Walking around Sea Cliff on Halloween night often provided sights such as a family of pumpkins or children dressed as princesses, ninjas, or even ninja princesses.

For years, the bougie neighborhood has drawn in families for Halloween, particularly those with younger kids, thanks to its quiet streets, wide sidewalks and jaw-dropping homes promising full-size candy bars and over-the-top decorations.

“We give out about 1,500 in three hours,” said Gary Bengier, who wore a George Washington costume as he handed out XL Hershey chocolate bars in front of his garage, replete with Halloween decor. “We like to do something fun for the kids.”

But despite the hundreds of kids crowding the sidewalks, the sought-after full-size candy bars from wealthy homeowners appeared in short supply—with many children’s bags surprisingly limp as the night drew to a close. 

Families trick-or-treat in the Sea Cliff neighborhood in San Francisco on Halloween night on Tuesday. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

Along El Camino Del Mar, one of the more popular Sea Cliff streets with trick-or-treaters, homes decorated for Halloween were sparse, and groups of kids often passed several houses between stops for more candy, rather than going house-to-house in a continuous trick-or-treating spree.

Many homes had no decorations at all, and no lights came on inside them during the three hours The Standard spent in the neighborhood until 7:30 p.m.

“It used to be more decorations,” said 27-year Sea Cliff resident Kayda Ono alongside her 17-year-old son, Aiden, who was dressed as Aladdin. “When he was 5 years old, it was all the houses.”

‘A Robin Williams Effect‘

Multiple homeowners and locals said the Sea Cliff neighborhood’s Halloween celebrations had begun to slowly die down since the death of Robin Williams in 2014.

“There was definitely a Robin Williams effect,” said Andy McLaughlin, who has lived on Sea Cliff Avenue since 2010.

Families trick-or-treat in the Sea Cliff neighborhood in San Francisco on Halloween night on Tuesday. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

When McLaughlin moved in with his family, he said they would get around 900 kids every Halloween, with children lining up from their door to the sidewalk. This Halloween was different, even with at least six homes on her street giving out candy.

“This is the quietest night we had in 10 years, even with Covid,” Andy’s wife, Kendra McLaughlin, said.

The McLaughlin’s Sea Cliff home was richly decorated for Halloween on Tuesday. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

Others agreed with the sentiment that Williams’ death coincided with the decline in spookiness around Sea Cliff.

“Really, I think it was his passing that changed things,” Outer Richmond resident Donovan Truong said as his niece, Zoe, clambered into a stroller while clad in a pink tutu and plastic faux-diamond tiara. Truong said he was born and raised in the Richmond District and would trick-or-treat every year in Sea Cliff. “You’d look around and see all these houses without the lights on.”

Williams would give out glowstick necklaces instead of candy for Halloween, multiple residents said. 

Robin Williams’ former Sea Cliff home at 540 El Camino Del Mar is up for sale at a price of $25 million. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

“One year, he gave out toothbrushes too,” Sea Cliff resident Thatcher Davis said. “We thought it was hilarious, but the kids hated it.”

Williams’ former Sea Cliff home is currently up for sale at an asking price of $25 million.

Aging Owners, ‘Vacant’ Homes

Other Sea Cliff residents seemed to think part of the issue was that many of the longtime neighborhood residents grew older and could no longer physically hand out candy for hours on Halloween.

“It used to be the destination when Robin Williams was around,” said Craig Fong, who has lived on El Camino Del Mar for 22 years. “We’ve seen the residents aging, so they don’t participate anymore.”

Many of Sea Cliff’s homes are vacant or used as vacation homes by the wealthy, neighbors also told The Standard.

Families trick-or-treat in the Sea Cliff neighborhood in San Francisco on Halloween night on Tuesday. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

“This neighborhood used to be really popular for Halloween,” said Davis, who has lived on El Camino Del Mar for 15 years. “But, unfortunately, a lot of the homes are empty, or you have older people who aren’t comfortable giving out candy.” 

