Just like superheroes, Halloween has been taken over by adults. Are we all arrested development cases? Are we protecting our kids to the extent that they can’t enjoy what we did when we were younger because it’s potentially harmful? Is it a mix of that and a lot of other different things like the divisiveness of the country and a sour economy? Whatever the case, I’m heartened to know that where my family and I live, near Alliance, we still get some trick-or-treaters, and decorations cover a couple front yards, including ours. Halloween, at its essence, is a season of transformation, a time to step outside yourself for a few hours and assume the thoughts and feelings of others, maybe even the self you’ve always longed to be but haven’t been able to because … life.
Enough with all that serious mumbo-jumbo. For our inaugural Halloween Issue, we’re focusing on the fun stuff, like Pumpkin Nights in Arlington (pg. 10), where master carvers create amazing, spellbinding visual treats out of gourds and lights, and Swedish Candy Culture, a new retailer off West Vickery (pg. 18). We’ve also got spooky concerts coming up (pg. 21) and a bon voyage party for the lovable metaphysical shop Higher Purpose Emporium (pg. 8). And while you’re winding down at home or on the road running or driving, be sure to tune in to Dark Forest, a new UFO-spiced podcast/radio play from local musician/author Matthew Broyles (pg. 22). All this and more await inside. Happy Halloween! — Anthony Mariani
