Adelaide's ghostly house, said Princess Haiku

While I was strolling about today, I had a view of Adelaide's Blue House. Yes, as in haunted by Adelaide and residing at what was the Cavanagh Inn. Lawyers currently have offices here and it would take a very rational mind to be down with this environment. I read about it in Jeff Dwyer's ghost book. Apparently, an unhaunted Victorian house is a rarity. And they look so sweet in the pale light of day. You may have no idea what goes on in your neighborhood at midnight.

Copperfields night visitor

Rumor has it that a ghostly visitor reshelves misplaced books, in the basement of Copperfields books.



Copperfields is a favorite "haunt" of mine and no pun intended. :) However, I have never noticed anything unsual in its archives and shelves.



Do you see a ghost here?


Or here?



Nether did I but I did find a few great reads. Support your local independent bookstores, spirit and all and keep them alive. And who knows about the unexplained; you may find more than a friendly salesperson or two here.

Phoenix Theater; where the spirit of the young mingles with ghosts of the past

The Phoenix Theater

Was built in Petaluma, Ca in 1896 as the Hill Opera House. The theater was successful and luminaries such as Enrico Carouso and the famous Houdini performed there until it was nearly destroyed by a fire in the early 1900s. The theater was restored and reopened as a movie theater. The building was purchased by California Movie Theater and continued until August 5, 1957 when another fire took the roof of the building. The building was again restored and eventually renamed by a theater employee; Tom Gaffey, in 1982. Gaffey renamed the theater the Phoenix because the building seemed to ‘rise from the ashes.’











In the early 1980s, movies continued to be shown at the theater and live music was played late at night. There were performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Ramones, along with then-local bands Metallica, Mr. Bungle, Green Day, Primus, and AFI. Other bands like Victims Family, The Conspiracy, Disciples of Ed, the Circle Jerks and The Distillers drew audiences. Sublime played their last show at the Phoenix, and a memorial to lead singer, Bradley Nowell, can be found backstage, tagged on a wall by the Long Beach Dub Allstars. To this day, the Phoenix continues to bring in established artists as well as local favorites.



The interior walls of the Phoenix are covered in graffiti. "The walls are tagged and painted with everything from the simplest one color tag to entire paintings of mushrooms and other Alice in Wonderland-themed drug references that gave the place a raw feel."



During the day, the Phoenix serves as a neohaven for local kids to use after school. After school tutoring as well as a free health clinic and poetry arts workshops are offered. When I visited the Phoenix today and took photos of graffiti on the back of the building, several friendly young people wandered around. They informed me that the graffiti on the building is a work in progress and changes continually. As you can see the Phoenix attracts very talented artists. If you would be interested in supporting this community project follow this link.



The Phoenix is also rumored to be haunted. Ghosts have been seen in the bathrooms, on the balcony, and in the backstage area. These sightings are rumored to be a reason why the balcony is closed and locked for most performances. All in all this was a perfect outing for me said Princess Haiku before she disappeared behind the ghostly curtain of the theater.



AFI wrote a song about it called "The Days of the Phoenix," referring back to when they got their start at this theater.

Day of the Dead in Photos

Help name Princess Haiku's ghost whippet

Princess Haiku has decided that a ghost whippet would make a perfect animal companion. If you look over the edge of a crescent moon, you will see whippet and I flashing by stars. Please help name the ghost whippet. If your suggestion gets chosen you win a link of the hour.


If you would like to adopt a real life whippet this link is for a whippet rescue in the US.

Fog Horns for a Haunted Princess

Who turns on the fog horns in the San Francisco Bay, asked Princess Haiku; it certainly isn't me. Some dearly departed friends of mine suggest that they do, although I doubt this after watching a cbs5.com newscast in which key words such as fog density and computers were mentioned.

Ron Guidi: Awakening the Ghost of Oakland Ballet

When the Oakland Ballet closed its doors last year, 70 year old founder and former director Ron Guidi, bought the Ballet's abandoned sets and costumes. Hopefully, Guidi will work his magic and find a way to return a community ballet company to Oakland. For years the Oakland Ballet flourished under his direction with presentations of Les Noces, Le Train Bleue, Le Spectre de la Rose and Scheherazde. Like many people I wasn't paying attention when the Company began to falter. Now there are only ghosts left of years of fine performances.

The Dark Night of the Flute

In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, (1936)


I woke up at three o'clock yesterday morning and that isn't meant as poetic commentary. It's the truth, for insomnia follows me at times as relentlessly as dawn follows night. Aurore goddess of the Dawn, approaches me after a sleepless night like a solar flare streaking through the window and straight into the cornea of blue eyes.

Princess Haiku, you inquire, how can a ghost possibly be an insomniac? I reply, who ever said that ghosts don't sleep? People have certain assumptions about shades and spectral beings that are unrealistic. Ask me and I will tell you that at times, it as difficult for a ghost to follow the great Z as anyone else.

So, back to my story. I woke up on the night of the dead moon at three o'clock wanting to play my flute. However, as an urban flute player I know that is a potentially life threatening desire.

Flute playing was once a tranquil sea for my spirit and has now become a haunted, turbulent seascape. I almost want to escape its inexorable demands. A Princess Haiku with no flute? Impossible. A flute playing insomniac ghost with a case of melodic ambivalence? "This experience money just can't buy!"

Do you think this is about deviantArt? It just might be.