Color Me Curious

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 ginServe over ice and top with seltzer waterAdd glitter or absinthe, if you wantSelected sources:wikipediaNational geographicJoe Nickell, Skeptical InquirerGhostland: 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 tomato1 oz dry vermouth2 oz Gay vodkaGarnish with garden vegetablesSelected sources:https://authoredanderson.medium.com/lizzie-bordens-lgbtq-secret-b405b014a50fhttps://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 Juice2 parts Apple Cider1 part Lairds Applejack (from NJ!)Garnish with an apple sliceMix the liquids together, chill, and serve with an apple slice. This also makes a great punchThis 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-storyhttps://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/https://www.nj.gov/nj/about/famous/nj_devil.htmlhttps://weirdnj.com/stories/jersey-devil/https://www.crystalmixer.com/jersey-devil-recipe/ 

True crime has always been a thing. Back in the 1920s, all of Chicago was obsessed with the celebrity criminals of Murderess Row -- so obsessed that a Chicago Tribune reporter wrote a play about them, which became the 1975 musical Chicago, and the 2002 Best Picture-winning film Chicago.Our Curious Cocktail this week is the Southside:Ingredients:1.5 oz gin1 oz lime juice.5 oz simple syrupKind of a lot of mintMuddle the mint with the simple syrup or sugar in the bottom of a shakerAdd the gin and lime and shake with iceStrain into a tall glass with fresh iceTop with sparkling waterThis week, we're curious about catnip, Hot Cat Summer, Golden Girls Summer, briffits, plewds and grawlixes, washing your face, fairy trails, Kevin Truong's Mai American, and of course, Muppet Girl Summer.Selected sources:The Girls Of Murder City by Douglas Perryhttps://nypost.com/2010/08/08/the-girls-of-murder-city/https://www.silkstreetjazz.co.uk/jazz-age-cocktails-every-bootlegger-would-be-proud-of/https://chicagology.com/notorious-chicago/beaulahandbelva/

Marina Chapman's first memory is of being kidnapped and left alone in the jungle. She learned how to survive in the jungle (with some help from a pack of local monkeys), and then things started to get worse. Hear the wild, terrifying, and somehow uplifting story of Marina Chapman, the Girl With No Name.Our Curious Cocktail this week is the Monkey See, Monkey Do: Ingredients:1.5 oz Banana Bourbon.5oz coffee liqueur (or brewed coffee).5oz honey liqueur (or honey syrup)Shake all ingredients in a shaker with iceServe up, with an orange twistThis week, we're curious about Shrill, TV shows' last episodes, FDR's food, cooking eggs, Guys Grocery Games, Scam Goddess, questionable jewelry, cat birthdays, giant flamingoes, going away parties, and old friends.Selected sources:https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/apr/13/marina-chapman-monkeyshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Chapmanhttps://web.archive.org/web/20131206130013/http://natgeotv.com/uk/woman-raised-by-monkeys

We look at three stories of hummingbird folklore from around the world. Our Curious Cocktail this week is Hummingbird Nectar: a punch made from rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, a bit of grenadine and hibiscus bitters. It's bright red and not as sweet as you'd expect. But if you're putting nectar out for the hummingbirds in your community, don't dye it red, just put it in a brightly colored feeder.This week, we're curious about Camp Hell: Anneewakee, Paris Hilton, ready-to-eat cookie dough, fostering puppies, and friends.Selected sources:https://puertoricanmythology.wordpress.com/the-legend-of-the-hummingbird/The Legend of the Hummingbird: A Tale from Puerto Rico Retold by Michael Rose Ramirezhttps://multoghost.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/how-hummingbird-saved-the-children-a-hopi-folktale/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mM11v_16-ohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai

What happens when an indigenous woman goes missing? Because of the systems built by our government, almost nothing! Tune in this week for the heartbreaking and infuriating story of Ashley Loring Heavy Runner, her family advocates, and the system that failed her.This week, we're curious about male bees, the crisis of femicide in Puerto Rico, spring weather, to-go cocktails, sunscreen, and accidentally ordering crowns.Selected sources:ABCUpdateI am InterchangeGofundmeFacebook group run by her family

We're taking April off to regroup, get vaccinated, and put together more exciting stories for you. See you in May!

We look at the story of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman of Mexico -- from her Aztec roots to her role in modern society. Our Curious Cocktail this week is from MuyBuenoCookbook.com: La Llorona -- Shake 3 ounces Pisco Brandy, 1 ounce fresh lime juice, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar, ice, and a dash of Angostura bitters in a shaker. Pour into a cocktail glass, and add dry ice for a spooky effect (but don't touch it!)This week, we're curious about cat beds, The Duchess on Netflix, I hate Susie, Golden Girls, seeing friends, and sitting outside.Selected sources:https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/04/la-llorona-real-mexican-legend-curse-of-la-llorona-moviehttps://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/wailing-womanhttps://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Woman-recalls-drowning-kids-in-1986-2055547.phphttps://stmuhistorymedia.org/la-malinche-traitor-or-survivor/https://www.pbs.org/video/the-legend-of-la-llorona-gvx6ly/ 

This week, we travel to Ireland to meet the Cashel Man, a bog body and the oldest fleshed mummy found in Europe. We also talk a little about the human sacrifice of ancient kings of Ireland, so that's cool, too.Our Curious Cocktail this week is a Bog Water: Shake 2 oz Irish Poitín, 1/2 oz Irish whiskey, 1/4 oz crème de menthe and some mint simple syrup over ice. Smoke it if you can. Serve over fresh ice.This week, we're curious about COVID vaccines, COVID vaccine conspiracy theories, learning to drive, prescription sunglasses, body farms, and Bog Girl by Karen Russell. 

The Art Deco luxury building at 57 West 57th Street in New York City was once home to a sanatarium, but that's not even the scary part. Tune in for a story of inherited wealth, infidelity, and murder -- right here in New York.Our Curious Cocktail this week is a West Sidecar: Combine 1/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz triple sec, 1 oz brandy and shake over ice. Serve with a lemon twist and a sugar rim if you're feeling fancy.This week, we're curious about Affirmative Murder, Dawson's Creek, birds (are they real?), waffle irons, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and of course, spark plugs. #NotAllBirdsSelected Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Champion_(cyclist)https://jmplumbley.com/2016/05/21/you-used-to-beat-me-with-our-house-phone-the-haunting-of-57-west-57th-street/https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-bizarre-tale-of-medical-arts.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/1935/04/23/archives/champion-will-fought-sparkplug-manufacturers-widows-testament.htmlhttps://the-line-up.com/west-57-street-penthouse-nyc-hauntedhttps://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/artifacts-the-curse-of-57th-street/https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2010/10/ladies-and-gentlemen-i-present-haunted.html

Our story this week is about the day it rained blood onto Mrs Kit Lasater and her farm in North Carolina.  What caused it? Nobody knows, but science says it was real blood.Your Curious Cocktail this week is a Blood in the Field: Squeeze 1oz blood orange juice and 1/2oz lime juice into a glass. Add mint and 1/2oz simple syrup or sugar and muddle all together. Pour in 2oz rum, fill the glass with ice, and top with seltzer or sparkling water.This week, we're curious about WandaVision, the Apology Line, Mr Worldwide, cat taco trucks, the Dave Matthews Band, and Squishmallows.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of quite a lot of blood. If you're not up for that, maybe skip this one.Selected sources:Chatham Blood Shower, 1884 from NCpedia: https://ncpedia.org/chatham-blood-shower-1884High Strangeness: Blood Fall (1884) from the Chatham Rabbit: https://chathamrabbit.blogspot.com/2007/10/high-strangeness-blood-fall.html?m=1When Flesh and Blood Fell from the Sky from the Anomalist: https://www.anomalist.com/reports/fleshblood.html

This week we've got the story of a woman who would do anything to protect her son and break her mother's curse, including human sacrifice. This episode has everything: Chocolate cake, soap, and curses. It's the story of Leonarda Cianciulli: Soap Maker of Corregio.Our Curious Cocktail this week is a Soap Maker: Rose & Elderflower Presse, Gin, Lemon bitters, a splash of orange juice, and garnish with an orange peel.This week, we're curious about our own kidnappings, TikTok, short-term death, bar stories, Murder Most Puzzling, family Facetimes, and virtual mystery nights.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of desecration of corpses, cannibalism and mentions of miscarriages. If you're not up for any of that, maybe skip this one.Selected Sources:Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonarda_CianciulliArticle from allthingsinteresting.com by Katie Serena “How Serial Killer Leonarda Cianciulli Made Her Victims into Soap and Tea Cakes” - https://allthatsinteresting.com/leonarda-cianciulliThe Correggio soap maker from Museo criminoligico - https://web.archive.org/web/20060912155116/http://www.museocriminologico.it/correggio_uk.htmNew York Day by Day; Wertmuller on Broadway by Susan Heller Anderson and Maurice Carroll -https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/20/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-wertmuller-on-broadway.html 

Sarah tells the dark and twisted story of the Vampire  Clan -- a bunch of teenagers in the 90s who decide to live their lives as vampires -- and the murders of Richard Wendorf and Naomi Queen.In this episode, we're curious about Doctor Who, the partition of India and Pakistan, The Jungle Prince, detective trivia, Bling Empire, high jewelry, and little tarts.Our curious cocktail is a Satanic Panic. It looks hardcore, but it's just bells and whistles and the same story we've heard over and over. (It's basically a citrus-free Cosmo that turns your tongue black.)  Mix 1.5oz vodka, 2oz cranberry juice, and one activated charcoal tab in a shaker and shake. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with fresh herbs.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of a lot of blood, including drinking blood. If you're not up for that, maybe skip this one.

We unpack a true crime story that became a movie that became an urban legend -- and its racist implications. That's right, we're talking about the Candyman.Our Curious Cocktail this week is a Bee's Knees: Shake 2oz gin, ¾ oz lemon juice, ½ oz honey syrup in a shaker with ice, and garnish with a lemon twist.This week, we're curious about pangolins, Bean Dad, Cool Mules, scurvy, The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke, The Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson, and YA lit in general.Selected Sources:“They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror: A Murder in the Projects” by Steve Bogira in the Chicago Reader - https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/they-came-in-through-the-bathroom-mirror/Content?oid=871084“How a story about the horrors of housing projects became part of a horror movie”  by Steve Bogira in the Chicago Reader - https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2014/03/14/how-a-story-about-the-horrors-of-housing-projects-became-part-of-a-horror-movie“Cause of Death: What killed Ruthie Mae McCoy--a bullet in the chest, or life in the projects?”  by Steve Bogira in the Chicago Reader - https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/cause-of-death/Content?oid=875995And follow Bogira on Twitter:  @stevebogira

Are you familiar with the afterlife of Slobodan Milosevic? We've got a true story about casual war crimes and pickled vampires.In this episode, we're curious about brushing scams, The Ripper, Michael Sheen, Kokomo by the Beach Boys, coffin squiggles, Bridgerton, and Caturday.Our curious cocktail is a Bloody Marija - make your usual Bloody Mary (without garlic) but use Slivovitz instead of vodka.Selected sources:https://www.theregister.com/2007/03/06/milosevic_staked/https://www.wired.com/2007/03/croatian-vampir/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12768421.vampire-slayer-impales-milosevic-to-stop-return/

Who wouldn't be excited to hear a murder story that happened on Christmas -- on Christmas!Zasha brings us the story of Sameena Imam, a cool business lady who was killed by the biggest pair of idiots you've ever heard of. Our Curious Cocktail this week is a Poinsettia, which is basically a mimosa (or Buck's Fizz, if you're in the UK) made with cranberry juice. 

It's 1580, and the Jews of Prague are being persecuted by the anti-Semitic ruler of the day, Priest Thad. What's a rabbi to do?  Well, it starts with a lucid dream and some clay.Tune in for the first preview episode of Color Me Curious, to hear the story of the Golem of Prague.Our Curious Cocktail for this week is a Latke Martini:2 oz Potato Vodka1 oz Apple-infused Dry VermouthPinch of sea saltShake over ice and serve in a commemorative Rabbis of the Torah glass.

Introducing Color Me Curious, a podcast about things we're curious about, including folklore, true crime, the paranormal, and a bunch of other things.Hosted by Zasha and Sarah, we'll have two special holiday preview episodes for you in December, before launching for real in 2021. Hope you'll join us!Music is "In the Dark" by Crowander, from the Free Music Archive.