{"id":6062,"date":"2023-10-20T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=6062"},"modified":"2023-10-23T17:26:45","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:26:45","slug":"best-worst-cities-for-vampires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-worst-cities-for-vampires\/","title":{"rendered":"2023\u2019s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you wear a cape daily or just once a year for Halloween, you can fang <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\">Lawn Love<\/a> for ranking 2023\u2019s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To encourage blood donations during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/about-us\/news-and-events\/press-release\/2023\/red-cross-announces-national-blood-shortage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">national shortage<\/a>, we compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on 5 categories.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We looked for cities with plenty of warm bodies, blood centers, and vampire-friendly dwellings (aka casket suppliers and homes with basements). We also considered community and entertainment factors, such as vampire groups and tours, as well as deterrents like sunshine and garlic festivals, among 17 total metrics.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slake your thirst for <s>blood<\/s> knowledge and plan your next blood donation with our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our <a href=\"#methodology\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"in-this-article\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this article<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">City rankings<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#top-5\">Top 5 close up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Expert take<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Behind the ranking<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Final thoughts: Bloody good times<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rankings\"><span id=\"city-rankings\">City rankings<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how each city fared in our ranking:<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"2cfdec5d-ecc9-40eb-96cb-0e01bc3cafe6\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Ranking Table - 2023&amp;#39;s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"6e714cb1-af4d-40fb-ac70-aadc597a81ee\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Top 25 Cities for Vampires\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-5\"><span id=\"top-5-close-up\">Top 5 close up<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top 5 cities.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px\" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_f60c96be-cc2e-47f3-a872-d68df32c9e83\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/New-York-2.jpg\" alt=\"The concrete jungle of skyscrapers and high-rises surround the Empire State Building during golden hour in New York.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1: <\/strong>New York | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>64.14<br><br><strong>Number of Blood Centers: <\/strong>23 | Rank: No. 2<br><strong>Number of Slaughterhouses: <\/strong>9 | Rank: No. 1<br><strong>Number of Casket Suppliers: <\/strong>30 | Rank: No. 3<br><strong>Number of Vampire Groups: <\/strong>6 | Rank: No. 1<br><strong>Number of Vampire-Friendly Clubs: <\/strong>7 | Rank: No. 1 (tie)<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Dracula has taken over theatres in NYC this fall with <a href=\"https:\/\/draculacomedy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bucketlisters.com\/experience\/dracula-at-musica-nevermore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience<\/a>.<br><br>Enjoy drinks and vampire vibes throughout the year at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyingfoxtavern.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flying Fox Tavern<\/a> in Queens.<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/skyline-photo-of-empire-state-building-in-new-york-city-2190283\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roberto Vivancos<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/CHICAGO111.jpg\" alt=\"Two people bike along the water overlooking the Chicago skyline.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2: <\/strong>Chicago | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>51.21<br><br><strong>Number of Blood Centers: <\/strong>19 | Rank: No. 6<br><strong>Number of Slaughterhouses: <\/strong>3 | Rank: No. 7 (tie)<br><strong>Share of Homes with Basements: <\/strong>85.4% | Rank: No. 21<br><strong>Historical Average Percentage of Sunshine: <\/strong>52.42% | Rank: No. 59<br><strong>Number of Nightlife Options: <\/strong>473 | Rank: No. 2<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagohorror.com\/chicago-vampire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vampire-themed events<\/a> or enjoy a quiet night at home reading through the Chicago-based vampire series \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/?page_id=6900\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicagoland Vampires<\/a>.\u201d<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/two-people-riding-bikes-3010969\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chait Goli<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Columbus-OH.png\" alt=\"An aerial view of Columbus, Ohio, on a bright day with a river and bridges in the center\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3: <\/strong>Columbus, Ohio | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>47.23<br><br><strong>Number of Blood Drives: <\/strong>39 | Rank: No. 7<br><strong>Number of Slaughterhouses: <\/strong>2 | Rank: No. 11 (tie)<br><strong>Number of Casket Suppliers: <\/strong>16 | Rank: No. 8 (tie)<br><strong>Historical Cloud Cover: <\/strong>225 | Rank: No. 36 (tie)<br><strong>Historical Annual Average Percentage of Sunshine: <\/strong>45.92% | Rank: No. 16<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Attend a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/vampire-masquerade-ball-tickets-692611037257\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vampire masquerade ball<\/a>, or join the local <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/cidlarp\/columbus-vampire-larp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vampire: The Masquerade<\/a> monthly live action role play (LARP) group.