San Francisco...Vampire Tour of Nob Hill! Fright Night throughout year!



If you're going to San Francisco, you  may want to skip a couple of the lame tourist attractions and go for an attraction with some bite to it!

Uh-huh.

Slip on some frightful fangs (unless you have your own which push through age-old gums on a full moon after a midnight howl) and take a trek up to Taylor & California Streets on a weekend night to mingle with the madding crowds as they tour Vampire haunts.

Although folks around the country are familiar with the tony environs of San Francisco's Nob Hill  (which has been an exclusive playground for the rich and famous for over a century) few are keen to the fact that beneath all the staid old wealth and opulence blood-sucking creatures of the eerie restless dawn reside in tunnels below the bustling city streets.

Mina Harker - an alleged 127-year-old vampire - swears to the fact.

In fact, Ms. Harker is a driving force behind the macabre tours which were created by quirky playwright (don't let that get your goat!) Kitty Burns, and which are all the rage!

Each week, without fail, Mina guides visitors on a two-hour nighttime adventure that combines Nob Hill history with vampire fantasy.

During stops at the - Nob Hill Cafe, Huntington Park, Pacific Union Club, Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels - tour members learn about San Francisco's intriguing history and vampire lore.

Locals have rated the Vampire Tour a dramatic 4 star event worth catching if you're in the Bay area.

RESERVATIONS

Telephone

650.279.1840 or
866-4-BITTEN
(866-424-8836)

Web Bookings

Viator.com

Tour Hours

Friday and Saturday nights
(@ 8:00 p.m.)

Reservations:
Highly recommended

Cost:
Admission charged

Location:
Nob Hill.
(Starts at the corner of California & Taylor Streets)

Tour Length
2 Hours
(approximate)



Gothic Style sought out by Vampire Lovers!

The Fearless Vampire Killers...Polanski film free screening @ Skirball Cultural Center...

The Skirball Cultural Center's "Jews on Celluloid" series revs up on Tuesday with a Polanski classic.

"The Fearless Vampire Killers" - starring Sharon Tate (the troubled director's former wife) - is  a comedy which will screen for free in a matinee time slot.

Info:  http://www.skirball.org

Sharon Tate bares all for Polanski's camera!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Twilight...Jacob takes beating! Wedding Bells for Bella! Victoria bites dust!

Jacob took a beating, Bella - in true biting-the-upper-lip acting style - wrestled with doubts about her future, Victoria's revengeful nature got the best of her, and a slew of blood-thirsty characters signaled the Pacific Northwest is a trouble spot bound to trigger a sequel or two in the Twilight series.

At around 9:45, the AMC theatre was relatively empty - but then - a steady gaggle of giggling girls suddenly dashed through the door last-minute (make-up touches in the ladies's room?) and into their seats to prime themselves for the much-ballyhooed event.

A screening of the latest sequel in the Twilight Series, of course!

Eclipse.

Once the title page for the 3rd segment in the Vampire saga sprang to life on the widescreen there was an endless stream of screaming throughout - specially when gooey-eyed fans spied their favorite characters - when they sauntered on screen into spotlight.

OMG!

These passionate twi-hards even squealed when the credits for  Taylor Launter, Kristen Stuart, and Robert Pattison crawled along at the end of the flick on a mundane black background.

Probably the biggest uproar occurred when Victoria got her comeuppance.

The applause and cackles of approval were deafening to the ears!

In this sequel, there is a big focus on what amounted to - in human terms - teen angst.

Before you could say "fashionista" - the characters began to make their entrances on screen in a truckload of designer threads - sure to be the envy of any Abercrombie & Fitch aficianado.

The Vampy fashion smorgasbord was a feast for the eyes!

But, the style went far beyond that!

In this fantastical Vampire thriller, going in for the kill, was no idle matter.

Indeed, the filmmakers have the honed the "Art of the Kill" and refined it to perfection.

This time out, "Twilight" is more violent in nature - and for this reason - took a departure from the fluffly image that went before it.

Much to the relief of die-hard fans - who have no doubt been getting testy about the proliferation of "cold hard stares" with no follow thru - Eclipse goes for the jugular.

So, just as I was about to fall asleep amidst the adoring sweet young things in the packed theatre all around me, I was jolted wide awake and managed to coast through on adrenlin rushes half-way through the picture and on to the end of the flick.

There were  quite a few impressive fight scenes where snarling wolves - vicious-looking characters, indeed - fought ferociously with a posse of half-naked studs flexing big time here-and-there about the wild terrain.

I wonder what Freud would think of this mixed imagery?

For romantic twi-hards, Edward and Bella were set in a field of flowers at one juncture, where the pretty young lovers whispered sweet-nothings and discussed plans for their upcoming wedding.

In a heart-to-heart, Bella quelled Edward's fears that his headstrong future mate, may be giving up too much for his sake.

