Rhode Trip to Rhode Island

In case anyone out there has wondered, like I did, the best city to visit around Halloween, I would like to offer up the suggestion of Providence, Rhode Island. With credit card points burning a hole in my pocket, and no solid plans for Halloween, I decided to do some investigating. After weeding out the hayrack rides and pumpkin patching, I stumbled upon Providence's annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Each year, the Roger Williams Zoo decks out its paths with 5,000 intricately designed, magnificent jack-o-lanterns. This year's theme, "Jack-O-Lanterns from A-Z" was, as the name of the event implies, spectacular. Each letter was a different theme (C for Christmas, Q for Queen, etc...) and each theme had multiple pumpkins carved to fit. The music that played along the path changed with each theme, and that, along with the jaw-dropping designs, filled me with joy. I smiled the entire time I walked through, with the exception of the In Memorium section, which featured tributes to those lost this year (Robin Williams, Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou). It was beautifully done. And I am so thrilled I was able to go. Hopefully these pictures can do any semblance of justice to what I saw there. Remember: these are carved, not painted.

 

Christmas on Halloween??

Norman Rockwell: my favorite

For Napoleon Dynamite fans

No...this is my favorite

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

Robert Frost...no, this is my favorite.
Ugh, I give up!

All of those lights are little pumpkins

Tributes to Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou

As is evident, it was impossible to say which carving moved me the most. It was absolutely breathtaking. If you ever find yourself in New England during the month of October (which you should do anyway), make your way over to the capital of our tiniest state. You will not be sorry you did.
*Side note: I went right when it opened at 6, so it was relatively uncrowded. The reviews I read beforehand warned of very deep crowds later in the night.

The rest of my trip to Rhode Island was quite enjoyable as well. I ate incredible food, went on yet ANOTHER haunted tour, and visited the exquisitely beautiful town of Newport just 40 minutes south of Providence. It rained the entire second day I was there, but with some warm coffee and a stop at a bookshop, my spirits could not be dampened (even if my shoes were).

The lobby of the gorgeous Biltmore Hotel

A haunted building on Brown's campus.
See any ghosts of Revolutionary War
soldiers? Apparently they make
an occasional appearance.

Brown during the day...far less creepy

When I told the bartender at AS220 that
it was my first time to Rhode Island, she
offered me this Narragansett on the house!

The bathroom at Julian's in the Federal
Hill district. The food was fantastic,
and the bathroom was the most
entertaining one I've ever seen.

Newport: Adorable, even in the rain

The famous Cliff Walk in Newport. I will
have to return when it's drier so I can actually
spent more time enjoying the view
instead of ducking for cover

One of many of Newport's mansions
along the coast

Storytelling: Not just for campfires

Looking back at pictures from this fall, I have noticed a recurring theme in how I spent much of my time: listening to stories. Storytelling has become my new favorite form of entertainment. From haunted tours, to storytelling events, to stories told through music, I have been captivated by a vast array of stories, ranging from the hilarious to the bone-chilling. As someone who happens to be an absolute debacler at storytelling (no it's not a word, but really, shouldn't it be?) I am easily engrossed in the stories told by others.

Pomerleau Real Estate Building

In mid-October, I was able to take a Haunted Ghost Tour of Burlington. I had no idea how many hauntings were happening just outside my own front door! Besides the various ghost sightings, I also found out that Burlington was once the home of America's first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, while he briefly attended medical school, and was a lengthy stop for Ted Bundy before he was arrested (interestingly, a young woman was murdered in her apartment during the duration of his stay, but her killer was never caught...). Some of the creepiest stories I heard from that night took place at this building, which I've passed many times. Between this and the multitude of haunted restaurants, I will definitely never look at/walk through/eat in Burlington the same way again.

Another far less creepy storytelling event took place the same weekend at Adam's Berry Farm in Charlotte, VT. A group of friends I know through my roommate host a storytelling event every few months. Inspired by the Moth, the format of these events basically entails delicious food followed by an evening of stories told my some of those in attendance. The stories at this event were hilarious, imaginative, inspiring, and just delightful. And the backdrop of this beautiful barn on this beautiful farm made the evening all the more magical.

 

Living in Vermont has inspired many 'first's for me: first quinoa, first hike up a mountain, first apple picking. But one of the most memorable firsts took place this Halloween season when Martine and I, along with one of her friends visiting from NY, went to a burlesque show called Ghouls and Dolls. The costumes were creative, the music was entertaining, and the show itself was completely and utterly spectacular. The women were all shapes and sizes, and their stories they told through the music and their dance was just as captivating as one telling a story with words. The most memorable one by far took place right after this picture was taken: a story told to the tune of Lana Del Rey's version of Once Upon a Dream. It was totally haunting.

Roomies/Partners in Crime

A photo of the Emcee before the show

The final storytelling event of the season (so far!) was the monthly Moth storytelling that takes place here in Burlington.  The theme changes every month, and this month's theme, Rivals, inspired stories with topics that ranged from deranged squirrels, to political cutthroating, to post offices. The stories were terrific and the setting, the Skinny Pancake, was unbeatable. I can't believe it took so long to go, and can't wait to turn this event into a monthly tradition.