Feeding The Spirits Of Our Ancestors (And Other Headlines)

It’s Food Friday! And today, we’re talking about … the significance of Día de los Muertos in Los Angeles and a round-up of Halloween food content to get you ready for the holiday.

Wait, what is Food Friday? Every Friday, we'll give you ideas on what to eat, where to go and what to cook — plus the people and stories behind the dishes.

Día de los Muertos is personal

Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican celebration that dates back thousands of years. It combines indigenous celebrations and Roman Catholic traditions connected to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. But there’s one thing it’s not: Mexican Halloween.

My colleague Gab Chabrán wrote about what the holiday means to him, growing up in a multicultural household, and how the celebration has grown in significance with age. This part truly resonated with me:

The way Día de los Muertos is honored in L.A. is representative of the struggles associated with colonization and paying homage to the past while embracing the future. Gab talked to a sugar skull maker and a master altar maker to learn even more about the holiday. Read it here.

Boo! More spooky-themed food content:

• Planning to go trick-or-treating? These are the L.A. neighborhoods to visit.
  
  • Note: This is an evolving list that we continue to update each year because it is so popular with readers. But, of course, things can and do change. (See: Pandemic.) If you have any suggestions, or neighborhoods we should add, email us at engagement@scpr.org.
• Beyond the pumpkin-spiced: Here are the eight best Halloween and fall foods in L.A.
• Fiambre is a Guatemalan dish traditionally prepared for Día de los Muertos. Learn more about the dish and where to get it in L.A.

Even more food content: Visit LAist.com to see all things Food Friday! Or, check out all of our food-related stories right here!

Stay safe and cool, L.A. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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• In L.A.'s progressive Jewish community, feelings about Israel’s response to the Hamas attack are complex. Some are calling for a ceasefire as airstrikes continue in Gaza. Others are grappling with mixed feelings, trying to reconcile their progressive values with outrage, grief, and a sense of feeling abandoned by the larger left.
• The U.S. Geological Survey deemed the Long Valley Caldera — adjacent to Mammoth Mountain — to be a "very high threat" in 2018. But a new study in the Science Advances journal suggests a catastrophic volcanic eruption is not likely.

• Several inches of snow and rain are in the forecast for Central and Northern California, reducing fire risk greatly, especially in our forests. While late-season moisture has helped attenuate some risk here in Southern California, wind-driven fires will remain a concern until we get a good showing of rain.
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Wait... one more thing

Weird and immersive themed bars in Los Angeles

The Beetlejuice installation by Maximillian at The Desmond on April 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Paul Butterfield/Getty Images)

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I love the idea of a costume/themed party, but I am always too shy for them. And yes, I realize the irony as someone who has obnoxiously bragged about loving Halloween. But hear me out, I have a happy alternative: themed bars.

From tiki bars to a Tim Burton-themed one, I am always down to go to one. Here’s a list of all the spots you can visit in L.A.

If bars are not your thing or if you want more family-friendly events, here’s a list of events happening in L.A. and SoCal this weekend!