When we saw Brain Zoubek in person against Collingswood in the South Jersey championship game during his senior season we had one thought: “This guy is the next Eric Montross, a seven-foot stiff.”

Haddonfield, N.J., native and Duke senior Brian Zoubek is showing signs of life in his senior year.

He just was not physical and looked at the referees every time he ended up on the ground against a scrappy Collingswood squad.

The start to his Duke career is clearly not what Coach K envisioned when recruiting the Haddonfield native as a sophomore. He pretty much rode the pine his first couple of years and battled injuries. Even this year, his senior season, he is not starting.

Today, however, may have been his coming out party as he helped Duke control the offensive boards in a 68-59 win over UConn. Zoubek, who played 21 minutes, swept the glass for 11 boards, including eight on the offensive end.

While he may be starting to show a rebounding prowess, the kid still managed just two points on 1-of-5 shooting. Having said that, he did manage to rack up three assists.

If he can continue progressing this season in big0-time games like this, he may put himself back in the mix as a potential late first round pick next spring.

Friday night, in front of a somewhat bland and non energetic crowd, the number two ranked West Deptford Eagles lost in the final seconds to the Haddonfield Bulldawgs 15-13.

As a result, the Eagles were bumped out of the playoffs and had their championship dreams thwarted. The offensive and defensive lines looked out of character and were not as stellar as shown in previous games.  Running back Jimmy Owens managed to do all he could dispite constant pressure and little blocking in front of him.

The Eagles will play one more game Saturday morning in what has become a tradition in West Deptford. The annual Thanksgiving game against the Paulsboro Red Raiders.

You can read the full game story about last nights defeat.

Halloween II (2009)
★ / ★★★★

Written and directed by Rob Zombie, “Halloween II” is a complete waste of time. What I really liked with Zombie’s 2007 interpretation of the 1978 classic was that it really tried to tell a story. The 2007 film spent a third of its time explaining Michael Myers’ psychology as a child–something that other “Halloween” movies that came before did not do. With this 2009 sequel, we’re back again on the level of wait-and-kill without any sort of plot to drive the story forward. Basically, Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) wanted to hunt down Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) a year after they had a showdown in Haddonfield. Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Loomis (Malcolm McDowell), Michael’s ex-psychiatrist, wrote a book about the killings and tried to wrestle with the media’s barrage of questions and his conscience (or lack thereof). In my opinion, Dr. Loomis’ storyline should totally not have gone in that direction. Instead, we should have followed Dr. Loomis’ mission (or downright obsession) to hunt down Michael and protect Laurie from him. That’s much more interesting (and relevant) than scenes of him signing books and being interviewed on some television shows. As for Michael’s rampage, although I still thought that the stalking and violent scenes were very gruesome, none of it was particularly scary. Well, except for that scene in the hospital which occured during the first twenty minutes (the only effective scene in the whole movie). I also hated the fact that Zombie decided to inject Deborah Myers’ ghost (Sheri Moon Zombie as Michael’s mother) into the storyline. Not only was such a decision poorly executed, the scenes were downright laughable. If I wanted to see a ghost story with a psychological aspect to it, I’d watch “The Others” because that one was actually chilling to the bone (not to mention clever). Slasher fans simply do not pay ten bucks or so to watch a slasher flick with ghosts roaming about and supposedly instigating the broken mind of a killer. I went into this movie with an above average expectations because the 2007 version was very enjoyable. But after watching this movie, I think Zombie should just stop. He doesn’t quite grasp the idea of the brilliance that comes with simplicity and a truly terrifying soundtrack, which defined John Carpenter’s 1978 “Halloween” classic.

Halloween (1978)
★★★★ / ★★★★

“I met him fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes… the devil’s eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy’s eyes was purely and simply… evil.”

John Carpenter’s 1978 independent “Halloween” masterpiece will forever be one of my favorite films. With such a microscale budget, Carpenter, the production team and the actors managed to accomplish so much. “Halloween” stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode who, among with her friends Lynda (P.J. Soles) and Annie (Nancy Loomis), was stalked by a masked killer named Michael Myers (Tony Moran). Michael killed his sister when he was six years old and was sent to a psychiatric hospital under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence). Michael’s madness became much worse over the years and he escaped the night before Halloween 1978 to return to his hometown in Haddonfield, Illinois.

This picture invented the slasher flick that plagued the 1980’s because of its craft. The first scene of this film was an absolute milestone because we saw Michael kill his sister through his eyes as he wore a clown mask. The way he grabbed the knife from the kitchen drawer, walked up the stairs, and went for the kill was terrifying because it was done by a child without any sort of reason (or emotion) behind his actions. After the murder, when his parents discovered him with the knife, it looked as if he had no idea what he had done, like he was possessed by the devil.

Fast-forward to 1978, we got to meet Laurie and two of her friends. Laurie, obviously different from the other two because she’s actually interested in books and not so much interested in boys (or maybe her shyness often got the best of her), was established as the protagonist. She cared about the children she babysat (unlike the other two) by letting them have fun on Halloween, such as carving pumpkins, making popcorn, and watching scary rated R movies on TV, as long as they remained safe and refrained from scaring each other. In broad daylight, we were able to see Michael following them around–appearing in an area one minute and disappearing the next–something that slasher movies of today rarely do. (Not all stalkers only come out at night after all.) There were also very amusing scenes between the three friends, which I thought was a good move from Carpenter because it made them very relatable. That was important because we all know that Michael would eventually go after them. Why was he obsessed with the three girls? We don’t exactly know. Maybe he saw qualities of sister in them or maybe not. To me, that’s why I thought the picture worked: it retained elements of mystery and it was up to us to draw our own conclusions.

The soundtrack was something I would never forget because it was downright creepy and it set the tone of certain scenes. A particular track was specific to an event that was about to transpire so we came to know what to expect (a stalking scene, a false alarm, or going for the kill). However, the brilliance of it was we don’t know when exactly the scare or “Boo!” moment would happen. When they finally do happen, they come with maximum effect due to excellent timing. Unlike most modern horror films, the soundtrack in this movie was used as little as possible. It also means that Carpenter knew when to use silence. Sometimes silence meant nothing but sometimes silence meant something really bad was about to happen.

