Good Morning Humboldt County!
It’s getting colder in the mornings and that first cup of steaming coffee is golden. Grab a cup, pull up a seat, and join me. I’ve got a Halloween themed trio of stories for your entertainment this morning:
Bela Lugosi's 'Dracula' cape up for auction
The cape Bela Lugosi wore as Count Dracula in 1931 movie "Dracula" is set to be auctioned off. The cape will be one of 17 Lugosi lots consigned by the horror icon's son, Bela Lugosi, Jr., available at the Profiles in History sale in December.
Lugosi gave the cape to his wife Lillian before his death in 1956 and told her to keep it for their son. Upon Lugosi's death, the family decided that he should be buried in his Dracula costume, but given the actor's wish that his son should have the cape, the family dressed the body in a lightweight version of the cape he used when making personal appearances. Lillian Lugosi left the cape to her son upon her death in 1981.The item is expected to fetch up to $2 million when it goes under the hammer during the sale, Dec. 15 to Dec. 17.
Scary treat? Black licorice can harm heart, warns the FDA
While indulging our sweet-tooth may be a time-honored Halloween tradition, there’s one tasty morsel that could turn out to be more of a trick than a treat for some of us, the Food and Drug Administration warns.
Black licorice can lead to heart arrhythmias and other health problems when consumed by adults in large quantities, the FDA noted in its pre-holiday alert.
Experts say that consuming 2 ounces of black licorice per day for two weeks can set the heart stuttering in susceptible individuals. The culprit is a compound called glycyrrhizin, which is what gives licorice its sweet flavor.
Book a hotel room with a boo!
If you’re thinking of avoiding the trick or treaters at your door by spending Halloween in a hotel, be ready to sleep with one eye open. Hotels, lodges and B&Bs around the country are offering spooky packages that may include ghostly gifts, complimentary costumes and scary surprises.
13th floor special
The Renaissance New York Times Square and Madame Tussauds are offering a “Dare to Check-In” Halloween package that includes an after dark VIP tour of Madame Tussauds New York and a stay in a 13th floor suite decked out with scary wax figures, a séance setup, over-the-top spooky décor and special effects that follow guests into the shower. The price may be the scariest detail of all: $5,000 per night during Halloween weekend. Many Renaissance hotels outside New York City are offering less-expensive Dare to Check-In packages that include a stay in a 13th floor room, ghoulish cocktails and goodie bags filled with treats.
Bed down with the Bordens
The restored Fall River, Mass., home where an infamous, ax-wielding Lizzie Borden may – or may not – have brutally killed her father and stepmother on Aug. 4, 1892, is now a six-room bed & breakfast offering tours in the daytime and spooky stays at night. Guests may choose from bedrooms that include those once occupied by Lizzie or her parents. Those who make it through the night are served a breakfast much like the one Andrew and Abby Borden ate on their last morning. Go here for more examples
Time to walk on down the road…