|
I'm back with Pressing Matters this week and what could be more pressing than
the holidays? So let's get to some Halloween happenings near and far, and one
nod to Christmas (because it has ghosts too, you know).
Something I've wanted to do for a couple of years now but haven't gotten
around to yet because the month of October just zips by so darned fast, is the
L.A. Live Steamers Ghost Train Haunted Halloween Ride.
If you've ever been out
Griffith Park to see Walt's Barn, you've probably noticed the model trains next
door to the barn (they are tons of fun to ride on with the kiddies). Well … this
time of year the L.A. Steamers deck out their train route with over 30 spooky
Halloween scenes, you hop on the train and ride past all that Halloween
coolness. Sounds like fun, no?
The L.A. Live Steamers have been decorating their train route for Halloween
since 2001, and you still have a chance to make it out to Griffith Park for the
ghostly ride now through Halloween night (October 29 through 31.
The train runs from 7 till 10pm with a suggested donation of $5 per ride
and riders must be at least 34-inches tall. The Halloween scenes along the train
route are spooky, not scary, as this is a family-friendly event.
L.A. Live Steamers is located at 5202 Zoo Dr, in Griffith Park, Los Angeles,
CA 90027 More info: www.lals.org
Ever been to Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY? That place is loaded with history
(some of it creepy-spooky) and there are probably more than a few ghosts
floating around there too. Just in time for Halloween they have a Creep Show
going on.
CREEPSHOW AT THE FREAKSHOW PLAYERS PRESENT: TRICKY TREATS - A TRAUMA DRAMA:
Imagine an old horror movie TV show host, like Zacherly using props and wigs
and a sound effects table to go "on the air" around Halloween and share a
traumatic tale with his audience. A simple story of "Ding-dong. I opened the
door" trick or treaters goes very wrong and very very off course. Of course!
Cost is $7.50 and show times are: Thursday October 29: 8 and 9pm | Friday,
October 30 at 8, 9 and 10pm | Saturday, October 31 at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10pm | Sunday, November 1 at 2
and 4pm. Please note: TRICKY TREATS is a one-act play with a seated audience. It is
not the usual Creep-show guided tour of the building. Running time: 30 min.
Presented by: Sideshows By The Seashore, corner of Surf and West 12th St. More info:
www.coneyisland.com
Up in San Francisco, the folks at the Walt Disney Family Museum have a great
idea for Halloween celebrating … HalloScreen! Get dressed up in costume and go
see a classic Disney Halloween cartoon (The Skeleton Dance [illustrated above], The Mad Doctor,
Pluto's Judgment Day and more) at the museum.
Screenings are on October 30 & 31 at 10:30am,
12:30, 2:30, 4:30 , 6:30, 8:30, & 10:30pm and ticket cost is: $10 Adult | $8 Child (6-17)
| $6 Child (0-5).
For more info:
www.disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/dec2009.html
This last Pressing Matter is in two parts, one of which takes place in a city
that is far, far, away from me, but oh how I wish I
could be there, not only for the Christmas lights & film (read on), but hey …
shopping! And well, Colin Furth's involved too (as I said, read on).
The world premiere of Disney's "A Christmas Carol" will take
place this coming Tuesday and to start the whole thing off in style, London will
host the biggest ever coordinated Christmas lights switch-on. Here's the low-down:
On Tuesday November 3 London will be brought to life with three sensational
free concerts from a wide range of recording artists in The City, Regent Street
and Oxford Circus, before the World Premiere of Disney's "A Christmas Carol" in
Leicester Square as part of London's biggest ever coordinated Christmas lights
switch-on and celebration, London's Christmas Carol.
Oxford Circus has Jim Carrey, St Paul's Cathedral has Bob Hoskins and Regent
Street has Colin Firth all turning on the Christmas Lights, while over at
Leicester Square at the World Premiere Event Andrea Bocelli will then lead a world record breaking Christmas Carol
sing-along joined by St Paul's Cathedral Choir in London's Leicester Square to
open proceedings for the World Premiere of Disney's 'A Christmas Carol'.
Approximate London show times have concerts starting at 5pm with the switch
on moment at 6:15pm (approx) followed at 6:20pm - 6:30pm with the Christmas
Carol World Record sing,
Meanwhile back here in the states the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will
screen the 3-D Christmas Carol starting November 6 and running through January
3. As to be expected at Disney's showcase theatre, there's more than just the
movie to see here.
An all new live stage show, "Disney's Holiday Spectacular" is set in a winter
wonderland and features singing, dancing and an ensemble of Disney characters
celebrating the season before each screening. Audiences will also get a behind
the scenes look at the making of the movie with an exclusive display of real
artifacts direct from the Charles Dickens Museum in London, as well as concept
art, models, maquettes, and costumes used in the making of the film, and much,
much more.
Next door Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store will have animated holiday
store windows in the style of the department stores of yester-year, reminiscent
of the windows at the Emporium at Disneyland. They'll also offer a special
"Christmas Carol" sundae, featuring crushed peppermint stick mixed into rich
vanilla ice cream, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream and dusted with red
and green sugar sprinkles. Served with two gold and silver foil wrapped
chocolate coins.
Daily show times are 10am, 1, 4, 7 and 9:45pm. Tickets (both regular and VIP)
are available at the El Capitan Theatre (6838 Hollywood Blvd.), online at
www.elcapitantickets.com, or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6. Special group
rates for parties of 20 or more are available by calling 1-818-845-3110.
Okay, a little Halloween, a little Christmas, I think that should do it for this week's... |
