UPDATE: Happy Halloween everyone! To help you in your journey for Halloween fun, I’m updating this post, clearing out the weekend events and adding a few new happenings for tonight. The links below are still good, so be sure to check them out too if you want something other than nightclub events.
1. DO SOMETHING HALLOWEEN-ISH
With that unfortunate Halloween-falling-on-a-Wednesday thing, this weekend promises to be full of slutty nurses roaming your neighborhood bar. We’ll be back with a full rundown of Halloween happenings, but here are a few top options. The party at The Standard is pretty big each year. King Sugar‘s Eureka Burger show makes the list off the flier alone — but they’ve got cool ska flavors too. And who doesn’t want to parade their dog around the Tower District?
If you’re a Halloween addict and want to get the most out of the spookiest time of year, then you should know that many of our local haunted attractions are open as of this weekend. Here’s a quick rundown:
Haunted Fresno: This downtown haunt features six attractions and tonight is opening night. Word is you can get free Monster energy drinks tonight. They’re also letting 100 underprivileged kids in free tonight. Awww. Anyhow, hit up their site for more info, special nights, etc.
Raisin Hell Ranch: If haunted cornfields are your thing, then head to this three-attraction ranch in Madera. It’s open starting tonight. More info here.
The Grove: A Sanger staple in 13th year, The Grove opened last weekend. It features haunted attractions and has all makings of a spooky street fair, whether you’re looking for pumpkins or something to eat. Get all the details here.
Raven’s Gate: This newer haunted, located in Parlier, has an early-opening discount night on Saturday, then opens for its regular season next Thursday. It includes a haunted forest, hayride and more. Read up.
I’m not sure whether 5th Realm is open this year. It was supposed to move from Sierra Vista Mall to the Fresno Fairgrounds, but I haven’t heard anything and its website hasn’t been updated. I’ll update if I learn anything more.
While we’re celebrating the prospect of a weekend without 100-degree temperatures, some people are already thinking about Halloween. Specifically our local haunted attractions. This weekend, three of them are holding auditions.
Haunted Fresno has its auditions Saturday for returning actors and Sunday for new actors. More info here.
The Grove in Sanger is having interviews on Sunday. More info here.
Meanwhile, Raven’s Gate is seeking its talent over the web. Apply here.
At 5th Realm — which is moving from Sierra Vista Mall to the Fresno Fairgrounds this year — auditions already happened, but keep an eye on its Facebook page in case there are more.
UPDATE, 11/4: Turns out one of the little candy-lovin’ munchkins in this video is a Fresno native. Vince Cortez and Marissa Ramirez’s son, Jace, is the disappointed tyke in the second clip. It seems Jace’s parents have a pretty good sense of humor. Says Vince, “We were so excited when they told us he made the cut. Horrible prank but for as much grief as these kids give us they need a little fun played on them. Lol! Glad everybody got a laugh.”
Your move, Jace. Revenge is sweeter than a fun-size Milky Way.
Original, 11/3: Jimmy Kimmel challenged his viewers to video themselves telling their kids they’d eaten all of their hard-earned Halloween candy. Looking for a new birth control? The following should do the trick.
Oh man. Those two kids at the end are working hard to redeem their greedy little colleagues, aren’t they? Nice try, you cute little monsters.
Like many of us, celebrities donned costumes and headed out on the weekend. Here are random pictures of celebrities in Halloween costumes I found interesting/funny/sad today.
Doug Hutchison pays homage to his 17-year old wife by peeling off her skin and wearing it. No, wait, that’s next year. This year he settled for a wig and inappropriate candy choices. [via The Superficial]
It’s for Halloween for reals — not to be confused with the week’s worth of Halloween parties that led up to tonight where girls could dress up like as a slutty [insert costume idea here] and guys could try to hit on them.
Sure, Halloween night still has a number of those parties, but it’s also offers the tried-and-true traditions — like trick-or-treating or, conversely, walking up and down the streets of the Tower District aimlessly. The choice is yours.
While you’re figuring out that last-minute Halloween costume.
1. LIVE LIKE A NEANDERTHAL Neanderthals — one of Fresno’s favorite party bands in the late ’80s — has a reunion gig Saturday night at Fulton 55. If it’s anyting like that Wild Blue Yonder reunion, you can expect a big ol’ crowd. [Tickets]
If you missed the part in yesterday’s post where I said Halloween-themed events were taking over this week, tonight’s rundown of happenings offers further proof:
ORLA FALLON: If you remember the group Celtic Woman, then you probably remember Fallon. She was a vocalist with the Irish group — popular with the PBS crowd — but since has branched off into a solo career and has had her own PBS special. Catch her tonight at Tower Theatre. [More info]
It’s nearly Halloween (though you wouldn’t know it from the warm temperatures), and the scary movie season is upon us. How about this year, along with classics like Halloween and The Exorcist, you rent something with a local flavor?
Local filmmaker Matthew Sconce’s Stricken is available for rent on Vudu. In an interview Sconce did with the guys at Dumb Drum when the movie was released in 2010, he mentions that the film was shot around Fresno, Madera, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Clovis and North Fork, which is where Sconce is from.
Check out the synopsis from Vudu, as well as the trailer for Stricken:
After her mother’s death and her father’s brutal suicide, 25 year old Sarah Black fears she is losing her grip on reality. She is haunted by nightmares and terrifying visions, and she can’t shake the feeling that something evil is about to find her. When people she cares about start to die, Sarah believes she may be next.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but it’s definitely on my list of things to watch before Halloween. Bonus: Friend to the Beehive Anthony Taylor makes an appearance in the film as “Sleepy Guard,” so be sure to watch for him.
