Alpine folklore came to the Highland Park Ebell Club last night, so Kari Wahlgren and I decided to explore the dark side of such seasonal festivities…
I immediately crashed into this devil upon arrival.
As Kari was seduced by this otherworldly creature.
So much creativity…so many cool people.
We arrived a little early, so hopefully that box back there was well-hidden by the time things got REALLY crazy.
St. Nicholas soon came out, wanting to know who’d been naughty, which was EVERYONE.
All I wore was this. It was my first Krampus Ball so I cut myself some slack. Besides, I can’t compete with all the crazy hoof and horn people. Also, it was kinda HOT and SWEATY in the ballroom.
It’s sorta like Oktoberfest, the Krampus Ball. But in HELL.
This dude actually freaked me out. He was hobbling around on candy cane crutches.
Even the Wahlgren was unnerved!
The Krampus enters your home and steals all your good tidings, along with your children. Then they make off with the loot in woven baskets strapped to their backs.
I mean, some of the get-ups were just jaw-dropping. And all the while you’re slugging an Austrian Stiegl and planning your exit should these things suddenly turn out to be REAL.
Kari was like sweet bread to these fiends.
This is Frederick. We rapped with him for a while. He’s an amazing make-up and costume artist. I asked him who his biggest influence was: Lon Chaney!
Those are…rabbits up there.
It’s like “Eyes Wide Shut” but at a Krampus Ball.
We could NOT stop staring at this chick’s hat.
She SEES YOU WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING…!
WINE PAIRING: I have countless German whites I could recommend, but honestly? I would go with the Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Charles Smith…cuz you’re gonna need some EXTRA DEFENSE against the Krampus!
Krampusnacht!
