I have to love a place called Launderama. In fact, "-ama" at the end of pretty much any word, to designate a store, guarantees that I will love it: Plumborama, Photorama, Foodorama. The possibilities are endless.
I've decided to read Bram Stoker's "Dracula" for Halloween. (It was an even toss-up between that and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein.") So far I'm about 65 pages in, and I'm impressed at how compelling it is. I thought it would be sort of dry and Victorian and tedious, but Stoker is a good writer. The early Dracula movies closely followed his descriptions of the fog, forests and craggy Carpathian mountains, not to mention Dracula's forlorn castle.
I've never been much for vampire stories -- especially those in the new, "sexy vampire" genre, which have more to do with titillating teenage girls than anything else -- but hey, this is a classic! I must admit I feel a little creepy reading it on the tube, though.
In other news: This is a shot of our TV screen, which is why it's so terrible. I took it during this week's episode of "Downton Abbey" because this street is Denbigh Road, which runs right outside our apartment complex. I walk up this street every day to get to the tube! On the show, it's meant to be the exterior of Michael Gregson's London flat. I immediately recognized that distinctive arched window when it appeared on the television.
Dave and I walked Olga there right after the show, and unfortunately the hedge in front of the window is in full leaf now, so I couldn't really get a photo from the same angle. That tree on the right has since been cut down and is now the stump chair.
I remember seeing film trucks at this location last winter but I never imagined they were filming Downton Abbey!
I've never read Dracula or Frankenstein. Hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteI've never read those books either. Maybe I should add them to my list!
ReplyDeleteSo cool to see your street on TV! We had the same reaction when we recognized some of the locations on Last of the Mohicans, which was partly filmed in western NC where we were living at the time. One of student's at Mike's school was an extra with a small speaking role. Exciting!
Oh, and Hairorama, Nailsorama, Puborama...
If you haven't read Frankenstein, I highly recommend it. I found it a pleasant surprise.
ReplyDeleteI wondered if you were seeing Downton Abbey yet. They just started repeats of season 2 on Sunday in preparation for the upcoming new season. How fun that a scene was filmed right near you. I'll look for it when the show airs here. When I worked in Chicago, a movie was being filmed right next to my building and in the building across the street. I saw the film's name on one of the trailers so I followed it's progress. Even though it had some heavy stars (Kathy Bates, Jonathon Pryce, Dan Aykroyd, Rupert Everett) it went to video. I enjoyed watching it because I could pick out all the scenes I saw being filmed in and around where I was living at the time.
ReplyDeleteCool. Your neighborhood is famous!
ReplyDeleteI loved Frankenstein, but have never read Dracula. I can't stand those modern Dracula novels and movies and television shows -- I have absolutely no interest in vampire drama, but keep us posted on the classic! Also, I love that you live down the street from a Downton Abbey sight!
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