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The Ultimate Guide to Sleepy Hollow, New York

November 20, 2023
A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families

Last year we took our first trip to Sleepy Hollow, New York. I have been wanting to explore more of our state and we figured Sleepy Hollow was the perfection Fall season destination. Mini or day trips are easiest and most affordable for our family of five. We explored a great deal of the area and did most of the activities they have to offer. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much that we all want to go back again one day soon.

Here are some useful tips that might help you if you are planning to visit Sleepy Hollow

  • You can get a lot of your research done by checking out the website Visit Sleepy Hollow.
  • You can take a train to Sleepy Hollow or drive. The drive was easy peasy but parking around the town can be tricky because parking spaces can be very tight.
  • The town area is a lot smaller than it looks on videos. Be aware of how hilly and challenging it can be to walk around. 
  • There are many food options-best to do your research on the places you want to eat before going.
  • Book all your events way before the trip. Especially The Great Pumpkin Blaze.

Here are the places we went to and the things we did that I recommend the most:

Sleepy Hollow Street Fair 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, Sleepy Hollow Street Fair

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tour 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Headless Horseman Bridge 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, Headless Horseman Bridge

The Cube Inn 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, The Cube Inn

Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, The Great Pumpkin Blaze


A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, Union Church of Pocantico Hills

Washington Irving's Sunnyside 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, Washington Irving's Sunnyside

The Taco Project 

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, The Taco Project

The Armour-Stiner Octagon House

A Vintage Nerd, A Vintage Nerd Travel, New York Guide, Guide to Sleepy Hollow, Travel Tips for Families, The Armour-Stiner Octagon House

Watching Movies on Redbox

November 13, 2023

A Vintage Nerd, Redbox, Blog Collaboration, Movie Rental Site, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Redbox recently reached out to me because they heard I was a big fan of DVD Netflix. They wanted to send me a box of goodies and to enjoy watching some movies. I can't tell you how surprised I was to receive all of the things I needed to have an awesome night in front of the boob tube. They sent me a cozy blanket, some treats, a gift card, movie codes, popcorn with a popcorn container, and a cup with their logo. Everything was super cute and my kids are already clamoring on what movies we get to watch together.

Redbox is an easy and super affordable site where you can rent movies. You can rent two different ways, on-demand streaming and a physical dvd from one of their many kiosks. Being a mom of three I am always watching my wallet. I compared their prices for movie rentals to what I found on my firestick and I have to say that their prices are literally half of what you would pay in other places. I was happily surprised by this and also extremely excited because now I can watch the movies I have been looking for without worrying about high costs. 

I can't tell you how cool it is to have access to films that I have been wanting to watch without breaking the bank. That means I can watch stories unfold before my eyes worry free unless I am watching a horror movie.  Redbox will now be my go-to for movie watching galore. I hope you can check out it and if you do let me know how you liked it.

A Vintage Nerd, Redbox, Blog Collaboration, Movie Rental Site, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog
A Vintage Nerd, Redbox, Blog Collaboration, Movie Rental Site, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

**In collaboration with Redbox: All my opinions are my own**

Classic Cinema Spotlight: Kansas City Bomber (1972)

November 10, 2023

A Vintage Nerd, Kansas City Bomber 1971, Raquel Welch, Old Hollywood Movies, Classic Movie Blog


