Howl-O-Scream a Hit

October 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As a Florida resident I have been visiting the haunted attractions at Universal Studios for years, and when Busch Gardens started to offer a haunted attraction, I was excited to have one in my backyard.  As far as Universal to Busch Gardens I was unsure what I would get, knowing that Universal Studios is a movie studio so I expected it to be better.  That first experience changed my view, I am hooked on Busch Gardens version.

Its going on over 7 years since they started Howl-O-Scream and I have enjoyed going back year after year.  This year I heard they were changing things around a little, so I was extra excited to see what they had to offer.  This year the theme was “The Dark Side of the Gardens”, zombies infest the haunted landscape, and they lived up to their theme.

Inside there were tons of haunted attractions including:  Nevermore, Ultimate Gamble Vampire Casino, Nightshade Toys, Death Row Vengeance -Fear the Dead, Destruction – The Dr. is Out of Control, Alone and the signature house Zombie Mortuary.  There are also scare spots across the park and all their roller coasters were operating even in the dark for an extra scary thrill.

From the moment you walk in the entire park was decked out as is if it were a garden.  Wrought iron fences draped in ivy and vines, but beware because as I found out leaning up against one of these walls or gates, there maybe something lurking behind.

Zombies, cheerleader zombies and evil clowns walk the park revving up chain saws from behind you, screaming at your face, scraping metal across the concrete as you walk the paths throughout the park.  Sometimes you don’t even know they are there, because they blend in.

Throughout the night I was able to visit two houses and ride one ride.

Cheetah Hunt

I chose for a ride “Cheetah Hunt” the brand new roller coaster to Busch Gardens.  Using magnet technology you are boosted from 0 to 60 mph in seconds. You ride down a path, making you feel like you are a cheetah running across the Serengeti.  You are propelled up 120 feet at 60 mph, reaching G forces of 4G simulating a cheetah jumping into the trees, then a short 90 degree drop.

I actually rode this amazing coaster during the day but at night… WOW!  I would seriously recommend this coaster.  There are not a lot of upside down loops, only one barrel roll, but its a fun ride you won’t soon forget.

**For this special event, this ride fills up fast, expect long lines with long wait times.  I suggest since this is a brand new coaster, hit this first**

Death Row Vengeance 

Now this was a cool haunted house.  It had some great effects for sure.  You’ll walk through the death chambers including the lethal injection, where you watch a man as he is strapped to the table, needle hanging out and waiting to meet the devil.  Walk through the maze and you will soon come across a strobe filled electric chair, where a damned inmate’s fate is sealed.  You’ll even see the old fashioned gallows where a man is strung up by his neck waiting to drop to his death.

When you come to the death row cell block, you’ll be “greeted” by the charming inmates and inmates float across the hallway above you.

I LOVED this house, wasn’t a horrific house, but it had a scare factor of its own.

Nevermore

The final house I went to was Nevermore.  This was a wicked cool house, because it has the feel of an old haunted victorian house with art statues that fill the atrium and garden; but don’t be surprised if one of or more of these statues come to life and try to grab you.  You’ll experience a haunted house, similar to the “Haunted Mansion” at Disney, just you won’t be in a ride, you’ll be up close and personal with the haunted entities.

I love the feel, the effects were amazing and by far my favorite house I had the pleasure to experience

What to Expect

All the rides are active except for the water rides, the Phoenix, and the kids area.  I would not suggest bringing children under 10 it is violent.  Get your tickets online if you can to help lessen the wait at the door.  Get there early, its packed and parking is tough and Busch Blvd is at a stand still.  Expect to wait in long lines, so bring your smart phone and sit back for the fun ride!

The event goes from September 28th to October 29th.

Passport members get in for $32.99, tickets are normally $77.00 – to purchase tickets visit http://seaworldparks.com/howloscream_com_2011/#/home/

Once again, Busch Gardens didn’t disappoint

Filed Under: featured, Places To Visit Tagged With: ,

The Doctor’s Cure

October 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Television has become so capitalized, so factory-stamped, that its creative content feeds my imagination like air from a fan fills a cardboard box. Every show, no matter what genre, ends exactly how it started: with all the characters somehow avoiding growth and development despite the life-changing events of the episode (assuming these characters had distinguishable traits to begin with). It’s a virus of predictability that plagues modern media, and while studios continue to make money, there seems to be no end in sight; it’s more profitable to keep this art sick, than it is to find a cure.

I know I should look away, but my brain needs these colors, these pixilated shapes flashing and dancing and telling stories that, however dry and overdone, still entertain. I am still able to forget my reality and stare at the screen, open-mouthed, my intelligence flopping to the floor with every drop of drool.

All of a sudden, a sound fills the room. It’s like an extremely old engine, an ancient machine straining to breathe. Wind gusts, blowing everything around in the living room. I recoil, clutching my couch, for my zombified state has me too inebriated to remember how to run.

An image fills my television: A wooden blue phone booth, with POLICE BOX written across the top. From it emerges a man who looks surprisingly attractive in a bow tie, suspenders, and slacks. His hair is short but he has long bangs, a wide smile, and wise eyes that reveal the depths of his fun-loving, nerdy soul. He holds out his hand to me and says in a smooth British accent, “We’re going to catch ourselves a monster.”