Not!

In one touching moment, Bella succinctly spilled the beans.

"I'm doing this for me," she softly confessed in so many words.

"Eclipse" is a visually-stunning feature that mesmerizes one moment (and stupifies the next).

In the final analysis, it's a "surface" flick, that speaks volumes about a culture.

All style, and no substance, is the bite that kills Twilight's "Eclipse".

http://www.julianayrs.com

Twilight...trilogy screening @ AMC! 3 films for $30.00! June 29th...

For Twi-hards it is a delicious Vampire Feast!

AMC is screening the Trilogy - Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse - back-to-back at their Theatre Complex in Century City on June 29th (2010).

The price of admission includes the 3 screenings, an AMC $10.00 gift card, and a commemorative Lanyard.

Curtain:  6:30 p.m.

Info: www.AMCtheatres.com/twilight

http://www.julianayrs.com

Glee...soundtrack tops Eclipse on charts!

As the popularity of endearing hit show "Glee" soars, so do the sales for the lastest album soundtrack, "Journey to the Regionals."

In fact, "Journey" topped Twilight's "Eclipse" on the Billboard Charts, which was a phenomenal accomplishment in my estimation.

In the battle for supremacy between two major entertainment venues - the film and television mediums - it appears that tantalizing bill-of-fare on the miniature screen is surging upwards into lofty new realms.

Or, has the trend simply been triggered by tough economic times?

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Robert Pattinson...a cock tease! Prenuptials, please! Twilight character pops question!

Twilight hunk Robert Pattinson confessed that his character will pop the question to Bella in the upcoming sequel.

However, the sexy actor was tight-lipped about all the delicious romantic details.

On the subject of a potential mate in his own future, Pattinson was quick on the uptake.

"There would have to be a prenuptial," he chuckled mischievously.

Something tells me, the Brit - like Hugh Grant - is the type to slip in-between the sheets and skip the formalities (and co-habitate in "sin").

As to the "swoon" factor, Pattinson confided to one probing reporter recently, that the film's success is due to the fact the romantic dramas are sexy "without showing a lot of actual sex."

Fans pine for that moment before sex and the tipping point before it goes over, Pattinson slyly asserted.

"I mean, everybody likes that. That's the best part, for a relationship."

Robert, when I was a horny teen dude in the throes of out-of-control raging hormones, that's what us guys used to refer to as a "cock" tease.

By the way, according to insiders, Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's may throw sexual caution to the wind, and dive in to test the passionate erotic waters in Eclipse.

The much-anticipated sequel is slated for wide-screen release on June 30th.

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Twilight...Gus Van Sant or Sophia Coppola to direct final chapter? Heart-throb sought...

Vampires?

(I could milk that one dry)

Word out of the Twilight camp at Summit is that the money men are flaunting untold riches at Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) and Sophia Coppola (Daddy's talented girl) to helm the final chapter of Twilight.

Well, as final as final is, by Hollywood standards - that is!

Whispers abound that the last book to be adapated for the silver screen may end up a cliff-hanging two-parter.

Needless to say, an Oscar Award-winning director is bound to scout down their own talent for any high-profile project they are inclined to undertake, like it or not.

Hence, the rumor, that producers are anxious to put the bite on an exciting up-and-coming heart-throb to raise the stakes (and blood pressure of frenzied fans) a tad.

Or, was the dismal opening of - "Remember Me" - a death knell for sexy Robert Pattinson?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Transylmania...blood-sucking vampires sweep into theatres today! Give it the old college try...

I was blessed with an invite (from the Dark Lord, no doubt)  to catch Transylmania at a private screening the other night.

Alas, due to a scheduling conflict, it was a toss up between "T" Vampire horror or "Young Victoria" romance and high drama in jolly Old England across the big pond (circa 1800's).

Sentimental gushing fool that I am - a Canuck loyal to the Royals (when I was a mere lad of about eleven years of age I actually waved to the Queen (E II) & Prince Phillip when the staid couple cruised by in their elegant Rolls Royce in the downtown streets of Toronto a few decades ago) - I opted for the visually-stunning period piece.

But, Transylmania has just opened in theatres around the country today, so I expect I'll slip into the horror-genre bill-of-fare one day soon to wallow in all the gorey mayhem.

In a nutshell, Transylmania is about a motley group of college students who embark on the wildest, sexiest, most outrageous semester abroad ever at Razvan University.

Located deep in the heart of the “cursed land” of Transylmania in a centuries-old castle, Razvan isn’t your typical institution of higher learning.

Indeed!

Leather-clad professors in chic black, a three-foot tall Dean, classes in crucifix weddings, and topless vampiresses lurking in shadowy corners are sure to titillate even the most sensible hard-nosed browners on campus (and elswhere).

See 'ya there!

Classic Vampire film!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Twilight...stars to tour! Bloodthirsty fan demand...