My absolute favorite scene was the showdown between Laurie and Michael in the last twenty minutes. It still gives me the chills whenever I watch Laurie crossing the street to go into the house where two of her friends were murdered. Since the lights were all off yet she was getting phone calls from the house pretty much all night, at first she thought they were playing a joke on her. But when she finally reached the bedroom, she realized that none of it was a joke. While she was busy entertaining the kids across the street, Michael was busy with the body count. There was also that scene when she finally got out from the neighbor’s house (not an easy feat considering Michael blocked the exits) as she tried screaming for help but no one would open their doors to offer her refuge. She then had no choice but to go back to the house where she was babysitting… but she couldn’t find the keys in her pocket.

There’s a plethora of social commentaries that could be drawn from this film, which were immortalized as clichés in future slasher flicks like “Friday the 13th,” “Prom Night,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and the like. However, I’m not going to mention them all here because I think it’s best for you to try to see them yourself. But I do want to mention how impressed I was with how the concept of the “boogeyman” evolved from a simple folklore (when the kids tried to scare each other) to a personification of evil that one cannot kill (when Laurie tried to kill Michael time and time again but he always managed to “return from the dead”). The concept of the boogeyman finally culminated in the last minute of the film when Laure conceded, “It WAS the boogeyman” and the movie showed us familiar places with Michael breathing in the background–places that have been touched by evil and would never be the same again.

For those who have seen a plethora of movies, “Halloween” is almost always on their list of being one of the best horror films ever made. It’s not difficult to understand why considering how much it impacted the collective media unconscious. I consider it one of the best movies I’ve seen, not just in the horror genre, because of how it made me feel when I first watched it. There was a certain darkness to it that shook me to the core and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. And when I see it again from time to time on television as Halloween nears, I may smile during certain scenes and not look as scared as before. But the same thoughts regarding “What if I was in her shoes?” quickly flood my mind and I can’t help but feel affected. Though it may not scare you because you’re used to seeing blood delivered in gallons in modern horror movies (personally, I think blood is just gross and not at all scary), it would most likely earn your respect for being well ahead of its time in terms of craft and context.

If  Michael Myers had a cell phone,

he wouldn’t need to hold a knife.

There would be no time to kill

in his new and busy life.

All those features are distracting–

there are a dozen decent games.

And the oversized address book

holds fifteen thousand names.

Haddonfield has two cell towers

so reception would be grand–

he could call up every Strode

with his Friends and Family Plan.

But his stalking would be over with,

his killing spree would end.

Creeping up and down the block

would be left to other men.

And it’s practically impossible

to hide for very long

when your cellphone’s cheesy ring tone

is the “Halloween” theme song.

There are no ear holes to speak of

in the mask he wears around.

He would have to take it off

to maximize the sound.

So there goes all the secrecy—

his face would then be shown.

He’d be just another jackass schmo

chatting on his phone.

Just having a little fun at the expense of all 12 Sun Signs…feel free to defend your sign or claim the bloody title.

Halloween is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, USA on Halloween. The original draft of the screenplay was titled The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter directed the film, which stars Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Nick Castle, Tony Moran and Tommy Lee Wallace sharing the role of Michael Myers (listed in the credits as “The Shape”). The film centers on Myers’ escape from a psychiatric hospital, his murdering of teenagers, and Dr. Loomis’ attempts to track and stop him. Halloween is widely regarded as a classic among horror films, and as one of the most influential horror films of its era. In 2006 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Halloween was produced on a budget of $320,000 and grossed $47 million at the box office in the United States, equivalent to over $150 million as of 2008, becoming one of the most profitable independent films. Many critics credit the film as the first in a long line of slasher films inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). The movie originated many clichés found in low-budget horror films of the 1980s and 1990s. However, the film contains little graphic violence and gore.

Critics have suggested that Halloween and its slasher film successors may encourage sadism and misogyny. Others have suggested the film is a social critique of the immorality of young people in 1970s America, pointing out that many of Myers’ victims are sexually promiscuous substance abusers, while the lone heroine is depicted as chaste and innocent (although she is seen smoking a joint). While Carpenter dismisses such analyses, the perceived parallel between the characters’ moral strengths and their likelihood of surviving to the film’s conclusion has nevertheless become a standard slasher movie trope.

Trivia:

• There are numerous references in John Carpenter’s movies, particularly in this film, that are taken from the area surrounding the town he grew up in – Bowling Green, KY. The performance of the film’s musical score is credited to “The Bowling Green Philharmonic.” There is no Philharmonic in Bowling Green. The “orchestra” is actually Carpenter and assorted musical friends. In one scene the subtitle depicts the location as “Smiths Grove, IL.” Smiths Grove is actually a small town of about 600 people located 15 miles north of Bowling Green on I-65. There are also numerous references in Halloween to street names that are major roads in the greater Bowling Green area.
• As the movie was actually shot in early spring in southern California (as opposed to Illinois in late October), the crew had to buy paper leaves from a decorator and paint them in the desired autumn colors, then scatter them in the filming locations. To save money, after a scene was filmed, the leaves were collected and reused. However, as Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter note on the DVD audio commentary, the trees are quite full and green and even some palm trees can be seen, despite that in Illinois in October, the leaves would probably be mostly gone and there would be no palm trees.
• Jamie Lee Curtis’ first feature film.
• Due to its shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest mask that they could find in the costume store: a Captain Kirk (William Shatner) mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes.
• The kids watch the opening of The Thing from Another World (1951) on TV. Carpenter would later re-make this film himself in 1982 as The Thing (1982).
• Halloween was shot in 21 days in April of 1978. Made on a budget of $320,000, it became the highest-grossing independent movie ever made at that time.
• According to screenwriter/producer Debra Hill, the character of Laurie Strode was named after John Carpenter’s first girlfriend.
• Tommy Doyle’s name was from Rear Window (1954) and Sam Loomis’ name is from Psycho (1960).
• Inside Laurie’s bedroom there is a poster of a painting by James Ensor (1860-1949). Ensor was a Belgian expressionist painter who used to portray human figures wearing grotesque masks.
• The film takes place primarily in Haddonfield, Illinois. Haddonfield, NJ is the home town of screenwriter Debra Hill.
• The performance of Halloween’s musical score is credited to “The Bowling Green Philharmonic”. There is no Philharmonic in Bowling Green. The “orchestra” is actually John Carpenter and assorted musical friends.
• All of the actors wore their own clothes, since there was no money for a costume department. Jamie Lee Curtis went to J.C. Penney for Laurie Strode’s wardrobe. She spent less than a hundred dollars for the entire set. She shot the film while on hiatus from the sitcom Operation Petticoat (1977) (TV).
• The character of Michael Myers was named after the European distributor of Carpenter’s previous film, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) as a kind of weird “thank you” for the film’s overseas success.
• Tommy’s Halloween costume is an Alphan uniform from “Space: 1999″ (1975).