\u00a0<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Scioto_Mile_aerial_from_north.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">J. Jessee<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PHILADELPHIA111.jpg\" alt=\"A river runs behind streets of skyscrapers on a cloudy day in Philadelphia.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 4: <\/strong>Philadelphia | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>46.41<br><br><strong>Number of Potential Victims: <\/strong>1,567,258 | Rank: No. 6<br><strong>Number of Blood Drives: <\/strong>45 | Rank: No. 4<br><strong>Number of Casket Suppliers: <\/strong>16 | Rank: No. 8 (tie)<br><strong>Historical Cloud Cover: <\/strong>265 | Rank: No. 1 (tie)<br><strong>Number of Nightlife Options: <\/strong>176 | Rank: No. 12<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Check out some of Bram Stoker\u2019s notes and outlines for \u201cDracula\u201d at <a href=\"https:\/\/rosenbach.org\/collections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Rosenbach<\/a>.\u00a0<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/contemporary-architecture-of-megapolis-with-skyscrapers-4642403\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kelly<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Los-Angeles-CA-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Griffith Observatory stands atop a hill overlooking the Los Angeles skyline.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 5: <\/strong>Los Angeles | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>46.37<br><br><strong>Number of Blood Centers: <\/strong>18 | Rank: No. 7 (tie)<br><strong>Number of Casket Suppliers: <\/strong>28 | Rank: No. 4<br><strong>Number of Vampire Groups: <\/strong>4 | Rank: No. 2<br><strong>Number of Nightlife Options: <\/strong>336 | Rank: No. 4<br><strong>Number of Vampire-Friendly Clubs: <\/strong>7 | Rank: No. 1 (tie)<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Explore fictional <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/buffy-vampire-slayer-show-filming-locations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sunnyvale<\/a> (not to be confused with the real Sunnyvale, California), where Buffy and the Scooby Gang slayed vampires and other evil supernatural beings. The City of Angels is also home to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alexsbar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alex\u2019s Bar<\/a> (aka Fangtasia in \u201cTrue Blood\u201d) and master fangsmith <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fathersebastiaan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Father Sebastiaan<\/a>.<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/white-and-brown-buildings-2709964\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roberto Nickson<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-insights\">Key insights<\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Big cities like <strong>New York <\/strong>(No. 1), <strong>Chicago<\/strong> (No. 2), and <strong>Philadelphia<\/strong> (No. 4) fly to the top of our ranking with a plethora of <strong>potential victims<\/strong> and <strong>blood donation centers<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>23 states<\/strong> \u2014 such as <strong>Massachusetts<\/strong>, <strong>Ohio<\/strong>, and <strong>Illinois<\/strong> \u2014 and the <strong>District of Columbia<\/strong> rank in the better half. Cities across <strong>New England<\/strong> and the <strong>Midwest<\/strong> <strong>dominate<\/strong>, thanks to <strong>lower rates of sunshine<\/strong> and scores of <strong>underground lairs<\/strong> (aka basements). All <strong>8 Connecticut cities<\/strong> in our ranking <strong>impress in the top 100<\/strong> due to <strong>high historical cloud cover<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, <strong>4 sunbaked states<\/strong> \u2014 <strong>Hawaii<\/strong>, <strong>New Mexico<\/strong>, <strong>Nevada<\/strong>, and <strong>Idaho<\/strong>, the only U.S. state that has outlawed <a href=\"https:\/\/legislature.idaho.gov\/statutesrules\/idstat\/title18\/t18ch50\/sect18-5003\/#:~:text=Idaho%20Statutes&amp;text=(1)%20Any%20person%20who%20wilfully,only%20apparent%20means%20of%20survival.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cannibalism<\/a> \u2014 lurk in the <strong>bottom half<\/strong>.\u00a0<strong>Las Vegas <\/strong>is the lone <strong>exception<\/strong> at No. 233 overall.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7 Arizona<\/strong> cities <strong>melt into the bottom 10<\/strong> with <strong>bountiful sunshine<\/strong> and <strong>few basements <\/strong>to evade the rays. However, not all sunny cities deter vampires. <strong>Tucson<\/strong> (No. 159) ties with <strong>Atlanta<\/strong> (No. 25) for the <strong>3rd-highest<\/strong> number of <strong>vampire groups<\/strong>. <strong>Phoenix<\/strong> (No. 222) and <strong>Scottsdale<\/strong> (No. 417) are each home to vampire-friendly clubs.\u00a0<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ask-the-experts\"><span id=\"expert-take\">Expert take<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can you tell your Nosferatus from your Edward Cullens?<br><br>We sought out a panel of mortal experts for some insights on the undead. Read on to get as close as possible to an \u201cInterview with the Vampire.\u201d<\/p>    <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>We know from TV and movies that sunlight and garlic repel vampires. What elements draw them in?<\/li>    <li>What are some easy ways to identify a vampire?