5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
Guide spotlights world’s spooky sites
The world is a very scary place, as National Geographic’s newly published "Guide to the World’s Supernatural Places" proves. Written by celebrity astrologer Sarah Bartlett, it gives you the blood-curdling legends behind more than 250 spooky places worldwide. No Hawaii sites are listed, but there are plenty of places locals might visit, such as Hollywood, where the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift are said to haunt the Roosevelt Hotel, and where the specter of Howard Hughes reportedly inhabits the Pantages Theatre. (Some believe the Kakaako/Ward area is possessed by his spirit as well.) Those visiting Mount Fuji in Japan might give pause at Aokigahara, a haunted forest at its base that is so thick that ice caverns hidden there never melt. The 256-page, attractively illustrated book is $26. — Steven Mark
‘Rocky Horror’ screens for 4 nights
I love "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," the weird and wonderful 1975 cult classic starring Tim Curry as that "sweet transvestite" Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Yes, I know all the songs. Yes, I know how to do the Time Warp. And yes, I know just how long to pause when Frank says "antici-pation." But I’ve never been to a live screening of the film, when fans dress up as their favorite characters, throw things and yell back at the screen as a shadow cast performs along with the film. That’s why I’m so excited about Hawaii Academy of Performing Arts’ four-night "Rocky Horror" screening at The ARTS at Marks Garage (8 p.m. Oct. 29-31 and 11 p.m. Nov. 1). Tickets are $15 at goo.gl/0a2Pqq. Prop boxes are $5. So put on a pair of fishnet stockings and get ready to do the Time Warp again! — Stefanie Nakasone
Delightful decor for Day of the Dead
Did I mention that I love the Mexican Day of the Dead? So picking up a glittery faux sugar skull ornament from Honolulu Chocolate Co. at Ward Centre was a no-brainer. The glass skulls ($18.50) are delicately adorned with flowers and butterflies and come in several colors. The festive shop sells so much more than artisan candy. For Halloween there are also glam witch hats, silvery spiders and Dia de los Muertos decor you won’t see anywhere else. Visit www.honoluluchocolate.com. — Christie Wilson
Raise a glass to butterscotch beer
I’m not much of a beer drinker, which is why the nonalcoholic Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer is a great fall indulgence. I like everything about it: the Harry Potter vibe, the purple label and the inherent excitement that comes with treats that appear on shelves only in the fall. With its creamy vanilla and butterscotch flavors, it’s perfect for sipping while carving a pumpkin or for enjoying after a sunset dip in the chilly autumn ocean. And, clearly, it’s also great for a "Harry Potter" movie marathon. The gluten-free Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer is normally $6.99 for four 12-ounce bottles at Whole Foods, but it’s on sale for $5.99 until Oct. 28. Cheers! — Erin Smith, honolulupulse.com blogger
Costume kit offers multiple choices
Halloween allows you to impersonate anyone or anything you want. But what do you do when you’re planning to attend more than one party and don’t want to wear the same costume or spend a lot of money? Thinker Things at Kahala Mall has you covered with the Emergency Costume box for $11.99. Choose from the "original" or "spooky" version, each with five unisex costumes you can simply put on over your clothes. Be a cowgirl one night, then a hula girl the next. Or how about a werewolf or skeleton? If you find the cheap costumes tacky, then wear them ironically. And after Halloween you can either throw them away or recycle them for next year. Call 735-6323. — Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, honolulupulse.com blogger
