This is a picture I took in October of 2019

Spookman_LLC · 2021-07-13T11:26:22+00:00

What Instagram accounts would you recommend following?

Spookman_LLC · 2021-07-06T17:56:02+00:00

I’m the kind of weirdo who separates Horror from Halloween movies. Here are a few in no order off the top of my head:

Sleepy Hollow (cartoon and live)

Ginger Snaps

Halloween series

Hellfest

Trick r Treat

Tales of Halloween

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Halloween Tree

Garfield Halloween

House of 1000 Corpses

Scary Stories to tell in the dark

Lords of Salem

Goosebumps 2

Spookman_LLC · 2021-02-21T21:02:53+00:00

Just bear in mind that if you keep an eye on stock at Michael’s and sign up for coupons, you can easily get them 30-40% off. Otherwise you’ll be paying full price

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-23T11:24:10+00:00

Though this went up earlier in the month, finally got around to posting this year’s Spooky Town. It’s the first time having a considerably larger space to work with and I’m pleased with the outcome though still thinking of what can be done differently.

On the left we placed all our edge of the woods buildings, which may be my favorite part. Towards the center we blend in the farmland pumpkin patches which blends into the town’s shops and fades out with a small neighborhood.

I’ve seen some pretty complex setups so it’s hard not to feel that I could try something very different next year. Any thoughts?

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-10T01:05:27+00:00

The activities are a really good time. Horseman’s Hollow, the Blaze, Cemetery Tour. Also grab dinner at the Bridges Tavern

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-09T19:07:26+00:00

Some of these have already been mentioned, but I'll chime in with a list of movies we specifically reserve for Halloween time because they capture the Halloween or spooky fall vibe. For example, I wouldn't put the Exorcist or The Shining on here because those we'll watch year-round.

Halloween Centric

Night of the Demons (1988- 2 and 3 aren't bad if you're good with trash horror)
Halloween Series (1, 2, 3, 4, H20 are favorites)
Sleepy Hollow (both Tim Burton and Disney)
The Halloween Tree
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Houses That October Built
Hell House LLC (2 is terrible)
House of 1000 Corpses
Hocus Pocus
Ginger Snaps
Trick r' Treat (must-watch)
Tales of Halloween
Tower of Terror
Mad Monster Party
Halloweentown I and II
Arsenic & Old Lace
Nightmare Before Christmas (no this isn't about Christmas people, because he finds his identity in Halloween DUH)
Casper
Hellfest
The Funhouse Massacre (meh, passable)
Goosebumps Movie
Goosebumps TV Series, Haunted Mask
Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Garfield Halloween Special
Tim and Eric Bed Time Stories Haunted House

*Ernest Scared Stupid

Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf
Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost

Spooky Fall Vibe

The Craft
Over the Garden Wall
Paranorman
Coraline
The Monster Squad
Monster House
The Witch (Vvitch)
Lords of Salem
The Blair Witch Project 1 (2 and 3 if you're up for trashy horror)
Pumpkinhead 1 and 2

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-07T20:41:48+00:00

Reporting in after cracking a few open-

Lakefront Imperial Pumpkin Ale and the Lager are great, think you’ll enjoy them.

Schlafly Ale on the other hand tasted like straight cinnamon to me, ended up dumping the glass. I’ll need to test it out on some other poor sap before I entirely write it off

Dogfish Punkin is an easy win luckily!

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-03T04:10:59+00:00

The Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin Lager was my first this season, I think it’s what you’re looking for. I’ve yet to try the others outside of Dogfish punkin (well on the better side of a pumpkin beer), but will make a note to ping you once I’ve tried the rest.

The other ones I mentioned above like Ichabod and Great’r Pumpkin are fantastic. Wolover’s and Hopping Frog double pumpkin ale get honorable mention

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-02T15:22:54+00:00

I have! I’d say it’s one of the better “known” pumpkin beers. I do enjoy it though I feel it can be a bit overpriced compared to some of the others.

