Delve into Philly’s dark underbelly: Vampires, ghosts and murderers

It doesn't have to be Halloween time for you to enjoy a good bone-tingling thrill. While on the surface, Philadelphia is known for being the birthplace of the nation and a shrine for the history buff, underneath there is a whole other world. If you are fascinated by what lurks in the night, there are many nightmarish good times to be had, if you dare.

For those of you who love stories of vampires, ghosts and serial killers, the Grim Philly tours will be just up your dark alley.

Visit numerous historical sites throughout town while learning about the city's darker side during Grim Philly: Cemetery, Serial Killers, Blood and Beer, a historic tour offered on the weekends from now until September 9. Afterwards, you will get to enjoy beer and snacks at an area tavern. The tour runs in daylight hours from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. so you have time to go home and lock the doors before the night creatures come out.

Grim Philly: Vampires, Sex, Ghosts and More, another tour, will focus on some of the darkest, scariest and/or most scandalous tales associated with the city. Warning: this is an R-rated tour. You can satiate your hunger for the supernatural from Wednesday, May 28 until Sunday, August 31, daily at 7 p.m. Both of these tours will leave from the Independence Visitor Center located in Independence National Historical Park.

If you prefer having a frosty beverage in your hand while listening to stories of crime, murder and mayhem, then check out Grim Philly's Bootlegger Ball. Learn the dark and intriguing history of Philadelphia during this pub crawl from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., every Friday until August 30. The Independence Visitor Center will also be the starting place for this tour.

Philadelphia isn't the only place where you can indulge your darker sensibilities. At the Burlington County Library in Mount Holly, NJ, they are holding their inaugural Crime & Corpses: Mystery book group. Get turned on by mystery, murder, and mayhem, all fictionalized, of course. The last meeting will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m.

In Cape May, you can visit with some spirits on a guided tour of the historic (and haunted) 1879 Physick Estate located at 1048 Washington St. during the Historic Haunts House Tour Saturday, May 31 at 8:15 p.m. Afterwards join a discussion on Victorian Spiritualism. The tour begins at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean St.

If you are like me and are fascinated by vampires on television and in movies, but never want to meet up with one in person, then come see Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum James Marsters as his band Ghost of the Robot, a five-piece classic rock band plays the Underground Arts at the Wolf Building at 1200 Callowhill St. Marsters plays lead guitar for the group. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.