Halloween Has Truly Become the Night to Howl : The traditional Night of the Dead is especially lively in Southern California
Say you’re really envious at how much fun you see your little kids having each Oct. 31. Or maybe at the party you went to last year everyone, including the guy dressed as a dweeb, laughed like crazy at your outfit. Well, don’t even think of giving up on this year’s Halloween because there is a lot at stake out there.
First, you never want to let your kids feel they’ve got some power over you, and second, the dweeb from last year might come out as a pincushion this time. No, this year is your year. Start those creative juices flowing now and come up with some really outrageous get-up because you could also win a lot of money this time around.
One more thing: Bring some pins, just in case.
Santa Monica Boulevard from La Cienega Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard is without question the biggest costume parade being held in all of Southern California on this traditional kiddies’ dress-up night. Not only does the Southland’s gay community come out in full force, but you’ll also see the underground club kid contingent mixed into the crowd, flaunting their gaudy get-ups (of course, they look no different than they do on any given Saturday night), parents with children--yes, family values are alive and well in West Hollywood, gay-friendly mainstream couples and, of course, the obligatory local newscasters . . . now there’s a costume idea!
The beautiful and grandiose Mayan Club downtown is having a cash-prize costume contest to match the overblown architectural style of the ornate interior. With a first-place award of $2,000, second place $1,000 and third place $500, it’s safe to say that some of the most flamboyant, outrageous and gigantic outfits in the world will be wandering the halls of the club when it slips into a sort of Tales From the Dark Side theme. Kiss the judges, bribe them with booze, baby-sit their kids, do anything to win! The club is at 1038 S. Hill St. Call (213) 746-4674 for more details.
The Roxbury is the kind of place where you show up and you had better know the man in charge of the door. If it happens that you don’t, you should take advantage of tonight’s haunted mansion theme and dress as a member of the living dead and scare the wits out of the big man holding the velvet rope. It could be worth your while, because not only will you hobnob with real-live stars--this place always has a few of them--you could walk away with the top prize of a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas. Come to think of it, a better-bet costume just might be Drew Barrymore, one of the club regulars. Roxbury is at 8225 Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood. Call (213) 656-1750 for more information.
The newest club to participate in the annual gore gala is Gotham Hall. In fact, Halloween night is the scheduled grand opening party for the Westside haunt. This one should have a unique ambience since it once housed an old Odd Fellows home. Actually, one would think that if the fellows who inhabited this hall really were odd, they might not be at all upset with what befalls their hallowed hall come Oct. 31. Gotham Hall can be found on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
The historic Castle Green apartments in quaint old Pasadena sit on some very majestic-looking grounds. The building itself takes on an air of refined elegance, charm and grace, but not tonight! This year’s second annual costume party takes over the ground floor with a DJ spinning tunes for a mid-20 to mid-30s group of ghoulies. For those of you in the San Gabriel Valley who want to win costume-contest prizes close to home, this is the place to stake out. Castle Green is at 99 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. Call (818) 793-0359 for additional information.
Sin-a-matic is the kind of club that on a regular basis has a clientele of mostly young adults who look sort of Halloween-ish year-round. Normally you see lots of leather, tattoos, chains, tattoos, latex, tattoos, multicolor hairdos, tattoos, body piercings and lots and lots of black outfits. It’s anybody’s guess what will be au courant at this year’s ghoulfest with this crowd: Laura Ashley, Calvin Klein, Jacqueline Smith, Clothestime maybe? Sin-a-matic is at 7969 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, (213) 654-0280.
The San Diego Convention Center is host this year to “All That Glitters: A Halloween Extravaganza” being held under the sails of the convention center. Billed as a night that will transform America’s finest city into America’s most outrageous one, the festivities include a spectacular light show, high-energy music, a live three-ring circus and a costume contest held on a glittering ramp--no vogueing, please, it’s so ‘80s. Part of the proceeds from entrants and admission fees will go to benefit local AIDS groups. Call (619) 491-3855 to find out how you too can glitter.