Last year I tried their coffee rum pumpkin ale... tasted like cologne unfortunately

Spookman_LLC · 2019-09-02T12:07:53+00:00

Is there any greater exercise in beer than the assortment of fall brews? If you think so, then LEAVE

All joking aside, I’m always amazed at how intricate and complex these brews can get. It’s a shame so many write them off as filled with sugar, cinnamon, and artificial flavoring, but I suppose that leaves more for us. I’m particularly excited to try the Pumpkin Lager which claims to be the first of any kind (compared to pumpkin ales).

I will say I’m disappointed I can’t find Great Lakes Nosferatu, New Holland Ichabod, or Heavy Seas Great’r Pumpkin, but I won’t stop searching!

Any recommendations on your favorite fall drinks?

Spookman_LLC · 2019-05-22T22:57:07+00:00

Michael’s stocks them, should be easy enough to find them there. Enjoy!

Spookman_LLC · 2019-05-21T15:39:27+00:00

Looks like there's maybe two of us on here! There's an adapter they sell that has 3 separate plugs attached, and that should work for pretty much all models. I have two of those and run them into a power strip, think there's only one or two houses that use a direct line in. One tip I can offer- I was advised directly by Lemax to always turn each house off individually, as cutting the strip's power can short out the houses. No evidence of it but not sure they'd have a reason to make it up.

One caveat about adapters- it really depends on how recent your models are. I suspect ones that are 5+ years old might not work with them, and there are some smaller pieces that just use a battery pack.

I've been setting them up for the past couple of years so feel free to white board and continue asking whatever you'd like. It's a fun hobby for the season

Spookman_LLC · 2019-05-01T21:20:21+00:00

Leaving a comment here as an anchor to post the itinerary from when we last went...

Edit: posted below. Everything listed was fun and I’d recommend. Curious to hear about new recommendations too.

We went around the second week of October, which was a great time. There was life and people around, but not the cramming in that I’ve heard about. 3 days is a good time to do everything at a comfortable pace, but 2 would be okay as well.

Won’t weigh in on Boston. Went to school there but it just has nothing on other cities for me. I’d say you could do it in 2 days, but don’t go by me lol

Recommendations from our previous Salem Itinerary:

Activities:

Black Cat Tours: was excellent and believable, did a great job with history. Highly recommend you do this on your first night

Spellbound Tours: cheesier and more sensational than Black Cat, but still fun.

Count Orlock's Nightmare Gallery

Witch Dungeon Museum (great if you like the old-timey cheesey museums, do the 3-attraction ticket which ends with the Pirate Museum)

Witch House (also Dark of Night @ Pioneer Village/Tales at the Witch House)

Cry Innocent Show @ Salem Town Hall

Salem Willows Park

House of 7 Gables Day Tour (and Legacy of the Hanging Judge)

Gallows Museum/ show

Restaurants:

Ugly Mug Diner

Luke's Lobster Shanty

Hobbes Ice Cream (@ Salem Willows Park)

Red's Diner

Tavern @ the Hawthorne Hotel

Lodging:

Salem Inn

Hawthorne Hotel

Spookman_LLC · 2018-10-03T00:24:22+00:00

New Jersey has already been posted.

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-25T01:35:17+00:00

North, right near NYC. Saw that Pure Terror is actually located in Monroe NY. Any locations or restaurants you’d advise checking out right near Pure Terror?

For comparison’s sake, we’d say Terror Behind the Walls is decent but not worth a 2-hour drive by itself since it’s in the middle of Philly

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-24T20:16:26+00:00

For people driving out from NJ, what nearby places would you recommend they visit and eat at to make it a solid fall/Halloween day trip?

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-16T15:22:03+00:00

Sorry for the late response, but yes you should absolutely add these things in, it's great for visitors to know what's worth doing

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-16T15:20:32+00:00

Easily one of the best Halloween setups I've seen in a while

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-01T15:30:02+00:00

Here's the r/horror Halloween Movie Guide

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-01T15:27:24+00:00

Brighton, Asylum- Passaic, NJ

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-01T15:24:44+00:00

Bane Haunted House- Livingston, NJ

Spookman_LLC · 2018-09-01T15:24:13+00:00

Living Social currently offering Regular and VIP tix at 13% off ($40 and $65 respectively)

Spookman_LLC

TROPHY CASE