You've probably seen it on Ghost Hunters, or Unsolved Mysteries, or one of the million other spooky shows like that. Of course they've all visited Myrtles Plantation -- it's super haunted! Or is it?

This week, we're curious about Victorian mourning jewelry, peeping, Maureen Johnson, Brian Laundrie and underground bunkers, independent bookstores, Ghosts, and old notes to ourselves.

Our Curious Cocktail this week is a Myrtle Spritz:

• 1oz Myrtle liqueur or rosemary simple syrup or a rosemary heavy gin
• Serve over ice and top with seltzer water
• Add glitter or absinthe, if you want

Selected sources:

• wikipedia
• National geographic
• Joe Nickell, Skeptical Inquirer
• Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places, by Colin Dickey

Spooky Season continues, with one of the most famous murder trials in history: Lizzie Borden! What really happened to Andrew and Abby Borden, and why does this case still fascinate us, almost 130 years later? We'll also talk about Lizzie's post-trial life, and some theories around why she might have had motive.

This week, we're curious about Green-Wood Cemetery, screaming peacocks, bird watchers, LuLaRich, MLM schemes, Candyman, updates on the case of Ashley Loring Heavyrunner, and baking cakes.

Our Curious Cocktail for the week is the Bloody Lizzie:

• Squeeze and strain the juice from 1 large tomato
• 1 oz dry vermouth
• 2 oz Gay vodka
• Garnish with garden vegetables

Selected sources:

• https://authoredanderson.medium.com/lizzie-bordens-lgbtq-secret-b405b014a50f
• https://newengland.com/today/living/new-england-history/long-silence-lizzie-borden/
• https://www.criminalelement.com/11-facts-about-lizzie-borden-debunked-sarah-miller-murders-trial-of-the-century-forty-whacks/
• https://lizzie-borden.com/
• https://www.historyisgaypodcast.com/
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lizzie-borden-didnt-kill-her-parents-maybe-180963721/

Zasha just moved to New Jersey, and what's one thing New Jersey has that no other state does: An Official State Demon! That's right, this week we're talking about the Jersey Devil. Welcome to Spooky Season.

Our Curious Cocktail this week is the Jersey Devil:

• Ingredients:
  • 1 part Cranberry Juice
  • 2 parts Apple Cider
  • 1 part Lairds Applejack (from NJ!)
  • Garnish with an apple slice
• Mix the liquids together, chill, and serve with an apple slice. This also makes a great punch

This week, we're curious about what we did on our summer vacation, the Holly Roosevelt Hotel, Bo Burnham's Inside, the new podloft, and toddler wisdom.

Selected sources:

• https://skepticalinquirer.org/2013/11/the-jersey-devil-the-real-story
• https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/
• https://www.nj.gov/nj/about/famous/nj_devil.html
• https://weirdnj.com/stories/jersey-devil/
• https://www.crystalmixer.com/jersey-devil-recipe/