Blog

The weather is cooling a bit and, in theory, it’s a great time to visit South Florida’s national parks. The U.S. government shutdown is causing confusion, though, about whether the parks are open and what kind of experience visitors will encounter.

So here are the facts: The parks, including most hiking trails, roads and boardwalks, are open. Concessions, such as kayak rentals and ferry services, are operating and anxious for business.

But at most parks, fewer employees are working, phones are often not being answered, and websites are not being updated to let the public know if there are any sudden changes.

According to the National Park Service, donations are helping to keep the parks operational.

In an email to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a National  Park Service spokesperson said: “Governors and partners in several states, including Florida, have been working with the National Park Service to establish short-term agreements with donations to help maintain operations during the lapse in appropriations. These agreements allow visitor centers and other facilities to remain open and accessible to the public using state or partner-provided funds until federal funding is restored.”

Here’s a compilation of what’s open, based on website information and phone calls. There is much confusion about the status of the parks during the shutdown, so if you go, you may have these great spaces all to yourself.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

Address: 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead

Hours: 24 hours a day, every day

Entrance fee: $35 a car

Open:

• Shark Valley Tram Tours — $34 per adult; 305-221-8455 or sharkvalleytramtours.com. The concession also offers bike rentals for $27 a day.
• Flamingo Adventures — restaurant, marina, camping, kayaking, boat tours, hiking trails, hotel (a studio is $259 in winter and $239 off-season); 855-708-2207 or flamingoeverglades.com.

Information: 305-242-7700; nps.gov/ever/index.htm

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

Address: 33100 Tamiami Trail E., Ochopee

Hours: 24 hours a day

Entrance fee: Free

Closed: Off-road vehicle office

Open: Off-road vehicle trails are still open to vehicles with permits.

Information: 239-695-2000; nps.gov/bicy/index.htm

BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK

Address: 9700 SW 328th Street, Sir Lancelot Jones Way, Homestead

Entrance fee: Free

Open:

• Boat Experiences and other eco-adventures through the park operated by the Biscayne National Park Institute.
• A Biscayne Bay cruise is $83 for 3 1/2 hours, while two hours of kayaking in the mangroves is $39.

Information: 786-335-3620; nps.gov/bisc/index.htm

DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK

Address: 70 miles west of Key West, accessible only by boat or seaplane

Hours: 24 hours a day

Entrance fee: $15 a person

Open: Concessions are operating as usual, including:

• Yankee Freedom Ferry Ride — leaves from Key West for a 2 1/2-hour ride to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson; drytortugas.com.
• Key West Seaplane Adventures — takes guests on a 40-minute flight to the islands; keywestseaplanecharters.com.

Information: 305-242-7700; nps.gov/drto/index.htm

It’s been another frighteningly good year for horror fans.

Movie theaters — still, by far, the best place to enjoy a proper fright night — have been absolutely loaded with quality offerings essentially all year.

They’ve come in all sorts of chainsaw-sharp shapes and sizes, from straight-up gorefests and slow-brewing supernatural thrillers to silly-scary sci-fi and disturbingly romantic body horror (if, indeed, there is such a thing).

Some of these films were grand cinematic achievements, while others were breathtaking indie-success stories. Some were sequels — or prequels — which turned out to be as good as, or better, than expected.

All in all, it’s been another banner year for horror, which continues to shine — in terms of breadth of creativity and implementation of vision — like no other genre in the film world over the last five-plus years.

Here’s our annual list of the top horror movies of the year so far, timed, of course, with the Halloween season. So, pick a few of these — or all of them — and get ready to have a few really fun nights of watching fright flicks. Most, if not all, of these titles are available to stream through multiple services.

We went with 13, for obvious reasons, and have listed them in order of greatness. (Also make sure to read our list of the five most disappointing horror movies of 2025.)

Here are the Top 13 Horror Movies of 2025:

1. “Weapons”

It’s as perfect a film — from any genre — as we’ve seen in 2025, a remarkably visionary piece that succeeds on so many levels and seems destined to be referred to as an all-time horror-movie classic for decades to come.

Director Zach Cregger — having already stormed the castle with the directorial-screenwriting debut of “Barbarian” in 2022 — takes his game to an even higher level with this follow-up epic that utilizes multiple interrelated storylines to tell the complex tale of a group of grade-school children who go missing one night.

Everything about the film pulls you in, as Cregger drops bombs that expose such universal fears — not being able to protect our loved ones, situations spinning out of control, etc. — in a setting that feels both right next door and completely out of this world.

2. “Good Boy”

The list of great canine actors would, of course, include Rin Tin Tin, Lassie (played by Pal) and Benji (real name Higgins). And to that list we can solidly add Indy, who – like Rin Tin Tin – uses his own name in his film debut.

“Good Boy” is a revelation on so many fronts, not the least of which is how many emotions/thoughts/feelings we — as non-canines — assign to our four-legged friends. Director Ben Leonberg uses that to his advantage as he juxtaposes menacing imagery with scenes of his own dog to build a story that is just brimming with dread.

Our own thoughts and fears carry the storyline, while Indy eats up the camera like he would a box of treats. This is nothing short of a master class in filmmaking.

3. “Bring Her Back”

What do you do for an encore after crafting the greatest horror film of the 21st century? Well, if you’re Australian twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, you drop another classic. No, “Bring Her Back” isn’t as excellent as 2022’s “Talk to Me” — but, then again, only a very small handful of films in horror movie history have been. Yet, it’s definitely a supernatural freakfest that will stick to your bones long after you leave the theater.

4. “Final Destination: Bloodlines”

“Final Destination” is one of the two most consistently entertaining franchises in all of horror, with the other being, of course, Chucky/“Child’s Play.” Yes, that’s taking into account the 2009 FD outing, which even the horrible CGI couldn’t dissuade us from watching multiple times. This sixth edition, which is a prequel to the original 2000 masterpiece, hits all the notes that make this series so worth fans’ time — the memorable ensemble casts, the no-frills storylines, the fun twists and turns and, most significantly, the crazy-clever death scenes.

5. “The Monkey”

Is it the best Stephen King adaptation that the horror film genre has ever seen? No. That title still goes to the original “Carrie.” But “The Monkey” might just be the most fun King adaptation, taking fans on a wildly enjoyable roller coaster ride of blood and guts that will have gorehounds howling like there is no tomorrow. If crazy, elaborately orchestrated death scenes are what draws you to horror then this tale of an evil monkey creature — don’t call it a toy! — is definitely for you.

6. “Heart Eyes”

We’ve had plenty of romantic subplots set in the middle of horror films, with Christopher Landon’s “Happy Death Day” and “Freaky” being two excellent examples. Yet, Josh Ruben’s “Heart Eyes” is really a first-rate romantic comedy that manages to draw on so many of the genre’s tropes — the initial attraction, the work conflict, the undeniable chemistry that one or more parties wants to deny, the second/third chance at real romance, and so on. Into that equation comes a masked killer — The Heart Eyes Killer, a.k.a. H-E-K — to bust the formula wide open and create something that feels refreshingly new.

7. “Together”

Body horror, the subgenre often defined by mutilations of the human form, is one of the most maligned areas of horror. And, usually, for good reason. Yet, when it’s done right — such as in last year’s Oscar-nominated “The Substance” — it can serve as wicked commentary on the state of human affairs. “Together” is another such keeper, using plenty of hard-to-watch moments to train a microscope on what it means to lose yourself in a relationship.

8. “Presence”

Who went into 2025 having Steven Soderbergh on their bingo card as the director of the first great horror movie of the year? Well, turns out the Oscar- and Palme-d’Or-winning director — known for such milestone movies as “Traffic,” “Erin Brockovich” and “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” — can also dish out convincingly low-key chills with the best of them. “Presence” (which hit theaters in January, after debuting at the Sundance Film Festival one year prior) is a ghost story with a twist that we absolutely didn’t see coming. The less you know going in, the better.

9. “Sinners”

This will be the first horror film that many will think of when it comes to 2025 — and, for good reason, since the Ryan Coogler-directed epic was quite good, made a ton of money and, perhaps most importantly, helped introduce blues music to many new listeners. We wouldn’t be surprised if this vampire tale, which finds mighty Michael B. Jordan doing double duty as twin brothers, even ends up being the very rare horror film that scores a best picture Oscar nomination.

