The “Boo!” Edition :: Issue #194, Rusty’s Electric Dreams

 

 

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It’s our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween

“This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas


Rusty's Electric Dreams, an inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff

An inbox zine for positive deviants and the people who love them
Issue #194 :: The “Boo!” Edition :: 10:31:2018

Boo!…

It’s Halloween… my all-time favorite holiday living in this neighborhood! While we don’t get all that many trick-or-treaters at our place, the streets behind us are bustling. People from Oakland and other parts of the Bay come here to trick-or-treat because everyone really gets into the spirit here. Yards are decorated with spooky lights and things like giant cobwebs and coffins that pop up unexpectedly. The streets fill with people. Street vendors sell lighted toys from grocery carts. Rumor has it that the drawbridges to get on the island occasionally lift up to keep too many people from coming in (not kidding). It doesn’t matter if the holiday falls on a weeknight, like it does this year, or if it’s raining, like it has in the past. This is always the place I like to be on Halloween.

Friends with homes in the busy part of my neighborhood report they give away over 500 pieces of candy each year which is A LOT of candy. I give out way less than that because my place is on the outer perimeter of the action. But I do love when kids stop by. I generally get the little ones who want one last stop before they head home.

I bought the candy we’re giving out –PB Snickers, Almond Joys, Swedish Fish, Reese’s pumpkins, and Sour Patch Kids — late this year so I wouldn’t nibble too much before the holiday. It didn’t work. Mark my words, next year I’ll buy it all the day before.

SJ turns 14 on Sunday (I KNOW, OMG). She no longer trick-or-treats but does still get into costume. She runs around with her friends, usually stopping by here for a while to hand out candy to the little kids. Last year she dressed as Frida. This year she’s going as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Last year I was Madmax from Stranger Things. This year… not sure yet (but I do have a giant kangaroo costume in my closet).

We used to carve pumpkins but it’s still pretty warm here around Halloween, so they rot very quickly. Now we just decorate them. Last year we used markers. This year we’ve graduated to paints.

Some people like to party on Halloween. I like being right here in Alameda, doing the wholesome thing.

I hope you all are having a great all Hallow’s eve wherever you are!

Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. Scariest pumpkin:

As seen on the Internets

 

To support #VoteBlue, #GOTV, and Democrats, designer Helen Stickler turned mid-century matchbook art into swell political memes. Of course, this one sang to me!
See the rest here.

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:: A look into the work of on-set “Intimacy Coordinators”
:: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/the-deuce-intimacy-coordinator-hbo-sex-scenes-739087:: “The creators of the ‘Beetlejuice’ musical ‘tried to run toward Burton’ visually”
:: https://www.washingtonpost.com/the-creators-of-the-beetlejuice-musical-tried-to-run-toward-burton-visually.html

:: Find out who died in any house in the U.S. (for $11.99)
:: https://boingboing.net/2018/10/28/discover-if-someone-has-died-i.html

:: The product art archive of UK supermarket Sainsbury’s via
:: https://sainsburyarchive.org.uk/catalogue/search/search/eweo-term:Packaging

:: 30 simple truths learned from going to a 30-year college reunion (#28 had me in tears)
:: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/10/what-my-harvard-college-reunion-taught-me-about-life/573847

:: Does anyone know how to play this Trains game (and want to show me)?
:: https://www.alderac.com/destination-fun/trains

:: When a cat walks an actual catwalk, hilarity ensues
:: https://boingboing.net/2018/10/30/cat-crashes-a-fashion-show-cat.html

:: I was driving the other day and thought, I wonder if anyone’s ever done a “Jackie-O-Lantern” — sure enough…
:: https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/7746/just-in-time-for-halloween-the-jackie-o-lantern

:: Websites in 2018
:: https://2018.bloomca.me/en

:: Picnicking in cemeteries
:: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/picnic-in-cemeteries-america

Real things you can actually buy: yay!

 

Religious Headwear by Jovino

My talented artist pal Jovino has been making what he calls “Religious Headwear.” They’re available in a variety of colors at his online Space Punk shop for $65 each.

Featured Events

 

John Law at the Meat Parade, 199-something

photo by me!

Oakland, CA [11/17] SIGNMAN: The FUNraiser at Pro Arts Gallery, 7 PM to 10 PM (auction at 9 PM), Tickets are $50 or $600 for a special curated experience with John Law. This is a fundraiser for John Law’s upcoming 40-year retrospective show that will take place next year at Pro Arts. November 17th is also John’s 60th birthday. Plan accordingly.]

Albert Kong let me know that he is generously giving away a $50 ticket to the event. Enter his contest before November 9th to try and win it!
——————–
Alameda, CA
[11/2] Closing show for 100 Days of Art, the works of Stefanie Reneé and Victoria Heifner at Phoenix Alameda, 6 PM to 9 PM

Los Angeles, CA
[Ends tonight 10/31] There’s a murder-mystery show at the Magic Castle!

[12/8] Los Angeles Santacon, 11 AM to 10 PM

New York City
Yay: Oriana Leckert keeps picking out great events for you, so I don’t have to!

Oakland, CA
[Open until 12/9] Hi-Fructose presents: The Art of the Mushroom at the Compound Gallery

[DON’T MISS THIS 10/31] Driveway Follies, marionette puppetry at the yard of 3854 Greenwood Ave, Free

San Francisco, CA
[TONIGHT 10/31] Mac Sabbath at GAMH, 8 PM

[11/1] Free screening of Sorry to Bother You at Bayview Opera House, 7 PM to 10 PM

[11/1] The Unreal Garden., 6 PM to 11 PM

[11/2] Dia de los Muertos San Francisco 2018 – Festival of Altars at Garfield Square Park, 4 PM to 11 PM

[11/29] A John Waters Christmas at GAMH, 8 PM (other cities too!)

[12/1] Krampus Krawl #5: “Better not cry” (“More wandering guerilla theater than pub crawl”) begins at Union Square bar High Tide at 600 Geary, 5:30 PM to 9 PM

[12/19] El Vez, the Mexican Elvis at Elbo Room, 7:30 PM, Tickets

San Jose, CA
[Ends tonight 10/31] Mr. Nobody’s Mystic Midway (this is Scott Levkoff’s production!) at Winchester Mystery House. It’s FREE to get in, just go through the gift shop and into the courtyard to find it. Tokens to play midway games are $5 each or $20 for five. [Candlelight tours of the actual house are available too.]

Saratoga, CA
[Until 3/17] Bruce Munro at Montalvo: Stories in Light, Tickets Thanks, Tracy!

Know about a cool event? Send me the info and I’ll share it with the class!

 

“No-Name Halloween” by Honey Dill

Thanks, Dan!

Rusty’s Electric Dreams is a (mostly) weekly inbox zine by Rusty Blazenhoff for positive deviants and the people who love them.

Described as, “One of the most inspiring, weird and off-kilter collections of curated kitschy ephemera for the big-brained.”

People like it.

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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Rusty Blazenhoff
Co-editors: Carolyn Anhalt & Joyce Slaton

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