The Standard could not independently corroborate the neighbor’s claims the homes were empty. Locals said they knew which homes were vacant due to their long-standing presence in the neighborhood.

“I know because I live here,” said Michelle Molfino, who has lived in Sea Cliff for 20 years. “If you walk up Sea Cliff Avenue, there’s a bunch of vacant homes.”

Sea Cliff resident Michelle Molfino stands on El Camino Del Mar dressed for Halloween on Tuesday. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

The city will start a new vacant homes tax in January 2024 after voters approved it in the Nov. 8, 2022, election. The Empty Homes Tax would apply to homeowners with homes containing three or more housing units. 

Those subject to the tax would owe between $2,500 and $5,000 per vacant unit in the first year with the tax rising up to $20,000 by the third year for every unit that has been empty for longer than six months. Units exempted from the tax include single-family homes, duplexes and units under construction, among other exemptions. Filing and payment will begin for most people in 2025. 

But some locals think Sea Cliff is just in a spooky rut. Kendra thinks Sea Cliff Avenue is on the upswing as a Halloween destination.

“We’ve had some younger families moving in,” McLaughlin said. “I think in the next few years, it’ll really pick up more.”

The post San Francisco’s Sea Cliff Halloween Flops, ‘Vacant’ Houses Lack Decorations appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Halloween celebrations will officially return to San Francisco’s Castro District at the end of October after a 16-year absence, but while there will be plenty of dressing up in the streets, people shouldn’t expect nighttime crowds numbering in the tens of thousands.

On Oct. 28 and 29, the famously LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood will become home to daytime block parties, costume contests and a spooky movie marathon. Hosted by the Castro Merchants Association in cooperation with the Civic Joy Fund, it’s meant to be a two-day PG-rated party for all, with the Castro Theatre screening a quadruple feature consisting of Death Becomes Her, Edward Scissorhands, Hocus Pocus and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with free admission for anyone in costume.

“It’s one of those things that’s old but new, so we don’t know how many people are going to come out for it,” said Terry Asten Bennett, the association’s president and the proprietor of Cliff’s Variety Store. “We’re going have DJs, cornhole, a plethora of photo booths, crafting, face-painting, a pie-eating contest and pumpkin carving. Apparently, there will be a sugar overload this weekend.”

Long before the neighborhood became a gay mecca, Cliff’s Variety was the nucleus of Halloween in the Castro (then largely known as Eureka Valley). Asten Bennett’s own family helped get it all going in the 1940s.

“Pie-eating contests have been part of our tradition since my great-grandfather started Halloween in the Castro,” she told The Standard. “This will be for who can eat the fastest—not the most.”

Over time, Halloween in the Castro became something of a “Queer High Holy Day” nearly on par with Pride Weekend. Eventually, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the city’s beloved troupe of drag nuns, took over, and Halloween drew enormous crowds and effectively closed off the entire Castro. In 1989, two weeks after the Loma Prieta earthquake, the Sisters used the event to raise recovery funds.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will host a costume party and the Castro Theatre will screen four Halloween films on Oct. 28.

However, in 2006, a mass shooting wounded nine people. Halloween 2007 brought a massive police presence, but the party was canceled the following year—and every year after. Smaller events have taken place here and there, but nothing nearly as ambitious as before.

This year, there will be costume contests for kids, pets and adults—expect a lot of neon-clad gay men looking like Ryan Gosling’s Ken from Barbie—with Sister Roma and Sister Morticia hosting.

It’s a daytime-into-early-evening affair, Asten Bennett said, although some of the neighborhood’s many bars requested grants to mount activations of their own. Lookout, for instance, will have a Ghostbusters-themed party called the “Ectozone,” with DJs, drinks specials, a “Slimer” in the bar and a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man on the roof.

The Castro had a difficult time recovering from the pandemic and has lately become a hotbed for late-night break-ins, but the neighborhood has shown new signs of life, with longtime bar Badlands recently reopening after a three-year absence and Italian wine bar The Rustic moving into the longtime Chow space on Church Street.

