Halloween Guides

A Halloween mask, the kind that works without a full costume
What makes a costume genuinely frightening, and what only looks it
Fear comes from silhouette and stillness, not from blood. Most gory costumes read as comic. Read more...
A lit candy bowl on a doorstep at dusk, the moment trick-or-treating happens
Trick or treating: what actually matters on the night
Being seen by a driver matters more than any costume detail. Everything else is comfort. Read more...
Lit Halloween lanterns arranged on a table
Decorating a house for Halloween: the order that works
Start at the entrance and stop when the room reads. Most houses are decorated everywhere and read nowhere. Read more...
A Halloween costume bundle laid out for several members of one family
Dressing the whole family for Halloween without a last-minute panic
The child's costume is the one that gets forgotten, and it is the only one that has a deadline. Read more...
A lit candle in a dark room, the low light a Halloween evening is set by
How to throw an adult Halloween party that people stay at
Three things decide whether guests stay past midnight, and none of them is the costume. Read more...