Dracula Giving Blood?

Dracula giving blood!? This isn't the vampire; it's the true-life Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler! At this lifepoint, he's in his early 20's and a VIP's guest. He is not yet into mass impalements or bloodshed.

The donor, Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, New Jersey, has portrayed Dracula through interpretive dance, in historically authenticated costumes, since 1973.

It was the time of rediscovering Dracula's true story and times by historians Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally. Suzanne read their books and created four solo dances portraying both the real and imaginary Draculas, with more attention to the former. She learned about the period clothes, resulting, in four re-creations. Her first public Dracula performance was in Philadelphia in 1976 - the 500th anniversary of his death.

Following this debut, Suzanne continued to dance Dracula single-handed on stage and television in 19 states plus Montreal, Canada. In 1982 she created the Dracula Fashion Show, for modeling the costumes. Her greatest performance was in Los Angeles, in 1997- the 100th anniversary of the vampire novel. She did "The Dracula Archives" and the Dracula Fashion Show before the aforementioned historians-world authorities!

But ever since, especially with the historians deaths, Suzanne's appearances were rare. She never received a prestigious award, commendation, or citation for her work. She feared fading into oblivion and dying forgotten unlike other celebrated and perpetuated "Draculas." She always danced other themes, but they, too, have faded. Having seen a 1978 news photo of another "vampire" at a blood bank, Suzanne was inspired to make this first Dracula appearance since 2007!


Suzanne Muldowney as Vlad The Impaler
Pictures from the Dracula fashion show
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/vlad_dfashion.htm

Dance Dracula Dance... 
An article written by Suzanne Muldowney
http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/ddancd.htm


Suzanne Performs Vlad the Impaler and Dracula the Vampire

Spectrum the Ghost King

Spectrum the Ghost King

Photo by Christine Back

If you look over an empty beach on Halloween night, and see a white shape floating around or twirling, so that sparkles of light sometimes appear, you see a ghost! But it's no ordinary ghost; it's a King! He's Spectrum the Ghost King, identifiable not by a crown but by a large, high-necked collar lavished with diamonds that twinkle in the colors of the spectrum!

Interpretive dancer Suzanne Muldowney, of Delran, NJ, created this character in 1968.

She was inspired by classical musics, notably Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, depicting supernatural beings making merry at Halloween. There were also examples of dance corps in white costumes, resembling clouds or a fog bank, en masse. The name Spectrum derived from the traditional spectre. Ms. Muldowney's first ballet tutu, with several panels of multi-color sequins, was named Spectrum in the catalog. The faceted diamonds, sparkling in the light, gave off different colors of the spectrum.

In the summer of 1968, the Muldowney family stayed in a hotel on the margin of the beach. Each night Suzanne went onto the empty beach, and one night she realized it was a perfect place for myriads of ghosts to dance on Halloween night! She memorized Danse Macabre so that she could hear it in her mind when she went onto the beach to dance secretly.

Suzanne created a scenario in which spectrum flew, on Halloween night, above many adjoining beaches, looking down at party after party.

Appearances by this ghost are most atmospheric at night. Aforementioned musical and dancing examples all are set at night, as are many real-life Halloween parades.

Because the costume is white, it is safest for night. The long-sleeved robe conceals thermal undergarments worn in case of cold. The headdress leaves the face exposed for unlimited visibility. The collar, a belt, the hemline, and the outer sheer cape all bear sparkles.

Since Spectrum was "born" in 1968, this year marks his 50th (Golden) Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, creator Suzanne Muldowney appears as him in four Halloween parades she is booked for.

Photos by Checkerphil of Spectrum the Ghost King at the Beyond Vaudeville Live @ Carolines Oct 28th 1993

http://muldowneyville.tripod.com/spectrum.htm

That Time I Was in That Commercial...

Krypton Fan Reaction/ Car Insurance Commercial

  Short story: An old Music and Art friend asked me if I liked comics, and I was all like Hells yeahhh! So she recommended I audition. They saw a lil of me online and wanted to meet but it was during the school day so they called the next day and said meet me after school I thought it was an audition but it was straight up the film shoot. They were really nice! I guess my bow tie said old school Jimmy Olson. we spoke about Krypton for a bit but this is what they used.   You can see the actual commercial by clicking HERE.

 

You Stupid Pig!

A fun little strip I drew. Click on it for full size.