<\/li>    <li>What are the best resources (books, TV, movies) for studying up on the habits of vampires?<\/li>    <li>Stake, cross, or sunlight? What\u2019s the most efficient way to dispatch a vampire?<\/li>    <li>What is vampirism?<\/li>    <li>From Dracula to Buffy to Lestat to Twilight and True Blood \u2014 what&#8217;s the best vampire movie\/series and why?<\/li> <\/ol>   <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 id=\"ask-the-experts\" class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask The Experts<\/h2>       <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px; 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        -webkit-line-clamp: 1;         -webkit-box-orient: vertical;         line-height: 1.4;       }        [x-cloak] {         display: none;       }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('jordan-ruud', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Jordan-Ruud.jpg\" alt=\"Jordan Ruud\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Jordan Ruud <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Collection Development Librarian<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('sara-ross-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Sara_Ross.jpg\" alt=\"Sara_Ross\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Sara Ross, Ph.D. <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Department Chair, Media &amp; Theater Arts \/ Associate Professor<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-jordan-ruud\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'jordan-ruud', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'jordan-ruud'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('jordan-ruud', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'jordan-ruud', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'jordan-ruud'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('jordan-ruud', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Jordan-Ruud.jpg\" alt=\"Jordan Ruud\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'jordan-ruud'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Jordan Ruud <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'jordan-ruud'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Collection Development Librarian<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'jordan-ruud'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Arkansas \u2013 Fort Smith<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'jordan-ruud'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('jordan-ruud', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'jordan-ruud'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('jordan-ruud')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Jordan-Ruud.jpg\" alt=\"Jordan Ruud\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Jordan Ruud <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Collection Development Librarian<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">University of Arkansas \u2013 Fort Smith<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p><strong>We know from TV and movies that sunlight and garlic repel vampires. What elements draw them in?<\/strong><\/p> <p>The easiest way to lure a vampire in is simply to welcome them. According to much of traditional vampire lore, they can&#8217;t go anywhere they haven&#8217;t been asked to go.<\/p> <p><strong>What are some easy ways to identify a vampire?<\/strong><\/p> <p>This is a tough question because vampires have taken so many forms (including bats and wolves). These days you&#8217;ll usually identify them in a couple of different ways: sometimes they&#8217;ll be suave (see Bela Lugosi&#8217;s portrayal in the 1931 Dracula movie or Anne Rice&#8217;s creations) but sometimes they&#8217;ll be a little more jarring to look at (see Max Schreck as the frightening Count Orlok in 1922&#8217;s Nosferatu or Reggie Nalder in Salem&#8217;s Lot). In the past, they were often seen as a little more akin to ghouls.<\/p> <p><strong>What are the best resources (books, TV, movies) for studying up on the habits of vampires?<\/strong><\/p> <p>There are a few important books to make sense of vampires:<\/p> <ol> <li>A great comprehensive starting point is Rosemary Ellen Guiley&#8217;s <em>The Complete Vampire Companion<\/em>.<\/li> <li>To track the development of today&#8217;s popular idea of the vampire, I recommend John Polidori&#8217;s <em>The Vampyre<\/em>, Sheridan Le Fanu&#8217;s <em>Carmilla<\/em>, and of course Bram Stoker&#8217;s <em>Dracula<\/em>. There&#8217;s a handy Riverside Edition that collects all three of these.<\/li> <li>And last, for those interested in &#8220;the historical Dracula,\u201d <em>Dracula, Prince of Many Faces<\/em> by Radu Florescu and Raymond McNally is a comprehensive biography of Vlad the Impaler, whose infamous legend inspired Bram Stoker&#8217;s portrayal of Dracula.<\/li> <\/ol> <p><strong>Stake, cross, or sunlight? What\u2019s the most efficient way to dispatch a vampire?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Crosses and garlic are usually seen as a proactive way to keep vampires away. For those in search of a more permanent solution, a stake is highly recommended but can be messy and unpleasant. One interesting solution is to throw a bunch of rice in a vampire&#8217;s path because vampires will get distracted by counting all the grains (this motif has shown up in a certain famous piece of children&#8217;s entertainment, ah-ah-ah!).<\/p> <p>The handy thing about sunlight is that it tends to be inevitable, but then you rely on a vampire being easily lured into the sunlight. I might take it on a case-by-case basis and suggest consulting a specialist such as Dr. Abraham Van Helsing.<\/p> <p><strong>What is vampirism?<\/strong><\/p> <p>Now, this is a tricky question. At the end of the day, it&#8217;s about the undead feeding off the living, but not in quite the same way as ghouls and zombies do. Vampires these days are generally seen as transforming their victims, not just consuming them. Perhaps at its undead heart, vampirism is simply a myth playing on the common fear of death.