Spook Central: L.A.’s Fall shops

Cob Webs, Pumpkins, and Tombstones…Oh my! Whether you get your October inspo from Better Home & Gardens, Martha Stewart or Pinterest, we’re here to guide you through L.A.’s best Fall Shops. From spooky to simple, there is no shortage of places to pick-up the perfect Hallow’s eve decor.

While you want find an appearance from David S. Pumpkins(some halloween SNL humor) in any of these patches, you will find the perfect jack-o-lantern and tons of fun! Our pick of L.A.’s best Pumpkin Patches is listed below.

Tapia Brothers Farm

Van Nuys

Get lost. No really, get lost in Tapia Brothers Farm’s epic corn maze (an entire lot across from the patch itself) with a much-needed map and a sheet full of trivia questions. Scavenge through the maze for the answers and once you’ve found them all, submit your name in a drawing for a chance to win a cash prize—an early treat for your navigation efforts. The festive pumpkin patch also offers—you guessed it—pumpkins galore, as well as a fresh farmers’ market (with addicting kettle corn), a mouth-watering roasted corn stand, kids play area, bounce houses, hay wagon ride, and tractor-pulled train. Be sure to check it out on the weekends so you have all the activities at your disposal.

Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat, Sun 9am-TBD (longer weekend hours). Oct 5-31.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

Culver City

When it comes to celebrity sightings, you probably wouldn’t think of visiting the local pumpkin patch. But at longtime favorite Mr. Bones, Hollywood stars and their offspring can’t stay away from the Halloween fun. This family-owned, Los Angeles mainstay would pop up every year in Beverly Hills before recently moving to its new location in Century City. You can expect the beloved Pumpkin Village featuring festive activities like bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, live entertainment and food trucks to fuel your pumpkin picking.

Mon-Thu, Sun 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-9pm; Oct 5-30

Forneris Farms-L.A.

Forneris Farms

San Fernando Valley

Forneris Farms is back again with a four-acre cornfield maze, weekend pony rides, live entertainment and, of course, an impressive selection of pumpkins. Tractor rides will take pumpkin patch goers on a narrated tour through the cornfields and around the farm. Kids can enjoy their own harvest haven by running through a hay bale mini maze, climbing the hay pyramid and getting wild in the giant pumpkin jumper (always a good outlet for the inevitable sugar rush). If you’re not stopping by the petting zoo, playing harvest-themed games for prizes or leading the quest for that perfect pumpkin, take advantage of the refreshments and solid people watching opportunities. Pony rides, the petting zoo and face painting are weekends only. Everything is cash only, but there is an ATM on site.

Daily 9am-6pm; Oct 6—Oct 31.

Rodeo Realty Pumpkin Patch

Pacific Palisades

If you happen to be seaside, join our Pacific Palisades Office for our annual Pumpkin Patch. We will be giving out one free pumpkin for every postcard brought in as well as dishing out eats from everyones favorite burger joint- In-N-Out! Throw on your favorite fall gear and don’t miss out on all the fun!

Saturday Oct. 13th, 2018 12-3pm—839 Via De La Paz, Pacific Palisades

Maybe you have a sweet tooth, or maybe you want to be the house on the block with the best candy around comes hallows eve. No matter your mission, we’ve narrowed down the best candy shops in L.A. to stock up with before the holiday hits. So ditch your jumbo bag of lollipops. These sweetshops are the real-deal!

Sugarfina

Beverly Hills

Sugarfina, a modern-day Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory-esque candy boutique, opened its first storefront in Beverly Hills. Now spreading across L.A., adults and children alike delight in more than 140 candies from around the world, sold around the city—some for the first time ever. You won’t find any oompa loompas here, but you can indulge in the signature turquoise (think: Tiffany & Co. of candy) bento box for $26 to $195, or partake in a gourmet candy sampling at their tasting bar. Exotic candies abound, and include chocolate-covered almonds and chocolate-covered bacon pretzels; chili ginger hearts afire gummies; and matcha green tea caramels.

