About Julie McNamee

Recent Posts by Julie McNamee

Colorado: The Stanley Hotel’s Mysterious & Haunted Past

The 1980 horror film ‘The Shining’ has only gotten more terrifying with age. While critics and audiences were initially put off by the slow pace and unanswered questions in Stanley Kubrick’s production, it’s now considered one of the best horror movies ever made—hypnotic in tone, beautifully open to interpretation, and a pitch-perfect example of the director’s twisted sense of logic. Adapted from the original novel by Stephen King, the movie tells the story of a man’s (Jack Nicholson) descent into madness after he, his wife, and their young son become the winter caretakers of an isolated Colorado summer resort hotel, The Overlook.

The Overlook doesn’t actually exist, but it has a real-life counterpart which directly inspired it: The Stanley Hotel, located in Estes Park, Colorado. King reportedly got the basic idea for the novel after staying there for a night before the estate closed for several months. The spot’s long history among the living has been eclipsed by the popular stories about the dead, as many sources claim that the real hotel is, in fact, genuinely haunted.

Hopeful Beginnings

The hotel is named after Freelan Oscar Stanley, the inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile. In 1903 he found himself in bad health, suffering from tuberculosis; doctors advised that he go west and see if the dryer climates would do any good. Along with his wife, Flora, they stayed in a cabin at Estes Park and were so enamored with the area that they decided to stay there for the long haul. Construction on the hotel began in 1907 and it opened two years later, fully equipped with electricity, running water, and telephones. Notably, it did not have a heating system, and was designed to be a summer resort only.

It’s not known exactly when reports of odd sounds and sights began, but the ‘haunting’ of the Stanley Hotel has been a part of its legacy almost from the start. In 1911, the chief housekeeper was injured in an explosion in room 217; when she died in the 1950′s, guests began reporting extra housekeeping duties in that room, including mysterious unpacking of their belongings. Items move from place to place without any (reported) human help, and children can be heard running up and down the halls of the fourth floor even if there are no under-aged guests staying there.

Freelan Oscar, who died in Massachusetts in 1940, can often be spotted wandering the lobby, and his wife Flora is heard playing the piano in her beloved Ballroom. These reports have generated a great deal of interest in the Stanley hotel, and has been featured on several paranormal investigation shows like SyFy’s ‘Ghost Hunters.’

You don’t have to be a guest of the Stanley to take a tour, and the estate offers several. There are historical walks through the beautifully preserved gathering rooms, and there are full-on ghost walks where you can visit the spookiest corners of this Colorado attraction. Even if you don’t see an apparition, there are still stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, great neoclassical architecture, and a critically acclaimed restaurant to enjoy too.

Jamie Matzke represents Diamond Resorts International a leader in worldwide vacation resort destinations. Join Diamond Resorts International at The Historic Crags Lodge in Colorado when you come to visit the haunted hotel!

4 Worldwide Owl Museums You Must Visit

Owl Museum, Larnaca

I was doing some research for an article for a travel site I contribute to, and came across an owl museum in Larnaca, Cyprus. It houses the largest collection of owls in Europe. What a niche subject for a museum! The collection belongs to Holy Bishop Kitiou and consists of 5704 ornaments and pictures. Frustratingly, however, I haven’t been able to find out much more than that. (If anyone has been, please let me know – I’d love to hear about your visit.)

I can completely understand why someone would have a fixation on these beautiful and mysterious birds but I got to wondering firstly if it’s the only example of an owl museum, and secondly are there any other serious owl collections out there?

Owl Museum, Penang

The first one I came across is the recently opened Owl Museum in Penang, Malaysia. They sum up on their Facebook page just why owls are such interesting creatures:

Owls are fascinating birds, and humans seem to relate to owls more than any other bird. The reason for this is that owls are the only birds which have forward-facing eyes. This unusual facial structure gives them the appearance of having ‘facial expressions’ and endears these birds to human cultures.

