In a city built on fantasy and illusion, it's not surprising that Halloween is a big deal. And at the heart of it is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, which will close Santa Monica Boulevard (and much of West Hollywood) to traffic all day this Saturday, with the parade itself beginning at 6 PM and running late into the evening. A crowd estimated at close to half a million lines the sidewalks to watch participants of innumerable sexual persuasions strut their stuff. If you want to eat at one of WeHo's many popular restaurants – Asia de Cuba, Baby Blues, Chaya Brasserie, Boa, Lucques, Madeo, Nobu LA, The Palm, Sona and Wa – it's a good idea to book early.
But should you want to do the creepy thing a distance from the maddening crowd, you might also consider some of these options:
For the week of October 31–November 31, Santa Monica's Locanda del Lago will be celebrating "Hal-Lago-Ween" with dishes like "Soup From the After-Life," "Bats Stomach and Intestine Pasta," "Black Snake With Dragon Eyes" and "Wolf Filet With Rabid Dog Canines" served both à la carte and in a pair of "Spooky Specials" (three courses for $45, four courses for $56; regular menu also available; 310-451-3525; reserve online).
Come October 31, Five Crowns – the Lawry's sib in Corona del Mar – has asked its servers to dress up for a costume competition, and there will be a watching for the restaurant's fabled ghosts, who haunt the wine room, the Hurley and Brighton Rooms, and the upstairs ladies' room (949-760-0331; reserve online).
In Fullerton, the venerable Cellar is hosting its annual "Trick or Eat Halloween Dinner Party" on October 30 and 31, with help from the Maverick Theater Troup. An evening of Halloween high jinks for grown-ups, the dinner includes a four-course fixed-price meal of dishes like "Slimy Slugs in a Coffin" and "Veal Guts With Fungus Among Us" (begins at 6:30 PM on Friday and 5:30 PM on Saturday; $49.95 per person; 714-525-5682; reserve online).
Meanwhile, in always-costume-laden Venice, at Joe's "Voodoo Lounge," à la carte dishes include "Pickled Babies and Candied Corn" (made with baby octopus and corn brittle), "Witch's Stew" (baby pumpkins filled with sweetbread, lobster, gizzards and bone marrow) and "Vampire's Light" (seared scallops with 'bull's blood' beets). Scared yet? Wash away your fears with tipples like the "Obituary Cocktail" and the "Devil's Brew" (310-399-5811; reserve online).
Finally, to the north on the restored Malibu Pier, The Beachcomber Malibu is serving special Halloween cocktails – think "The Witches' Cauldron" (a flaming brew made with 151 rum, banana rum, orange juice, pineapple and mango), the "Cat's Eye" (lemon vodka, apple pucker and lemonade) and the Zombie (vodka and lime juice with a gummy worm) – for $9 each (310-456-9800; reserve online).