A. Fangtasia (an obvious play on the word "Fantasia") is an after-dark bar & nightclub where humans & vampires can mingle.

The bar serves regular drinks for humans and "Tru-Blood" (an artificial blood substitute) for vampires.

It's a goth/punk atmosphere of red walls, studded dog collars and lots of tattoos - along with the fangs, of course.

The humans who come range from yokel tourist types who just want to gawk at the freaks, to hard-core fangbangers (those who enjoy sex
with vampires), although a sign on the wall declares "no biting on the premises".

The owner, the 1,000-year old Eric (the local vampire Sheriff), is the focus of attention (which, in some instances, seems to border on worship), but he doesn't tolerate fools easily.

Q. Where is it supposed to be on the show?

A. In Shreveport, Louisiana.

Q. When did we see it on the show?

A. We first see the bar in Episode 4 of Season One,
("Escape from Dragon House") when Sookie goes there for the first time (with Bill). It's her (and the viewers') first introduction to the vampire culture. And she meets Eric for the first time.

We see it again in Episode 7 ("Burning House of Love"), when Jason visits the place, naively looking for vampire blood. He meets Amy Burley there, a "V" addict who turns out to be a lot more ruthless than she looks.

There's a notable scene in Episode 8 ("The Fourth Man in the Fire"), set in Fangtasia, where Eric uses Sookie's mind-reading powers to expose a thieving bartender (leading to Bill having to kill the vampire when he attacks Sookie).

In Season Two, Fangtasia resurfaces in a more sinister role, when we learn that Lafayette is being held in chains (along with other human prisoners) in a dark
dungeon beneath the bar. They are apparently people who were dealing in vampire blood ("V"), and Lafayette watches in horror as Eric dismembers one of them.

In Episode 3 of Season Two ("Scratches"), Bill brings a wounded Sookie to the bar to be healed by a special doctor. She later reads the mind of a human there and realizes that Lafayette is being held prisoner below. Unable to free him on her own, Sookie cuts a deal with Eric to help him find the missing Godric, in return for freeing Lafayette (and $10,000).

Q. What is it actually, in real life?

A. A real bar - but far in Louisiana.

Q. Where can I find it in real life?

A. The Fangtasia scenes are filmed at Alex's Bar, a punk rock dive at 2913 E. Anaheim St., in Long Beach, CA.

Decked out in a blood red, with some Day of the Dead decor, the real bar looks almost as funky as Fangtasia. (Without the vampires, of course... although you will find your share of piercings & tattoos)

Alex's is near the northeast corner of Anaheim Street & Gladys Ave (next to an AutoZone store), about two miles east of downtown Long Beach. On the show, you're looking at the rear entrance.

Another thing they have in common with Fangtasia: they're usually only open after dark: Doors open at 9 p.m. (and 7 p.m. on Sundays). It's an over-21-only place, of course. They have shows Thursday through Sunday nights. The cover varies a lot, depending on the show, so phone before you come: (562) 434-8292.

But bear in mind that the entrance is in the rear, by the parking lot - that seems to confuse some people.

(DON'T park in the AutoZone parking lot next door, or your car will be towed)

Check out the bar's own website, at alexsbar.com, and see if it looks like your cup of tea. (Sorry, no "Tru-Blood" on tap, you'll have to settle for Pabst Blue Ribbon.)


   Here is an aerial photo of the bar's rear entrance. And here is a map link.

Q. How the heck did you figure out where it was?

A. This one's pretty common knowledge, but I actually first found out about it long before the pilot had aired, thanks to my pal Tim Grobaty at the Long Beach Press-Telegram, who reported early in his column that they were shooting scenes at the bar for a new show called "True Blood".

So, all I had to do was drive down there and shoot these photos: