I love spookiness but I don't outright love horror or scariness.

There's a distinction! Spooky is dark whimsy without the fear. It's the black cat aesthetic of October without the jump scares, the vibe of something slightly eerie but ultimately safe. This Halloween season, my watch list has been: Practical Magic, Death Becomes Her, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Interview with a Vampire (not the Netflix show although I heard it was good), and my annual Halloween tradition of watching Over The Garden Wall on repeat.

Over The Garden Wall has one line I find myself exclaiming constantly: "Ain't that just the way." It's just another way of saying, "it be like that sometimes." In fact, there's a Filipino phrase that's similar, "bahala na." A shrug to the randomness of life, an acceptance that sometimes you just have to keep moving forward even when nothing makes sense.

The show follows two young brothers who get lost in a strange land called "the Unknown" and try to find their way home. It's extremely autumnal, which I absolutely love because living in Houston kind of skips fall altogether. Going from brutal summer heat to instant cold, the show gives me the fall I crave. The scenes can be quite spooky with real moments of danger, but in a way that bends towards comedy or lightheartedness. You know eventually there'll be a resolution.

That's the ease of spooky versus scary.

Wirt, the older brother, often wrestles with feelings of being lost. He says, "I dunno. Sometimes I feel like I'm just like a boat, upon a winding river, twisting towards an endless black sea, drifting away from where I want to be, who I want to be." While he's literally lost in the Unknown, it's clear that his lack of direction comes from not knowing who he is or wants to be. The physical lostness is just a manifestation of the internal wandering.

If Wirt lived in Houston and saw the "Be Someone" sign, I wonder if there'd still be a show. Would that simple command give him enough direction to avoid getting lost?

Still, there's magic in words. As a living artwork, I can believe Be Someone casts a spell onto the city and reflects the culture. It's Houston's version of a lighthouse, a beacon for people spiritually drifting on their own winding rivers. Sometimes we don’t need a detailed plan or a Google maps route, just two words spray-painted on a bridge reminding us that the destination is simply to become.

LATELY IN HOUSTON

Dreamers Books and Culture is now open! One of the greenest flags about a city (to us) are independent bookstores. Good things happen when indie bookstores open and thrive in their communities. After a year of pop-ups, Dreamers Books and Cutlure is now open at a brick-and-mortar location at Ironworks featuring a curated collection of Latino literature.

Michelin dropped some new stars (or not)… Michelin Guide returned for it’s second year in Houston on October 28 and while the city didn’t receive any new stars, it maintained six one-stars and also took home additional Bib Gourmands: Maximo, ChòpnBlọk, Annam, De Gama Canteen, and Papalo Taqueria. One of our happy hour favorites, Marigold Club, also made it onto the Recommend Restaurants list.

Spooky cocktail bars for two, please. Houstonia has the best list for creepiest cocktail bars to visit this Halloween from Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge,  Betelgeuse Betelgeuse (obviously), and so on.

Celebrate the dead, get Día de los Muertos bread! Of course, don’t forget pan de muerto. Here’s where you can find it.

WEEKEND EVENTS

All Weekend

• Black Swan Yoga’s spooky season

• MECA’s Día de Muertos Festival

• Drunk Dracula 

• Halloween movies & more at Rooftop Cinema Club

• ”Spookeasy” events at HiFi

• 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at TUTS

Thursday, 10/30

6:30pm-9:30pm, Workshop | Cake Decorating Party with Vintage Cakes HTX. “We’re combining this year’s spooky cake decorating class with one of my favorite scary movies, Chucky and adding in a little sprinkle of Hello Kitty…. because why not??!” $95.

8pm, Film Screening | Movie Night on the Lawn: Beetlejuice. “Grab some delicious food and beverages from POST Market and enjoy the movie. 🌇” Free.

Friday, 10/31

8pm, Concert | Doechii at 713 Music Hall. $60 and up.

8pm, Nightlife | Halloween Bash at Axelrad. Free.

8pm-12am, Nightlife | Montrose Masquerade at Hotel Saint Augustine. Sold Out.

8pm-1am, Nightlife | Heights Pub Crawl. Free shuttles.

Saturday, 11/1

11am-3pm, Crafts | Craft Community Day at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. “Visitors of all ages are invited to learn about craft through artist demonstrations and activities, visiting HCCC’s resident artist studios, and viewing the current exhibitions, CraftTexas 2025 and In Residence: 18th Edition.” Free.

3pm-5pm, Opening Reception | Black Water, Green Fruit Opening Reception at Basket Books & Art. “Features recent work on paper, wall, and sculpture by Houston-based artists Natasha Bowdoin and Sarah Welch, and will be accompanied by “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚,” a zine published, on the occasion of the exhibition, by @mysticmultiples, the printing imprint run by James Beard and Sarah Welch.” Free.

5pm-8pm, Opening Reception | The Gardner’s Mistress by Margaret Miller at Archway Gallery. Artist talk at 6:30pm.

5pm-10pm, Block Party | Fam Jam 8 at Around The Corner. “Shutting down the whole block and adding vendors to create the ultimate block party experience!” $23

6pm-10pm, Festival | Til Death Do Us Art at Spring Street Studios and Sabine Street Studios. “A colorful tribute to this Mexican tradition, where we celebrate life, death, and the art that binds us. Enjoy music and traditional Matachines dancing, and explore stunning altars. Participate in interactive workshops, including making your own flower crown, and tarot and coffee ceremony readings.”

6:30pm-8:30pm, Museum After | Punch Party at Rienzi. “Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Rienzi this year with a new twist on the annual Punch Party. Houston’s multicultural history and identity are on full display in the house museum’s unique collection of European and Spanish Colonial decorative arts. Admission includes four drink tickets, light bites, and valet parking.” $65 and up.

Sunday, 11/2

11am-1pm, Vinyl | All-vinyl set by DJ Ortiz Dia De Los Muetros Edition at Las Perras Cafe. “Bring a vinyl that reminds you of your loved one.”

1pm-7pm, Block Party | Segundo Barrio Block Party. “Falling on Día de los Muertos, we’re turning Canal into a celebration of art, life, and the memories that built this block.”

3pm-5pm, Mahjong | Maj 101 by Mocha Mahj at Jersey Bagels. “Our Mahj 101 class is perfect for beginners who are brand new to the game or have only played casually.” $60.

6pm, Concert | Black Violin Full Circle Tour at 713 Music Hall. $66 and up.

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