• The opening shot appears to be a single, tracking, point of view shot, but there are actually three cuts. The first when the mask goes on, and the second and third after the murder has taken place and the shape is exiting the room. This was done to make the point of view appear to move faster.
• The name of the sheriff is “Leigh Brackett”. Leigh Brackett was also the name of the screenwriter of Howard Hawks’ classic Rio Bravo (1959), which was the inspiration for John Carpenter’s previous film, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976).
• Kyle Richards, who plays Lindsey Wallace, is the sister of Kim Richards, who appeared in John Carpenter’s previous film, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976).
• Half of the $320,000 budget was spent on the Panavison cameras so the film would have a 2:35:1 scope. Donald Pleasence was paid $20,000 for 5 days work.
• Carpenter approached Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee to play the Sam Loomis role (that was eventually played by Donald Pleasence) but both turned him down. Lee later said it was it was the biggest mistake he ever made in his career.
• Morgan Strode’s black Fleetwood (seen in the driveway when he is talking to Laurie early in the movie) belonged to director John Carpenter, while the Phelps Garage truck was owned by the company that catered for the film.
• Anne Lockhart was John Carpenter’s first choice for the role of Laurie Strode.
• None of the big studios at the time was interested in distributing the movie, so executive producer Irwin Yablans decided to distribute the film via his own company (Compass International). MCA/Universal produced and distributed the next two sequels in the early ’80s.
• Aside from dialogue, the script cites Michael Myers by name only twice. In the opening scene, he is called a POV until he is revealed at age 6. From the rest of the script on out he is referred to as a “shape” until Laurie rips his mask off in the final scene (which he never reapplies in the script). “The Shape”, as credited in the film, refers to when his face is masked or obscured.
• P.J. Soles was dating Dennis Quaid at the time of filming, so John Carpenter and Debra Hill wanted to cast him in the role of Bob. Unfortunately, Quaid was busy working on another project and John Michael Graham was cast in the role instead.
• John Carpenter provides the voice of Annie’s boyfriend, Paul, whom we hear on the phone talking to Annie.
• The original script, titled “The Babysitter Murders”, had the events take place over the space of several days. It was a budgetary decision to change the script to have everything happen on the same day (doing this reduced the number of costume changes and locations required) and it was decided that Halloween, the scariest night of the year, was the perfect night for this to happen.
• When they were shooting the scenes for the start of the film (all the ones seen from Michael’s point of view) they couldn’t get the 6-year old child actor until the last day, so the movie’s producer, Debra Hill, volunteered to be Michael for any scenes where his hands come into view. This is why the nails on young Michael’s hands look so well manicured and varnished.
• The cinematography for the Halloween sequence in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) was the inspiration for the look of Carpenter’s color scheme.
• Donald Pleasence did all of his scenes in only 5 days of shooting.
• When Dr. Loomis is talking to the doctors in the empty classroom, Dr. Loomis is sitting in seat #37.
• Sheriff Brackett was named after film-noir writer Leigh Brackett.
• According to Don Post Jr., President of Don Post Studios, the famous California mask making company, the filmmakers originally approached his firm about custom making an original mask for use in the film. The filmmakers explained that they could not afford the numerous costs involved in creating a mask from scratch, but would offer Post points in the movie as payment for his services. Post declined their offer, as he received many such proposals from numerous unknown filmmakers all the time, but suggested that they repaint/refurbish the “Captain Kirk” masks eventually used in the film, which eventually was done, and which netted Mr. Post a profit of less than $100. Post later estimated, after the film became a hit, that if he had accepted the original offer for points in the film in exchange for his creation of an original mask, his profit would have run well over $100,000.
• Yul Brynner’s robot character from Westworld (1973) was the inspiration for the character of Michael Myers.
• The song that is playing on the radio when Laurie and Annie are in the car is “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult.
• This was voted the fifth scariest film of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
• The “Myers” house was a locale found in South Pasadena that was largely the decrepit, abandoned place seen in the majority of the film. However, as the house had to look ordinary (and furnished) for the early scenes with the young Michael Myers, almost the whole cast and crew worked together to clean the place, move in furniture, put up wallpaper, and set up running water and electricity, and then take it all out when they were through.
• Much credit for the concept must go to its producer Irwin Yablans, who had the concept originally for a horror film called “The Babysitter Murders”. Upon further research, Yablans discovered to his surprise that no previous film had been titled “Halloween” and thought it would be a great concept to set these “babysitter murders” on the holiday. With these ideas, Yablans convinced an excited John Carpenter to write and direct a film around them.
• The wealthy film producer Moustapha Akkad had admittedly little interest in this film and helped make it primarily due to the enthusiasm of John Carpenter and Irwin Yablans. However, when the film turned out to be a huge box-office smash, Akkad saw an opportunity and has since facilitated every ‘Halloween’ sequel.
• The adult Michael Myers was portrayed by Nick Castle in almost every scene, except for some pick-up shots and the unmasking scene, where he was replaced by Tony Moran. Castle was a school-buddy of John Carpenter and was thought of by Carpenter because he was tall and had what Carpenter considered an interesting walk. Castle admitted he was disappointed to not be the face shown, but understood that Carpenter wanted a more “angelic” face to juxtapose with Myers’ ghastly deeds. Castle has gone on to become a successful director.
• John Carpenter was quite intimidated by Donald Pleasence, of whom he was a big fan and who was easily the oldest and most experienced person on set. Although Pleasance asked Carpenter difficult questions about his character, Pleasance turned out to be a good-humored, big-hearted individual and the two became great friends.
• Of the female leads (all the girls are supposed to be in high school), only Jamie Lee Curtis was actually a teenager at the time of shooting.
• The long tracking shot at the beginning was inspired by the tracking shot in Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil (1958). The shot would have been impossible to achieve on the film’s budget if it wasn’t for the recent invention of the steadicam tracking system.
• P.J. Soles says the word “totally” eleven times.
• Before Don Post became involved, Michael was going to wear a clown mask.
• Laurie remarks that she would rather go out with unseen character “Ben Tramer”. The name came from Bennett Tramer, an old college friend of director John Carpenter. The real Bennett Tramer has also had a career in the motion picture industry as a writer and producer.
• A young Jamie Lee Curtis was so disappointed with her performance that she became convinced she would be fired after only the first day of filming. When her phone rang that night and it was John Carpenter on the phone, Curtis was certain it was the end of her movie career. Instead, Carpenter called to congratulate her and tell her he was very happy with the way things had gone.
• The Halloween theme is written in the rare 5/4 time signature. John Carpenter learned this rhythm from his father.
• The scene where The Shape seems to appear out of the darkness behind Laurie was accomplished by using a simple dimmer switch on the light that slowly illuminated the mask.
• One of the characters is named “Marion Chambers”. Marion was the first name of the female protagonist of Psycho (1960), and Chambers was the last name of the sheriff in that movie.
• That Michael Myers could drive a car despite having gotten committed to an asylum at the age of six inspired many guffaws. The first movie novelization came up with a simple but effective explanation: when Doctor Loomis drove Michael to sanity hearings over the years, Michael simply watched very closely and carefully as Doctor Loomis operated the car. Remember, even if Michael sat in the back seat and there was a screen of bulletproof glass partition, Michael could still look over the Doctor’s shoulder without Loomis realizing the significance.
• According to an additional scene in the extended television version, Michael Myers’ middle name is Audrey.
• Carpenter wrote the part of Lynda for P.J. Soles after seeing her performance in Brian De Palma’s Carrie (1976).
• Although Nick Castle plays the part of Michael Myers throughout the film, when his mask is removed by Laurie at the climax, another actor Tony Moran was used.
• The opening POV sequence took 2 days to film.
• Carpenter composed the score in 4 days.
• For its first airing on television, extra scenes had to be added to make it fit the desired time slot. Carpenter filmed these during the production of Halloween II (1981) against his better judgment.
• Donald Pleasence confessed to John Carpenter that the main reason why he took the part of Loomis was because his daughter Angela loved Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 (1976).
• Carpenter considered the hiring of Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock who had given her mother, Janet Leigh, legendary status in Psycho (1960).
• Carpenter’s intent with the character of Michael Myers was that the audience should never be able to relate to him.
• Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill have stated many times over the years that they did not consciously set out to depict virginity as a way of defeating a rampaging killer. The reason why the horny teens all die is simply that they’re so preoccupied with getting laid that they don’t notice that there’s a killer at large. Laurie Strode, on the other hand, spends a lot of time on her own and is therefore more alert.
• As the film was shot out of sequence, Carpenter created a fear meter so that Jamie Lee Curtis would know what level of terror she should be exhibiting.
• Debra Hill wrote most of the dialog for the female characters, while Carpenter concentrated on Dr Loomis’s speeches.
• As the film was made in spring, the crew had huge difficulty in procuring pumpkins.
• Production designer Tommy Lee Wallace picked the iconic mask in a dime store. It was a mask of Captain Kirk and cost $1.98. Wallace spray painted the eyes to change the appearance (and also to avoid the risk of litigation).
• From a budget of $325,000 the film went on to gross $47 million at the US box office. In 2008 takings that would be the equivalent of $150 million, making “Halloween” one of the most successful independent films of all time.
• Prior to the movie, a book was written by Curtis Richards, and reveals more of the story behind Michael’s rage. However, the book is very rare.
• Nancy Kyes (Annie Brackett) starred in at least three other Carpenter films, one being another of the Halloween franchise; Halloween III: Season of the Witch. The others are The Fog and Assault on Precinct 13.