Sockerbit

West Third Street

Inspired by Scandanavia’s candy-crazy culture, Sockerbit is the place to go when looking for sweets that attract the mouth and eyes. The shop’s name, which translates to “sugar cube,” is the namesake for one of their headliners: a white cubed marshmallow. From imported—mostly Swedish—candies to domestic, choices vary and include banana chips covered in Swedish chocolate, and sour gummies with a creamy peach interior. If you’re of the rare black-licorice-loving types, try the coconut-covered or rasberry-filled variety, all sold by the pound.

Lolli and Pops

Glendale

Part old-fashioned candy shop, part new-age treats, this confectionary mecca has everything for every craving, and two locations: Glendale and Sherman Oaks. In the Glendale flagship, you’ll find the shop split into different sections: There’s a gummy and hard candy room dedicated to those with a persistent jaw, a chocolate room, and an international cove featuring imported candy. When you’re done browsing the other candy-centric areas, check out the soda fountain and relax with a shake or hand-mixed soda made to order.

Little Flower Candy Co.

Pasadena

Find handmade marshmallows and sea salt caramels at this sweet, homey café, whose neat blue-and-white striped exterior is slightly reminiscent of a candy wrapper. Bonus? Save the sugary treats for dessert and show up for the wholesome lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, quiche and the ever-popular dal bowl—almost as good as the homemade confections you’ll treat yourself to afterward. We said almost.

Saving the most crucial for last give your neighbors major FOMO this fall! Whether you prefer to keep your interior and exterior on the Martha Stewart side, or seek to have the best home haunt around–we’ve got you covered. Read below for our picks of the best shops to stock up on Ghoulish decor!!

Rogers Gardens

2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd.
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

www.rogersgardens.com

Wander the corridors of a most magical school where witches and wizards learn their craft. Prospective students are invited to tour the castle. Explore the Headmaster’s Study, a room filled with curiosities and antiquities. Discover where novice witches and wizards study in the Potions classroom, be sure not to tamper with their mysterious experiments. Who knows what mythical creatures are lurking in the cabinets. Students wishing to learn about the magical properties of plants can visit the Greenhouse Conservatory where rare and unusual specimens are cultivated.

Each of the many rooms in this castle is filled with enchanted objects and décor to fill your home with the spirit of Halloween. Visit Roger’s Gardens this Halloween season and surround yourself in a world of magic.

Dapper Cadaver
7572 San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 91352
(818) 771-0818
www.dappercadaver.comDapper Cadaver, known as the prop house master for film, television, stage and music video set decorators and Halloween party planners, works with the likes of Queen Mary Dark Harbor, Six Flags Fright Fest, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, the Playboy Mansion Halloween party and provided props for the White House Halloween party in 2010. Halloween shoppers will be overwhelmed with candelabras, insane asylum propping (death chair, straight jacket and restraint bed), evil scarecrows, life-size zombies, human skull replicas, hanging ghosts and demons and horrifying animal skeletons. If you have the budget, a trip to Dapper Cadaver will provide all you need.

Halloween Town
2921 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 848-3644
www.halloweentownstore.com

What started as a temporary store around Halloween, Halloween Town is now open throughout the year. This warehouse has something fun for every room in your home. Decorate by changing out your dishes with Halloween Town’s selection of ceramics featuring different parts of the anatomy. Spook your guests in the bathroom with a blood bath shower curtain and bloody handprint hand towels. Layer the Halloween experience with an array of fog machines, strobe lighting, disco balls and black lights. It doesn’t stop there – find costumes, wigs, invitations, paper good and spine-shivering music.

Aahs
1090 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 209-1280
www.aahs.com

Aahs is one of L.A.’s number one novelty gift and gag stores. The Halloween holiday takes over Aahs by mid-September. The buyers at this store think of everything for your party or front yard. It’s even a little bit scary wandering through the store and walking past gross life-size ghouls, bloody scalps, hands and fingers, motion sensor scream machines and spider webs. Hosts can choose from a wide selection of party invitations and party favors and choose from one of the hundreds of Halloween costumes, make-up and accessories from the spooky to the trendy.

Happy Haunting!

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018

Out and About: Santa Monica Edition

By: Samira Murphy

Every so often, at some point in your busy week, it happens–you get to play tourist for the day. Whether its hopping in the car for a scenic drive down the coast or popping into Fred Segal’s for an afternoon nosh, “me time” is so crucial.

Once a week, we will cut the clutter and provide you with hidden gems in the city of stars and beyond. From Beverly Hills to the San Fernando Valley, take time to explore your neck of the woods!

There is nothing more quintessential california than a day spent seaside in Santa Monica. From the famous Pier to splurge Santa Monica Place, SaMo is more than a beachfront city. It’s a way of life. Aside from sounding like an Equinox ad, we wanted to send you off into the weekend with ways to spend your day between rush hour and happy hour.

For stunning Ocean views and classic imagery of LA’s coastline, Palisades Park is the perfect way to start your day with a brisk walk through the bluffs. Start at the Pacific Palisades Adjacent end, keeping between the stately concert sculpture at Wilshire and the colorful totem pole at San Vicente. No this isn’t a scavenger hunt, just your quick route to take in the scenes and skip the tourist march.

If your spending the day with your family or just feel like kicking back like your childhood days, the Santa Monica Pier is always a great choice! Filled with the classic fairground games of yesteryears along a few adrenaline inducing rides, whats not to love? The centre and focal point of Santa Monica Beach, is also home to a range of outdoor events. If you just so happen to feel intrigued, check out our events of the week for Oct.5-7th, featuring not one but two Santa Monica thrills taking place over the weekend.

Before departing away from the sand, make sure to step inside the iconic Camera Obscura! The perfect spot for peace, quite, and a uniquely peculiar view of the oceanfront. The historic optical contraption is the offbeat place to catch your breath and Instagram shot. Hidden inside an oceanfront senior recreation center, Camera Obscura is a great way to fill your time between sites.

Alright, so you’ve had your thrills and your fun. Your probably looking for the perfect afternoon pick me up before making your way to the shops. We’ve got that covered too! For the perfect seaside brunch, head towards the coastline for your pick of perfect california cuisine. Between Ivy by the Shore, Del Frisco’s, and Elephante–-you’ll be strategizing how you can tackle all three. No stress! From the cuisine to the ambience you can’t go wrong between the lot, they’re a food-lovers paradise along the sea.

Now that you’ve fueled up, theres no better way to end the day then with a little retail therapy. Depending on your style or actual shopping needs, SaMo is full of some of the Westside’s most charming boutiques and storefronts. Peruse along the Third Street Promenade for a mix of notable and trendy retailers. If your a weekday browser, Wednesdays feature the city’s famed Farmer’s Market! The four block pedestrianized stretch of cobblestone will gove you all the Small Town-Main Street feels.

Needing something more on the High-End? Santa Monica Place is located at the southern end of the Promenade. The outdoor retail space features a revamped shopping center packed with upscale department stores and designer boutiques. From Barnerys of New York to Louis Vuitton, take in the open air and throw away your receipt.

So you’ve seen, you’ve sipped, you’ve shopped. The sun is setting and your wondering where you parked your car. Stay to catch the views of day slipping into night and skip the rush hour beat. Stop by 1 Pico for evening fare set in a cape cod style decor. The cuisine is as remarkable as the views at this oceanside spot in SaMo’s Shutters on the Beach.

Whether you tackled all our recommendations at once or spread it out through the week, there is no better way to experience L.A. then to venture out and try something new. Get outside your zip code, turn on the “Eagles” and call it a day well spent!

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018

Weekend Events: Oct.5th-7th

Warner Bros' Horror Made Here Studio Tour

Do you smell that in the air? Pumpkin season has officially begun. So throw together your witches brew, dig out your favorite fall sweater and take part in all things October kicking off this weekend with a howl.

With all the hustle and bustle of our weekday routine we bring you a curated list of the weekends top activities happening throughout the city of stars.

Discover your inner Angeleno!

Limited engagements taking place this Oct. 5th-7th feature Warner Brothers Festival of Frights to Veuve Clicquots annual Polo Match. Read below for a breakdown of the weekend events.

Friday Oct. 5th, 2018

Warner Bro’ Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights

Location: Warner Bro. Studios–6510 Forrest LAwn Drive, Los Angles

The WB’s famed backlot studio tour goes for full frights as they transform into haunting square. Brave through a maze inspired by The Conjuring or attempt to tour Freddy vs. Jason’s Camp Crystal Lake and Batman’s Arkham Asylum. Other highlights include horror makeup demos, ephemera from Tim Burton films, and a special screening of select scenes from 1973’s The Exorcist. If your feeling parched, True Blood’s Fangtasia will be serving for all the visiting vamps. And if you happened to miss last years scariest haunted attraction. the IT haunted house returns as a pop-up for the fest.

More info

Adult Swim Festival

Location: Row DTLA

Let your inner kid out out this weekend for Cartoon Networks “Adult Swim” Festival. Taking place over three days at the Row DTLA, the schedule features acts from Thudercat, Zola Jesus, Hannibal Buress and Nick Rutherford. Along with a variety of games, food, drinks, and previews of upcoming shows-Friday is giving a preview of the weekends events before it goes into full swing Saturday and Sunday. With music, comedy, and so much more, it’s the perfect way to jumpstart your weekend. For more info click here.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

Location: 10100 Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City

Make your way to Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch Opening Ceremony! This family-friendly pumpkin patch-slash-amusement park has been an LA staple for over three decades, not just for great jack-o’-lantern materials, but for bounce houses, straw mazes, and petting zoos. Naturally, it’s open through Halloween proper, and if you have family in town it’s a great place to take them — Mr. Bones is notorious for celeb sightings, too. For more info click here.

Saturday Oct. 6th, 2018

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

Location: Will Roger’s State Park, Pacific Palisades

Pick out the perfect wide-brimmed hat and your daytime finest because Veuve Clicquot returns to Will Rogers State Park. Led by Argentine polo star Nacho Figures, the annual match is a day well spent of sips and sites. The celeb-filled soiree with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, and Lea Michele kicks off with Champagne bars and Food Trucks at 11am. After you’ve fueled up head to the field to cheer on the teams in the 2pm game. Tickets are sold out on the Veuve site but still available on StubHub.com. For more info click here.

Hammer Museum: Fall Exhibits Opening Ceremony

Location: Hammer Museum, Westwood

Usher in the opening of the Hammer Museum’s fall exhibitions. “Adrian Piper: Concepts and Intuitions, 1965-2016” and “Stones to Stains: The Drawings of Victor Hugo,” opens in the Westwood museum this Saturday. The exhibition includes a free party in the museum’s courtyard, featuring a cash bar, DJ sets and food trucks. Have a little fun and culture yourself! For more info click here.

Street Food Cinema Presents: Beetlejuice in Victory Park

BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! Don’t miss out ton the 30th Anniversary screening of Beetlejuice in Pasadena’s Victory Park. Bring your blankets, chairs, dogs, children, cousins, and make your way to one of L.A.’s favorite outdoor cinema events. Street Food Cinema will also be renting out chairs for those not wanting to BYOS(Bring your own seats). With live music kicking off the night and food trucks on standby, there’s no better way to take in the night under the stars. Tickets vary in price and more information can be found by clicking here.

Sunday Oct. 7th, 2018

COAST Open Streets Festival

Location: Main Street & Ocean Ave, Santa Monica

Explore the city of Santa Monica as this third annual event transforms two miles of streets into a festival for the day. Arrive by bike, bus, train, or walk your way to this free day of fun alongside stilt walkers, DJs, and local bands. Feel the seaside breeze while exploring interactive COAST Zones celebrating arts, culture, sustainability as well as other attractions along the route. Taking place on Main Street and Ocean Ave. For more info click here.

Twilight on the Pier: Finale Concert

Spend the finale of your weekend at Twilight on the Pier’s final performance. In its 34th year, this outdoor music concert in Santa Monica’s famous seaside spot is an evening adventure. Complete with immersive art, food offerings, a beer and spirits garden, games and interactive activations all along the Pier promenade. For more information click here.

October 4, 2018October 5, 2018