<\/p> <p><strong>From Dracula to Buffy to Lestat to Twilight and True Blood \u2014 what&#8217;s the best vampire movie\/series and why?<\/strong><\/p> <p>One of my favorite vampire movies is George Romero&#8217;s <em>Martin<\/em>, the haunting story of a young man who may or may not be a vampire in the modern world. I&#8217;m also fond of Carl Th. Dreyer&#8217;s atmospheric <em>Vampyr<\/em>.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-sara-ross-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'sara-ross-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'sara-ross-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('sara-ross-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'sara-ross-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'sara-ross-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('sara-ross-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Sara_Ross.jpg\" alt=\"Sara_Ross\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'sara-ross-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Sara Ross, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'sara-ross-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Department Chair, Media &amp; Theater Arts \/ Associate Professor<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'sara-ross-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Sacred Heart University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'sara-ross-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('sara-ross-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'sara-ross-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('sara-ross-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Sara_Ross.jpg\" alt=\"Sara_Ross\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Sara Ross, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Department Chair, Media &amp; Theater Arts \/ Associate Professor<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Sacred Heart University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p>The vampire community is notoriously discrete, so trends in new vampire residency can be hard to track. However, there are various indicators of undead presence, such as an uptick in unexplained cases of exsanguination. Based on these signs, longtime known favorites, such as New Orleans, favored for its conducive atmosphere, and Forks, Washington, which offers 163 overcast days per year and excellent sporting opportunities, seem to be losing ground.<\/p> <p>In their place, trendy upstarts include Omaha, Nebraska and Hereford, Texas which offer excellent dining options for the growing numbers of \u2018meatatarian vampires,\u2019 as well as Cape Disappointment, Washington, which \u201cout fogs\u201d neighboring Forks by 2 days per year. California remains a tough sell for vampires, as it has entirely too much sun and a bountiful garlic crop.<\/p> <p><strong>We know from TV and movies that sunlight and garlic repel vampires. What elements draw them in? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Vampires are particularly attracted to communities with large numbers of wistful, attractive young people who are open to mesmerization with whom they can mingle. A lively fashion scene is also attractive to vampires, with favored trends including black woolens, red silks, and long, flowing white nightgowns.<\/p> <p><strong>What are some easy ways to identify a vampire? <\/strong><\/p> <p>Because of the ease of identifying vampires through their lack of reflection, they will avoid mirror stores, fun houses, and the homes of excessively vain people. Given this, along with their general dislike for sunny California, you might think that they would avoid Hollywood. However, the many job opportunities open to vampires in the movie industry are nevertheless a draw.<\/p> <p>Other identifying characteristics include pallor, coldness to the touch, and a tendency to wear \u201cI\u2019m allergic to morning\u201d t-shirts.<\/p> <p><strong>Stake, cross, or sunlight? What\u2019s the most efficient way to dispatch a vampire?<\/strong><\/p> <p>The effectiveness of crosses is greatly overstated; most vampires are too clever to be caught out in broad daylight, and really, who carries around wooden stakes anymore? Therefore, the most efficient way to dispatch a vampire is the same as with most people \u2013\u2013 start a conversation about finances, politics, or how smart your children are.<\/p> <p><strong>From Dracula to Buffy to Lestat to Twilight and True Blood \u2014 what&#8217;s the best vampire movie\/series and why? <\/strong><\/p> <p>There are so many great vampire movies and shows out there. Some interesting examples over the years include <em>Nosferatu<\/em> (1922), <em>Dracula<\/em> (1931), <em>Interview with the Vampire<\/em> (1994), <em>Dark Shadows<\/em> (1967\/\u201968), <em>Blade<\/em> (1998), <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer<\/em> (1997-2003), <em>Lost Boys<\/em> (1987), <em>Near Dark<\/em> (1987), <em>True Blood<\/em> (2008-2014), <em>Being Human<\/em> (2011), <em>The Vampire Diaries<\/em> (2009-2017), <em>Twilight <\/em>(2008), <em>Let the Right One In<\/em> (2008), and the hilarious vampire parody <em>What We Do in the Shadows<\/em> (2015).<\/p> <p>But seriously, the enduring interest in monsters in popular culture, including recent waves of vampire, werewolf, and zombie-related stories, suggests the powerful hold that these figures have on the modern imagination. The study of popular monsters can provide an understanding of how our society has dealt with questions of death, youth, religion, sexuality, addiction, delinquency, disease, and a wide variety of other social issues. Understanding monsters in literature, film, and television helps us to better understand the culture that has produced them.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methodology\"><span id=\"behind-the-ranking\">Behind the ranking<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best and Worst Cities for Vampires. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 5 categories: Food and Drink, Lair Safety, Deterrents, Community, and Entertainment. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city\u2019s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked \u201cBest\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cWorst\u201d (No. 500). Note: The \u201cWorst\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 500 due to ties.<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"cfb0d814-0374-4058-98e1-e8072e97503c\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Methodology Table - 2023&amp;#39;s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>    <h3 id=\"sources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>American Red Cross, Chef Lola\u2019s Kitchen, Church Angel, FestivalNet, FindLaw, Garlic Seed Foundation, Meetup, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pickyourown.org, Realtor.com, The Real Yellow Pages, TripAdvisor, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vampirewebsite.net, Yelp, and Zillow<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><span id=\"final-thoughts-bloody-good-times\">Final thoughts: Bloody good times<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you feel like life is sucking your soul, explore some more fun vampirical insights below, and plan a trip to one of the nation\u2019s top blood-sucking destinations:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Rhode Island<\/strong> was once known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/newengland.com\/yankee\/history\/vampire-mercy-brown-rhode-island\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vampire Capital of America<\/a> due to tuberculosis cases like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasobscura.com\/places\/grave-mercy-brown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mercy Brown\u2019s<\/a> stirring up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/history\/the-great-new-england-vampire-panic-36482878\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vampire panic<\/a> in 19th-century New England.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>While its northern neighbor <strong>Austin<\/strong> (No. 63) holds the title of Bat City, <strong>San Antonio<\/strong> (No. 33) is home to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.batcon.org\/see-bats-live\/visit-bracken-cave-preserve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">world\u2019s largest bat colony<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The fictional town <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mysticfallstours.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mystic Falls, Virginia<\/a>, from \u201cThe Vampire Diaries\u201d is actually located in <strong>Covington, Georgia<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Celebrate Bella Swan\u2019s birthday at the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/forkswa.com\/twilight\/festival\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forever Twilight in Forks Festival<\/a> in <strong>Forks, Washington<\/strong>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/forkswa.com\/twilight\/the-collection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">collection<\/a> \u2014 featuring \u201cTwilight\u201d costumes, props, fan art, and iconically creepy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2013\/nov\/05\/chuckesmee-twilight-toddler-puppet-movie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chuckesmee<\/a> \u2014 is open year-round.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vampires aren\u2019t the only beings in need of blood.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blood shortages can disrupt and delay surgeries and other medical procedures. Help your community by donating blood at a center or local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcrossblood.org\/give.html\/find-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blood drive<\/a>. If there\u2019s no blood drive planned in your neighborhood, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcrossblood.org\/hosting-a-blood-drive\/learn-about-hosting\/how-hosting-a-blood-drive-works.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">host one<\/a> at a nearby community center, workplace, or church.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Is the state of your lawn frightening neighbors? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\"><em>Hire a local Lawn Love pro<\/em><\/a><em> for some TLC ahead of Halloween.<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"media-resources\">Media resources<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DAez0eoaXqlbpkyhL553MwV4C0eEHQeRndj6mexkXWs\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution images of cities<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/ranking-table-2022s-best-cities-for-vampires-1h7g6k0ypxyd02o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022\u2019s Best Cities for Vampires ranking results<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/ll-2021s-best-cities-for-vampires-1hxr4zxok8wno6y?live\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021\u2019s Best Cities for Vampires ranking results<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Main Photo Credit: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/photos\/MAEEXGFdmC0-modern-urban-vampires-drinking-at-bar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meshaphoto<\/a> \/ Canva Pro \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canva.com\/policies\/content-license-agreement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canva License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Afraid of things that go bump in the night? Find out if you live in one of 2023\u2019s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":19015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studies"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Vampires.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Sav Maive","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/sav-maive\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}