 Raquel Welch as K.C. Carr is the epitome of a modern mother struggling between the responsibilities of motherhood and the drive to become successful. Although this film came out in the early 1970's, women were still in conflict between motherhood and work. Working mothers were still frowned upon. It wasn't until 1980 when the impossible idea of woman having and doing it all began. It started out innocently as a way for women to feel empowered and that they could be a superwoman but now most women know today that this in an impossible goal to achieve. When this film was made in 1971 women still couldn't get a credit card in her name, serve on a jury, be guaranteed that they would not get fired for getting pregnant, and take legal action against workplace sexual harassment. The world for K.C. Carr is a drastically different one that the world most women live in today.
K.C. Carr is a single mother trying to better her life and the life of her children by not settling for supermarket job where she would make very little money but rather pursue her passion of skating in roller derby teams and make a name for herself. K.C. strives to elevate her life and those of her children by taking physical risks in the sport of roller derby. K.C. comes across as a caring and devoted to her children, loving them enough to place them in the care of her mother while she travels with her team.  
Despite being stunningly beautiful K.C. chooses to get down and dirty in a sport where beauty is not the star of the show but instead the most aggressive player shines. In the scenes where K.C. is skating you see her shove, push, hit, and fall all for the sake of the brutal sport. Skating in a roller derby is a dirty business that K.C. puts up with in order to find a way to better her life for her kids.  For example, ballet might be excruciatingly difficult but the end project by the dancer is almost always a stunning display of physical talent. The opposite can be said in the sport K.C. Carr has chosen to find her success in. She has to fight and push through aggressively in every game, in dealing with other skaters, and dealing with those who run the derbies. 
K.C. could have easily chosen an easier route by being a model or a dancer at a club somewhere but instead her choose to use her skills and talents and apply them as a skater. She goes against what is expected of a pretty girl to do in society, for a single mother to do in society, and fight her way to achieving some success at something that she felt she was good at. Feisty teammates like Jackie (Helena Kallianiotes ) and questionable men in power like Burt (Kevin McCarthy) attempt to derail K.C. from her ultimate goal which is to create stability for herself. And like all challenges, K.C. is forced to make some tough decisions for the sake of her own happiness and that of her children. 
When K.C. is asked to deliberately lose a game so that she could join Burt's new team in Chicago she has to figure out whether or not that would be beneficial to her and ultimately her children. When she realizes that Burt never intended to keep his promise to allow her children to be with her in Chicago she is reminded that everything she has gained could be taken away from her if she doesn't stay true to who she is. Instead of losing to Jackie, she skates her best and is called out as a winner.
We never find out what K.C. Carr does with that win but one can assume she found the success she longed for by staying true to herself, going against the norms of society, and not limiting herself to what people assumed she was capable of.  Is Kansas City Bomber (1972) a feminist film? Perhaps. But what I see is a story of a woman who knew she was capable of more, embraced her mistakes and imperfections, and pushed through all the challenges to find her own way for herself and her children.

13 More 1970's Horror Movies That Are Still Terrifying Today

October 31, 2023

A Vintage Nerd, Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

 Three years ago I put together a similar list but only for 1960's films. Then last year I shared 13 horror movies that are still terrifying today HERE. I thought I would share 13 more horror films from the 1970's that I think are still scary and creepy. While many 1960's films played on the psychological aspects of what makes us scared (i.e.; satanic cult, animals attacking, someone watching us), 1970's horror mixed what scares us with deep realism. 

In the 1970's writers and directors took a step deep into horror by looking at the things that scare us and putting those scary things into our homes and everyday lives. You get horrors brought to us on our honeymoon, on a day out with friends, in our bedroom, in our town, and on our vacations. 1970's took all the things we personally fear and the things that society tells us to fear and brings it to us right in our faces. You can't hid under the bed or in the closet from it because its in our personal space. Talk about a super creepy approach to horror.

Some of my favorites from the 1970's are Daughters of Darkness (1971) and Suspiria (1977) because they are both hauntingly chilling but also incredibly visual and oddly beautiful. Another favorite is Stranger in Our House (1978) which happens to be a made-for-tv movie. Made-for TV movies are sometimes hard to find but worth watching. They made a lot of really good ones in the 1970's and 1980's.

How many of these 1970's horror movies have you seen? What are some of your favorites?

Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

A Vintage Nerd, Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Daughters of Darkness (1971)

A Vintage Nerd, Daughters of Darkness (1971), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Necromancy (1972)

A Vintage Nerd, Necromancy (1972), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

The Wicker Man (1973)

A Vintage Nerd, The Wicker Man (1973), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

A Vintage Nerd, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

The Beast Must Die (1974)
A Vintage Nerd, The Beast Must Die (1974), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Black Christmas (1974)

A Vintage Nerd, Black Christmas (1974), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Burnt Offerings (1976)

A Vintage Nerd, Burnt Offerings (1976), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)

A Vintage Nerd, Alice, Sweet Alice (1976), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Suspiria (1977)

A Vintage Nerd, Suspiria (1977), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

A Vintage Nerd, The Hills Have Eyes (1977), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

A Vintage Nerd, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Stranger in Our House (1978)

A Vintage Nerd, Stranger in Our House (1978), Horror Movies from the 1970s, Best Horror 1970s, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

10 Years of A Vintage Nerd Blog

October 28, 2023
A Vintage Nerd, Retro Lifestyle Blog, 10 Years of A Vintage Nerd, Vintage Blog, Retro Inspired Fashion, Old Hollywood Blog, Classic Movie Reviews, All Things Nerdy

I remember clearly the night I created A Vintage Nerd blog. My first blog Bunny's Victory was having major problems and I could no longer log into my account. I remember crying and panicking and realizing that things couldn't end that way. I had to ask myself whether or not I was going to stop blogging or continue ahead. It didn't take me long to realize that I really loved what I was doing and I didn't want to stop. Then suddenly the name A Vintage Nerd popped into my head and I started it that very night.

10 years have now passed since I started and I have really loved every minute of it. Whether a few people see my posts or a lot of people see my posts-it doesn't matter. I am deeply passionate about writing, sharing, learning, teaching, and exploring. And my blog has allowed me to do the things I love to do and connect with others. They say when you are doing something you love that it never feels like work. It is still work-long hours researching, writing, editing, taking photos, reading books and watching films to review, etc but I have relished in every aspect of blogging. 

I wanted to have a big celebration to mark my 10 years as a vintage nerd on my blog but I decided to just enjoy the moment quietly. I am grateful to all those who stop by and read my posts. And I am grateful that I get to work on something that I truly love doing. Happy 10 years to A Vintage Nerd blog!

Here are some of my favorite posts from the past 10 years:

Being More Authentic (first post).    October 28, 2013

7 Reasons Why You Should Still Go To Movie Theaters

October 24, 2023
A Vintage Nerd, Going to the movies, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Jean Overalls and Beret

One of the things I enjoy doing the most is taking my family to see a movie in the movie theater. The experience of getting out of the house, the excitement of what we are about to see, and the treat of seeing a movie on a big screen are what I love the most. 

We mainly support our local movie theater which is privately owned and also a historic landmark but we also indulge in other types of movie theater experiences such as; IMAX, Fathom Events, theaters that serve meals, and small theaters in the city. 

Here are 7 reasons why you should still go to movie theaters:

  1. Get out of the comfort of your home and watch a movie in the comfort of your favorite movie theater.
  2. See a film on the big screen the way it was meant to be seen.
  3. Hang out with your loved ones to watch something fun.
  4. Watching a film on the big screen will feel like an immersive experience.
  5. Seeing a movie in the theater allows you to view it from a different perspective. 
  6. Your kids won't be able to talk, get on electronics, or leave-they will learn to be still, pay attention, and enjoy what they are watching.
  7. Opportunities to watch films from years ago instead of just on your t.v. at home will be a magical and unique experience. 

5 Boris Karloff Film Recommendations

October 22, 2023
Vintage Nerd, Boris Karloff Films, Classic Film Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Frankenstein, Universal Monsters

Boris Karloff was and will always be a horror icon. He swept us all off our feet with his rendition of Frankenstein (1931). Although Karloff started acting in films in 1919, it was his flawless depiction of a misunderstood creature that helped him make his mark on Hollywood. Born as William Henry Pratt in England to a Anglo-Indian father and a English mother on November 23, 1887. It wasn't until 1911 when he started to work in the theater when he decided to take the stage name of Boris Karloff. 