The neighborhood has also had a long history in the fight for sexual liberation, something that may collide with a family-friendly event in a very only-in-San-Francisco fashion. 

“That’s the reality that we’re just used to here,” Asten Bennett said. “There’s the three guys that always walk around with no clothes on, and it is what it is.”

The post Halloween in San Francisco’s Castro Will Look Very Totally different appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Gabriella Cervantes, 8, (left) is dressed as “Captain Phasma,” while Michelle Carr is ready to fall down the rabbit hole as Alice in Wonderland. Both are from Riverside and were attending Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Ready to go to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are (l-r) Martina Caviares, 12, Taylor Caviares, 11, Sabrina Shettler, 4, Megan Shetler and Jesse Shetler. All came to town from Park City, Utah.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The castaways from Gilligan’s Island were getting ready to go on a three-hour tour of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland they are (l-r) Laura Maestas as Mary Ann, Diana Maestas as Ginger, Krystal Maestas as the Professor, Steven Trusty as millionaire Thurston Howell III, Ashley Trusty as “Lovey” Howell, his wife, David Maestas as Gilligan, and Jeff Maestas as the Skipper. The whole group came down from Barstow for the event.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Johnson family drove down from Las Vegas for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are Kris (left), Chelsea and dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine is three-year-old Keagan.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These three ghouls came from Salt Lake City for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are the Amatt family (l-r) Heidi, Jason and Michael, 11.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Here we have the Stauss family in town from Phoenix for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are (l-r) Brayden, 8, Missy and Olivia, 8.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These three magical ladies were at Disneyland’s Mickey’s Halloween Party to get some magical treats. They are (l-r) Cheryl Brothers of Los Angeles, Pam Mouser and Brenda Zebley, both from Bakersfield.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Playing a rather tough princess at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is Tom Coleman from Fort Dodge, Iowa.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Here we have Bert and Mary Poppins on a Jolly Holiday at Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party. They are actually Tim and Brit Skalland, from Sacramento. This was their third visit. During their second visit, at a previous Halloween party at the park, Tim got down on his knees near Snow White Grotto wishing well and proposed to Brit.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Visiting Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party are Emily Moffat dressed as Rey from “Star Wars – The Force Awakens. She is holding 10-month-old Violet Moffat, who is dressed as C3PO from the Star Wars movies.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These superheroes made sure there were no villains around at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are actually the Morel Family from Rancho Cucamonga.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Snow White and the Huntsman were visiting Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween Party. They are actually Darlene Juarez of Colton and George San Martin of Riverside.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• This precious little fairy is Adrian Estrella, 2, from Los Angeles. She flew in on her wings to visit Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Visiting Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party are Lauryn Salgado, 6, dressed as Sally from “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Benjamin Salgado, 7, dressed as Sonic the Hedgehog. They are from Ontario, CA.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Mari Farr, from Louisville, Kentucky, is Peter Pan. Behind her is Peter Pan’s shadow, otherwise known as Natasha Holmquist, from Bellingham, Washington. The friends like to visit Disneyland and Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Katie Meyere (left) and Joseph Meyere from Bountiful, Utah, like to visit Disneyland and came dressed just for Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Tyler Family came to Disneyland from Las Vegas, just for Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• In a slightly mod version of the Mad Hatter is Sara Velasquez at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. She might even be attending an unbirthday party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Tilly, in the box office of Disneyland’s Main Street Cinema, puts on her Halloween themed finest for Halloween season.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is always a chance for children of all ages to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Ready for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is the Goldberg Family who came to town for the event from Las Vegas. They are (l-r) Danielle, Luke, Zack and Neil.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“We like to schedule our visit just to come to dress up and go trick-or-treating,” said Danielle Goldberg of Las Vegas.
She was dressed as the bride from the Haunted Mansion, while her husband Neil was dressed as the dead groom. Their kids, Luke and Zack, were wearing costumes, too.

Attending the separately ticketed event was mostly known to locals, but as the event grew, many from out of town decided they wanted to experience it, too – some in a special way.

At Wednesday’s party were Tim and Brit Skalland from Sacramento. It was their third time. They met during their first trip to Mickey’s Halloween Party and started dating. During their second visit, they were near the Wishing Well in the Snow White Grotto area when Tim got down on a knee and proposed. She accepted. This was their third visit, but the first one as a married couple.

They, of course, came dressed in costume. He was dressed as Bert, the chimney sweep from the movie “Mary Poppins,” and she came dressed as the title character.

“It’s practically perfect in every way,” she said.

The party even attracts large groups. One group of seven were in town from Barstow, and were dressed as the characters from the television show “Gilligan’s Island.”

“We’re here for a three-hour tour,” said Jeff Maestas, who was dressed as the Skipper.

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The post Mickey’s Halloween Get together at Disneyland is a sizzling ticket for costume followers appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

For some people, the scarier the better when it comes to Halloween decorations. A zombie girl with glowing eyes who rips the head off her teddy bear? OK. A 6-foot-tall, chainsaw-wielding hulk who emits bloodcurdling screams and buzzing? Trick or treat!

Decorating with scary stuff can be part of the fun.

But other people, including those with little kids, find the aesthetic disturbing, and prefer their Halloween without the gore.

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“I want to preserve my little ones’ innocence as long as possible, and the creepy, mischievous, evil side of Halloween brings up topics I don’t want my child to know about until they’re old enough to understand it’s fake,” says Jamie Morrissey, who has three children under 3 in suburban New York.

For those after a more dialed-down but still spooky and dramatic look, there are plenty of decorations and themes.

Some play off of old science and wizardry, with celestial illustrations and apothecary elements. Some take a playfully gothic turn. There’s the traditional orange-and-black color scheme, but no reason to stick only to that.

(Note: As for fake cobwebs and dangling lights, wildlife experts urge people not to put them up. Animals can get tangled and trapped in them, leading to injury or death.)

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BASIC BLACK. OR A HALLOWEEN RAINBOW

Jessica Dodell-Feder, HGTV Magazine’s executive editor, bleeds the color from her decorations.

“I love keeping everything black and white, then using natural elements that have a little bit of a creepy factor like bats, snakes, bugs or Venus fly traps,” she says. “Think black-painted branches sticking out of an urn; framed faux moth specimens; black-painted faux snakes ‘crawling’ across the center of a table like a runner.”

At the other end of the spectrum, if you want to take your Halloween a little bit ’90s, a little bit Barbiecore, then professional crafter Kara Whitten of Austin, Texas, has some zingy, rainbow-hued, Halloween-themed ideas at her site, akailochiclife. She offers garlands of multicolored pumpkins or phrases, like “Hocus Pocus” or “I Put a Spell on You.” She has instructions for spatter-painting faux pumpkins in day-glo colors.

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Another craft idea that kids and adults can do together:

Submerge a few white tapers in warm water until they’re soft enough to bend into curvy shapes. Then with a permanent marker add facial features. Once they’ve cooled and hardened again, you’ve got some candle ghosts for the table. There’s a DIY video on Whitten’s blog.

Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living’s senior homes and features editor, favors fall colors.

“I’m not huge on Halloween, so I love leaning into the season’s abundance of natural colors instead: sage greens, burnt oranges, golden yellows and chocolate browns,” she says.

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“Plus, when you skip the zombies in favor of fall color, you can enjoy your decorations from the start of the season through Thanksgiving.”

GHOSTS, JACK-O’-LANTERNS AND OTHER STALWARTS

But Watson acknowledges it’s no fun to be a Halloween Scrooge, either.

She finds the handmade ghosts from Mollie Jenkins Pottery “just the right mix of sweet and spooky.”

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Jenkins is a Columbus, Georgia, ceramic artist who found herself with a little extra white clay one fall semester while pursuing her B.F.A. at Auburn University.

“My mom’s always loved decorating for the holidays, and growing up we had spooky Halloween candlesticks along with big terracotta jack-o’-lanterns. I took a spin off of those, creating my whimsical ghost,” she said.

Her little specters have developed a following, and sell out every year on her site.

DECORATING FOR A PARTY

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Inviting some friends over for a spooky soiree?

For a Hogwarts feel, hang some of Balsam Hill’s battery-operated “floating candles” over a party table or entry. The retailer also has stacked black pumpkin lights with cat faces, and glittery black twig trees.

Crate & Barrel’s got a twiggy, matte-black wreath for a mantel or door. Or create a modern Halloween village with a few of their matte-black haunted houses.

Lauren McIntosh, an artist in Berkeley, California, has created a collection of glassware and napkins for Anthropologie with illustrations including a fortune-teller’s palm, ravens, night-blooming flowers, and mystical moon and star patterns. Also for Anthropologie, London ceramicist Francesca Kaye has an endearing array of bats, cats, owls and ravens on trays, mugs, lanterns and a candelabra.

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Dodell-Felder shares a party idea connected to the movie “Beetlejuice,” which gets a new installment as early as next year.

“I’m a huge fan of Tim Burton, and recently ended up purely by accident at a Beetlejuice-themed bar. It had black-and-white striped décor with neon green elements. The drinks were served on dry ice, and they had old-timey portraits on the walls. You couldn’t look away!” she says.

For “an elevated Halloween party,” The Spruce’s editorial and strategy director, Caroline Utz, suggests setting up a tablescape with luxe textures like velvet, and adding orange, purple and green candlesticks in different shapes and sizes. Sculptured Greek or Roman busts might add a “Night at the Museum” vibe.

CREATIVE BUT GENTLE

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In San Francisco, Emily Reaman works in interior design, and she’s also got a preschooler. While he loves some “spooky” things, she’s careful about her decorating.

“I don’t have cobwebs or skeletons hanging by my front door,” she says. “But I do add lights to the trees, and my son and I decorate gourds with paint and glitter that we keep out during Halloween, then use on the Thanksgiving table.”

New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The Associated Press. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome.com.

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The post Halloween decorations get gory, and a few favor to dial it down appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Like many other San Francisco tech companies, Google has yet to return to its offices. With its campus on Embarcadero going largely unused, conceptual artist Danielle Baskin got to thinking about what type of business might swoop in on that kind of vacant real estate.

Given that Oct. 31 is just a little over a month away, the answer was obvious: Spirit Halloween, the costume store that moves into strip malls every year in the months proceeding the holiday.

Baskin, best known for her viral fake website Blue Check Homes or her app that connects strangers for phone conversations, happens to own a commercial-size printer from a previous sign-making business. So she put it to use by printing out a 10-foot vinyl replica of the Spirit Halloween logo, then ironed it onto fabric purchased from Mission Fabric Outlet. There wasn’t vector art of the logo online, Baskin said, so she hand-rendered it.

Conceptual artist Danielle Baskin temporarily installed a Spirit Halloween sign at the Google offices on Embarcadero.

Courtesy of Danielle Baskin

Then with the help of a few friends, she installed the banner over Google’s logo at the company’s San Francisco office. The group also put up official-looking construction signage and other Spirit Halloween ephemera, such as job flyers. It was largely done for a laugh, but the prank does have broader significance.

“Right before the pandemic, I had a studio space on Market Street and we got kicked out because they were changing ownership of the building,” Baskin told SFGATE over the phone from outside the Google office. “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about unused real estate in San Francisco. So many people wish they had a wood shop, or space to make things. And there’s just so many empty weird lobbies with chairs that no one sits in, and offices where the employees don’t even come to work because they’re welcome to work from home anytime.”

A prop used by conceptual artist Danielle Baskin while recreating a Spirit Halloween store at Google’s San Francisco offices.

Courtesy of Danielle Baskin

Once they had installed the sign, Baskin and her crew of 10 pretended to be Spirit Halloween staffers. Dressed in construction uniforms, they carried around boxes and pretended to argue about their manager, hoping to have some silly interactions with pedestrians.

“We thought we would be doing a lot of interaction with people who work in the area, but it is a ghost town here. Which is actually where Spirit Halloween comes in. It’s like the grim reaper of dying industries,” said Baskin.

After about two hours, Google finally caught wind of the prank and a security team arrived… in the middle of our phone interview.

“Oh … someone with a walkie-talkie is approaching the sign,” said Baskin, while standing next to a dolly and stack of boxes. “OK great, I get to watch this unfold in real time. I wonder if they’ll come up to me and think that I did it. We should probably leave. OK, we’ve got a lot of security coming. I’ m going to get off the premises, just casually.”

Conceptual artist Danielle Baskin temporarily installed a Spirit Halloween sign at the Google offices on Embarcadero.

Courtesy of Danielle Baskin

Corresponding later via direct message, Baskin said that Google took down the sign and reported the incident but took no further action. She tried to convince the eight security guards on the scene to let her keep the sign to repurpose it, but as of time of publication, the location of the sign is unknown. Although the sign may be lost for good, the prank lasted longer than Baskin expected.

“It’s just a joke to point out all the empty space that sits here,” Baskin wrote. “It’s in a beautiful location too, this building overlooks the bridge and its such a beautiful area, but it’s totally unused. No one’s even in this courtyard, because I don’t think people feel welcome to hang out at Google headquarters.”

Danielle Baskin and the team of artists behind a temporary installation at Google’s San Francisco offices.

Courtesy of Danielle Baskin

As for the actual Halloween holiday, Baskin isn’t yet sure how she’ll celebrate it, but the experience at Google was a nice teaser for Oct. 31

“I feel like I got to dress up with friends and pretend to do a load-in. So, that was like a mini Halloween,” she said.

The post San Francisco prank artist turns ‘ghost city’ Google workplace right into a Spirit Halloween retailer appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The delta variant dissolves. The city opens again. Halloween was largely canceled in 2020, but this year – thanks to vaccinations and the willingness of the San Franciscans – trick or treating is hot, along with events like Terror Vault’s “Immortal Reckoning,” a spooky, campy haunted house in the San Francisco Mint and curated by Peaches Christ and her costume colleagues.

Joshua Grannell, also known as Peaches Christ, has been busy this Halloween season. The drag performer and filmmaker presented “Devilish Inspirations: Summoning Witches, Demons, and Black Magic at the Piano” on Thursday, an online event co-hosted with Edwin Outwater, music director at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. (The celebration of the piano repertoire’s most haunted moments is still available online, post-event donations are welcome.) Saturday also marked the end of the month-long occupation of the Old Mint by Terror Vault.

Peaches Christ says her favorite Halloween season was in 2018 when she opened the haunted Terror Vault in the San Francisco Mint. (Courtesy Ash Danielson)

The Examiner emailed Peaches Christ about why Halloween has long been popular with the San Franciscans.

Why is Halloween a popular holiday in San Francisco, among young and old, straight and gays?

People call Halloween “Gay Christmas” and because SF is such a culturally queer city I think it really has become an important holiday for everyone because queers are throwing the best parties and somehow showing the wider population how to do it funniest time makes year. Fortunately, we live in a city where events that “straight people” are open to become queer next door.

Can you tell your favorite Halloween in The City? What happened and what were you wearing?

I think my favorite Halloween season had to be 2018, when I was able to realize my lifelong dream of opening our enchanted attraction “Terror Vault” in the old building of the San Francisco Mint. I played a satanic priestess on the show and appeared from above in my scene in an elevator that went down dramatically with dry ice fog. It was very inspired by Frank-N-Furter’s iconic appearance.

A closet full of costumes is quite common among the residents of our city. Why? Is it the Burning Man effect or something else?

I would also pay tribute to the gays who came here and ran away from the most boring places to dress up and be free. Other people saw how much fun they were having and integrated into their own stuff, like Bay to Breakers.

Is the pandemic increasing or dampening the stakes in costuming?