My Vegan Mixtape

I have really gotten into making little mix tapes on Spotify. Ska, New Wave etc and finding popular and obscure tunes. Same for groups or singers I am totally crazy for. The latest Mix I am feeling is this Vegan one I did. I just really like the tunes. Who knew there was so much Vegan music to be had? There was lots of Reggae and Rap, Funny folksy stuff and instrumental mellow stuff and some Electronic. Give it a spin. If you hear any tunes I should add let me know.

Oddly while searching I saw there was an abundance of Vegan Metal and Hardcore stuff to be had but I didn't include it on my tape. Seemed a little loud and angry for me.

Vegan Pasteles

I've been Vegan since 2012 and I obviously eschewed a lot of foods from back in the day. This Thanksgiving my sister asked to come through and and I was all like, Nah.. Food holidays are not my gig. But then she said she had been developing an idea for Vegan Pasteles. Oh yeaaah? Normal pasteles have Achiote which contains lard (Yuck!) So I met up with my sisters in Spanish Harlem and and they helped bring life to this amazing idea!



The Center Concoction:

For the stuff you find at the center of the pastels we combine vegetable stock and olive oil then we add chick peas, a can of tomato sauce,  Half a jar of pitted olives with pimentos. (Yeah I like Goya best…)  I chopped up a zucchini, squash and eggplant and mock meat Pick your favorite form from a spot like May Wah or grab a quick can of Chai pow yu also known as Chinese braised gluten or a can of Vegetarian Peking Roast Duck (Mun Cha'i Ya) and chop it small.  Some people like Tofu in theirs Salt, Pepper, Adobo to taste, Some people also dig adding potatoes or raisins (if you like it sweet).

Masa Dough:

The base is according to my sis is: Yucca, cilantro, spanish onion, green peppers, garlic, (this can be also be used in your center concoction as well!) For every bunch of green bananas you chop up add one green platano. (Note: green bananas aren't platanos - surprise!) My sis did this weird technique where you slice them on the outside once then put them under hot water till the peels turn black. You may want to use gloves so your fingers don't turn black.  When we were kids we had to do the gruntwork and use a grate which trust me wasn't that "great", it was tedious and tiring but as my sister showed me modern technology totally rules! Also she added a sweet potato. Some people add yucca/ cassava/ tapioca but be careful! I learned that eating raw yucca is dangerous and it isn't an old wives tale like I used to dismiss.




When you run your hand through it, it's mushy and you get a displeased look like I have.




Once you have the Masa ready you take a spoonful of oily gravy from your center concoction and put it on the pasteles paper* in a circular motion then slap down some masa dough in there smoothing it out.

(*some old school people use an actual bay leaf instead of paper)






next up there's this whole folding and tying ritual. Here a video version I like: https://youtu.be/kFwnm83wZ9g (See? she's wearing gloves!)





My sis wraps them up by twos! Now I can be like the old doñas selling em 2 for $5 at the church during the holiday season! ...and while I'm at it, I need a gigantic flan! Just kidding. I used to love me some flan!





They pass the taste test on constancy. My sis sez to boil vegan ones for a about 45 minutes (Far faster than meat ones!) Don't forget to put salt in the water.



Here was my jovial holiday dinner of vegan pastels on a bed of kale with walnuts and sun dried tomatoes. with a center mixture of black beans, red onions and french green beans w capers.

End result: Yummy pasteles and bonding with my family. We listened to a lot of music that my mom used to love,  R&B, Disco and Spanish music: Celia Cruz, Frankie Ruiz, Charanga '76, Fania All Stars and the first Jimmy Sabater solo album that she used to rock on 8-Track. I truly have a lot to be thankful for.

Perfume (パフューム) Karaoke Party 2017

I really love the J-Pop group Perfume. They are awesome. the singing the dancing the outfits.  This weekend was an all Perfume weekend where Friday the J-Music Ensemble performed a Perfume dedicated set on my show Checkerboard Kids. Saturday we got a whole bunch of Perfume fans from different states and Canada to sing some Perfume, JPop and other stuff. Thank you so much everyone who showed up it meant a lot to me for us to come together and support our girls! It was so much fun. Let's do it again soon! Enjoy! The pictures from the event are located here!









Then Patrick from J-Music Ensemble showed up with his Nocchi shirt and Saxophone in hand.