10. “The Ugly Stepsister”

There have been so many dark re-imaginings of fairytales and other children’s tales lately – including this year’s “Steamboat” (based on the legendary1928 Walt Disney animated short “Steamboat Willie”) and the “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” travesties — and most haven’t been anything other than a complete waste of time. Not so for this Norwegian folk-horror triumph that uses the Cinderella storyline to outline the dangers of chasing beauty.

11. “Dangerous Animals”

When filmmakers want to do something different in the overplayed shark genre, they usually either make the creature bigger (“The Meg”) or give it more heads (just Google around a bit) – neither of which, of course, makes it different. Yet, director Sean Byrne manages to deliver something that feels strikingly new and novel with “Dangerous Animals,” a thriller that is equal parts “Jaws,” survival horror film and serial killer tale. It’s a blend that we didn’t see coming. And it’s completely fin-tastic.

12. “M3GAN 2.0”

We went into this with wildly low expectations — which, face it, never hurts — given that the advance trailer made it look like the filmmakers had abandoned everything that made the first “M3GAN” so enjoyable in favor of a third-tier superhero approach. Yeah, well, there’s some of that. But this sci-fi/superhero/horror hybrid works surprisingly well, thanks to quality writing, great effects and a tight focus on the wit and — for lack of a better term — humanity of this hi-tech killer doll.

13. “Companion”

Need even more bloody A.I. humanoid fun after watching “M3GAN”? Well, just roll right into a double feature with this well-made tale of the possible pitfalls that lay ahead as technology continues to replace human interaction/connection in so many wrong ways. Thematically, it reminds us of some of the zombie flicks that leave one questioning who the real monster is in the equation.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is here this weekend, an energizing presence in local lounges and restaurants, and a good time for those whose ship has come in (if a bit more adrift from the day-to-day reality of life in a nation that has, seemingly overnight, gone broke). Elsewhere, we’ll have the distraction of Halloween parties from Coral Springs to Clematis Street (masks for good), nationally acclaimed Day of the Dead festivities in downtown Fort Lauderdale and a Nov. 1 appearance by Santa Claus (perhaps we are desperate to welcome the holiday spirit this year).

THURSDAY

Dress-up affair: The Coral Springs Museum of Art is encouraging costumes during its Art@Night happy hour on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The free gathering will include viewing of works from the SOBRA Collective, complimentary light bites, and a selection of coffees, soft drinks and adult beverages for purchase. Another highlight: a DJ set from City Commissioner (and museum board chair) Joshua Simmons. Who knew? RSVP (encouraged) at CoralSpringsMuseum.org.

Florida feardom: The horror freaks at Popcorn Frights will get you in the mood at Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale with two free screenings of films sure to make you lose your popcorn: “The Thing With Feathers” (starring Benedict Cumberbatch) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and “Big Baby” (screening publicly for only the second time, according to Popcorn Frights) at 9:45 p.m. Friday. The Halloween-night event will include a costume contest with prizes. RSVP for free admission at PopcornFrights.com.

Something completely different: Canadian performer Lucy Darling — equal parts comedian, magician, fire eater and cocktail drinker — will bring her zany variety show to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, joined by co-host Mark Ettinger, former longtime musical director (and juggler) with the legendary Flying Karamazov Brothers. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show start at $53.10 at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Thursday night live: Screamo favorites Pierce the Veil (is there a better moment for a chorus of “King for a Day”?) bring the I Can’t Hear You World Tour to iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, accompanied by HEALTH, Ecca Vandal and Like Roses. Get tickets, starting at $25 for general-admission lawn, at Ticketmaster.com. … Neil Fallon and cult-faves Clutch take over the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday with special guests Hollow Leg. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $62.30. Visit CultureRoom.net. … Israeli pop star Eden Ben Zaken will play The Fillmore Miami Beach on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $113.50 at Ticketmaster.com. … Florida-based acoustic trio Boyce Avenue will perform in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 8 p.m. Some tickets remain, starting at $41.30. Visit BrowardCenter.org.

Toby Keith remembered: The multitalented Hollywood Yates — singer, actor, rodeo clown, bullfighter — will bring his nationally touring tribute to the late Toby Keith to the Miramar Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, performing sing-along favorites such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Love This Bar” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Tickets start at $37.24 at MiramarCulturalCenter.org.

Upside Down party: The Wharf in downtown Fort Lauderdale will transform into the supernatural town of Hawkins for a “Stranger Things”-inspired party on Thursday and Friday, with creature encounters, shareable visuals and themed cocktails (two-for-one martinis on Thursday). Visit WharfFTL.com.

Ticket window: Song-and-dance man (and “Wolverine” star) Hugh Jackman is coming to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on March 6. Presale tickets are available via Hard Rock’s Facebook and other social media pages ahead of the general on-sale beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at MyHRL.com.

FRIDAY

Family dinner: Spooky musical comedy “The Addams Family” sets up at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach this weekend for performances at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. The show, appropriate for guests age 8 and older, revolves around a dinner party the oddball family plans to host for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Tickets start at $39.10 at Kravis.org.

Clematis crawl: South Florida’s signature Halloween-night party, Moonfest returns to the 500 block of Clematis in downtown West Palm Beach on Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a bar crawl (O’Shea’s, Respectable Street, Hullabaloo, Lost Weekend, Shanghai’d and Subculture Coffee); live music (continuing until 4 a.m. at Respectable Street with We’re Wolves, The Haunt, Chez and World’s First Cinema); DJs and a costume contest with $500 to the winner. Admission packages are available, starting at $42.39. All proceeds benefit Hospitality Helping Hands dog rescue. Visit Facebook.com/respectablestreet/events.

Metal of honor: The best item of Halloween 2025 swag will be found at Mathews Brewing Co. in Lake Worth Beach on Friday: A souvenir glass honoring the late Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne with your first purchase of a Mathews craft beer (while supplies last). A centerpiece of the brewery’s eighth annual Halloween party, the glass giveaway begins at 6 p.m. The night will include live music (young metal band Maximum Friction, Tool tribute 46 & Tool and Jane’s Addiction tribute Jane’s Affliction); a dog costume contest (7 p.m.) and human costume contest (8:30 p.m.), with cash prizes for the winners. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/mathewsbrewing.

Ozzy overload: Speaking of Ozzy, Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach and radio station BIG 105.9 will host The Skullapalooza Party on Friday from 3 to 10:30 p.m., with live music led by Randy Rhoads/Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Railz on the main stage from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Longtime local favorites the Original Studio 54 Band will perform disco hits throughout the night. BIG 105.9’s costume contest will begin at 7 p.m., with a chance to win $1,800 in cash prizes (determined by audience applause). Admission is free; the $75 Skullapalooza VIP Pass includes a premium open bar and buffet, VIP-only areas and prime main stage views. Visit Galuppis.com.

Garden party: Art After Dark at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach will conjure a haunted mansion theme on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., with visitors encouraged to come in their spookiest and/or most glamorous Victorian outfits. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners at 7:15 p.m., followed by a moonlight dance party in the garden with DJ Nia Nova. Docents will lead tours of the museum’s Rembrandt exhibit at 5:30 and 7 p.m. (limited to 20 guests each). Art After Dark tickets cost $10, or $5 for students, and can be purchased at the reception desk or in advance at Norton.org. Note: Costumes must not cover the face, should be family friendly, and props are limited to 12-by-12 inches.

Just can’t get enough: For pure sexy glam on Halloween night, it will be hard to top the concert by Los Angeles-based Depeche Mode tribute band Strangelove and Miami’s Ordinary Boys, the spot-on tribute to The Smiths and Morrissey. The double bill will be found at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available, starting at $43.37, at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Friday night live: Psych-rock veterans The Mars Volta bring their energetic live show to The Fillmore Miami Beach on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $68.50 at Ticketmaster.com.

Warped sense of humor: The Miniaci Performing Arts Center at Nova Southeastern University in Davie will host a Halloween-night shadowcast performance of cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Friday with all the trashy features you love. So, yes, wear the fishnets, dance in the aisles, shout at the screen. Bagged props will be sold in the lobby (no outside props allowed). Tickets for the 18+ event cost $29.50 (just a couple of dozen seats remain). Visit Ticketmaster.com.

SATURDAY

Calling all Dead heads: The popular Downtown Fort Lauderdale Day of the Dead celebration will return on Saturday, a showcase of family friendly fun and spooky fashion statements that has been listed among the best Día de Los Muertos events in the country by the Travel Channel, USA Today and other publications. Festivities will begin at Esplanade Park at 3 p.m., with music, dance and folklorico performances, face painting, mask making, Latin food and artist booths. The iconic Skeleton Processional costume parade will begin at 6 p.m., with colorful Catrinas, flower-flinging Frida Kahlos, swaggering luchadores and masked mariachis winding through the Himmarshee District. The parade will end a couple of blocks away at a street party in front of Revolution Live and Backyard, where food and drink, music and photo opportunities will run until 11 p.m. All events are free, and the processional is open to anyone. Visit GoRiverwalk.com/dotd or BackyardFTL.com.

Steps lively: At the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Miami City Ballet continues its 40th-season opener with Peck: Miami in Motion, a stylish program created by Tony Award-winning choreographer Justin Peck that is fluent in the visual language of South Florida. It includes the kaleidoscopic “Year of the Rabbit,” the joyous “Chutes and Ladders” and “Heatscape,” an ode to Wynwood. Performances this weekend will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $45. Visit MiamiCityBallet.org.

Saturday laughs: Actor, producer and comedian Jessica Kirson brings the brutally honest observations of her recent Hulu special, “I’m the Man,” to the Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $51.50 at TheCenterCS.com.

Saturday night live: Guitarist slingers Richie Kotzen (once of Poison and The Winery Dogs) and John 5 (now of Mötley Crüe, formerly of Marilyn Manson) bring their tour to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, joined by special guests Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $56.05. … Theatrical alt-pop singer-songwriter Sofia Isella, soon to be seen as an opener on Florence + The Machine’s 2026 tour, will perform at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at 8 p.m. joined by Ayleen Valentine. Tickets for the all-ages show cost $38. Visit JoinTheRevolution.net. … Longtime Spanish-Italian pop heartthrob and actor Miguel Bose brings his world tour to the Kaseya Center in Miami at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $43.70 at Ticketmaster.com.

Black is back: If you have been curious about what mercurial rap star Kodak Black has been up to (and who hasn’t?), the Pompano Beach native will host the Bill Kill Halloween Concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Also on the bill are Sexyy Red, Rob49, YTB Fatt, YK Niece, 1900Rugrat and BLP Kosher. Tickets start at $63 at Seatgeek.com.

Local sounds: Hosted by Amplify Arts, a new Broward Center initiative to elevate local artists and emerging arts organizations, Sons of Mystro and Alexander Star & The Golden People will perform in the Amaturo Theater at Fort Lauderdale‘s Broward Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. Sons of Mystro includes brothers Malcolm and Umoja, who learned to play violin in the public school system and attended Dillard High School for the Performing Arts, now using the violin to interpret reggae classics, American pop songs and their own music accompanied by a DJ and a drummer. South Florida-based Alexander Star is an Emmy-nominated songwriter and performer who, with five-piece band The Golden People, has opened for Earth, Wind & Fire, Black Violin, Koffee and others. Tickets start at $41.30 at BrowardCenter.org.

Free movie: Part of the city of Hollywood’s celebration of its 100th Anniversary, the Hollywood Historical Society will host a free Cinema Paradiso screening of “Canvas.” The film was shot in the city by Hollywood native and Hollywood Hills High School graduate Joseph Greco. Screening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the film stars veteran actor Joe Pantoliano as a father who finds strength in his young son after his wife, played by Marcia Gay Harden, is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Tickets are free at CinemaHollywood.org.

’Zat you, Santa Claus? With Halloween and Day of the Dead (barely) in the rearview, The Christmas Palace will host a Santa meet-up at holiday events on Saturday at the Hialeah Gardens shop and on Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale location. Festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, with each toy donor receiving a $10 store coupon to use that day. Visit TheChristmasPalace.com.

SUNDAY

Do you feel? We’re nearly two months short of the 50th anniversary of the album “Frampton Comes Alive,” which is crazy math. (Quick, what’s your favorite song on the album? Mine: “Do You Feel Like We Do?”) Sunny rock star Peter Frampton will offer fresh reminders of what made the album so popular when he brings his Let’s Do it Again! Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $71.10 at MyHRL.com.

Trip to the Keys: Funky keyboardist and charismatic showman Brian Culbertson brings the tour supporting new album “Day Trip” to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available, starting at $58.41, at ParkerPlayhouse.com.

Sing America: Grammy-winning choral ensemble Tonality will perform a program titled, “America Will Be,” making the case for an inclusive nation, in the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets to the concert, part of the Kravis Center’s ambitious Peak Series, cost $46. Visit Kravis.org.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on IG: @BenCrandell. 

Halloween is arguably a snapshot of the year’s buzziest pop culture moments, an homage, if you will, to all the trends and memes that had their 15 minutes of fame, brought back for one night as niche Halloween costumes.

If you’re looking for inspiration for costumes you can throw together (and, naturally, impress your friends on social media with), here are Halloween costumes from 2025’s biggest pop culture moments.

Labubu

The must-have accessory of this year. By now, everyone’s heard of a Labubu, even if they still don’t quite understand the phenomenon. The costume is similar to any other animal costume: you’ll need a furry body suit and rabbit-shaped ears on a headpiece. To help distinguish your costume from the Easter Bunny, paint on the toy monster’s signature sharp-toothed grin and craft a PopMart tag and key ring. Bonus points if you can incorporate the blind box component.

• Also see: Map of where to find Labubu dolls in Southern California

Louvre Heist

Just in time for Halloween this year is the world’s most talked-about burglary: the Louvre Museum jewelry heist. To accomplish this look, throw on a yellow or orange construction vest over a sleek black ensemble and pair it with a ski mask or black beanie. To make it more specific to the heist, you can wear a tiara and other jewels, and instead of a bag with a dollar sign, write “Louvre Jewels” on it.

K-Pop Demon Hunters

The Netflix movie is so popular that the streaming service is working with AMC to bring it to theaters. The most recognizable reference will be to the protagonists in the movie, the K-pop girl group Huntr/x members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. There are a few costume options with this, but their “Golden” outfits make for a great group costume. Additionally, there’s the Saja Boys, who are behind the film’s other catchy tune, “Soda Pop.”

• RELATED: Huntr/x from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ joins KIIS-FM Jingle Ball at Intuit Dome

Wicked

Last year, the first installment of “Wicked” hit theaters just after spooky season, so Elphaba and Glinda weren’t quite as “popular” for Halloween costumes. Now, with the release of part two of the phenomenon, “Wicked: For Good,” just around the corner and nearly a year of fandom between the two, your favorite character from Oz could make the perfect Halloween costume. The two iconic witches will be the most recognizable reference from the musical, but there’s also plenty of supporting characters to make up the remainder for a group costume, including Fiyero, Boq, Nessarose, Madame Morrible, and the Wizard.

The Life of a Showgirl

Taylor Swift’s latest album has given Swifties plenty of options for Halloween costumes this year. The most on-the-nose will likely be a Vegas Showgirl costume, or one of the decades-spanning showgirl ensembles Swift wears in the “The Fate of Ophelia” music video.

And for those looking for a couple’s costume inspired by Swift and her recent engagement to Travis Kelce, besides the Eras Tour outfit paired with Kelce’s 87 football uniform, you can also reference their Instagram announcement post and go as an English teacher and gym teacher.

Blue Origin NS-31 Astronauts

Remember back in April when Katy Perry and Gale King went to space? While the controversial voyage might seem like a lifetime ago, chances are it’ll be making some appearances again for Halloween. While this can be a group costume, it also works if you want to spotlight Perry and accessorize with a daisy and the Lifetimes Tour setlist.

Katseye Gap Commercial

The popular girl group has become well-known this year for their hit song “Gnarly,” which they performed for the first time in the U.S. at Wango Tango in May. However, the moment that many are still talking about is their Gap commercial. The ad campaign launched on the heels of Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle ad, which became a major talking point for political commentators over the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”

• Related: Wango Tango becomes a beach party with new Surf City U.S.A. venue

The Katseye commercial not only featured the girl group and dancers (unlike the American Eagle campaign) but also a catchy dance to the throwback hit “Milkshake” that went viral on TikTok. The costume is also easy enough to pull from your closet if you’re in a pinch, just wear denim on denim.

Coldplay Couple

The fan cam seen round the world: Frontman of Coldplay, Chris Martin, could be heard saying “Oh look at these two” as what appeared to be a happy couple flashed across the screens. But the pair didn’t wave or smile; instead, they looked panicked, ducked down, and turned away from the camera. Martin jested, “either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

The video went viral, internet sleuths did their thing, and their identities were splashed across every gossip rag in town. To nail the costumes of the most infamous Astronomer executives ever (a New York data firm), you’ll need a CEO in a light blue polo and a head of HR rocking a black tank top. Be prepared to reenact the bit throughout the night.

Love Island Contestants

Love Island USA was the most talked-about show of the summer, and even if you didn’t watch season 7, chances are you’ve seen the chatter trending online.

• ALSO SEE: Love Island’s Iain Stirling reflects on the hit reality TV show that’s taking over the country

The main component of the costume is the mic-pack necklace that the contestants wear. You can either wear a swimsuit, sunglasses, and a cover-up, or a going-out club outfit. Or if you want to be more specific to this season, you can wear a “Mommy’s Little Meatball” shirt. Another prop that will help make the costume more recognizable is printing out the confessional room background on a poster board and attaching it to your back for the night.

Dancing with the Stars

The ABC reality dance competition show is celebrating its 20th anniversary and experiencing a resurgence in popularity. While there’s always the ballroom dancer outfit to wear, you can also get even more specific with this season’s cast. Go as Robert Irwin and bring a crocodile as an accessory. Be one of the women of MomTok and carry around a Swig soda cup that everyone drinks on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Be Olympian Jordan Chiles and rock either a UCLA gymnastics or Team USA jacket with plenty of medals around your neck. Or go as comedian Andy Richter by wearing a tiara and a sash that says “People’s Princess” because if you know, you know.

Jet2 Holiday

It’s not often that the song of the summer is a song that was first released a decade ago, but that’s what happened when Jess Glynne’s 2015 single “Hold My Hand” got a new life in 2025 as the song from the “Nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday” commercial. Funny enough, the commercial is actually from 2024, but took off this summer. Because of this, expect to see plenty of Jet2 flight attendants. Bonus points if you can convince someone in the group to go as an airplane.

Wednesday Addams

Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” returned to Netflix for its second season this summer. Jenna Ortega’s more gothic version of the Addams family character has given the black dress and braids combo an updated look while still remaining a recognizable costume.

The First Wives Club or Annie Hall

Expect to see some costumes this year that pay homage to the late Diane Keaton. One that will likely be popular for trios is “The First Wives Club,” particularly the all-white set, with Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler all wearing it as they sing Leslie Gore’s girl-power anthem, “You Don’t Own Me.” Another great Keaton nod would be her iconic ensemble in “Annie Hall,” a look that Vogue World 2025 recreated as a tribute to the star just weeks after her death.

Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl

The start of the year gave us Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime show at the Super Bowl. The rapper’s grin to the camera while performing the diss track “Not Like Us” became an instant meme. The bell-bottom jeans and blue varsity jacket, paired with black gloves, a black cap, and a chain necklace (and a whole lot of swagger), will make this costume easily recognizable.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter has given her fans plenty of outfit inspiration to replicate for Halloween costumes over the past year. From her Short n’ Sweet Tour-inspired looks, to her music video for “Tears” from her latest studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” Most recently, the popstar played double duty on SNL, acting as both host and musical guest for the show’s Oct. 18 episode. Her “Manchild” outfit became a hit among viewers and is easy enough to replicate with a yellow top that reads “Live from New York” on the front and pink bottoms that read “It’s Saturday Night” on the back. Pair it with a hair brush and your hair in a high ponytail, and you’re set.

Superman

An oldie but a goodie. Expect to see the iconic superhero make a return this season, thanks to James Gunn’s latest iteration of the DC comic starring David Corenswet. The costume will likely go two ways: Superman in his timeless bodysuit and cape, or his alter ego, Clark Kent, dressed as a reporter with a Superman symbol peek-a-boo. It can be turned into a group costume with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, or Krypto, the superhero’s cape-donning canine.

Government Shutdown

The 2025 government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is the second-longest in U.S. history. Surprisingly, turning this into a Halloween costume is easier than you might think. You can grab either an Uncle Sam or Statue of Liberty costume and wear a “Sorry We’re Closed” sign around your neck.

We’re days away from Halloween — do you have your candy yet?

The National Retail Federation expects 67% of Americans to hand out candy this year, spending a total of $3.9 billion.

If you’ve been among the procrastinators, this might help you save some bucks: CashNetUSA, an online lender, has released its list of where to shop for the least expensive sugary treats in each state, just in time for trick-or-treaters to start knocking on your door.

Researchers chose 18 of the most popular Halloween candies based on results from a YouGov poll and compared prices across 2,000 grocery stores nationwide to come up with their fun-sized findings. So where can you load up on the likes of Snickers, Skittles, M&M’s, KitKat and Twix without busting your Fright Night budget?

In Florida, it’s Target.

“Target’s Halloween candy pricing is part of a deliberate strategy to capitalize on seasonal specials and draw customers to the store as it struggles with declining sales,” the report said. “In the candy aisle, Target offers both the branded candy we’ve priced up for our report and cheaper exclusive ‘own brand’ products such as Joyride Spooky Gummies. Target claims that this strategy is paying off, and that its share of seasonal sales is growing, even as its broader market share declines.”

According to the report, candy prices at Target are about 17.93% lower than at other stores, making it the cheapest place for Halloween candy in 20 states, the most of any store.

Nationally, Grocery Outlet, which does not have stores in Florida, offers the best deals, selling candy at 43.50% less than the national average, the report found.

The other stores in South Florida that also made the national list are Walmart, Family Dollar and Save A Lot.

For their analysis, CashNetUSA said researchers turned to Instacart, using addresses from the most populous ZIP codes in each state to find the prices of the branded grocery items from every store that delivered to that location. Then, they calculated the average price per item at every chain in each state. The average prices of the branded items were compared with the average across all chains in each state, which allowed them to calculate the price premiums, according to the report.

Despite inflation, the National Retail Federation reports Americans still plan to spend a total of $13.1 billion ($114 person) during spooky season.

CashNetUSA offers a few tips to keep your holiday spending in check:

• Set a firm budget before shopping.
• Partner with friends, family or neighbors to buy in bulk.
• Reuse and reimagine items you already have to make costumes and decorations, and swap and borrow with others.
• Pick up discounted items after Halloween to use next year.

For the full analysis, visit cashnetusa.com/blog.

‘The Vanishing Place’ by Zoë Rankin; Berkley; 384 pages; $30

Deep in New Zealand’s bush is “The Vanishing Place,” a place so hidden that few people can escape from it and practically no one can find it, as Zoë Rankin so evocatively describes in her fascinating debut.

The rich scenery of New Zealand and Scotland become facets in themselves while informing the gripping plot and shaping the believable characters who inhabit these lands. “The Vanishing Place” works as a story about reinventing oneself and living off the grid, as well as about family bonds and reconciling the past with the present.

Two decades ago, Effie was “a bush girl,” who lived isolated deep in New Zealand’s wilderness with her parents and three siblings — no modern conveniences, no formal education, no medical help when her mother died in childbirth. After a violent incident, Effie escaped and reinvented herself as a police officer in Scotland, but her mind was “never free of the bush.”

Her friends and colleagues know a little about her past, but not everything. Then, Effie is contacted by Lewis, a childhood friend who is one of two people who know her background. Now, a police officer in New Zealand, Lewis needs her help. A girl about 8 years old has stumbled out of the bush, covered in blood, refusing to speak except to say her name is Anya.

Anya looks exactly as Effie did as a child. Lewis suspects Anya also has been raised deep in the wilderness and, judging by the blood, may have witnessed a murder. Reluctantly, Effie returns to New Zealand to help Anya, who may be her niece.

