Time to Get Scared: Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights

Posted on by Diversions LA
The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far maze begins at Terminus - Photo: Jack Burke
The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far maze begins at Terminus – Photo: Jack Burke

Remember the magic you used to feel on Halloween? The sense of excitement to go out trick or treating? The spooky but fun dread that maybe there really was something lurking behind the tree in the neighbor’s yard – that wasn’t the neighbor’s cat? Dark rooms, zombie flicks on TV, things that go bump in the night?

F23C2618

Well you can experience it again, albeit with a fairly substantial price tag, at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights. Not just any old haunted attraction, this one features movie-quality recreations of set pieces from frighteningly famous franchises like Halloween and The Walking Dead.

F23C2817

F23C2654

F23C2710

Great sets, fantastic animatronic figures, eerie lighting, and of course, what really makes the event take off, the “scareactors,” some 500 talented performers stalking, scaring, and jumping out at guests, gruesomely attacking each other, and each creating an astonishingly well-choreographed live performance on average once every six seconds.

F23C2832

So is it worth it to “haunt” Universal Studios after dark? Absolutely. From the kitschy 3D horror humor based on the film This is the End to the longest and arguably scariest maze this year, The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far,  to the supernatural Insidious Return to the Further, these live performance scares are worth every penny.  Also not to be missed: this year’s Terror Tram offering based on The Purge films takes over the back lot, and in a break from all the horror, a live stage show starring the hip hop energy and special effects of Jabbawockeez. Of course there’s scare zones scattered throughout the park – from the evil elves of Dark Christmas to the giant bugs of Exterminatorz you’ll get your screams on. Strolling through the recreation of Homer Simpson’s Springfield or jumping on the Jurassic Park ride are also somehow a lot more fun after dark, when you know just outside the rides’ perimeters lurks – a shadowy menacing monster or two.

F23C2693

This was our third year experiencing Halloween Horror Nights, and it’s an absolutely horrific delight. Go early – early admission allows guests into the park an hour before HHN officially opens and access to several lower lot mazes before the lines get too deep. And stay late – don’t rush the scares. Savor the midnight magic.

  • Genie Davis; all photos Jack Burke (copyright Jack Burke)

 

EcoLuxe Lounge at the Avalon: a Pre-Emmy’s Treat

Posted on by Diversions LA

IMG_2535

Before the Emmy Awards were even broadcast, there were a lot of prize winners in Hollywood – guests lucky enough to attend product placement producer Debbie Durkin’s annual EcoLuxe Lounge, this year with the theme of Christmas in September, and charitable partner Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. On Saturday, September 19th, from 11- 6, Durkin paid homage to television awards nominees and a wide array of sustainable and eco-friendly products.

IMG_2537

The Ecoluxe Lounge transformed music and dance venue The Avalon into a winter wonderland replete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, glittering Christmas trees, and plenty of sugar plums to taste. Los Angeles has been suffering a heat wave, but it was plenty cool inside the club. DJ Mike Shay spun hip holiday tunes, hand crafted sugar plums were more than just visions dancing in attendees heads, and there were no stocking caps or kerchiefs to be seen. Rather, there was plenty of inventive treats and gifting items.

IMG_2539

Guests including Elliot Gould, Adina Porter, Khandi Alexander, nominated for her appearance in ABC’s Scandal, Orange is the New Black’s Abigail Savage, and best supporting actor nominee (for Masters of Sex) Beau Bridges were among the celebrities who turned up to donate unwrapped toys for Shriners Hospital and pose for portraits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

IMG_2542

How2Girl Courtney Sixx, a host of the event, helped guests create Do-it-yourself holiday ornaments. The ornaments weren’t all that glittered: beautiful pieces from Amy Marie Radzik’s AR Jewelry and from Ammanii Jewelry added more shine.  Radzik’s eclectic jewelry making grew out of her other profession as production company co-owner. When her San Diego-based company started doing shoots for department stores, Radzik was often called upon to make custom pieces, and do it quickly. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve made jewelry, but I began to get serious about it seven years ago on a photo shoot,” Radzik says. “And now I make jewelry professionally.”

IMG_2547

IMG_2550

Chariot Travelware gifted beautiful hard-shell suitcases in a variety of sizes and designs – plenty of room to pack that new jewelry. Founded in 2011 by Moon Woo, the luggage is uniquely beautiful, with patterns from roses to geometric designs, vibrantly bright colors to dark grey.  Sleek but sturdy, the luggage is available online and in major department stores across the Southland.

IMG_2534

Resqme Lifesaving Tools was also on hand, providing colorful, small emergency glass cutting tools designed to save lives easily.

IMG_2528

IMG_2527

Guests also explored haute couture from Sen Couture, and received dynamic makeup and hair styling from MUA Victoria Rowe & Glam Squad.

Before taking off to enjoy gift bag booty such as Yoot organic herbal tea, Justin’s peanut butter cups, crispy Pop Chips, and Modern Oats breakfast cereal, there were plenty of holiday-themed tastes on hand at the event.

IMG_2525

Sugar and Spyked Holiday desert bar served treats like chocolate rum mini-puddings, while the S’More Bakery offered gourmet s’mores deliciously scorched with a hand held blow torch.

IMG_2530 IMG_2531 IMG_2529

Delicious mini-cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, and cake pops were the order of the day from Infiniti Sweets,  by owner Amanda Vefour, who started her company five years ago.

IMG_2553

To drink? Fete Today served up a delightful petite Sirah crafted at a small family vineyard in Lodi, Calif.  Fête Today is a wine and gift shop that encourages “lives full of celebration and joy.” Along with a delicious wine redolent of dark fruits, smooth, and light, Fete offers some additional treats: a color changing twist top and an app for iOs and Android that’s essentially a fun augmented reality photo booth.

IMG_2516

On the non-alcoholic side was NEON energy drink, a flavorful organic blend of green tea, prickly pear, and other all-natural ingredients that’s low in sodium and high on lift. Smoked Fusion BBQ catering, Rounds Premium Burgers, Hint Water, and the Southmore Group also offered tasting eats and beverages.

IMG_2518

IMG_2519

The holiday spirit of giving was in the air and fun was all around, making this year’s Emmy EcoLuxe Lounge another winning afternoon from producer Debbie Durkin. Going to Sundance? You’ll see Durkin there with another eco-awesome event.

IMG_2523

Pursuit of the Magic Piece: Book Signing and Tasty Eats

Posted on by Diversions LA

F23C2232

Looking for something fun for the whole family this weekend? Something celebrating a cute children’s book, and serving up healthy, tasty eats for both kids and adults? Jeanne Cheng, owner of Kye’s Montana in Santa Monica, Calif. has a treat for you.

On Sunday the 27th from 3-5 pm, restaurant owner and book author Cheng is hosting a special book launch party to celebrate the release of her “Pursuit of the Magic Piece.” As fun as this book is for kids, having recently dined in Kye’s sunny, cheerful location, we can attest that there’s something even more fun afoot: the food. Primarily inventive, vegetable wrapped burritos,  Cheng describes her food as prepared to have the whole family “eating happy.”

We approached dining here with some caution: organic, healthy fast casual that’s actually tasty can be tough to find. But her claim is justified: the conscious food movement cuisine served up here is something everyone will enjoy – because it’s all about flavor.

Featuring Kyeritos, gluten free wraps with organically sourced ingredients and enough taste to appeal to Cheng’s young son, to try a bite is to believe you’ll clean your plate: in fact, you’ll want to eat here all the time.

And what better time to sample the cuisine than at a family friendly book launch where there will actually be samples.  Cheng calls the launch a “nutritional adventure. There’ll be a fun activity page, a book reading, samples of the book’s recipes, and children can even roll their own mini-sweet chicken kyerito.”

F23C2223

The delightfully spicy Vegan Bean Taco wrapped in collard greens on top; below, the Macro, wild seared salmon in nori.

F23C2218

Reading material!

F23C2235

The drinks are delicious too, from herbal teas to smoothies – like this caramelized banana shake made with banana, Chinese yam, coconut milk, and coconut milk ice cream.

F23C2227

Kye’s is located at 1518 Montana in Santa Monica. And this is the weekend to grab a bite and a book.

Merry Karnowsky Gallery – Mark Whalen – Trapezoid

Posted on by Diversions LA

F23C2582

What do you see? Rubik’s Cube, geometry class, chess boards, hundreds of cameras trained on hundreds of people, one person, no people at all – the observed and the observer, entwined and alone.

F23C2579

Geometric forms shape a world of immense order. Patterns create beauty, create conformity. All chaos is about to break loose in this Trapezoid life.

F23C2585

The Merry Karnowsky Gallery is often a hot-bed of emerging artists, and the exhibition of Mark Whalen’s latest works, “Trapezoid” is no exception. From hand-painted glazed ceramics to acrylic, ink, and gouache on panels, Whalen has constructed a series of personal, intricate worlds.

Meticulously detailed, his ceramics and paintings feel intense,  pristine but pointed introductions to something other-worldly that Whalen is asking the viewer to explore.

F23C2575

F23C2576

F23C2577

E.T. – take a picture and text it home.  The rest of us can explore this strange and stellar world through October 12th at  170 S. La Brea in Los Angeles.

  • Genie Davis; Photos – Jack Burke