Cold Indifference

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

My friend David Kessler is shooting a film about the Pine Barrens, and I’ve been serving as a guide. This footage was taken on the lower Batsto River about an hour before David got snagged in a fallen tree and capsized into the freezing water. We saved his equipment and emptied the kayak, but David was soaked to the skin and his paddle was lost. Hypothermia was a real danger, so we quickly stripped him to the waist and I gave him the spare fleece and jacket that I keep in my backpack, just in case this sort of thing happens–which it has. I fixed a rope to both kayaks and towed David downriver to my car before he became hypothermic, but his camera was shot. Happily, the footage was saved.

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Les the Mentalist

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Lord Whimsy


Last night at The Coney Island Museum’s Grand Guignol Variety Show, my friend Les the Mentalist performed quite an amazing feat. Watch this video to the end, and be astounded.

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December calendar

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

We interrupt the series of Hidden River Expedition episodes to inform you of three events that I will be involved with during the month of December. I hope that our paths may cross.

Grand Guignol Variety Show at The Coney Island Museum
Saturday, December 10th, 8:00pm. The Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
Featuring classic Grand Guignol performances, film, puppet and toy theatre, song, dance, film and more, followed by a DJed after-party with complementary cocktails courtesy of Hendrick’s Gin. Presented by Morbid Anatomy, Atlas Obscura and The Coney Island Museum and curated by Joanna Ebenstein & John Del Gaudio. Lord Whimsy will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Admission: $25 (tickets available here)

Give-the-Gift-of-a-Terrarium Workshop
Wednesday, December 14, 5:30-7:30 pm. Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia
Join us for a fun and festive evening with everyone’s favorite affected provincial, Lord Whimsy, who will present a DIY terrarium workshop. Terrariums are fun little living worlds – and they make great gifts! You will be provided with all of the materials necessary to make your very own terrarium to take home, as well as a care sheet. Materials and refreshments generously provided by Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. RSVP required. Member price: $25. Non-member price: $30.

“Oddities” Marathon and Season Launch Party
Saturday, December 17th, 8:00pm. Observatory, 543 Union St., Brooklyn, NY
You are cordially invited to join Morbid Anatomy and Observatory as we gather to celebrate the new season launch of “Oddities,” that unlikely hit of a television series based on our favorite purveyor of curious and amazing artifacts, Obscura Antiques and Oddities in New York City’s East village. The evenings festivities will include the screening of several new episodes of “Oddities,” special drinks and music by Friese Undine, and give-ways by Kikkerland and Obscura Antiques. Lord Whimsy will oversee the evening in his role of Master of Ceremonies, and members of the cast of “Oddities” will be on hand for questions and comments. Admission: $8

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The Local Frontier, Part II: Delaware

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

The adventure continues.

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The Local Frontier, Part I: Rancocas

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

At last, the first episode of Scrapple.TV’s coverage of my expedition. Enjoy!

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Expedition Presentation: Random Tea Room, Nov. 27th

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

Some of you may be rolling your eyes upon seeing yet another post about my little summer stunt. But in my own defense I should point out that this three-day kayak trip from Mt Holly, New Jersey to Bartram’s Garden in West Philly didn’t have to work out as well as it did: Re-exploration, it turns out, is risky business. I should also note that my friends and I did this project independently, without grant money or any blessing from the authorities. Because I could not vouch for the safety of anyone who might have accompanied me on this trip, I was alone on these three rivers with no one else to help me if my kayak was, say, capsized by the wake of a passing oil tanker. During the course of amassing this collection of videos and images for your enjoyment and curiosity, I could have been hurt, killed, or similarly inconvenienced. Foolhardy? Yes, but now you get to hang out with me in a cozy nook, sipping hot drinks and seeing some really interesting stuff. Lucky you!

I’ll be doing an informal reprise of my Hidden River Expedition video and slide presentation at the Random Tea Room on Sunday Nov. 27th, 6pm. Those interested in the more unusual chapters of Philly’s history should grab a cup of hot chai and have a seat. Hope to see you there.