Rankin immerses “The Vanishing Point” in scenery, beginning with a harrowing scene in Scotland as the story moves to New Zealand. Rankin skillfully alternates her story from Effie’s childhood to now, allowing the plot to unravel at the perfect pace.

Behind the plot

Australian-centered mysteries such as those by Jane Harper have become increasingly popular, but so have those based in New Zealand. Interest in New Zealand mysteries dates back to Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh’s classic detective novels during the Golden Age of Mysteries, predominantly in the 1920s and ’30s. The Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel is a prestigious honor for Kiwi writers. More recent New Zealand mystery authors include Jacqueline Bublitz, Paul Cleave, Becky Manawatu, J.P. Pomare, Rose Carlyle, among others. You can also get a glimpse of New Zealand with the 11-season TV series, “The Brokenwood Mysteries.”

CHICAGO — Before I moved to Chicago, years ago, whenever I found myself here in the city, I would carve out time and head to Wicker Park, trudge to the second floor of the Flatiron Arts Building and enter the House of Monsters, which was owned by a guy named Barry Kaufman who always seemed buried alive beneath latex vampire masks and imported Godzillas and dioramas of giant spiders and every back issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland, their old covers lined up like a demonic yearbook.

The old uneven floors creaked.

The clogged aisles screamed fire hazard.

It was the kind of place I would dream about when I was 10, but never did exist.

Not until it did exist, like some dark manifestation from the back pages of Famous Monsters, which were dank and ugly and peddled bootleg Darth Vaders and rubber werewolf masks and Super 8 reels of “Mysterious Dr. Satan” and X-ray eyeglasses. House of Monsters hung around for 11 years and folded its Wicker Park shop in 2007 but continues online, still operated by Kaufman, who once saw the future of horror-themed businesses and knew it was horrible.

Slowly, steadily, like a zombie pulling itself out of fresh earth, a small but quite lively patchwork of horror-and-gothic-themed shopfronts and cafes and restaurants and bars have been replicating across America. Call it a byproduct of the anxious early 21st century, call it capitalizing year-round on what Spirit Halloween only offers for 60 days, but right now, on Long Island, there’s a Haunted House of Hamburgers. Los Angeles offers an entire stretch of Burbank seemingly dedicated to horror shops. In eastern Indiana, you’ll find Famous Monster Pizza. When Orlando’s cheerfulness is driving you batty, the Post Mortem Horror Boo-Tique in nearby Kissimmee is like Ann Taylor for Wednesdays. Need a good book? The Twisted Spine, New York City’s first horror bookstore, just opened. In Arkansas, grab a Chicago Mothman hot dog at The Witching Hour food truck — or if you prefer a hamburger, they come “slaughtered” (chopped cheese) or “smothered” (melted cheese).

“I do hear from a lot of people these days that ‘Oh, we couldn’t have done a horror store without House of Monsters,’” Kaufman said, “but all of this feels inevitable. The interest was there, it just took people to recognize that the horror community wanted places to gather. But because of social media, because of horror franchises being so widespread, because of a perfect storm of reasons, these are basically mainstream spaces today.”

Horror as a lifestyle, in other words, is now an option.

And Illinois, in particular, leads the way.

(Save the “hellhole” cracks for TikTok, thank you.)

Morning on the Moors

Your day begins like every other.

You climb out of your crypt, vaguely revived, allergic to the sun. Good news: Chicago offers plenty of variety for the nearly undead. On the South Side, at the end of a quiet Bridgeport cul-de-sac is Jackalope Coffee & Tea, which only sounds pleasant. It is, in fact, disgustingly charming, if you’re cool with “Night of the Living Dead” posters, man-size aliens and one whole room largely painted black, set off with a tapestry of a Victorian woman haunted by a vaporous skull. In the center of the room is the perfect round table to host a seance. By the front door is a box labeled “Menstruatin‘ With Satan,” full of personal care items for free, sponsored by the Satanic Temple of Illinois.

Skulls adorn the curtains. As a nod to the neighborhood’s Latino influence, “The Shining” twins are painted onto a wall, refashioned as Día de los Muertos skeletons. Like many horror-themed year-round businesses, nothing about Jackalope comes off as indifferent or routine; a visitor is rewarded for peering close into every nook and cranny.

It opened 13 years ago as something of a response to the end of the moody, gothic punk scene that co-owner January Overton, now 48, once sought in Lakeview — namely the infamous Punkin’ Donuts era of Belmont Avenue and Clark Street. She and her husband, John Almonte, have been veterans of Chicago’s punk and metal scenes for years.

“I grew up in Bridgeport and wanted that aesthetic here,” Overton said. “Except, not so much dark as fun.”

And so, on a peaceful morning, The Slits’ “Typical Girls,” and a canon of punk classics, blast away while customers peck at laptops.

“I wasn’t sure about any of this at first,” she said. “Now it’s an extension of our home.”

A similar spirit animates The Brewed coffeehouse in Avondale, which is lined with display cases of horror memorabilia culled from personal collections of its owners. A “Dark Shadows” board game. A commemorative “Creature from the Black Lagoon” plate. Woven into the decor are nods to John Carpenter’s “They Live” and Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” A skeleton nonchalantly occupies a stool among the living. The very name, The Brewed, is a clever take on David Cronenberg’s “The Brood.”

“We had an inkling this could work,” said Jason Deuchler, co-owner with Nick Mayor and Jen Lemasters. “What we didn’t know is how much this would be embraced.”

At least a a thousand customers attended a Halloween market on a recent Sunday, the line for coffee curling long past the shop’s antique tube TV, which plays either a clip of the spooky girl from “The Ring” or the malicious Halloween commercial from “Halloween III.”

“I think there’s room for more (horror coffeehouses) like this,” he said, “and you know, one person’s passion so easily can become a parody, but right now, with the way our daily lives can seem to be reflected by horror, I think we’re in a good place for more.”

The last thing Julia Goodmann, co-owner with Lisa Harriman, of Loaves + Witches coffeehouse in Edgewater wants is a parody of the dark arts. They are self-described “witchy” owners, practicing witches, “very much aligned spiritually with the occult,” Goodmann said. The look is elegant, black and white, with only a handful of clear references to witches.

But the gothic sensibility is undeniable.

“Some of my family thought we were going for kitschy witchy,” she said, “like Disney caricatures, with ‘Hocus Pocus’ cauldrons or something. And we were thinking witchy as in earth forward, nature, warm, inviting. Still, having witches here and there is fun.”

They offer a Coven Cold Brew and a Hex Your Ex Coffee Cake, but the most outwardly frightening element are the images on their bags of coffee, which, like the coffee at Jackalope, comes from Parker Slade and his horror-themed Lakeview roasting business, Hexe Coffee. On the bag of his Brazilian and Peruvian blend, there’s an eyeball impaled on a knife; on the front of another bag of beans, a horde of demons and ghosts scream out of a man’s skull.

“I have definitely heard from at least one big grocery chain that ‘No, no, look, absolutely not! You can not put stuff like that on the side of a coffee bag,’” said Slade, who started Hexe in 2016 while he was roasting coffee at home and binging murder podcasts.

About six years ago, he got around the understandable hesitation for ghoulishly-branded coffee by opening a Hexe coffeehouse on Diversey Parkway. On a recent Saturday morning, like many mornings here, it had a line out the front door of parents and strollers and elderly couples and tech bros, a sharp contrast to Hexe’s dark industrial aesthetic.

A taxidermied tarantula beside the bar. Paintings of skulls and flowers. Antlers. On the wall behind one toilet, in a Ye Olde New England font, it read: “What Fresh Hell is This?”

And yet, that’s Steely Dan playing softly in the background.

“People always tell me that it’s so ‘cute’ in here,” Slade said. “And I get so angry at that. ‘Cute’ is really not what I was going for. And that’s when I will throw some Slayer on.”

Little Afternoon Shops of Horror

Before you’ve even stepped across its threshold, Ghoulish Mortals in St. Charles beckons. Tentacles (inflatable) uncurl out of the second story of its old brick storefront. The flower boxes out front are full of black (metal) flowers that glower. The wavering theme to Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” ride drifts across the sidewalk. You step inside only to trigger a motion sensor that, on most days, sets off the creeeak of a heavy castle door.