!!!

I decided to do a mini-collage of photos on my recent trip to Haddonfield. Unfortunately the rain decided to make a visit as well. It definitely has that quaint little town vibe for sure. Their main strip, on Kings Highway, is full of interesting places to eat and shop. I also noticed an unusually high number of hair salons, so if you’re in need of a trim, there is no “shortage”. They even have their very own dinosaur. That’s right! The Hadrosaurus inhabited this town. Its remains were found in the 1800s. 

I recommend making your trip during the day or early evening as their stores and restaurants close rather early. However, I enjoyed myself even with the shops closed. There is a Starbucks that remains open later.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers is a 1988 independently-released horror film and the fourth installment in the Halloween series. The film revolves around Michael Myers once more after his absence in Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Directed by Dwight H. Little, the film stars Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers, Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis, Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd, and George P. Wilbur as Michael Myers. The central plot focuses on Michael Myers 10 years after his 1978 killing spree in Haddonfield, Illinois. It is revealed that he is comatose and barely alive at the Ridgemont Federal Sanitarium, and his sister Laurie Strode has been killed in a car accident. While Michael is being transferred to Smith’s Grove, he escapes and goes to Haddonfield, where he attempts to kill his niece Jamie Lloyd — revealed to be Laurie’s daughter.

As the title suggests, Halloween 4 marks the return of Michael Myers, the central villain of Halloween and Halloween II, due to his absence in Halloween III. Initially, John Carpenter and co-producer Debra Hill retired the Myers plot outline after the second installment of the series, intending to feature a new Halloween-related film every sequel, of which Halloween III would be the first. However, due to the lack of success of the third film, Halloween 4 re-introduced a Michael Myers related plot.

Tagline:  Ten Years Ago HE Changed The Face Of Halloween. Tonight HE’S BACK!

Trivia:

• Series creator John Carpenter wrote a treatment for this film, that was a more ghostly psychological approach to the Michael Myers mythos. It concerned the town of Haddonfield and what effect the events of the first two films have had on the it’s citizens. This concept was later rejected by the producers in favor of the typical slasher fare, at which point in time John Carpernter bailed out of the film, making this the first film in the series to have no participation from him.
• The girl who drove Rachel and Jamie to the costume store was named Lindsey and is approximately 17 years old. In Halloween (1978), Jamie Lee Curtis babysat a seven year old named Lindsey.
• After viewing a rough edit it was decided that the movie was too soft, so they brought in special effects wizard John Carl Buechler for one day of extra “blood” filming. The thumb in the forehead and the redneck’s head getting twisted were both done by him.
• A construction paper cutout of Michael Myers can be seen on a door on the second floor of the school just as Jamie and Dr. Loomis climb the stairs.
• Melissa Joan Hart auditioned for the role of Jamie.
• Alan B. McElroy wrote the script in 11 days and beat the writer’s strike by mere hours.
• Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) of “The Brady Bunch” (1969) was the production assistant. His wife, Kelly Lookinland, played the dead waitress.
• The gaffer, Garlan Wilde, was seriously injured during the filming of the Michael and Brady confrontation. Garlan was putting up a light and fell and cut his wrists; he was quickly rushed to the hospital.
• Leaves had to be imported and squash was painted to look like pumpkins.
• Dwight H. Little did extensive research on the history of Halloween and many of its harvest images were put in the creepy opening sequence.
• The shoot lasted about 41 days and Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris were required to be on set for 36 of those days.
• During production of the rooftop chase, Ellie Cornell was injured by a protruding nail as she slid down the roof. After a quick trip to the local hospital she finished the scene with her bandages in place. According to Danielle Harris, “It didn’t even faze her.”
• The drugstore set was also used in Stephen King’s _”Stand, The” (1994) (mini)_.
• Originally, when Jamie and Loomis were trapped in the school, Jamie hid in a classroom under a desk. Michael entered searching for her, throwing the desks over. Although they had no time to film this in Halloween 4, the sequence was remembered by Moustapha Akkad and later re-used in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998).
• In the schoolhouse, Michael’s mask appears to have blonde hair. This was actually the original Captain Kirk mask used in Halloween (1978) and over time the hair had changed gradually. The filmmakers had the intention of reusing the mask in this sequel but felt it had changed too much and decided to make their own. Several scenes were re-shot with the replacement mask.
• In the original script, Sheriff Meeker was killed in a battle with Michael in the basement where the furnace was knocked over and caused the house to catch on fire. Originally, the house was supposed to be up in flames during the infamous rooftop sequence. This was eliminated due to budgetary constraints and Sheriff Meeker was kept alive.
• In Jamie’s introduction, she’s sitting in the living room staring outside at the ambulance. Later, it shows the ambulance has disappeared. In the script, Jamie was staring outside at the rain, and the ambulance appeared after she had turned away. This was changed in editing for unknown reasons.
• In the original script, Rachel hit Michael with the truck five times. While shooting they reduced it to three and in editing it came out as one.
• In the original script the film opened with a shot of a long hospital corridor suddenly blowing up and throwing Loomis from the explosion, in a reference to the end of ‘Halloween II (1981)’ in order to show how Loomis survived. It was later decided the film should not have any connections to the predecessors and the explosive opening was never shot.
• Jamie’s name was Brittany in the original script but was changed in homage to Jamie Lee Curtis.
• Rebecca Schaeffer auditioned for the role of Rachel.
• George P. Wilbur wore hockey pads under the jumpsuit to give Michael Myers a much more imposing figure. This is revealed in the documentary “Inside Halloween 5″, where it is revealed that Don Shanks, who played Michael Myers in Halloween 5 (1989), was big enough that this was not required.
• At the bottom of the stairs where the TV is in Meeker’s home a pair of plastic hands are visible. This is possibly a direct reference to the silver hands seen in mother’s bedroom in Psycho (1960).

Should you use clay brick permeable pavers or clay brick conventional pavers?

Yes.

Kings Court hardscape by Alberto and Associates uses both conventional and permeable pavers.

Using both can give you the look and durability that you get with clay brick pavers while adding in a new design element and stormwater control at the same time.

That’s how it was with Kings Court, an 11,000-square foot plaza that anchors one end of the pedestrian-friendly main street in Haddonfield, N.J, just outside Philadelphia. The installation won a Bronze Brick In Architecture Award from the Brick Industry Association.

Click image for enlarged view.

The installation had a not-uncommon problem, the ground in front of the Colonial-era buildings would quickly saturate in rainstorms and cause flooding.

Paul Monson, a project designer for Haddonfield.-based architecture firm Alberto & Associates, said that’s because the ground was effectively sealed against water. In the past, Kings Court was paved with clay brick pavers set in concrete, which meant that when the rains came, the water had nowhere to go.

Monson said that the solution was a combination of RainPave Full Range permeable pavers and Rumbled Full Range conventional pavers.

Monson said the combination of pavers was used as a visual design element, in keeping with the Colonial-era surroundings. The design includes directional herringbone patterns that encourage movement, while paver and stone patterns and borders define areas of rest and activity.

(Clay brick pavers) are less slippery, they’re durable and they can be repaired in small sections. To have sections that essentially look the same but are able to infiltrate the stormwater was a way that (both) could be used in the design.—Paul Monson

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

 

 

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is the 1989 sequel to the popular horror film, Halloween. It was directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard and starred Donald Pleasence, who again portrayed Dr. Sam Loomis and Danielle Harris, who returned to play Jamie Lloyd. The film takes place exactly one year after the events depicted in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. The Shape has returned to the sleepy town of Haddonfield, Illinois to murder his niece, Jamie, who is now mute. Dr. Loomis tries to save the day with the help of Sheriff Meeker.

This is the least successful Halloween film in the franchise. The film was rushed into production too quickly, without even a final draft of the script. The tagline for the film was “Michael Lives. And This Time, They’re Ready!”

Trivia:

• The bus that the Man in Black gets off of stops outside the exact same store where Jamie and Rachel went to get a Halloween costume in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988).
• Rachel was originally supposed to be stabbed in the throat with scissors but the actress, Ellie Cornell, felt it was too gruesome an end for her character, so it was changed.
• Don Shanks revealed in an interview that many of the scenes involving the man in black had him playing the character, because of speculation that he was a blood relative of Michael Myers. He also admitted that even the writers uncertain about the man in black’s identity.
• The Man In Black shots were re-shot in the UK for unknown reasons with an unknown British extra. The extra was uncredited.
• The scene where Michael Myers drives a car while wearing a different kind of mask was initially scripted to have him wear a Ronald Reagan mask. However, the idea of a Reagan mask was soon rejected in order to keep the film devoid of any political subtexts.
• On the audio commentary for the DVD it’s stated that Greg Nicotero and Wendy Kaplan were seeing each other during filming.
• KNB Effects had designed grotesque facial makeup for Michael Myers’ unmasking towards the end of the film. The producers told them to do so as an option, either showing Michael’s badly scarred face or keep it in the dark. They went for the latter.
• In the infamous laundry chute scene, Jamie was originally stabbed in the leg but the shot was cut from the film by the MPAA because it was deemed “too disturbing”. Danielle Harris still owns the prosthetic leg.
• The laundry chute scene was filmed with 30 different sections of the laundry chute. Some were full props, others were positioned horizontally to run the camera through on a dolly, and others were various sections that had cut-out portions for filming. Although the scene was very complex, it was all shot in one night.
• As part of the opening, an alternate scene was shot but never used. The scene shows a man who finds Michael Myers body at the beginning and removes his mask, staring at it weirdly. The filming of it can be seen in the documentary, “Inside Halloween 5″.
• For some reason, the directors chose to renovate one of the homes in Utah to recreate the Myers house instead of using the original Myers home, which would be later used in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995).
• Director Dominique Othenin-Girard’s name is incorrectly spelled “Dominique Otherin-Girard” in the opening credits.

Amazon Specials!

1. Make an “I’ll Miss List!” There are several items you’ll probably miss when you leave your house.  These items are normally excellent marketing featured to promote to potential buyers.  Take time to make note of the things you enjoy and will miss when the sale is completed and you’ve moved from your house.  Items you appreciate are items someone else will enjoy too!
2. Know the Facts! Most buyers will have questions about taxes, lot size, utility costs and other pertinent information about your property.  It’s always a good idea to know the facts and to have this information available for potential consumers looking at your real estate.  Take time to research this information and have it readily available for buyers and or real estate agents.
3. Recent Repairs. Most borrowers need to know about any recent updates or repairs or additions you’ve made to your home.  For example, a new roof, furnace or central air, hot water heater are all important to note.  If so, what was the cost, when was it installed and who did the work are all note worthy features to have for buyers and agents while selling your property.  Any items of repair or newly added during your tenure should be listed on a separate sheet if at all possible.  It’s also a good idea to furnish copies of paid receipts if you choose on the items repaired or installed with the property to validate these costs.  Sometimes placing this information in a binder is a good idea and marketing feature to show buyers and agents.
4. Replace Light Bulbs.  Changing light bulbs to a higher wattage can be an aid in brightening rooms and giving a more spacious feel to your rooms.  Always check the light fixture and the maximum wattage and do not add bulbs above the recommended usage.  You can also add a drop of vanilla extract to bulbs on lamps to aid in providing a fresh smell to rooms if needed.
5. Remove Any Heirlooms or Keepsakes. Many times sellers will want to keep certain items that have sentimental value to them such as a light fixture or wall mirror that has been affixed to the real property.  If you have an items that you plan to replace so you can keep then you should do so prior to any showings.  Once buyers visit your property and begin making offers to purchase on your property it’s generally hard to negotiate these items off of the offer to purchase.
6. Clean the Gutters and Add Extensions Where Needed. You never know when your property may be shown and if it’s a day that is raining the last thing you want to portray is a house where the water is gushing over the gutters and downspouts.  Making sure the gutters are cleaned and extensions move the water away from your foundation is always a good idea for continued maintenance of your home and shows buyers your commitment to caring for your home and keeping it in tip top shape.
7. Hire a Building Inspection. Let’s face it, you want to sell your home.  If so, it’s probably not a bad idea to have a building inspector look at your home and make a list of repairs or items they feel need to be fixed prior to marketing your property.  After all many homebuyers will have a home inspection too so this type of pre-inspection will help to get any potential problems a future inspector might have corrected in advance.  Many buyers will also get “cold” feet if the inspection shows too many needed repairs on their report.  By fixing these issues in advance you can ward off these potential future problems.
8. Don’t appear to Anxious! Many sellers will sometimes point out too many facts or features about the home and often sound too anxious or the need to sell quickly.  This attitude can hurt you with your negotiating with the buyers and often cost you several thousands of dollars.  You might note that this is one reason many sellers feel the need to hire a real estate agent to help with the negotiations with the buyers.
9. Have Your House Appraised. It’s usually a good idea to hire an independent appraiser when you’re selling on your own.  This way you’ll know and feel certain that you are getting top dollar for your home.  According to the National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Buyers and Sellers, 2006 Edition, most for-sale-by-owners could have sold their homes for more money if they had been assisted by a real estate agent.
10. Give me a call! If you do have any questions or concerns that arise in the near future please don’t hesitate to give me a call on my DIRECT LINE. I would be happy to answer all of your question.

We just had an almost perfect weekend in the Philadelphia area. The trigger was our friend Joel’s birthday party, which was indeed the best part of it.

On Friday, we drove from the Washington ‘burbs up to Haddonfield, NJ, just outside of Philadelphia. We stayed at the Haddonfield Inn, which is where we usually stay when visiting that area. And we keep going back because we love the place. Friday night, we had dinner at Kitchen 233, which was new to us. I had the Angry Shrimp Pasta, and I loved it so much that if we go back, I’m having it again. Dave had salmon of some sort, which he also enjoyed. For dessert, the chocolate souffle is worth the 11-minute wait.

Saturday, we headed to Camden, NJ, and the waterfront, in order to visit the New Jersey Aquarium, now known as Adventure Aquarium . (If I have the story right, the state of New Jersey established the aquarium, then privatized it.) We really liked it. My favorite exhibit was the hippo environment, which stood out for several reasons. First, finally someone is acknowledging that hippos are aquatic animals! Yes, they’re mammals. So are whales. Hippos spend an enormous amount of time in water, and the West African River exhibit features them as the centerpiece. The two young females are frisky and playful, and a joy to watch. We also liked the birds in that room, because they were building nests all over the place, often flying overhead with pieces of straw.

What I didn’t like were the people shoving strollers into crowds, especially the woman mindlessly shoving her enormous SUV of a stroller into the legs of a cluster of people who had nowhere to go. Ninety percent of the stroller-parents used their brains and maneuvered around sanely, allowing their kids to see the exhibits without being rude to everyone else. The other 10 percent of the stroller-parents shouldn’t have been allowed to breed.

Saturday night was the big event, Joel’s birthday party at Marra’s in South Philadelphia. Joel paid for the whole thing and stayed away from the banquet menu, instead providing antipasti, mussels, pizzas, chicken cacciatore, and birthday cake for all of us. The food was excellent, and the server kept her cool with our large table of about 22 or so (we weren’t that demanding, but it’s still a lot of people). The best part, though, was that guests came in from all over — Dallas, Boston, New York, the Washington DC area, and Jacksonville, FL. Joel himself is living in California now, but wanted to party with his East Coast friends. And I knew most of these people from a fantasy baseball league they’d been in with Dave in the 1980s and early 1990s. It’s a good bunch, it was great to see them again, and I miss them already.

We drove home on Sunday, stopping off in Swedesboro, NJ, to have a quick lunch with some of Dave’s relatives. This was also the virgin weekend drive for Dave’s new Prius, which is definitely worth the fuss. At the time he first added gas, the mileage came to 52.07/mph. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I love poster art.  I’ve collected film posters for about 20 years, and still find movie posters a fascinating example of advertising and art.  Well, that should be the case when the posters are good !