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Saturday Oct 29th: Ascot workshop at the Rosenbach

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

Over time I’ve learned that one has to be utterly without shame with these things, so here’s my spiel: Does your wardrobe need some 19th-century flair? Have you looked in vein for something that will give you a certain vampiric savoir-faire? Well look no more, for the Rosenbach Museum has summoned author and vintage style enthusiast Lord Whimsy (the overdressed schmuck pictured to your left) to help you learn the surprisingly simple art of tying ascots and cravats in ways that the gents in Bram Stoker’s rollicking adventure would have known by heart (The Rosenbach is home to the original manuscript of Dracula). Bring your own neck cloth, or grab one of the provided bolts of cloth and give it a go. You have only your sartorial boredom to lose! (Note in the photo the twig “W” cravat pin that my man Jesse Sparhawk, musician extraordinaire, generously gave to me. Thank you, Jesse!)

This is part of the Rosenbach Museum and Library’s Dracula DIY event. The Rosenbach will be celebrating Halloween, Transylvania style. Join us for this evening of Dracula-inspired crafts and performances. Fun for the whole family! (Saturday Oct.29, 3-8pm. Free and open to the public. I’ll be there all evening.)

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Sunday Oct 30th: Expedition Presentation at Bartram’s Garden

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

Friends: This Sunday between 1pm and 3pm I will be doing a presentation at Bartram’s Garden on the historical, aesthetic, and ecological particulars, musings, and happenstances of The Hidden River Expedition, the three-day kayak trip I made this summer through the urban waterways of Philadelphia (I’m being billed as a “local artist and adventurer,” which tickles me to no end). Those of you interested in Philadelphia history and the re-exploration of “the local frontier” will be in for a treat, as some of my historian friends who helped me prepare for my expedition will be on hand, as will my support team. Libations will be provided by my friends at Art in the Age, who are co–sponsoring this event. I’m looking forward to chatting with you over extremely strong liquor.

Related news: This is the final week of my installation of expedition video, images, and field notes at Art in the Age (116 North Third St., Philadelphia). Last day of the exhibition is this Saturday, Oct. 29th. Stop by if you can.

Posted in art, hear ye, hidden river expedition, history | 2 Comments

Famous Monsters

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

While I was away knocking about the Northwest, my good friends Bill Smith and Jason Austin were gracing the New York Times with their vast horticultural knowledge of carnivorous plants! Jason and Bill have always been incredibly generous with their time and expertise, and regularly host bog garden workshops at their base of operations, Rarefind Nursery. It’s not only a great deal, it’s also an excellent way to learn first-hand how to care for these botanical curiosities. Who else is better qualified to start you off into the world of carnivorous plants than the builder of the largest above-ground bog garden in North America?  Congratulations, gentlemen!

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Philadelphia’s Lost Victorian Cemetery

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Lord Whimsy

The adventures along the rivers of Philadelphia continue: this weekend, I and my good friend and fellow gentleman trespasser David explored a stretch of shoreline along the post-industrial shoreline north of Tioga Marine Terminal. After scrambling for a few hundred yards through heavy undergrowth and spooking some urban deer (yes, North Philly deer also have neck tattoos), we found what we were looking for.

It was high tide when I visited this spot near the Betsy Ross Bridge during my summer expedition, but during today’s low tide we could finally see the discarded tombstones of Monument Cemetery, a large Victorian cemetery once across from Temple University that held the remains of 28,000 people. In the 1950′s (not surprisingly, since so much Victoriana was destroyed around this period), this 19th century cemetery was removed, and the gravestones of those deceased who didn’t have living kin to claim them were discarded. What lies here at the mouth of Frankford Creek are the slowly eroding, mute remnants of many extinct Philadelphia families.

The muddy riverside is completely covered in ceramic shards and broken glass, which give a gentle tinkling sound when boat wakes reach the shore. This lovely sound came as a sort of comfort, as reading the scattered, forsaken monuments of forgotten lives put me in a heavy, melancholy frame of mind. Oh, and we found a truck in the mud.

To see more images of this strange place, visit my flickr photostream. For those interested in learning more about this doomed cemetery, visit this gentleman’s blog, or read Tom Keels’ book on Philadelphia’s lost cemeteries.

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