Every role Karloff undertook with passion and dedication. Many of his roles required the use of stage makeup. The makeup artists of the time had the task of creating monsters that Karloff would embrace and dedicate himself fully to. It is said that the makeup process for his role in The Mummy (1932) would began at 11 a.m., with the makeup artist Jack Pierce applying cottoncollodion and spirit gum to his face; clay to his hair; and wrapping him in linen bandages treated with acid and burnt in an oven, finishing the job at 7 p.m. Karloff finished his scenes at 2 a.m., and another two hours were spent removing the make-up. Karloff found the removal of gum from his face painful, and overall found the day "the most trying ordeal I [had] ever endured".

Karloff acting in films from 1919-1968, on television from 1938-1968, and also performing on stage from 1928-1961. He acted in thirteen episodes of the "Starring Boris Karloff" anthology TV/ radio series in 1949: this show was broadcast as both a TV show and a radio show simultaneously. He hosted many anthology shows including on called Thriller (1960-1962). And let's forget his narration of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas'' 1966) and his voice work as the Grinch.

Karloff gifted the world with his talents and characters which were always unique and unforgettable. Here are a five Boris Karloff film recommendations to get you acquainted with his work. I highly recommend delving into more of his films when you get the chance. You won't be disappointed. 

Have you seen any of these film recommendations? What Boris Karloff films have you enjoyed?

Frankenstein (1931)

A Vintage Nerd, Boris Karloff Films, Classic Film Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Frankenstein, Universal Monsters

The Mummy (1933)
A Vintage Nerd, The Mummy, Boris Karloff, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog, Universal Monsters

The Man with Nine Lives (1940)

A Vintage Nerd, The Man with Nine Lives (1940), Boris Karloff, Universal Monsters, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

The Haunted Strangler (1958)

A Vintage Nerd, The Haunted Strangler (1958), Boris Karloff, Universal Monsters, Classic Movie Blog, Retro Lifestyle Blog

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

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16 Classic Film Stars in Unexpected Horror Film Roles II

October 20, 2023
A Vintage Nerd, Ava Gardener in The Sentinel (1977), Classic Movie Blog, Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic Horror

One of the things I love discovering when I am watching films are actors that I recognize from other films. I am especially  intrigued by Old Hollywood actors and actresses who took roles in horror movies. Horror films can be a toss up between really good and really bad. Some horror films never move past their cheesy status, while others may earn cult status. For example, Glenn Ford in Happy Birthday to Me (1981) oozes with cheese (for the record I am a huge fan of cheesy movies-the more cheese the better), while Donald Pleasence's role in Halloween (1978) has reached beyond cult status-he has become a horror icon. 

I have watched most of the films on this list such as; Fred Astaire in Ghost Story (1981), Melvyn Douglas in The Changing (1980), Betsy Palmer in Friday the 13th (1980), and Ava Gardener in The Sentinel (1977). Each of these classic film actors brought years of their acting skills to the horror films they were in. They parts in the horror films they were in always managed to not only uplift the quality of the film itself but also of the genre. There is something special that happens when an Old Hollywood actor or actress is in a horror film-its like two worlds colliding to make something magical.

If you would like to read part one of 16 Classic Films Stars in Unexpected Horror Film Roles you can read it HERE.

Robert Taylor in 
Mary Astor in 
Agnes Moorehead in
Bette Davies in 
Lee Remick in 
Piper Laurie in
Ava Gardener in 
The Sentinel (1977)A Vintage Nerd, Ava Gardener in The Sentinel (1977), Classic Movie Blog, Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic HorrorDonald Pleasence in
Betsy Palmer in 
Friday the 13th (1980)A Vintage Nerd,  Betsy Palmer in Friday the 13th (1980), Classic Movie Blog, Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic HorrorMelvyn Douglas in 
Joseph Cotten in 
Fred Astaire in 
Farley Granger in 
A Vintage Nerd, Farley Granger in  The Prowler (1981), Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic Movie Blog, Classic Horror
Samantha Eggar in
A Vintage Nerd, Samantha Eggar in   Curtains (1983), Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic Movie Blog
Julie Adams in 
A Vintage Nerd, Julie Adams in  Black Roses (1988), Old Hollywood Stars in Horror, Classic Movie Blog



 
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