Halloween is right around the corner, and the weeks leading up to it offer plenty of options for Halloween-themed festivities and trips to our various haunted attractions.
This year’s crop of haunted attraction is bigger than ever — with a new haunted in Visalia (Fear Factory), two new places that were born out of the owner’s of Hobb’s Grove divorcing (The Grove and The Raven’s Gate). Clovis’ Fright Night Scream Park has a new name — 5th Realm, while The Patch, a more kid-friendly option, has moved from North Fresno to Old Town Clovis. Then there’s Haunted Fresno and Raisin Hell Ranch, both of which are back for another year.
The Raven’s Gate (open today-Oct. 31, closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
If you’re looking for events — either at clubs or out in the community — check out the vast number of options below. If you’ve got something going on that’s not here, go ahead and leave a comment telling everyone about it.
Basically: A bunch of other moms at their bible-belt pre-school got all holier than thou about her son’s costume choice and what it may (or may not) imply about his sexuality.
Usually, it’s funny videos and fail-worthy pictures that go viral. This, on the other hand, is extremely heart-felt, with a nice message about childhood, imagination, tolerance and judgment.
If you think that me allowing my son to be a female character for Halloween is somehow going to ‘make’ him gay then you are an idiot. Firstly, what a ridiculous concept. Secondly, if my son is gay, OK. I will love him no less. Thirdly, I am not worried that your son will grow up to be an actual ninja so back off.
That’s just one great part. Do yourself a favor and take five minutes to read the entire thing, then pass it along to someone else.
Here are random pictures of celebrities I found interesting/funny/sad today. Some of them are wearing costumes because of Halloween, and some are wearing costumes because they didn’t receive love when they were children. Enjoy.
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert bring back both sanity and fleece pullovers. [via People]
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo welcomed a Halloween baby boy: an orangutan. The zoo posted this message on its Facebook page today:
It’s a boy! We are elated to announce the birth of a baby Sumatran orangutan born yesterday afternoon, October 31st. The birth is a significant accomplishment due to their endangered status. Sara and her son will be resting off exhibit for a yet to be determined length of time.
You can read more about the new baby on The Bee’s homepage. Earlier this year, the zoo welcomed this baby and this baby, but also had this bad baby news.
For the most part, the kids were kind, cute and grateful to be taking my Kit Kats. But there were offenders, oh yes there were.
Here are some of the people who were not treats. (Note: Offenders not pictured)
The Cell Phone Talker: I had three different people come to my door last night while on a cell phone. I’m not talking about parents on phones, standing behind their kids. I’m talking about people holding out bags wanting my nom-noms. Look, I’m as tethered to my phone as anyone, and even I’ll admit this was ridiculous. A special shout out to the tween girl on her phone who said neither “trick or treat” nor “thank you.” I think Microsoft made a commercial about you. No … really!
The Possibly Lying Adult: “Oh, can I have one more for my other kid who is sick at home?” What that really means is: “I think you’re an idiot and I’m gonna try to get more candy out of you. You don’t know how many kids I have, sucker! This Butterfinger is going to work with me tomorrow.” Maybe you really do have a sick kid at home. Maybe I’m just cynical. But I doubt it.
I’ve seen a couple stories about trick-or-treating laws that ban teens from going door to door. I guess the point is to stop kids from being bullies. I’ve heard folks groan about older kids participating, but I hadn’t realized some communities actually passed laws banning the practice. What do you think, should teens be allowed to trick-or-treat? What age is too old?
If you read the paper, you’ll see step-by-step directions for chocolate-dipped Oreos with candy skulls, as well as Rice Krispies Treats in the shape of pumpkins and tombstones.
The cupcake-decorating directions were too hard to pull off in print. So Bee photographer Mark Crosse taped a demo with Nancy Babick, owner of Creative Cakes & More.
She shows us how to top cupcakes with grass and pumpkins, a green monster and the face of a mummy. (All the tools — including shortcuts such as pre-made cupcakes and frosting — are at her shop.)
Remember a while back when I posted that commercial featuring the creepy Snickers lady? Well now, just in time for Halloween, you can buy the very costume. It’s up for bid at Clothes Off Our Back, and right now it’s at $250.
One thing, though: if you get the costume, tell us where you’re going to be Halloween night so we can make sure to not be there.
Her blog post was picked up by The Daily What, and even made the homepage on Buzzfeed (which, if you’ve been wondering, is where I usually get all those crazy videos you guys like so much).
Anyone planning a Halloween party — or anyone with kids, really — may want to check out Creative Cakes & More tonight between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
In a free demonstration, Creative Cakes owner Nancy Babick will show how to decorate Halloween candies and cupcakes using tools from her store. I stopped by for an early lesson — and saw firsthand just how easy they are. (Yes, that’s a hint about next week’s story.)
UPDATE: Bring this back to the top because both Haunted Fresno and Raisin Hell Ranch are opening this weekend. There’s a spread on those and the other local Halloween attractions in this coming Sunday’s paper, but you can read the story online early.
Remember to join us at Fright Night Scream Park next week for Screamup Tweetup.
ORIGINAL POST, 10/5: If you’re a local Halloween haunt enthusiast, all the news today must be a bit frightening.
First comes word that Hobb’s Grove — the long-time Sanger attraction — isn’t opening this year. According to a story by The Bee’s BoNhia Lee, the couple that owns Hobb’s is divorcing and all the ensuing drama is keeping the place closed. It’s supposed to be back next year.
Next, we learn that Cobb Ranch, well-known for its corn maze, will be closing after this season. Here’s a brief story from The Business Journal.
Luckily, the last few years have brought us a handful of new Halloween attractions, so we’re not without spooky alternatives:
