HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS: All of those movie-quality mazes -- Alice Cooper's Welcome to My Nightmare, La Llorona, "The Thing" among them -- plus a terrifying toodle through the backlot equals one classic autumn attraction. It's at Universal Studios where the monster movie first roared to life decades ago. So they know scary. Us? We're sweet on the big snake from the Alice Cooper attraction. Screams. Opens Friday, Sept. 23
ABBOT KINNEY FESTIVAL: Last Sunday in September straight ahead? It must be time for one of the biggest parties in all of partydom to take to the streets of Venice. Or make that boulevard, rather. Abbot Kinney Boulevard, to be exact, where booths and bands and kabobs and wraps and tees and activities will all be for the trying and buying and enjoying. Sunday, Sept. 25
CINESPIA WRAPS: It's the final movie of the season at Hollywood Forever. And it is a heart-warmer. Heard of "ET: The Extraterrestrial"? Oh, that was just our warm-up joke. What's your favorite part? We like when ET, dressed as a ghost, chases a kid dressed as Yoda while saying "home" over and over. But we have like 28 favorite parts. Everyone does. Saturday, Sept. 24
LEBOWSKI FEST: The rumply robes and rumply beards and bowling pins and horned helmets and John Goodman-esque sunglasses'll be out in full force at both The Wiltern (on Friday, Sept. 23) and Cal Bowl (on Saturday, Sept. 24). People who appeared in the film and "real-life inspirations" will appear. Including the inspiration for The Dude himself!
DELISH CHOICES: For your beverage, there's Septemberfest at Santa Monica Pier. For your calzone, there's The Feast of San Gennaro in Hollywood. And for dessert? The Luxury Chocolate Salon in Pasadena. Check official sites for dates/times/prices.