This cute museum has over 1,000 pieces of owl-related odds and sods in its art and craft collection which features examples of owl artwork made from materials such as crystal, metal, twigs and stones from around the globe. They also sell gorgeous owl-themed rings, bracelets and ornaments. Owl Museum, Penang Details Address: Astaka, Penang Hill, Penang, Malaysia Website: www.theowlmuseum.com

Owl Art & Craft Museum, Seoul

Another international collection of all things owl, including folding screens and stamps. Owl wallpaper decorates the walls and visitors are treated to a free cup of tea from the lady owner who has gathered together over 2000 items in this one-room museum. Just as an aside, Seoul is also the home of the wondrous Museum of Chicken Art. Owl Art & Craft Museum details Address: Seoul-si Jongno-gu Samcheong-dong 27-21

The Owl House, South Africa

This isn’t all about owls, but they certainly feature. Helen Martins, the lady who owned this house started in 1945 to create William Blake-inspired sculptures to give a bit of life to her boring surroundings. The owls, camels, people and other creatures are made from cement, crushed glass and wire,and the walls of her house are covered in the same material. Martins unfortunately began to lose her sight because of exposure to the glass and killed herself by swallowing caustic soda at the age of 78. Owl House details Address: Nieu Bethesda, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

4 Eccentric Secrets in London

London is a dream for any tourist. There really is so much to see and do. But if you’re looking to stay away from the mainstream attractions do something a bit quirky in England’s capital city then here are four ideas for you.

Dennis Severs’ House

A visit to Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields feels a lot like taking a step back in time. Between 1979 and 1999 Severs restored, furnished and decorated his Grade II listed Georgian house and immersed himself in the 18th century, by living without electricity and only using items from the Georgian and Victorian periods.

Sadly Severs passed away in 1999, and the house is now open to the public. But visiting the property is nothing like a trip to your average period home or living museum.

The idea is that your stepping back in time into a house that’s currently being lived in by a fictional family of silk weavers. There’s half eaten food in most of the rooms and the beds are unmade. Guests are asked to walk round in total silence, and listen to the sounds the house is making. It’s the closest thing to a time machine that you’ll find in London or any other city for that matter.

Davenports Magic Shop

How many of you know that there’s a magic shop in the middle of Trafalgar Square? Well it’s actually located in Charing Cross Underground Station, but that’s close enough. Lewis Davenport started the business back in 1898 making them the world’s oldest family run magic company.

And Davenports isn’t an ordinary magic shop. There’s certainly a special feel to the store, and it’s well worth heading underground to pop your head in after you’ve taken a look at Nelson’s Column.

The Vault

If you’re a serious rock ‘n’ roll fan you might think that London’s Hard Rock Cafe is a little bit naff. And if you’re assessing what they’ve got on the surface you’d be right, but it’s what lies beneath that will intrigue.

Below the boring gift shop you’ll find the Vault where there’s more than enough rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia to impress. This includes Jimmy Hendri’s Flying V Gibson guitar, the glasses worn by Buddy Holly and even the lyrics to John Lennon’s Imagine complete with original handmade corrections. It’s open every day of the week and the Hard Rock Cafe’s staff are more than happy to give free guided tours to visitors.

London Underground Lost Property Office

You’ll find the London Underground Lost Property Office just around the side of Baker Street tube station, a stone’s throw from Sherlock Holmes’ fictional home. When you approach the front office it doesn’t look special at all, but the underground storage rooms really are quite something.

The office do their best to reunite owners with their lost belongings, but if an item is unclaimed after three months it is usually either given to charity or auctioned off. Some of the more unusual finds include a lawn mower, hundreds of pairs of false teeth and a jar of bull’s semen. Would you fancy bidding on any of these?

This is a guest post by Andy Hamilton. When he’s not losing jars of bull’s semen he works for Find Me A Gift.

French Election Commentary in a Toy Shop Window

These gorgeous pics were taken in the window of the Tout en Peluche (everything plush) toy shop in Montparnasse, Paris. They were taken by me back in March, and I presume they’re a playful take on French elections – possibly the presidential elections (?).

There are militant anti-vegetarians in the form of spring onions and a banana dog looking for votes in the picture above …

… and below is the shop itself, it’s situated at 39 rue Raymond Losserand in the 14th arrondissement.