Ghoulish Mortals comes on like a direct descendant of House of Monsters, though its wares are a mix of collectible horror movie tchotchkes and art prints, many by local artists. (“Creeptastic products” is how they put it.) “Is this all there is?” a woman asked me the other day, beside a shrine to “Creature From the Black Lagoon.” We were only in the first room, and like any good scary building, the place just goes on and on — past an H.P. Lovecraft alcove, a replica of the Christmas-lights living room in “Stranger Things,” and an Audrey II from “Little Shop of Horrors” big enough to selfie yourself in its jaws.

It’s the kind of place you browse without buying — what am I going to do with an cannibalistic-looking Elmo doll? Or a Bigfoot patch? Or the sweetest little crocheted goat demon doll? And, indeed, for a while, said Dove Thiselton, who owns Ghoulish Mortals with husband Warwick Price, “there wasn’t a vacation for years, we were sad and broke. Though now” — after seven years in St. Charles — “we’re making money.”

What comes across is the simple nerdy joy of sharing a monster — or a love of the genre itself. The Horror House, across the street from The Brewed, will sell you a “Friday the 13th” T-shirt or a Pennywise fanny pack or sunglasses that appear to be soaked in blood, but the meat of the store is Frankenstein dolls, Dracula puppets, retro Halloween decor that, come on, nobody who shops here takes down after Oct. 31.

Personally, I’m less enthusiastic about the enamel Charles Manson pin that you can buy from Graveface Records & Curiosities in Bucktown, or a John Wayne Gacy shirt, but their taxidermied squirrels flipping the bird? What it lacks in classic horror it makes up for in fever dream. (To complete the vibe, they also sell cult horror film soundtracks.)

Bucket O’ Blood Books & Records in Avondale — its eye-popping psychedelic eyeball sign on Elston Avenue a neighborhood fixture after more than a decade — is not named for the 1959 Roger Corman horror comedy, but ancient slang for an unsavory business. It wears its name proudly, like a reminder that scary things were not always embraced so warmly. As you enter, the front is given over to horror literature, diced into countless categories — medical, indigenous, witchy, extreme.

“To be honest, this store came out of a personal need of my partner and I,” said Jennifer McKee, co-owner. “We were frustrated at not being able to find small press horror, out-of-print sci-fi, marginalized voices. And in the time since? We’ve grown and expanded. It was a personal project, it was never ‘Oh, this thing will become a trend a decade later.’”

Children of the Night

At Wolfden Brewing in Bloomingdale, I walked to the bar and asked where to find the ghosts. If one can roll their eyes loudly, the woman to my right managed. The bartender smiled. They get this a lot. Wolfden isn’t a horror business per se; its wolf motifs stop short of full moons and man-beasts. But Wolfden isn’t shy about being a local pub that happens to be haunted — they tout themselves as the most haunted brewery in Illinois.  They offer occasional ghost hunting tours of the grounds. The bartender told me to grab a table upstairs — “that’s where customers tend to feel something ghostly around here.”

It was dead silent — a stray bit of light seeped from behind a partially closed door.

Probably nothing.

And yet, Katie Wolf, who owns Wolfden with her husband Krys, said when they bought the 1851 building in 2017 and heard stories of ghosts, they thought it was nothing, too. Until plates started to fly. During trivia night, something growled into the microphone.

Should that make you want to hightail it out there and toward a stiff drink at a non-haunted place, might I suggest Electric Funeral in Bridgeport, owned by Overton and Almonte of Jackalope. The facade is jet black. When you enter, you will probably notice the two-headed goat breathing fog, and the full-sized coffins and a skeleton bartender (and a live bartender).

“We get normies who come in and gape like it’s a Rainforest Cafe,” Overton said.

Those folks might want to avoid the “Carrie”-minded blood drop planned for Halloween night at The Final Girl in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a small horror-themed neighborhood bar that opened last year, down the street from The Final Inning bar and The Tipsy Bear bar. You can catch the Packers on Sunday here, albeit beneath a mural of Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Myers and a neon sign that reads “Hello Sidney,” a nod to “Scream.”

“I have to explain the name of the bar all the time,” said owner Chelsea Vecchione, “that it’s a reference to the horror trope of a last girl standing, but it’s also, to me, a reference to how my focus is on beer and Wisconsin but I work in a male-dominated area and I am a queer person who never felt my voice was heard — I am like a final girl, a survivor.”

I stopped by the other day. As I ate the Ripley’s Facehuggers (wings) with Pig’s Blood (Korean BBQ sauce), the door burst open. A boisterous couple walked in and stared at the horror all around us.

“Whoa, this place is nuts!” the man announced.

The bartender shrugged and took their orders. He’d seen scarier.

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com

This is “Small Bites,” a South Florida Sun Sentinel feature with tiny tidbits on the food and beverage scene — because we know that sometimes you just don’t have room for a long article. You want a little news brief instead, an amuse bouche of information, if you will. Enjoy! 

WHAT: Chef Mitchell Lienhard applied for a position at Café Boulud Palm Beach when he was 18. He never heard back.

But next month, Lienhard gets to live a full-circle moment.

Today, Lienhard is culinary director of French chef Daniel Boulud’s acclaimed La Tête d’Or — and he is coming home to South Florida to present a one-of-a-kind dining experience as a guest chef at Café Boulud Palm Beach. They didn’t get him then, but they got him now.

“It’s surreal,” Lienhard tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “At 18, I never imagined I’d be back here as a guest chef. It’s incredibly rewarding and humbling.”

Lienhard — who grew up in Royal Palm Beach, forming memories at local restaurants and the West Palm Beach GreenMarket — will collaborate with Christopher Zabita, executive chef of Café Boulud Palm Beach. Together, they’ve crafted a five-course dinner (with wine pairings) and an a la carte tasting menu featuring some of the most popular dishes at La Tête d’Or.

Chef Boulud says both chefs are “deeply talented, passionate and dedicated to their craft” and explains how the idea came about.

“With the incredible success of La Tête d’Or over the past year in New York, we have had so many guests ask for us to offer a taste of our French steakhouse concept in Palm Beach,” Boulud says. “Our Café Boulud Palm Beach guests are used to enjoying some of the finest cuisine in the region, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring them this exclusive collaboration event.”

For his part, Zabita says the experience has been inspiring. “Mitchell brings such a thoughtful and precise approach to his food, and collaborating with him has been a great creative exchange. We share a similar philosophy of letting exceptional ingredients and clean flavors speak for themselves.”

Lienhard adds: “This collaboration feels like a full-circle moment. Returning to Palm Beach, where my career first began, and joining chef Chris and the Café Boulud team will be incredibly special. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the place that shaped my early career and create something memorable together.”

WHEN: Thursday-Friday, Nov. 6-7

• Tasting menu from 5:30-9:45 p.m.
• Five-course dinner from 6:45-10 p.m.

WHERE: Café Boulud Palm Beach, 301 Australian Ave., Palm Beach (at The Brazilian Court Hotel)

COST: Five-course dinner is $295 per person

INFORMATION: 561-655-6060; cafeboulud.com/palmbeach

EXTRA TIDBITS:

The a la carte tasting menu includes:

• Starters such as Fruit de Mer, Snapper Crudo, Maine Mussels Gratinées, Crab Cake, Sweet Bread Nuggets, Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, La Tête d’Or Caesar and Lobster Bisque
• Main courses such as Filet Mignon, Prime New York Strip, Bavette, Dry-Aged Double-R Ranch Porterhouse, Prime Rib of Scharbauer Ranch American Wagyu Beef, Dover Sole Meunière and Grilled Florida Snapper
• Desserts such as Pecan Joconde, Chocolat Amer, Tarte Citron-Framboise and Vanilla Berry-Cassis Sundae

The five-course menu includes:

• Taste of Seafood
• Caesar Salad
• Dover Sole Meunière
• Prime Rib
• Vanilla Berry-Cassis Sundae and Petit Fours

“The menu reflects both nostalgia and evolution, featuring signature dishes from La Tête d’Or while showcasing incredible local ingredients from South Florida,” explains Lienhard. “We wanted to create an experience that feels cohesive and true to our philosophy, blending the best of La Tête d’Or with the seasonality and technique that define our approach. For these two nights, Café Boulud will be fully transformed into La Tête d’Or, with their team joining ours to bring the experience to life.”

