Soundtrack of the “Homestead”: Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Mark Zeiger

On Sunday morning, NPR’s Weekend Edition disgusted me with an anemic, unimaginative article on Halloween music. Host Rachel Martin introduced the piece by declaring that, once one considered Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Bobby (Boris) Pickett’s Monster Mash, one must be at a loss to find anything else to listen to at this time of year. She then introduced music writer Colin Fleming, who gave us a dreary, scant handful of selections to consider. Other than Camille Saint-Saën’s Danse Macabre, (a Halloween classic in our home) his suggestions left me completely cold. All he could find was one jazz and a couple of obscure pop and rock tunes that suggested creepiness at best. I can, and have done far better myself! Continue reading →

Posted in Seasons & Celebrations | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Witches Brew, Domestic or Feral

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Mark Zeiger

Halloween has come ’round again. This year, as almost every year, we turn to family traditions, some of which have become, shall we say: less traditional.

At some point in my childhood, my mother introduced the family to witches brew, a dish that became traditional Halloween night fare. Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Drink, Seasons & Celebrations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment