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Good Old Skull Days
Day of the Dead artists at MACLA, and a guide to Halloween events around the valley
By Michael S. Gant
IN The Skeleton at the Feast, their book about Mexico's Day of the Dead, Elizabeth Carmichael and Chloë Sayer include a photograph of a candy skull wearing a pumpkin-shaped helmet fashioned of spun sugar. In this marvelous blending of traditions, the Day of the Dead calaveras coexists with the carved, grinning jack-o'-lantern of Halloween. Despite the misgivings of some cultural critics who see such cross-pollination as a form of holiday colonialism, the confluence of images and motifs demonstrates how traditions remain vital by absorbing and reworking outside influences.
Halloween costumers favor goblins and demons, while the major-domo of Dia de los Muertos is the skeleton spirit, sometimes worn as a black garment with painted white bones but more often appearing as a painted toy with movable limbs or a large papier-mâché sculpture. Of all the makers of Day of the Dead figures, none are more celebrated than the members of the Linares family of Mexico City. For three generations, the Linareses have turned the craft of papier-mâché into an art form. In their most ambitious works, they have taken the satirical skeleton posters of José Posada and turned them into 3-D tableaux.
Leading up to this Saturday's Day of the Dead celebrations, MACLA, the San José Center for Latino Arts, is hosting an exhibit and a series of workshops by two members of the Linares family--Miguel and son Ricardo. Working from the simplest of ingredients, the two men create exceptional scenes of human folly enacted by gleeful skeletons. Atop brightly lacquered skulls, prancing skeletons torment sinners with pinchers, saw and pliers; one unfortunate bony soul is lowered by a rope into a pit of hell. These flights of Boschean whimsy elicit both a shudder and a laugh--exactly the best response to both holidays.
Halloween Events Guide
Beach Street Haunted House
Cameo
Dimensions
Goodwill Store Costume Sales
GYRO's 3-D World of Terror
Haunted Forest
MaliBoo Mansion
Pumpkin Junction
Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkins in the Garden
West Bay Opera Guild
Winchester Mystery House
World's Largest Haunted House
Hard Way Disco Hell
Swingin & Jumpin Halloween
Agenda
Britannia Arms Almaden
Britannia Arms Cupertino
Candy for Kids
Cheers' Biggest Halloween Bash
Children's Corner Halloween Party Clicks and Treats Costume Ball Digbeats
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Edge
Fang-tastic Fun
Fibbar Magee's Mountain View
Fibbar Magee's Sunnyvale
5th Quarter
Forestville
Freaks Come Out Ghost Train
Great Halloween Fiasco
Halloween Alternative
Halloween Bash
Halloween Concert
Halloween Dance
Halloween: The Event
Halloween Fetish Ball
Halloween Howls Halloween in the Park
Halloween Masquerade Halloween on the Wharf Halloween Pool Halloween Skate
Halloween Spook-Tacular
Harvest Festival
Hawaiian Chieftain
Hookers' Halloween Ball
JJ's Blues Club
Old Courthouse Square
The Palace Halloween Extravaganza Pankind
P.J. Mulligan R.I.P.
Rooster T. Feathers Halloween Night
San Jose Live: Halloween Contest
Santa Clara Halloween Party Schermer & Hanck
Sebastopol Community Center
Sonoma Community Center So She Stirs
Steele Lane Community Center Stormin' Norman Superbooty
Swinger's Masquerade Ball
Toon's
Trials Pub
Trick-or-Treat at Happy Hollow
Trick-or-Treat Food Drive Trigger/Roughhouse
The Usual
The Village Inn
Waves Halloween Bash
Youth Halloween Dance
Bone-Fire of the Vanities: Vultures pick at the bones of the unfortunate deceased in one of the elaborate papier-mâché creations of the Linares family.
Also, check out Metroactive's Halloween links and costume resources.
Ongoing
Thru Nov 1. Wed-Sun, 7-10pm; Fri-Sat, 7pm-midnight, $7.95. Corner of Beach and Cliff streets, Santa Cruz (408/423-6540).
Oct 31-Nov 2. 8pm and 10pm. $24. Kimball's East, 5800 Shellmound St, Emeryville (510/658-2555).
Open Oct 30-Nov 1, 8:30pm-1am. The disco club presents dance favorites performed by Velvet Jones, drink specials, a costume contest and more on Oct 31. Elegant dress code. Call for more information. 369 S. First St, San Jose (408/971-0798)
Costume shoppers can find the greatest selection and help a worthy cause. Located in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Campbell, Milpitas and Santa Clara. Call for more information (408/998-5798).
Featuring the Museum of Terror. Thru Nov 1. $9, Sun-Thu, 7-10pm; $12, Fri, 7pm-midnight; $12, Sat, 6pm-midnight. The Pavilion, 150 S. First St, San Jose (408/492-0600).
Featuring the Phantom Express. Thru Oct 31, 7pm. $8/$6 children. Oak Meadow and Vasona parks, Los Gatos (408/354-6842).
Thru Oct 31. Sun noon-10pm; Mon-Fri 2-10pm. $5. Proceeds benefit Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Call for more information. Malibu Grand Prix Castle, 320 Blomquist St, Redwood City (650/367-1906).
Thru Oct 31. 7am-8pm. Casa de Fruta, 6680 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister (408/637-9316).
Pick the perfect pumpkin at the benefit patch sponsored by Walnut Avenue Women's Center and Habitat for Humanity. Ends Fri. Daily. Beach St, SC (426-3062).
Children from all over the county display their wild, scary and just plain silly carved pumpkins. Daily 11am-6pm. The Pergola, 2590 Main St, Soquel 464-2590.
Halloween costume rental. Thru Oct 30, 5-9pm. Holt Building, 221 Lambert Ave, Palo Alto (650/843-3903).
Flashlight tours. Oct 31-Nov 1, 6pm-midnight. $18. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose (408/998-BASS).
Thru Nov 1, 6-11pm, $8.50/$6.50 10 and under. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd, San Jose (800/848-9520).
October 30
Halloween starts early at the world-premiere screening of The Best of Josh Palmer, followed by three hours of raging disco. Come in costume and get ready to dance. Thu 8:30pm. $5. Palookaville, 1134 Pacific Ave, SC (454-0600).
With Ben Marcato and his Mondo Combo Swing band. Oct 30, 7pm-midnight. $12. Foresters Hall, 1204 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, (650/579-1122).
October 31
Indigo Swing. Wear a costume and get in free. 399 S. First St, San Jose (408/287-4087).
9pm. Frank Joseph. $100 prizes for best '70s costume and best non-'70s costume. 5027 Almaden Expwy, Almaden (408/266-0550).
9pm. Dick Nixon. 1087 De Anza Blvd, Cupertino (408/252-7262).
6-7pm. Trick-or-treat candy will be available for children dressed in costume at Children's Corner, 1600 Saratoga Avenue, Westgate Shopping Center, Saratoga and Campbell avenues, San Jose (408/370-0444).
6:30pm. $3,000 in cash and prizes. 685 El Camino Real, Sunnyvale (408/749-1288).
7pm. Favorite ghost stories, monster bingo and trick-or-treating. Children may come in costume. Children's Corner, Barnes & Noble, 3600 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose (408/984-3495).
Bring your costumed kiddies for a Halloween picture and treat, plus enter 'em in a costume contest. Fri noon-5pm. Cotton Tales, 1201 Pacific Ave, SC (429-1956).
MamaJam Productions presents a costume ball to benefit the Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual/Transgendered Community Center. Fri 9pm. $7-$10. SC Dance Gallery, 418 Front St, SC (429-6636).
Don your swankiest costume duds and groove to the Digbeats rhythm at this high-class Halloween ball. Fri 9pm. $10. Brookdale Lodge, 11570 Hwy 9, Brookdale (338-7633).
9pm. Costume contest. Music with Spanking Machine. 10801 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino (408/446-DUKE).
7pm-3am. $10. Win a share of $3,000 cash in prizes for best costumes. Featuring Black Lab and Head Swim. 260 California Ave, Palo Alto (415/324-EDGE).
5-8pm. Free. With Pinky the Witch, Halloween sing-alongs and more for children ages 2-10. Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto (650/329-2121).
Costume contest. Music by Milk. 223 Castro St., Mountain View (415/964-9151).
Costume contest. Music with Floyd's Ordeal. 156 S. Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale (408/749-8373).
Costume contest, music by Party of Five. 1373-B Kooser Rd, San Jose (408/265-7033).
Fairy grandfather Bill Burke hosts a Creature Feature, with proceeds to benefit the children's program of Spectrum Hospice. 6554 Mirabel Road; 5 p.m.; photos with monsters, $3; bring gift for terminally ill children (707/887-2222)
8pm-1am. $8 with valid high school ID. DJ dancing, interactive games, skating, a video arcade, fortune-tellers and a costume contest. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd, San Jose (408/292-7292).
Follow Ichabod Crane through Bear Mountain on this spooky Legend of Sleepy Hollow ride through the forest. Reservations required. Fri 4:30pm. $15/costumed children free when accompanied by a paying adult. Roaring Camp, Graham Hill Rd, Felton (335-4484).
Improv comedy, a costume contest and prizes. ComedySportz, 3438 El Camino Real, Santa Clara (408/985-LAFF).
6-9pm. Games, crafts, prizes and an Astro Jump. First Presbyterian Church of Milpitas, S. Park Victoria Drive and Clear Lake Avenue, Milpitas (408/262-8000)
5-10pm. Costume contest and live band. Santa Barbara Grill, corner of Hwy 280 and De Anza Blvd, Cupertino (408/253-2233).
8pm. $8. A selection of spooky classical tunes for Halloween. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave, Palo Alto (650/326-3800).
9pm. $10/$8. Zorba's Restuarant, 1350 S. Bascom, San Jose (408/737-5319).
9pm-5am. $15 dr. 21+. DJ Bruce, Jason Edwards and Miguel. Visual show by Multi Media Meltdown, costume contest with cash prizes, fresh oysters and more. V/SF, 278 11th St, San Francisco (415/281-0823).
9pm-6am. Power Exchange invites trick and treaters. Power Exchange Mainstation, 74 Otis St, San Francisco (415/974-1460).
Best monster/drag queen/couple costume contest. Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz (408/423-7117).
Costumed kids are invited to meet the "animals" on a non-scary walk through the redwood grove. Fri 5-7pm. Free. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, off Hwy 9, Felton (335-1743).
Oct 31, 7-11pm. $49.95 plus tax and gratuity. A ghoulish feast with witch's brew and screaming stew, dancing with music by Alphie Dryffus Productions, fortune telling, costume prizes and more. Reservations required. Byington Winery, 21850 Bear Creek Rd, Los Gatos (408/354-1111 ext 206)
Costumed boys and ghouls under 12 can gobble goodies, parade in a costume contest and carve pumpkins on the wharf. Fri 4-6pm. Free. Municipal Wharf, SC (429-3477).
A costume contest plus half-price pool, soda and beer. Fri 9pm. Fast Eddy's, 4300 Capitola Rd, Capitola (462-1882).
Dance, skate and enter your costume at this Halloween celebration. Fri 7pm-midnight. $8. The Rink, 251 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley (438-2233).
9pm. $7 adv./$8 dr. Featuring Slow Gherkin, the Hi-Fives and Monkey. Palookaville, 1133 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz (408/454-0600).
6-8pm. Free admission. Games, candy, prizes. Park Victoria Baptist Church, 875 S. Park Victoria Dr, Milpitas (408/263-9000).
6-10pm. $2. With Lady Washington. Come aboard the haunted pirate ships at the Bay Model, Sausalito (415/331-3214).
VIP party 7pm; main event 8:30pm. $75/$80 door, VIP; $45/$50 door, main event. Dr. Harry Lovecraft and his Magical Medicine Show, Scarlot Harlot, Dutch Falconi and his Twisted Orchestra and more. Maritime Hall, 450 Harrison St, San Francisco (BASS).
9pm. $7. Costume contest. Music by Josh Smith. 3439 Stevens Creek, San Jose (243-6441).
Meanwhile, Ralph the Hot Dog Man celebrates five years in the great wide open with music by Eric Lindell and the Reds. Downtown Santa Rosa; 4 to 6 p.m.; free (707/523-2636)
10pm-2am. $15. Nonstop dancing, costumes and more. The Palace Restaurant, 146 S. Murphy Ave. Sunnyvale (408/739-5179).
The six-piece steel band provides an unlikely musical backdrop for Halloween celebrating. Fri 10:30pm. Costa Brava, 1222 Pacific Ave, SC (425-7871).
Costume contest $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize. $3 cover. 19979 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino (408/255-0588).
A Raging Ideal Party with costume prizes, drink specials and music by RST. Fri 9pm-1am. No cover. Ideal Bar & Grill, 106 Beach St, SC (423-5271).
10pm. Wear your costume and get in free. 152 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale (408/736-0921).
8pm. Win over $2,000 in cash & prizes for best costumes. 150 S. First St, San Jose (408/291-2234).
3:30-6pm. Free. Games, crafts, a coloring contest and more. Youth Activity Center, 2450 Cabrillo Ave, Santa Clara (408/984-4511).
Mike Schermer and Terry Hanck sing the blues at Moe's Halloween costume bash. Fri 9:30pm. $8. Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, SC (479-1854).
The Women's Circle of Remembrance is an invitation to gather outrageously, sing, and dance in honor of our ancestors; bring a percussion instrument and photo of beloved dead. 390 Morris St.; 8 p.m.; $13-$20 (707/829-2833)
Those Cajun champs the Gator Beat band stomp; come in costume for cash prizes. 276 E. Napa St.; 8:30 p.m.; $4-$8 (707/938-4626);
A trance-formational ritual for All Hallow's Eve hosted by Shekinah Mountainwater. Wear black and bring a comfy sit-upon. Fri 8pm. $10-$20. Pacific Cultural Center, 1307 Seabright Ave, SC (423-7639).
Those under 5 can enjoy safe trick-or-treating at Steele Lane Community Center's open house; no scary costumes; bring your own bag 415 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa; 4:30 to 7 p.m.; $3 (707/543-3282)
Norman and the Cyclones scare up a party with their rock & roll tunes. Fri 9pm. Fogbank, 211 Esplanade, Capitola (462-1881).
The imitation '70s superstars boogie-oogie-oogie, while costumed partners compete for up to $500 in cold hard cash. Fri 9:30pm. $16.50/$15. The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., SC (423-1338).
8pm. $30 dr./$25 adv. The New Morty Show, Royal Crown Revue. Hyatt Regency, 5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco (415/675-6208).
7pm. $500 costume contest. Music by Dig This. 52 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose (408/292-7464).
Chamber of Horrors Halloween Party. 265 N. First St, San Jose (947-0497).
2-5pm. $1. Halloween in a safe atmosphere. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose (408/277-4193).
5-7pm. Children 10 and under can enjoy trick-or-treating with the donation of nonperishable food items. Vallco Fashion Park, 10123 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino (408/255-5660).
The band provides the ghoulish tunes for Callahan's sexiest and scariest costume, screaming and howling contests. Fri 9pm-1am. Callahan's, 507 Water St, SC (427-3119).
8pm. $10 adv. Second annual Freak Show. $500 best costume. Laser show and dancing. 400 S. First St, San Jose (408/535-0330).
8:30pm. Come in costume. The Bud Girls will be on hand to help celebrate. The Village Inn, 1355 Hacienda Ave, Campbell (408/871-2025).
9pm. $8/$10 at the door. A live performance by the Yardies. Waves Smokehouse & Saloon, 65 Post St, San Jose (408/885-9283).
DJ dancing for ages 18 and under. 7-11pm. Free. Billy DeFrank Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 175 Stockton Ave San Jose. (408/293-3040).
November 1