During this season of the supernatural, with Halloween and Day of the Dead looming, we’re putting a spotlight on the super-famous (and infamous).

More specifically, on the gravesites at South Florida cemeteries that hold the secrets of some of our most notorious names.

Among the public figures buried here, we discovered creators of music we love, and stars of movies and TV shows that made us laugh. Some were sports stars in the ring and on the field, others coaches behind championship teams. One ran a tabloid, while others were frequent subjects of the headlines.

Comedian, actor and variety show host Jackie Gleason is one of our most beloved, having recently landed on a list of “Celebrities & Public Figures Americans Would Most Want to be Buried Beside.” At No. 21, Gleason was Florida’s highest-ranking celebrity in Choice Mutual life insurance agency’s survey of 3,128 people.

Below, find a roundup of notable South Florida burial spots. But remember, if you plan to pay your respects, check each location’s hours and policies first, and always be considerate of the grounds.

JACKIE GLEASON & DON SHULA

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery
11411 NW 25th St., Doral

• Best known for his role as Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden in “The Honeymooners,” Jackie Gleason died at age 71 in Lauderhill in 1987. He moved in the 1960s to Miami Beach, where “The Jackie Gleason Show” was filmed in what is now The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater. “Known for his quick wit and larger-than-life personality, Gleason left a legacy of laughter and joy,” according to the Choice Mutual survey results. “His final resting place features an epitaph that reads: ‘And away we go!’ — a nod to his famous catchphrase. Fans of classic television and comedy may feel inspired to rest near this entertainment icon.”

• The Miami Dolphins coach, dubbed the NFL’s most winningest, led the team to two consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1973 and 1974. Don Shula retired after the 1995 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He’s been linked to steakhouses and a hotel, promoted various products and served as the Dolphins’ vice chairman. He died in 2020 at age 90 in Indian Creek in Miami-Dade County and is in the Doral cemetery’s main mausoleum.

CONNIE FRANCIS & XXXTENTACION

The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery & Funeral Home
4103 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton

• Connie Francis, the pop singer, actress and Parkland resident who had a slew of hit songs in the 1950s and ’60s, died at age 87 this past July 16. Before her death, the “Where The Boys Are” star enjoyed a resurgence when her 1962 song “Pretty Little Baby” went viral on TikTok. Her crypt is in one of the mausoleums on-site with the inscription: “I think I did OK.”

• XXXTentacion (Jahseh Onfroy), the rapper and singer-songwriter who lived in Parkland, was killed in a shooting after shopping for a motorcycle in Deerfield Beach on June 18, 2018. The Lauderhill-raised 20-year-old had signed a $10 million record contract for his third official release before his murder. He is in a private mausoleum overlooking a pond.

LESLIE NIELSEN

Evergreen Cemetery
1300 SE 10th Ave., Fort Lauderdale

The “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” star is still giving us a chuckle nearly 15 years after his death at age 84 in Fort Lauderdale. Known for his flatulence-inspired pranks, the comedic actor’s memorial marker proudly states: “Let ‘er rip.” On the other end is a park bench etched with some of his sage advice: “Sit down whenever you can.”

ROXIE ROKER

Southern Memorial Park
15000 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami

The Miami native saw success on the 1970s-’80s show, “The Jeffersons.” As the character of Helen Willis, she was part of one of the first interracial married couples featured on primetime television. In real life, Roxie Roker was married to TV producer Sy Kravitz, and their son is musician and actor Lenny Kravitz. In 1995, she died at age 66 in Los Angeles. She is buried in East Court 2 alongside her mother, Bessie Roker.

ROCKY MARCIANO

Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central
499 NW 27th Ave., Fort Lauderdale

The professional boxer who held the world heavyweight championship from 1952 to 1956 is interred in a crypt in this Fort Lauderdale mausoleum, near the statue of a woman in a pool of water. He retired undefeated in 1956. Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, he died in a small plane crash in 1969 at age 45, one day before his 46th birthday. His wife, Barbara, is entombed next to him.

ESTHER ROLLE

Westview Community Cemetery
1900 W. Copans Road, Pompano Beach

The Pompano Beach native is best known for her role as Florida Evans on the TV series, “Maude,” and its spin-off, “Good Times” (for which she won the 1974 NAACP Eighth Image Award for Best Actress in a Series). Northwest Third Avenue, which runs through her childhood neighborhood, was renamed in her honor. Esther Rolle died in 1998 at age 78 in California. Her gravesite features a diamond-shaped headstone with a rose engraved on it.

JACO PASTORIUS

Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery 
1500 S. State Road 7, North Lauderdale

Considered one of the best bassists of all time, Jaco Pastorius was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Broward County in the late 1950s, graduating from Oakland Park’s Northeast High School in 1969. Born John Francis Pastorius III, he became a member of the jazz fusion band Weather Report in the 1970s, and also played with Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. He died in 1987 at age 35 from injuries sustained during a fight outside a Wilton Manors nightclub. The city of Oakland Park named Jaco Pastorius Park, 4000 N. Dixie Highway, in his honor. His plot is in Section L of the cemetery.

PERRY COMO, MIKE DOUGLAS, GARY CARTER & CHUCK DALY

Riverside Memorial Park
19351 SE County Line Road, Tequesta

• Perry Como, singer, actor and TV variety show host, died at age 88 in 2001 in Jupiter Inlet Colony. Roselle, his wife of 65 years, is buried alongside him. He recorded songs, including “Papa Loves Mambo” and “Catch a Falling Star,” for RCA Victor for 44 years. He’s also known for starring in numerous Christmas TV specials from 1948 to 1994. He is buried in the Garden of Reflection.
• Mike Douglas, big band singer and entertainer, was host of “The Mike Douglas Show,” a daytime talk show that had a 21-year run. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976. He died in 2006 at age 81 in Palm Beach Gardens. His crypt is in the Liberty Hall Mausoleum.
• Gary Carter, the Hall of Famer who played most of his 19-year career in Major League Baseball with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets, died in 2012 at age 57 in Palm Beach Gardens. He won the 1986 World Series with the Mets. After his retirement in 1992, he served as an analyst for Florida Marlins television broadcasts and later became head baseball coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach in 2009. He is buried in the Reflection 5 section.
• Chuck Daly, the Hall of Fame basketball head coach, died in 2009 at age 78 in Jupiter. His Detroit Pistons team won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. He also led the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball team, aka the Dream Team, to a gold medal. He also is buried in the Reflection 5 section.

GENEROSO POPE JR. & VIC DAMONE

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery
10941 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach

• Generoso Pope Jr., the media mogul who transformed The National Enquirer into its successful supermarket tabloid form, died in 1988 at age 61 in Manalapan. He relocated the tabloid’s headquarters from New York to Lantana in 1971. The inscription on his memorial marker in the St. Matthew section reads: “The Man Who Made Millions and Millions of People Happy.”
• Vic Damone, the pop and big band singer who had hits such as “An Affair to Remember” and “On the Street Where You Live,” died in 2018 at age 89 in Miami Beach. He performed in movies and movie musicals, and became a regular guest performer on variety shows. His fifth wife, Rena Rowan Damone, a fashion designer, businesswoman and philanthropist who died 2016 at age 88, is in the crypt alongside him in the mausoleum at the back of the cemetery.

MEYER LANSKY

Mount Nebo Miami Memorial Gardens
5505 NW Third St., Miami

As the “mob’s accountant,” Meyer Lansky helped organize the National Crime Syndicate with his friend, Charles “Lucky” Luciano. He used financial schemes such as money laundering to hide profits and led the expansion of mob-backed casinos in places like Florida, Nevada and Cuba. He served as inspiration for the character Hyman Roth in “The Godfather Part II.” Lansky died in 1983 at age 80 in Miami Beach.

CHARLES WHITMAN

Hillcrest Memorial Park
6411 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach

The Lake Worth Beach native became known as the “Texas Tower Sniper.” On Aug. 1, 1966, the 25-year-old killed his wife and mother before heading to the University of Texas at Austin. There, he randomly shot and killed 14 people and wounded 31 others before he was shot and killed by police.

Steps from the sand, sunbathing tourists and a revitalized fishing pier, a trio of new seaside restaurants have set their sights on Deerfield Beach.

Two are already open, Bravo Mar (Oct. 1) and Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar (Oct. 15), while the third, The Break House Kitchen & Beach Bar, is expected to debut next month. Serving up Peruvian and Caribbean fare — and the city’s first rooftop bar — the beachfront eateries aspire to bring a culinary renaissance to an area once known for surf shops and low-slung bungalows.

All within three blocks of the beach, they line the city’s so-called S-Curve, north of Hillsboro Boulevard, where North Ocean Drive sharply hooks east and north beside the pier.

And the timing is right, since the city has been investing millions to spruce up public infrastructure around Deerfield Beach’s International Fishing Pier, which partly reopened to the public in September after a 15-month facelift. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency has spent more than $8 million on upgrades, including new pier buildings, lighting and an observation deck.

“The S-Curve is really starting to come to life,” says Danielle Rosse, owner of Oceans 234 and the upcoming Break House Kitchen and Beach Bar next door. “We’re excited to see the pier reopen, and the city just put in walkways and lighting fixtures down our street. There’s a lot of great energy now.”

Lou Moshakos, a real-estate developer and co-owner of the new Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar, has likewise been bullish about Deerfield Beach’s growth since the pandemic.

In 2023, he spent $6.5 million for a dramatic makeover of The Cove Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar on the west end of the Intracoastal Waterway. He also spent $10 million on a 1.7-acre patch of land, directly north of The Cove restaurant, property records show, where he hopes to build a parking deck, an apartment tower and a Mediterranean restaurant.

“For many years, Deerfield Beach was a sleepy little strip,” Moshakos says. “But now I think it’s on the upswing like Pompano was eight years ago. It’s fixing to really come back alive and better than ever.”

Below, meet Deerfield Beach’s newest class of oceanfront eateries.

Bravo Mar

1965 NE Second St., Deerfield Beach; 954-531-0330, BravoPeruvianKitchen.com 

As a child in Lima, Peru, Vanesa Oliva recalls her dad shopping for fresh scallops in their shells, sprinkling butter, herbs and Parmesan on top and broiling the bivalves until the melted cheese bubbled.

Now Conchas a la Parmesana — hard to find in South Florida but a staple of Peruvian cevicherias — are a signature dish at Bravo Mar, which opened Oct. 1 three blocks west of Deerfield’s pier. Here, Oliva and her chef-husband, Dennis “Beto” Quiroz, specialize in ceviches, Nikkei-style sushi, causas (a potato-layered classic with lime, aji amarillo and fish), and seared octopus and corvina brightened with the citrusy marinade called “leche de tigre.”

Seafood wasn’t the focus of the couple’s popular Bravo Peruvian Kitchen locations in Wilton Manors (open since 2008) and Coral Springs (2020), but Deerfield Beach “cried out for” coastal Latin cuisine, Oliva says.

“When we saw this spot in Deerfield, we felt it in our bones,” she says. “Right now, it’s not the touristy part of the season, but we opened it close to the beach to bring the coastal flavors from Peru to a community place.”

Still, fans of Bravo’s sandwich-counter roots and meat dishes needn’t worry, since Bravo Mar also carries chicharron, fried corvina and marinated grilled chicken handhelds on crusty French bread, alongside wok-fried lomo saltado, braised beef over mushroom risotto and chimichurri-dressed skirt steak.

Bravo’s 40-seat dining room is awash in aquamarine and wood accents, nautical oars and ribbons of cloth running along the ceiling like ocean waves. They have a beer and wine license, but future plans include building out a separate next-door space, already leased, with a full-liquor bar pumping out pisco sours, white sangria and mojitos, Oliva adds.

“There’s a few seafood joints over here, but a cevicheria is good for the beach and something we’re missing,” she says.

Lucky Lou’s Raw Bar

123 NE 20th Ave., Deerfield Beach; 954-531-0943; LuckyLousRawBar.com

Lou Moshakos’ restaurant group wanted a sports-pub chain. But after visiting the building himself, he envisioned a Caribbean-accented hub for hand-shucked oysters — and a callback to his South Florida roots.

Lucky Lou’s wouldn’t look anything like the original Seafood Shanty, the dark and windowless surf-and-turf shack he and his wife, Joy, brought to Hillsboro Boulevard back in 1978. But the new modern oyster bar, which opened Oct. 15 two blocks from the city pier dressed in ocean blues and historical photos, would be special enough to bear his name.

“In a way, it’s Seafood Shanty 2.0,” says the co-founder of Raleigh, N.C.-based LM Restaurants, which also runs waterfront eateries Oceanic, Lucky Fish and nearby The Cove Waterfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar. “The building didn’t really fit the shanty vibe, but being so close to the beach, it made me think of shucking clams and oysters with my wife here 50 years ago.”

Framed black-and-white photos of bygone beachgoers from Florida’s past adorn industrial faux-brick columns in the dining room, but that’s where the “shanty vibes” end. Here, the sporty raw bar, under new executive chef Amanda Currie (Season 23 of “Hell’s Kitchen”), turns out coconut curry cod, herb-marinated brick chicken and oysters prepared 10 ways, from oyster tacos to oyster po’boys.

The Orlando-raised Currie, formerly a sous chef at Oceanic, emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago at age 6 and moved to Pompano Beach in 2013, where she experimented with flavors to “give Floribbean cuisine a new awakening,” she says.

Coconut Curry Cod, one of Lucky Lou’s signature entrees, uses a West Indian technique of caramelizing brown sugar in Thai red curry sauce. She’s just as proud of the mahi sandwich, topped with a Haitian-style pikliz that includes grilled pineapple and cilantro aioli; and of her sticky chicken wings, glazed in a mahogany sauce of guava, pineapple and habanero peppers she calls “Caribbean teriyaki.”

“You ever smell guava right from the tree? It’s like flowers and fruit had a baby,” Currie says. “In Trinidad, oysters are street food, so this place speaks to who I am. And the produce we have is close to the same produce we get in the Caribbean, and no one knows about it. I’m excited to bridge that gap here.”

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant also offers six flatscreen TV sets, a weekday oyster happy hour with discounts on well drinks and bar bites, along with daily live music at sunset on its covered 80-seat patio.

The Break House Kitchen & Beach Bar

202 NE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach; TheBreakHouse.com 

With trendy tuna poke bowls by day and the city’s first rooftop bar by night, owner Danielle Rosse’s new all-day cafe makes the clearest argument yet that Deerfield Beach, at long last, has entered its cosmopolitan era.

Slated to open “before Thanksgiving,” Rosse says, the Break House is partly a grab-and-go market and partly a casual sit-down with beach bites and a cocktail lounge — in other words, a “totally different idea” from Oceans 234, the upscale seafood eatery Rosse has owned next door since 2012. The beachfront 145-seater is perched beside the pier in a city-owned building that once held the long-running Deerfield Beach Cafe.

“There’s three guest experiences but they’re all aimed at beachgoers,” Rosse says of her 4,200-square-foot cafe. “You can order from a kiosk and a server brings you chef-driven food, or grab a chicken salad sandwich from the cold case and go, or head upstairs for a relaxing drink.”

She says the Break House pays homage to her late mother-in-law, Lois Pallaria, who started mentoring Rosse when she was a 19-year-old waitress at Ocean’s 234’s predecessor, the Ranch House.

The menu comes from culinary director and James Beard-nominated chef Dean Max (3030 Ocean, Even Keel Fish Shack), who “knows exactly what this beach needs,” Rosse adds.

Breakfast, served daily until noon, includes breakfast burritos, salmon bagels with cream cheese, and farmer’s toast with whipped ricotta, zucchini, spinach and eggs. Lunch and dinner features barbacoa mussel bowls, truffle grilled cheese with Moroccan tomato jam, Cuban sandwiches and smash burgers, boardwalk-style french fries, and Nana’s Hot Dog, a nod to her mother-in-law’s favorite food.

Meanwhile, the rooftop bar, unambiguously named Upstairs at The Break House, will seat 85 and sling seven craft cocktails from aperol spritzes to mojitos.