One of the candidates is offering a stocked fridge “frigo garni” and there’s a lion who’s become a vegetarian “bio” candidate:

First scandal mentioned in the text below involves “flour of diplodocus” (a dinosaur) from the Gobi desert and windsurfers and a pot of roses. (I’m sure it’s very clever but I’m afraid my basic French doesn’t get it.) The second revolves around a toy gun …

Very imaginative windows. Now maybe Hanleys in London could do something along the same lines for the mayoral elections with Boris and Ken as Mr Potato Head and Gollum?

Italy: Offbeat Things To Do & Eat in Venice

 

Peggy Guggenheim in Venice, in her trademark winged glasses (Credit: www.artforune.com)I haven’t been to Venice yet, but will go in the next year or two. In the meantime, I’ve been doing a bit of research on what I’d like to do when I get there.

 

Walking tour with a difference

I’ve take a ghost walk in whichever new town I visit – one of the best was one where just myself, my husband and the student tour guide in her swingy cape strolled the streets of Prague on a freezing winter evening, being sprung upon by varied “ghosts” along the way, each one making me jump a foot in the air …

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find a ghost tour that floats my boat in Venice, so instead I’ll go on a tour with L’Altra Venezia (the other Venice) which I would hope will show me off the beaten path Venice that many people don’t get to see. Their costs are up to 13 euros per person and they have quite a few different routes within Venice – they do “The Other” as well as “Classical” tours and I presume they can conduct them in English as they have English pages on their website. There are many very good reviews on TripAdvisor for them, although mostly in Italian and French.

Far from the madding crowd

I would take a walk around the Dorsoduro area for the artisanal shops and not-so-famous churches and boatyards. This unusual Dorsoduro self-guided walking tour looks just the thing.

Some modern art

I would visit the Peggy Guggenheim collection in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. American and European art of the first half of the twentieth century is housed in this building, formerly occupied by the lady herself. Paintings and sculpture from the likes of Picasso, Braque and Kandinski feature in a beautiful, serene old building and will make a pleasant change from the gothic and baroque art of Venice.

Address

Palazzo Venier dei Leoni 701

Food and drink

I would try seafood restaurant Hostaria Da Franz but not just for their fish – they are said to do one of the finest tiramisu in the world, and this is my very favourite dessert. And pizza at Al Nono Risorto – a large pizza in a casual, lively setting is said to be had here. And the prosecco is apparentlly very good value and great tasting as well.

Taverna del Campiello Remer has a courtyard that overlooks the Grand Canal and provides geeat-sounding buffets, cocktails, and live music (not every night, though). And it’s somewhere you may actually find a local or two.

Addresses

Hostaria da Franz: Castello,3499
Al Nono Risorto: Santa Croce 2337, Calle della Regina
Campiello Remer: Sestiere Cannaregio 5701

Where to stay?

The Ai Tagliapietra b&b gets great reviews. It’s good value, boasts warm and friendly decor, is quite centrally situated but in the back streets away from the hustle and bustle, and the lovely host Lorenzo meets you from your vaporetto and walks you to his b&b!

Address

Castello 4943, 30122 Venice

Superstition? Bah!

I want to visit the the south-east corner of the Piazza, the Piazetta (little Piazza) because I want to walk between the two columns. They were pilfered from Constantinople in the 12th century and dedicated to the patron saints of Venice – one features The Lion of San Marco and the other San Teodoro and his crocodile (or could it be a dragon?) Walking between them is said to be incredibly bad luck as it was where public executions took place but I don’t mind, I’m a contrary thing.

Do you have any offbeat things you’d like to do in Venice, or have done in Venice? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

A Hackney Gem: Clapton Pond in the Middle of London

Thanks to a Hackney walk I printed off yesterday, I found something that has puzzled me for a while. Ever since the 363 bus route started up a couple of years back, I’ve been wondering about Clapton Pond (end destination in one direction.)

Of course, it would’ve been easy enough to find out about it, but I’d never actually got round to looking it up (shame on me).

Anyway the pond, it turns out, is said to have existed since the early 1600s (although according to Hackney Council this hasn’t been proven, and was made a reservoir in the 1700s. Although for a time the water works constructed by Lord of the Manor Francis Tyssen, from 1760 to 1833 it successfully supplied some of the water needed for the households of London. During this time it consisted of three ponds.

The land came into private ownership and were neglected and threatened with being filled in, until it was bought in 1898 by the Hackney Vestry to provide public gardens. The miniature islands and bridge which make it look almost Japanese today were built.

In 2002 care of the site was taken over by the Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group as it was again falling into neglect, and from what I saw yesterday, they’re doing a fabulous job of keeping it up.

At this time of year, the cherry trees are in full bloom, the fountain spouting, (I’m wondering how long that will last if the drought carries on) and the willow trees are swaying in the breeze. Even on a grey day, it’s a great little spot for a break from the urban toings and froings going on around it.

Just behind the pond are the beautiful little Bishop’s Woods Almshouses, built in 1665 for poor widows, which feature the smallest chapel in England (two pews seating 10 people).

There’s a also a great corner shop just beside it that sells wine by the barrel, a great selection of flowers and plants, hot food and fresh fruit and veg. Local gal Emily from Lower Clapton has even written a blog dedicated to Palm 2 – isn’t that lovely?

Paris: Montmartre’s Cultural Treasure Trove

At the foot of Montmartre, before you mount the steps to climb to the big white church, is a former covered market called the Halle Saint Pierre. This building houses a museum, art gallery, auditorium, bookshop and cafe and specialises in fringe art (or art brut). This place is less than 20 minutes’ walk from my flat but shamefully I had never been in. I’ll be going back.

Banditi dell’Arte is their current main exhibition, running until January 2013 – it features outsider Italian art from the likes of prisoners, inmates of psychiatric institutions plus there’s a section of contemporary folk art and includes paintings, sculptures, embroidered fabric and clothing and a dining room of all things …

They also hold musical concerts including jazz and piano, hold literary events and show films from time to time (see their website for details), and there’s a lovely quiet cafe that is especially welcome in such a busy tourist area.

The bookshop in the Halle Saint Pierre is a treasure trove of pop culture and art magazines, books for adults and children, and a wonderful graphic art mag called Hey!

So, next time you’re up at Montmartre, dodge the tourists and duck into the Halle St Pierre for a moment of calm and culture-spotting.

Halle Saint Pierre address etc

2, Rue Ronsard – 75018 Paris

M° : Anvers, Abbesses
Tél. : 33 (0) 1 42 58 72 89

Open from 10h to 18h

Saturday from 10h to 19h – Sunday from 11h à 18h

Website: http://www.hallesaintpierre.org/

Holly Village and Highgate Cemetery are a Gothic Delight

After an afternoon visit to Highgate Cemetery, wander down Swains Lane towards Parliament Hill and you’ll come across a small estate of gorgeous Gothic houses. This is Holly Village.

Erected in 1865 for philanthropist Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts (grand-daughter of Thomas Coutts – founder of the bank which requires its new customers these days to have a deposit of £500000), and designed by Gothic-loving architect Henry Astley Darbishire.

As an aside, the two were also involved in the building of the now disappeared enormously Gothic Columbia Market in Bethnal Green in 1869, which was disgracefully pulled down in 1958. This was a charitable venture, intended to provide an open food market in the East End but closed in 1885 due to the power of a local monopoly in the food business.

Back to Holly Village – there is debate about whether the houses were built for Burdett-Coutts’ servants as another attempt at charity, or for purely economic reasons. The village consists of a group 8 buildings gathered around a green. There isn’t an awful lot of privacy for the residents, but I suspect that there is a nice community vibe.

The houses are built of the highest quality materials – teak wood, Portland stone, and Italian carvers were employed to carve the wood. There are small animals in the stonework (Burdett-Coutts later founded the RSPCA) as well as gargoyles, there are spires, turrets and gables. Everything you could want for a family home.

In the picture at the top of this page you’ll see two ladies on either side of the arch. These are representations of Baroness Burdett-Coutts and her companion and governess Hannah Brown. The former holds a dog, and the latter a dove.

I’ve found this great article from 2004 about a “Teletubbies-style cellar” – I wonder what happened?

Next Page »