Guest Contributor

The story has a familiar ring to it. A young man from humble Midwestern beginnings moves west, seeking the fame and fortune that those before him have found in California. He starts a grocery store, builds a successful chain, and after selling it, plans his retirement. But there's a dark side to the California dream.

Day of the Dead comes early this year, with Hollywood Forever hosting the 12th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration this Saturday. Traditionally celebrated in Mexico on the two days after Halloween, Hollywood Forever’s festivities will include altars honoring the dead, ancestral processions, traditional Mexican cuisine, and performances by international singers Astrid Hadad (best known as “La Tequilera”) and Ruben Albarran of Café Tacuba.

Arachnophobes beware: Spiders have invaded the Natural History Museum's South Lawn for Spider Pavilion. Free to spin their webs for all to see, arachnids of all kinds - from common orb weavers to jewel garden spiders - will safely be on display for the rest of October.

It’s easy to feel as if you’ve seen it all when you live in Los Angeles. After all, Angelenos have access to the some of the best entertainment, restaurants and recreation on the planet. But there are a few places in Southern California that can still surprise and delight, if you know where to find them. Case in point: Oak Glen.

It's nearly impossible to live in Los Angeles without hearing at least a passing mention of HARD Haunted Mansion. The two-day Halloween-themed event is now in its fourth year running and always manages to meet its 20,000-person capacity with stunning ease. The man behind the madness is Gary Richards, founder and orchestrator of HARD Events and an ally of the L.A. electronic scene for the past two decades.

This Sunday, October 16, Angelenos can participate in democracy by attending the World Food Day Rally at the Westwood Federal Building. Regular folks will be gathering from 12pm to 4pm to show their support for food security locally and worldwide.

About 50 or so people wave signs and shout into bullhorns as cars drive by honking loudly in support. This is Santa Monica in front of the Bank of America with the median adult age is most likely 55. This is part of the 99 percent that no one is talking about.

The Spice Table in downtown Los Angeles' Little Tokyo is a welcome distraction from the neighborhood's Japanese food. The restaurant at the corner of 1st Street and Central Avenue combines Singaporean and Vietnamese flavors, the culinary heritages of chef and owner Bryant Ng and his wife Kim, respectively.

Local residents can learn more about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) popping up on their dinner plates at a special event on Thursday, October 13, hosted by Co-Opportunity Natural Foods at the Santa Monica Library Auditorium from 6:30pm to 9pm. At "Hidden in our Food: GMOs and Your Right to Know," guests will join the discussion on the issues surrounding GMOs and inform their decision on whether or not to eat GMO-free food.

Known for her iconic Beastie Boys photographs during their "Licensed To Ill" tour, Hold Up Art will present "Boys and Dogs," a retrospective of rock photographer Sunny Bak, with an opening reception this Saturday. Sunny's love of animals, especially dogs, led her to create a best-selling People magazine parody and both collections will be on display through November 1.