Hi there,

I’m Maggie O’Rourke, KCRW Senior Events Producer, and I love Halloween! A reason to get out my hot glue gun and get crafty? Yes please! This past Sunday, Smorgasburg and KCRW Family Day teamed up for Spookysburg, an annual Halloween market day for the young and not-so-young alike. It was a blast! 

Smorgasburg built a “Slime Dine-in” haunted booth for slime-making fun. Families joined Steve Chiotakis, local host of All Things Considered, for storytime throughout the day. Freak Nature Puppets got our creativity flowing, guiding guests through wand, mask, and cape making to prepare for the costume contest and parade. Grand Marshall Steve "Cookie Monster" Chiotakis and four Freak Nature Puppets led the costumed crowd parading through the market. I saw amazing costumes — a monarch butterfly, a small Shrek, and even a family decked out as the Dodgers. And of course, KCRW DJs Wyldeflower and Novena Carmel kept us moving all day long! 

Spookysburg was the highlight of my spooky season, and the week isn’t even over. Happy Halloween!

Maggie O’Rourke

When the White House Slides Into Your DMs

It’s no secret that the media landscape has changed. The power that influencers wield across their respective audiences and platforms has politicians knocking at their doors. More and more, every aspect of internet culture, advertising, marketing, storytelling, and political grandstanding is chasing one thing: your eyeballs. Brian Reed sits down with some TikTok stars on Question Everything to chat about how they approach this power shift, and whether or not they’ll pick up the phone when a politician calls.

Shoulda Been a Sugar Baby w/ Phoebe Robinson

Sam Sanders and Phoebe Robinson (of 2 Dope Queens) dive into all the different work she’s accomplished, the hustle it takes to make it all happen, and why she wants to stop working. Phoebe will also break down the realities of the girlboss, trad wives, and why it’s too late for her to become a sugar baby. Get a glimpse of the realities of running an empire.

By the way, The Sam Sanders Show is now airing two episodes a week starting today!

Spooky Halloween Recipes from Elvira and Your Local Cemetery

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark herself, returns with her signature beehive and blood-red lipstick to share hair-raising Halloween recipes that are dangerously delicious and frightfully fun. Also, “cemetery chef” Rosie Grant is back from her viral graveyard adventures with a brand-new cookbook, To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes, inspired by recipes found on actual tombstones, plus some tales from the families behind them.

5 Things To Watch in the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series

The Dodgers are indeed a powerhouse, but the Blue Jays ain’t no scrub jays. The battle of the blues has been nothing short of exciting, with both teams playing well, big players showing up for big moments, and another epic 18-inning game at Dodger Stadium. If you’re tuned into the boys in blue, here are a few x-factors to keep in mind as the remainder of this series plays out.

KCRW Member Night with Searchlight Pictures

Join us for a celebration of film and music at KCRW Member Night with Searchlight Pictures! We’ll kick off the evening with a pre-party featuring a hosted bar, a live set from KCRW DJ Novena Carmel, and a variety of curated food truck options available for purchase. Then, settle in for an advance screening of Rental Family, the buzzworthy new film directed by Hikari and starring Brendan Fraser. To finish off the night, Hikari will be in conversation with Novena Carmel.

Not a KCRW member? Become one today so you'll get the RSVP invite next Monday, November 3rd, and enjoy a year of exclusive benefits.

Your chance to vacation close to home! Win a luxurious 4-night stay at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, complete with complimentary valet parking. Plus, enjoy dinner for two at FIG and another at SOKO for an unforgettable culinary experience. Donate at KCRW.com/give.