Those blood-sucking Twilight Vampires are coming to an upscale Hotel near you!

Over the next three years, in response to a heated fan demand, Twilight conventions will start to tour the globe.

Organizers are still tweaking the three-day events which will feature clips from movies, panel discussions, photo ops, contests and parties, maybe even a lock of Robert Pattinson's hair!

May I suggest midnight (costumed) screenings?

Or, how about a romp in the hay with hearthrob Robert Pattinson?

http://www.julianayrs.com

Coachella Music Festival...Paul McCartney ushers in glittering star-studded opening night!

The Coachella Music Festival has rolled around once again.

Seems like just yesterday, I was musing about Prince's much-anticipated appearance on the Southern California stage last year.

The old blended with the new, a host of celebrities added glitz to the country atmosphere, and die-hard music fans lapped it all up.

In fact, some went overboard, I expect.

The police reported 18 drug-and-alcohol related arrests prior to the penning of this post.

Ecstatic fans welcomed former Beatle Paul McCartney, nonetheless, who sparked up his concert gig (his 1st appearance as a solo artist at a U.S. Music Fest) with a handful of olden-goldie mop-top tunes from yesteryear.

Renditions of "Eleanor Rigby", " The Long and Winding Road" and "My Love Does It Good" revved up the crowd right off-the-bat.

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" ended the rousing set which triggered memories of trippy-hippy days for many who crawled out of the woodwork from communes around the country to catch the much-ballyhooed musical extravaganza in Indio, California.

McCartney didn't let creeping "old age" bog him down, either.

The long-in-the-tooth musical great held his own for the two 1/2 hour set - all-the-while - sporting a youthful image in trendy boots, black pants (with spiffy suspenders attached), and classy white dress shirt.

The first day of the festival also featured Leonard Cohen (a fellow Canuck), the Hold Steady, Franz Ferdinand, Morrisey, and the popular Ting Tings.

The high-profile line up drew a number of young Hollywood stars to the desert to party-hearty under a wide blue sky, too.

Anne Hathaway chatting up fans in patterned harem pants and a cardigan; in contrast, "Twilight" actor Robert Pattinson was inclined to go casual in body-fitting cut-off jeans.

Kirsten Dunst basked in the glow in a short-sleeve mini-dress backstage in the VIP section, along with other fringe celebs like "Weird Al" Yankovic, Chloe Sevigny, Kate Bosworth and Zoe Kravitz.

One of my favorite bands, The Killers, is lined up for a Saturday performance!

Despite tough economic times, Coachella has not experienced any fall-out or even faced the need to cut-back on the festivities!

Tickets have sold stridently and attendance is at an all-time high.

If music be the food of the soul, then there appears to be a lot of spiritual nourishment going down at Coachella this week-end.

In addition to a lot of good old-fashioned high-spirited fun!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Twilight...heart-throb Robert Pattinson gets squeals from fans!

I don't recall the last time I was in a movie theatre - and the fans let out squeals of delight - when the object of their desire sauntered onto the screen!

But, that's what happened last night at the Grove.

When Robert Pattinson (the romantic lead star of "Twilight") strode into the landscape, filmgoers reacted as if he was making a grand entrance on the theatrical stage.

I'd hazzard a guess there were a few wet panties in the darkened Theatre below the floodlights, too!

When the film opened at midnight recently at Universal Studios in the Valley, teenage girls dragged their reluctant boyfriends (or best buds) to share in the emotional thrill.

For the most part, the dudes just tagged along and sheepishly shrugged.

What was a boy to do?

I can attest to Mr. Pattinson's appeal in the flesh.

A couple of weeks ago, the screen Vampire strolled within inches of me at a red carpet event.

Up-close, he boasts alabaster skin, luscious strands of jet-black hair (in preparation for a role perhaps?) that free-flowed from a prominent brow, and wide mischievous eyes brimming with an intriguing light beaming out from behind 'em.

Definitely studly hearth-throb material!

Onscreen, though, his brooding face looked as if it had been swathed in a ubiquitious (and unflattering) thin white paste.

And, his lips were almost laughable, so pretty a shade of lipstick red were they.

Dramatic, yes. Natural, no.

His acting style was a little stilted in Twilight, too.

Although the opening scenes called for awkward moments between his character and that of Ms. Kirsten Stewart (Bella), his on-camera mannerisms tended to be stiff, unconvincing, and forced.

In contrast, Stewart was at ease; each and every moment on the silver screen resonated with a breath of truth.

I expect that once Mr. Pattinson settles into the role (judging by the closing scenes, there will be a sequel or two, by the way) he'll become more believable in the daunting role.

Til then, I expect his pubescent fans will have a word or two for me.

"Frankly, we don't give a damn."

The eye candy is enough to snack on for now, 'til something meatier comes along.