I think it’s a plus because we’re all hungry for fun and tradition and the things that were stolen from us in 2020.

What advice do you have for those who are still torn about what to “be”?

Get creative! Think outside the box and put together a costume using whatever is available. Do NOT let your indecision lead to inaction. Create a costume today.

The post The significance of Halloween in San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – The final day of the Outside Lands music festival came together for Halloween and drew tens of thousands of costumed fans to Golden Gate Park.

Celebrators included a dancing tiger, an astronaut, and Britney Spears in the middle of a sea of ​​people.

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“That’s why we came today,” said Hannah Godwin from San Diego. “Let’s just analyze all of the costumes, like hanging out, people watching, it’s such a good vibe to be honest.”

“We came in last night and look at the crowd and it’s kind of surreal to see thousands and thousands of people,” added Dylan Barbour of San Diego.

Organizers say Sunday was possibly the biggest for the sold-out three-day festival that usually takes place in August. More than 70,000 people took part every day.

“So much fun. I decided to be a little warmer this year,” said Lena Martinson from San Francisco. “Yesterday it was a little foggy, today it was a little sunny and beautiful.”

People danced to their hearts’ content while others enjoyed bites from dozens of restaurants in the Bay Area.

CONTINUE READING: ‘Back to normal on tiptoe’; Marin County is easing mask requirements for vaccinated residents indoors

Trick-or-treaters took to the streets at the nearby Sea Cliff.

“I didn’t do any trick or treating last year. So it’s very exciting to go out again because I’ve stayed home a lot, ”said Thanh Nguyen from San Francisco.

Nancy Glickenhaus was handing out candy and pizza at her daughter’s house.

“I’m a grandmother, so I had many, many Halloween parties and that’s beyond anything I could ever grasp,” said Nancy Glickenhaus, who is visiting from New York City.

“I feel like this Halloween is really refreshing. I can go out again, be with my friends, ”said Thomas Nguyen from San Francisco.

Outside Lands from the land of trick-or-treaters could be heard on Sunday. In recent years, residents have complained about the increased noise, rubbish and traffic caused by the music festival.

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“You can hear the music from my house and you can hear the crowd even more, the roar of the crowd,” said Michael Dawe of San Francisco. “It’s all part of the fun. Outside Lands is what it is and it’s exciting and it’s a good feeling, it’s a good sound. “

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• Gabriella Cervantes, 8, (left) is disguised as “Captain Phasma” while Michelle Carr is ready to fall down the rabbit hole as Alice in Wonderland. Both are from Riverside and attended Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  It’s the Addams Family, actually the Rendon Family from Vancouver, Washington. Pictured are (lr) Zachary, 11, as Pugsly, Alexa, 13, as Wednesday, Troy as Gomez, Lucia, 5, as cousin Itt, Lacey as Morticia and Edward, 7 months, as Uncle Fester. in Anaheim on Monday October 17, 2016. (Photo by Courtesy, Troy Rendon)

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  Ready for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are (lr) Martina Caviares, 12, Taylor Caviares, 11, Sabrina Shettler, 4, Megan Shetler and Jesse Shetler. They all came to the city from Park City, Utah. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  The castaways from Gilligan’s Island prepared for a three-hour tour of Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. They are (lr) Laura Maestas as Mary Ann, Diana Maestas as Ginger, Krystal Maestas as professor, Steven Trusty as millionaire Thurston Howell III, Ashley Trusty as “Lovey” Howell, his wife, David Maestas as Gilligan and Jeff Maestas as skipper. The whole group came from Barstow for the event. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  The Johnson family drove from Las Vegas to Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. They are Kris (left), Chelsea and disguised as Thomas the Tank Engine is three year old Keagan. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  These three ghouls came from Salt Lake City to Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. They are the Amatt family (lr) Heidi, Jason and Michael, 11th in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Here we have the Stauss family in town from Phoenix for Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. They are (lr) Brayden, 8, Missy and Olivia, 8th in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  These three magical ladies were at Disneyland’s Mickey’s Halloween party for some magical goodies. They are (from left to right) Cheryl Brothers from Los Angeles, Pam Mouser and Brenda Zebley, both from Bakersfield. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Tom Coleman from Fort Dodge, Iowa, plays a tough princess at Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Here we have Bert and Mary Poppins on a fun vacation to Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween party. You are actually Tim and Brit Skalland from Sacramento. This was her third visit. On her second visit, at a previous Halloween party in the park, Tim got down on his knees near the Snow White Grotto, wished Brit the best of luck and proposed marriage to Brit. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  On a visit to Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween party are Emily Moffat, who is disguised as Rey from “Star Wars – The Force Awakens”. She is holding 10-month-old Violet Moffat, disguised as C3PO from the Star Wars films, in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  These superheroes made sure there were no villains at Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. They are actually the Morel Family from Rancho Cucamonga. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Snow White and the Hunter visited Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween party. You’re actually Darlene Juarez from Colton and George San Martin from Riverside. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  This precious little fairy is Adrian Estrella, 2, from Los Angeles. She flew in on her wings to visit Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween party. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Lauryn Salgado, 6, disguised as Sally from “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Benjamin Salgado, 7, disguised as Sonic the Hedgehog, are visiting Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween party. You are from Ontario, CA. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Mari Farr of Louisville, Kentucky is Peter Pan. Behind her is Peter Pan’s shadow, also known as Natasha Holmquist, from Bellingham, Washington. The friends like to visit Disneyland and Mickey’s Halloween party. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Katie Meyere (left) and Joseph Meyere from Bountiful, Utah love to visit Disneyland and came dressed up just for Mickey’s Halloween party. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  The Tyler family came to Disneyland from Las Vegas just for Mickey’s Halloween party. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  In a slightly modified version of Mad Hatter, Sara Velasquez is at Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland. Maybe she even goes to a birthday party. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Tilly, at the box office of the Main Street Cinema in Disneyland, puts on her Halloween theme at its best for the Halloween season. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland is always an opportunity for children of all ages to dress up in costumes and do trick or treating. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

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  Ready for Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland is the Goldberg family, who have come to town from Las Vegas for the event. There are (lr) Danielle, Luke, Zack and Neil. in Anaheim on Wednesday October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register / SCNG)

“We like to plan our visit just to dress up and do trick or treat,” said Danielle Goldberg of Las Vegas.
She was disguised as the bride from the Haunted Mansion while her husband, Neil, was disguised as the dead groom. Her children, Luke and Zack, also wore costumes.

The event, which is sold separately, was mostly known to local residents, but as the event grew, many outside of the city decided to experience it too – some in special ways.

Tim and Brit Skalland from Sacramento attended the party on Wednesday. It was her third time. They met during their first trip to Mickey’s Halloween party and started dating. On their second visit, they were near the wishing well in the Snow White Grotto area when Tim got down on his knees and proposed. She accepted. This was their third visit, but the first as a couple.

They came in costumes, of course. He was disguised as Bert, the chimney sweep from the movie “Mary Poppins”, and she came as the title character.

“It’s practically perfect in every way,” she said.

The party even attracts large groups. A group of seven were from Barstow in town and dressed up as the characters from the television show “Gilligan’s Island”.

“We’re here for a three-hour tour,” said Jeff Maestas, who was disguised as a skipper.

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Photo by Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER

Photo by Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER

Photo by Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER

A group of anemones from San Francisco are walking down Front Street Wednesday night. The annual Halloween in Lahaina attracts thousands of residents and visitors.

Longtime Lahaina Halloween Costume Contest contestants Chuck and Julie Dicker of Lahaina are filming a commercial for Bill Cosby’s Jail-O Pudding Pops to compete in the adult Halloween costume contest at Campbell Park this year.

Madera, California, residents Genia Quinn and John Quinn walk down Front Street while Mary Poppins and Bert sweep the chimney. They said it was about the 12th time they had traveled to Maui to attend Lahaina’s annual Halloween party. “We come every year” Genia Quinn said.

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