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    Spooky Happenings in the Crescent City…


    2009 - 11.04

    Posted in bed and breakfasts, gay, ghost hunting, ghosts, hauntings, new orleans, video | Comments Off

    Among the many cities I’m dying (well, not literally) to visit is New Orleans. Just like the Witch City of Salem, it’s a town where death seems to be a part of life. Ghosts, witches, vampires, and other nocturnal peoples seem quite at home there and the presence of hoodoo is undeniable. Every shop, bar, and hotel carries with it some fascinating, if not haunting, tale.

    One such place is 5 Continents Bed & Breakfast, which I did look into and noted in the “Haunted LGBT Accommodations” section in the back of my book. While I left out some of the history and hauntings at the inn, I just might finally revisit it for the sequel. It’s a beautifully-restored old home, and apparently still occupied by its original owners.

    Passport Magazine visited this haunted hotspot for the Halloween season (possibly after seeing it listed on my website… I’m not trying to assume, but reporter Paul West did attempt to contact me about a story earlier this summer, but due to email issues I missed him… sorry again, Paul!) and interviewed the innkeeper as well as a paranormal team as they looked for paranormal evidence at the business.
    Check out the video from Passport.TV:

    A House as Famous as Its Owners…


    2008 - 11.03

    Posted in actors, hauntings, houses, louisiana, new orleans, news, real estate | Comments Off

    Anyone interested in owning a piece of haunted New Orleans may finally have a chance. The historic LaLaurie Mansion, known by many as “the Haunted House”, is up for sale. It is located in the French Quarter on the corner of Royal Street and Gov. Nicholls Street.

    The house has seen a bizarre past. It was purchased by Madame Delphine LaLaurie and her husband in either 1831 or 32. Delphine’s parents were believed to have been murdered during a slave uprising in the late 1700s and she apparently harbored ill will toward slaves ever since. She was known to have tortured and mutilated countless slaves in the house: a fact which was uncovered after a fire in 1834 set by a slave to avoid further torment. A secret attic room held nude male and female slaves, surrounded by torture devices and body parts.

    Since LaLaurie’s death in 1842, the house has been known for its ghosts. It served as a music conservatory, apartment building, and furniture store over the years. In 2007, it was purchased by actor Nicolas Cage who currently lives in the adjacent building with his family.

    Cage has been well aware of the building’s haunted history and attended a few ghost tours to learn more about the sordid history. Just recently, the actor placed the home on the market again. The asking price is a chilling $3.9 million.

    Reading, ‘Riting, and Rice…


    2008 - 10.11

    Posted in authors, books, california, christopher rice, louisiana, new orleans | Comments Off

    I seem to be neglecting good literature lately, but I thought it was time for another mention of an author worth reading. A man with a rather famous last name: Christopher Rice.

    Now the subjects covered in Christopher’s books are not paranormal in nature, yet I felt compelled to mention him. Yes, paranormal topics and ghosts do encompass a lot of my interest, but I do not limit myself strictly to things of this nature. I read a wide range of works and enjoy thoroughly engaging topics, films, and literature.

    As is often the case with me, I discovered his books by accident in a bookstore. I began with The Snow Garden before tracking back to his debut novel, A Density if Souls. Light Before Day made its way onto my bookshelf soon after it was published. I had been aware of the work of his mother, Anne Rice, for many years but it was not this connection which lured me. I have been a fan of thrillers and mysteries most of my life, so the synopses caught my attention.

    I have yet to be disappointed with any of his work. Perhaps it comes from the two of us being extremely close in age (though he has accomplished far more, but I commend him for that). Even his column articles in The Advocate are worth a read. And I’ll confess something else: unlike his mother’s work, I have actually finished reading his books. Odds are if I begin reading something, mark my page, and lay it down, I will probably never finish it. At least in this lifetime. Then again if I read an entire novel in a day or two and schedule everything else around it, I’m going to keep that one forever.

    Check out this little snippet about his newest book, Blind Fall:



    For more information, be sure to visit his website. And those of you who are fans should note that another book, The Moonlit Earth, is currently being written…

    Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Cafe Lafitte in Exile


    2008 - 05.08

    Posted in gay ghosts, hauntings, louisiana, new orleans, paranormal, road trips, united states | Comments Off

    New Orleans is known to be one of the most interesting, if not most haunted, cities in the United States. And of course, no paranormal travel destination would be complete without a haunted gay bar… complete with gay ghosts!

    Billed as “the best gay bar in the French Quarter”, Cafe Lafitte in Exile is possibly the oldest gay bar in the country. The two-story establishment is open 24 hours a day and was once the watering hole for a few famous people. In fact, some of them haven’t quite left.

    Tennessee Williams frequented the bar during his lifetime. He would often be seen sitting at the far end of the bar, quietly nursing a cocktail. Still today, the occasional customer or employee will sometimes catch a glimpse of the writer sitting in his usual place. Another former patron was the late Truman Capote. His ghost is believed to spend time in the stairwell, chatting up anyone who will stop long enough to listen.

    Not all the spirits in LaFitte are notable names. A rather frisky spook called “Mister Bubbly” is known to wander the building occasionally pinching customers playfully on the rear. Other figures have been spotted wandering the balcony, sometimes even stopping to wave at a tourist before vanishing into thin air. The downstairs center bar seems to be a popular place for a ghost or two to catch a drink as well.

    Suffice to say, Lafitte is a perfect spot for a paranormal investigator or tourist to unwind and get a taste of New Orleans. Undoubtedly, whether you’re looking for ghosts or bottled spirits, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Just be sure to bring your camera in case you spot something out of the ordinary… beyond beads and thongs.

    You may not be able to snag an autograph, but you just might find yourself face to face with a deceased celebrity…