October 31, 2022

FOR THE HORROR FANS:  Step Inside the Recreational Fear Lab  It’s Halloween. At this point, you’ve probably done your fair share of horror movies and haunted houses—or at the very least, thought about it. Why do we actively seek out frightening experiences as entertainment? That’s what a multidisciplinary group of researchers in Aarhus, Denmark, are trying to understand in the only laboratory in the world—the Recreational Fear Lab—that’s dedicated specifically to understanding the fun, possibly beneficial, side of fear. Dive in to learn more if you dare. Pay no mind to the unsettling Architect of Fear looming behind you.  READ MORE → CURSED OBJECTS Do Not Go Near These 6 Things Sometimes a cursed object is easy to spot. Take, for instance, Robert the Doll. With his beady eyes, pitted face, and sailor suit, it’s easy to understand why so many find this century-old plaything unsettling, even malevolent. But, as these six Atlas Obscura favorites show, creepy legends also attach themselves to things you would never expect: a beautiful gemstone, an everyday lighter, or a simple number. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY LOS ANGELES TOURISM Legendary Hollywood Hangouts Hollywood is the center of the entertainment universe. Ever since 1910, when a movie company arrived in the then rural village of Hollywood to shoot a western. Millions of starry-eyed hopefuls have flocked to this celluloid city to make their dreams come true. Good news: You, too, can become part of the A-list when you visit Hollywood—if you know the right places to go. LEARN MORE → NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI Grave of Florence Irene Ford A mother’s love can stretch on through the years, even though a child might be gone. Such is the case in this grave, built for little Florence, who in life was terrified of storms and fled to her mother for comfort. When Florence died of yellow fever, her mother built a stairway down to her daughter’s coffin so she could continue to comfort her during storms. READ MORE → TYWYN, WALES Llyn Barfog Remote, surrounded by hills, clouds, and sheep, Llyn Barfog, or the Bearded Lake in English, is a small tarn fringed with reeds and covered with water lilies in the summer. One of the most powerful Llyn Barfog legends concerns King Arthur, who was asked to rid local people of the curse of the Afanc, a monster that dwelled in the lake and killed anyone who ventured close. This he did with the aid of his magical mare, Llamrei. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Learn Suminagashi & Ebru Marbling Discover the magic of marbling with artist Linh My Truong, creating colorful, psychedelic designs on paper and fabric. We’ll cover two main types of marbling: the flowy imagery of Japanese suminagashi marbling using inks and sumi brushes, and the vibrant patterns of Turkish ebru marbling with paint. By the end of the course, you'll have several completed paper and fabric pieces as well as a deeper understanding of the history, cultural context, and elements of each approach to marbling. ENROLL TODAY → SECRET OBSESSIONS Kesha and Ghost Hunting Popstar Kesha was younger than six years old when she saw her first ghost—her grandmother, coming to visit in a peaceful, beautiful moment. That experience kickstarted her enthusiasm for the paranormal, and pushed her towards trying to answer existential questions about what else is out there. Enter her show: Conjuring Kesha. READ MORE → LONDON, ENGLAND The Hardy Tree The cemetery alongside London’s St. Pancras Old Church, which is considered by many to be one of England’s oldest places of Christian worship, is the site of a number of fascinating stories—for one, Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley planned their elopement there while visiting Mary’s mother’s grave. But perhaps one of its most striking oddities is the Hardy Tree, an ash tree surrounded by hundreds of weathered gravestones, layered practically on top of one another. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Secrets of Italy Join us for a legendary Grand Tour through the magical cities of Rome, Florence, Perugia, and Venice. Through their highlights and secrets, you'll discover what makes each of these regions unique through gastronomy, language, art and traditions. Immerse yourself in the mysteries of ancient Rome, private villa gardens, secret societies, incredible paintings hidden inside palazzos, a modern renaissance of Venetian boat culture, and the local food you didn't realize you should be ordering. BOOK YOUR GETAWAY TODAY → NO TRICKS, ONLY TREATS Have A Weird, Wondrous, Wicked Halloween Here at Atlas Obscura, we love October and Halloween. This month, we’ve brought you all sorts of chills and thrills, including a deep dive into why fear excites us, an interview exploring what drives Kesha to go in search of ghosts, and learning about a monster from an Arthurian legend. There are more tales of terror ahead—come learn more, and don’t read these stories alone. Maybe keep the lights on.