Thought I’d post some new movie posters for you to feast your eyes upon.  Oh yeah, and next week, I might just give away some of my classic movie posters.  But you know what that means, you are going to have to work for it.  Leave me a comment here on the blog, and let me know this…

If you could have any poster from a movie made in the 1980’s, what would it be?  Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to hook you up!  Check out the new posters below for Sherlock Holmes, Daybreakers and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II.  And don’t forget to let me that comment about your most sought after poster from the 1980’s!

Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law star in SHERLOCK HOMES, directed by Guy Ritchie. In theaters December 25, 2009!

Ethan Hawke stars in DAYBREAKERS as a researcher in a near future where a plague has turned everyone into vampires. In theaters January 8, 2010!

Michael Myers has returned home to sleepy Haddonfield, Illinois to take care of some unfinished family business. Myers will stop at nothing to bring closure to the secrets of his twisted past. But the town's got an unlikely new hero, if they can only stay alive long enough to stop the unstoppable. In theaters August 28, 2009! Follow on Twitter @H2_TheMovie

By JOSEPH GIDJUNIS
Courier-Post Staff

The nonprofit arm of the Camden school district is looking for participants and sponsors for the fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser, which provides scholarships for college-bound seniors.

The Camden Board of Education Foundation has expanded its financial goal to $62,500, an increase of $12,500 and five students, over last year’s goals. The increase allows the foundation to compensate for an additional five scholarships for students from Camden’s fifth high school, MetEast, which is graduating its first class of seniors on June 26.

The remaining scholarships are divided evenly over the other four high schools.

“We want to give these kids a financial hand up to go to college,” said Jack Tarditi, president of the foundation. “It’s integral in helping these 25 kids pay for their first year of college.”

Registration for the golf tournament fundraiser begins at 11 a.m. June 24 at the Pennsauken Country Club, on Haddonfield Road.

In addition to college scholarships, the money raised will benefit other cultural activities the school district can’t pay for on its own, said School District spokesman Bart Leff. In the past year, the foundation provided significant funding for the Camden High School Marching Band to compete in Inauguration weekend festivities.

The foundation has also helped refurbish high school football stadium field houses, travel expenses for special groups to see a Guatemalan rain forest, and a trip for a choral competition in Verona, Italy, Leff said.

The golf tournament is expecting former Philadelphia sports icons Bernie Parent, of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Jon Runyan and Irving Fryar, of the Philadelphia Eagles, as honorary chairmen. The Philadelphia Phanatic should also make an appearance, Leff said. There is also a silent auction and award banquet for the students and families.

Sponsorship begins at $250 for an individual, or $2,000 for a team of four. Top level sponsorship extends to $10,000 or $20,000. The overall fundraising goal is $80,000, Leff said.

“We would like to raise as much as possible,” Leff said. “Our game plan is to create an endowment for these activities.”

Tarditi said that he recognizes the hit on families and corporations, but added that he expects that Camden’s loyal community won’t let the children down.

Reach Joseph Gidjunis at (856) 486-2604 or jgidjunis@gannett.com

Additional Facts IF YOU GO

The Camden Board of Education Foundation’s fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser to provide scholarships for college-bound seniors will be at 11 a.m. June 24. The tournament will be at the Pennsauken Country Club on Haddonfield Road. For more information, call Bart Leff at (856) 966-2649 or Jack Tarditi (856) 552-4792.

Classical greatness coming close to home...

I remember my first trip to see the Philadelphia Orchestra play. It was the year 19-something-or-other and I was in 8th grade, traveling with the Pennsauken Middle School’s Selective Chorus. I sang second soprano. With this chorus, we made many unforgettable trips to recieve our infusions of culture and the arts, but by far the orchestra left me with goosebumps – and a still firey, burning passion for classical music.

I couldn’t help but feel that I would never get the chance to hear such emotion through musical instruments ever again.  At the tender age of 13, one thinks she’ll never have the money to afford such a trip in the future, unsponsored by a school.  It was a golden evening. I thought, this sound,  this chill that climbs up your back and buries itself somewhere deep in your memory, can’t actually be live.  Surely, they will make a mistake, or play out of tune. There were so many musicians; it wasn’t possible for them all to come together to sound so… perfect.  You long to bring that experience with you everywhere, and the culture you absorb helps to define and refine your taste in virtually everything cultural. 

I would hear the Orchestra again, thankfully while in High School. After that, I would be blessed with the opportunity while Editor-in-Chief to meet some of the musicians in my own backyard.  Later, I would meet Symphony in C, the orchestral group that now plays on our side of the bridge in Camden. I keep these musical experiences, each and every one with which I am blessed, close to my heart and cherished.

Imagine my delight when The Markeim Arts Center, right in Haddonfield, announced it would be offering, on the norm, world-class musical acts and art exhibitions.

The Markeim Arts Center indeed has undergone a transformation of incredible magnitude, as the renovation of the interior and exterior of the building have made the gallery now a destination for those who want culture. We don’t want to travel to New York or Philadelphia in order to get our cultural fix.

I feel as if I struck the lottery when I heard there would be “An Evening at the Markeim,” on Friday, April 3, 2009, featuring music by famed Philadelphia Orchestra violinist and concertmaster, David Kim. The concert on April 3rd not only offers the musical genius Juilliard-schooled of Mr. Kim, but he will be accompanied by internationally-acclaimed violinist Sonya Ovrutsky and Haddonfield’s own remarkable violinist, Robyn Bollinger.

Classical music – in a venue so intimate – by such genius: it’s cultural heaven. I will almost feel like I can reach out and touch the musicians. Luckily for them, there will be no touching from me involved.  But I can still feel the music, live and up close.

This night of elegant music will be followed by the exceptional art exhibition “Trio” from Bill Marlin, Lois Lewis-Schumm, Fred Schumm. Later on, enjoy delectable confections and beverages, featured in Markeim’s “Art of Dessert.”

It’s no secret that the South Jersey landscape has changed for certain. Many of used to have to go over the bridge for quality anything – except fresh produce, of course. We were obviously devoid, years ago, of fine dining and shopping,  and we’ve tackled that problem with fervor. For so long, we were missing some other very important things – a cultural fabric that would entice visitors from all parts of the Northeast region.

We desired quality venues to appreciate fine food, exquisite art, and classical music in the same house. Markeim Arts Center is definitely delivering on that longing.  Music, and art and desserts, oh my. I may never leave the tiny town of Haddonfield.

Thankfully for those in South Jersey who enjoy the finer things, we have been blessed with one place that offers it all on one night in Markeim’s “An Evening at the Markeim.” No trips to the Big Apple, no parking wars to battle in Philly. Enjoying culture close to home has never been this easy – or this grand.

If you are a fellow member of the press, complimentary ticket information is available by responding to this blog post. If you just want to join me for a classic evening, tickets can be purchased by calling 856-429-8585. Tell ‘em Lara sent ya.  Or, you can grab them by visiting www.markeimartscenter.org.

Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers
★★ / ★★★★

This could’ve been one of the best sequels of the “Halloween” franchise but it doesn’t reach that level because this installment tried to do too much. The magic and effectiveness of the first film starring Jamie Lee Curtis lie in minimalism: there’s not a lot of special effects (smoke, fog, rain, explosions) and the soundtrack is pretty much non-existent except during the stalking and killing scenes. And if the filmmakers do use the soundtrack, they use the theme song, not some rock and roll instrument-bashing snippets that tend to turn the audiences deaf. This one had those negative elements and it made the images unrealistic. Moreover, the writers could’ve completely eliminated the cult storyline. Dabbling with the occult is the worst one can do when it comes to writing a “Halloween” storyline because the franchise thrives on realism. The point is to make a realistic scary movie that can possibly happen on a Halloween night. That’s why the first one became a classic; because what the audiences are seeing is so relatable and real. The best part of this film was Michael Myers’ (George P. Wilbur) return to Haddonfield because that’s where everything started. It’s fun to watch Paul Rudd taking the lead but I have to say that whenever he smiles, I could not help but smile back or even laugh out loud because I’m reminded of how funny he is in his other films (especially in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”). But I think he can carry horror films quite well. Yes, this one is pretty scary because Michael Myers has more brutal ways of killing but those negative elements I mentioned tend to offset the scale from “pretty darn good” to “just mediocre.” If one decides to see this film, see it for Paul Rudd and Donald Pleasence’s final turn as Dr. Sam Loomis, the original psychiatrist who saved the lovable Laurie Strode (Curtis) from the hands of the seemingly invincible psychopath named Michael Myers.

The Experience: This week I was headed to Haddonfield, NJ for their “First Friday.” Haddonfield is a pleasant town, with brick faced stores lining their main street and a collection of art studios. Their are floral stores, framing shops, antique shops, restaurants, cafes, etc.

The town offers several buildings, antiques in architecture, that add to the general tone of the town. A massive Municipal building that puts most towns to shame. Large trees border the sidewalks, and the streets are lit by black antique street lamps that cast a soothing trickle of yellow light. The town itself is very similar to Princeton, although not as much history, and a way better driving situation.

Walking through the town, their was an array of music on every corner. Nothing special, in the sense that I had heard it before, but it was simple and tasteful. I heard covers of piano man, blues traveler (the man looked like Jerry Garcia incarnate), and elsewhere you could find blues, Christmas music, garden variety pop, and even bagpipes.

There were tons of people out, mostly families and couples strolling around, and I heard several people surprised at how many people had come out. Most were headed to restaurants, and had things to do, and were just passing through.

Unfortunately I had to fly solo for the night as well, which did not help things. And once I got past the atmosphere and music, there simply was not much to do. The stores lacked real interest, and unless you were here on a night out with your family, or significant other, I would pass. On top of this, the area seemed a little yuppie for me. I’m not saying I am not your typical white suburbanite, but there is such a thing as having to many bistros and polo button ups.

So it was on my way out of the town when I caught something out of the corner of my eye in a court yard. I stopped in my tracks and took two steps backwards before turning to face it. A six foot statue of a dinosaur in a courtyard. I was baffled at first. Why would a town to do that? How is that even relevant? But then I became more curious and walked up to the plaque inscribed with an artists’ name, John Giannotti. The statue had been created in 2005, to honor William Parker Foulke’s discovery in 1858 of the first complete dinosaur skeleton. The discovery shocked the scientific world and changed the way we thought of natural history forever.

Cool. Now where is my car?

The Upsides: Quaint town, good atmosphere, not bad for a date or a night out with a family, music on every corner, free, and dinosaur statues (if that’s your thing).

The Down Sides: Not much to do, could have some better stores, not the friendliest to a college student (seemed more family orientated), only so much on main street, yuppies, and dinosaurs?!

The Verdict: Haddonfield is a great town, and probably even better to live in it (if you have the money), and has a lot to offer if you are going there for the right reasons. I, had to go at it alone for the night, and thus found it particularly unforgiving in having anything fun to do. So my advice is, if your planning to go bring someone. Take someone out on a date, and have something to do other than just walk around.

This week I will be headed to Haddonfield, NJ for their First Friday. First Friday is Haddonfield’s main street event, that involves artists, music, shopping, and dining along with it.

Expectations:I don’t know much about Haddonfield, except I’ve heard it is a pretty ritzy type area, so I don’t know what to expect. I will say though, my experience with such “main street” events is that they are usually towns that have a cute, Soho or Village type atmosphere, with many little stores. The problem that I have usually found with this Soho inspired “main streets” is that ultimately it’s not New York. The street’s atmosphere only lasts so long before in turns back into suburbia. If your interested in attending events of this type, check out this article by the Courier-Post.

Hours of Operation: Being held on two dates: November 7, and December 5.

                                 5 to 9 p.m.

Admission: FREE!

Events: Check out some of the artists, events, and promotions that will take place here.

Location: 101-198 Kings Highway in Haddonfield, NJ. The numbers are broad because it is not a specific place but instead a location that includes a portion of Kings Highway. Somewhere between these numbers is the best place to start.

Mapquest directions from Rowan University.

Website: If you have any additional questions about Haddonfield’s First Friday, check out there website here.

October 5th through October 31st I have a piece in the Markeim Art Center in Haddonfield’s annual juried show. The reception is October 10th, 6-9 pm.

On Saturday October 11th I will be participating in Collingswood, NJ’s monthly Second Saturday celebration of the arts. I will be set up in In the Knick of Time from 7-9 pm. I am the featured visual artist in thier Knick at Knight weekend event. Some of my pieces will stay on sale at the shop for the duration of the holiday season.

Stop by at one of these wonderful venues sometime this month.