Filled with a refreshing fascination, I take his hand and enter the box. It is larger on the inside, containing a circular room with a massive computerized column in the center. He calls this whirring, sparking ship the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space).

The man’s name, as I would come to learn, is the Doctor (currently played by Matt Smith), the last of his species known as the Time Lords from the extinct planet Gallifrey. Since the show first aired in 1963 the Doctor and his TARDIS have travelled through the vacuums of time and the horizons of space. Since those campy low-budget classics, the Doctor has died and regenerated (i.e. change actors) eleven times, each incarnation befriending new and unique companions. Armed with his quit wit and intimate knowledge of literally everything, he has saved humanity more often than we’ll ever know.

Each of his incarnations has distinguishable appearance, style, and personality, ranging from cranky old grandfather to distinguished literary gentleman to elated mad genius. With outstanding special effects and unique, invigorating storytelling, Doctor Who is as unpredictable as hurricanes on the moon; a journey with him will never leave a person the same, fictional or otherwise. Characters turn up stranded on a parallel universe, heroes become corrupt and murder villains who had just learned compassion, and the Doctor’s past is literally his lover’s future. Before I realize it, I have subconsciously slid to the end of my chair and am no longer breathing. Nothing else matters to me than the Doctor saving Madame du Pompadour from clockwork robots and when he says not to blink or look away from the stone angels, I obey!

People continue to be drawn to the Doctor, even after almost fifty years on air, radio, and print. His is among the longest-running science fiction shows in television history, a cult phenomenon and a cultural icon in Britain. Perhaps it’s because of his unwavering faith and admiration in humanity’s ability to literally pick up the pieces and survive on whatever they can. Maybe it’s the fact that he has the answers but sometimes doesn’t pull through; the Doctor can’t always save everyone and often causes trouble for those who would otherwise be at peace. He is not a flawless being by any means, but his morals, determination, and personal depth are infectious. For television’s virus of predictability, the Doctor is most certainly in.

Filed Under: TV Tagged With: , ,

Hank Williams Jr. Fired from NFL Monday Night

October 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Its been over 30 years that we’ve heard “are you ready for some football” sung by the Country legend Hank Williams Jr.  Unfortunately that tradition will come to an end as last week the legendary kickoff of Monday Night Football was fired.

ESPN who purchased the rights to Monday Night Football a few years ago fired Williams for his comments about President Obama.  He openly criticized President Obama as a “mass murderer who tried to destroy an entire race of people”.

On his website following the firing William’s stated this: “After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made MY decision. By pulling my opening Oct 3rd, You (ESPN) stepped on the Toes of The First Amendment. Freedom of Speech, so therefore Me, My Song, and All My Rowdy Friends are OUT OF HERE. It’s been a great run.” — Hank Williams Jr.”

Who will be introducing Monday Night Football is yet to be seen, but a three plus decade tradition is now gone.  Honestly, like President Obama or not, that statement was not based on sound facts, but did they have a right to fire him?  Did ESPN step on his right to freedom of speech?  Hank Williams Jr.’s comments do not reflect the opinions of ESPN or their affiliates?  To me this does prove that we are not truly “free” to say what we want regardless how right or wrong it is.  I guess American’s do have to be more careful for what they say or face stiff penalties.  True, he’s not jailed for talking about our President but he sure is being treated like one.

Would this have happened had he chastised a Republican or President Bush?  The world may never know!

 

Filed Under: Bands & Singers, featured

Fall Inspiration: Bronzed skin, vampy make-up

October 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s true that many of us love dark, rich hues come fall and winter.  Blondes tend to dye their hair shades of chocolate and ginger, while manicures and pedicures transition from pastel pinks to garnet reds.  Make-up colors are seasonal; light and bright in the summer and spring, dark and mysterious in fall and winter.  Makes sense.  Well, while this may hold true, few of us would ever dare mix and match seasons.  Tan, bronzed skin with deep red lips and charcoal black toenails?  Uh, not happening… or is it?

I’m all about the exotic and unusual; therefore, I am strongly embracing a marriage of summer and fall tones and shades this year.  I don’t need to sport porcelain white skin just to wear a smokey eye or have vamp red lips.  The undead may be able to carry off this look just fine, but so can us beach chicks.

Don’t be afraid to wear dark colors when it comes to make-up and even wardrobe this season, even if you look like you’re from the Jersey Shore.  However, be sure not to overdo.  Too much dark smudging around the eye, paired with deep garnet lips may end up looking a little too disco, so use sparingly.  Try one or the other when using dark colors with tanned skin.  A sun-kissed bare face along with a wine-colored lip stain can be very sexy and sultry.  Near black nails on bronzed skin can look mysterious and alluring.

Enjoy deep wines, plum tones and garnets this fall and winter, especially with glowing brown summer skin.

 

*Kim does not recommend any kind of harmful tanning, so please be sure to always use sunscreen.  Be safe when it comes to browning your hide.  Try bronzing creams and powders, self-tanners and tan sprays.

Filed Under: Beauty Tips