder gods, parallel dimensions and things too horrible to describe, a common trope of Lovecraft when he wasn’t able to describe it. One could also include Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) with its shape-shifting being from another world that evoked much of Lovecraft’s microcosm. And it stared Kurt Russell, what more could you want?
I’d try a Gruet Sauvage sparkler or the Sauvage Rose. These are dry, crisp and mineral-driven wines that can conjure up their own phantoms.
Halloween Music:
Halloween music sometimes comes from classical compositions, but has spawned a number of CD albums based on jazz, pop and rock. There are also a lot of horror movie soundtracks to choose from, which are covered next week. Below are other choices from my personal collection.
Peter Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake – much of score evokes the otherworldly swans and the evil sorcerer who controls them. Good and evil is represented by the white and black swans, which are often a dual role for top ballerinas. If you don’t think the music is scary check out the horror movie; Black Swan (2010) with Natalie Portman doing an outstanding job as the ballerina.
Mannheim Steamroller Halloween Album 2 discs, Disc 1: scary music, some listed below, done in their rollicking high energy way, Disc 2: Spooky and eerie sounds, perfect for Halloween party atmosphere. Disc 1 includes:
- Hall of the Mountain King – Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite
- The Flying Dutchman – Wagner from the Opera
- Funeral March of the Marionette – Charles Gounod
- Night on Bald Mountain – Mussorgsky
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Paul Dukas
- Ride of the Valkyries – Wagner
Hammer Films: Extracts from many of Hammer’s film scores. Dracula (1958), Taste the Blood of Dracula, Vampire Circus, and Hands of the Ripper.
Hammer Films Overview:
Hammer Films began in 1935 with The Public Life of Henry the Ninth for a long run that ended with The Lady Vanishes (1979). However others contend the real end came in 1976 with To the Devil a Daughter with Nastassya Kinski, a notorious film that ended their collaboration with author Dennis Wheatley.
Hammer Films revived in 2008 with the vampire-based film Let Me In which was a big hit in 2010, followed by Resident and Wake Wood in 2011 and The Woman in Black in 2012.
The Wine Report: Wines worth Having
For your consideration: Benjamin Darnault Roussillon Villages 2020, 15% ABV $22.99/$12.99
Grapes: 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah. Wine region: Roussillon AOP (Rue-see-own) Available at $12.99 only for angels and an excellent wine, cranking out 15%, which suggest the American market.
Village wines are a step up in quality. The grapes were harvested near the Spanish border and along the Mediterranean Sea, insuring a long growing season. The alcohol level attests to the ripeness of the grapes and the vines age to the density of flavor.
For your consideration: Hugues Beauvignac Picpoul, AOC Picpoul de Pinet 2021 ABV 12.5%, $12.99
The Picpoul de Pinet is an AOC appellation within southern France’s Languedoc region. It specializes in crisp, well-textured citrus-scented white wines exclusively from Picpoul grapes.
The area covered by the appellation runs along the southern French coast, separated from the waves of the Mediterranean Sea only by the Bassin de Thau, a lagoon measuring 11 miles long and 3 miles wide. The lagoon is also a center for fishing and shellfish cultivation, providing half of France’s oysters. I’ve found few other white wines that so perfectly match the flavors of a freshly shucked oyster or any other way they are prepared.
I enjoyed this wine with a seafood medley of panko-drizzled bay scallops, shrimp and calamari.
The Picpoul de Pinet title covers several communities within an area of around 1400 hectares (3000 acres) of vineyards.
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