Ocean Beach was showing off on Saturday with the clearest blue skies I’ve seen in a while and excellent visibility of the Cliff House and Seal Rocks.

Leap Arts in Education, in collaboration with Youth Art Exchange (YAX), hosted its 44th annual Sandcastle Classic. The event drew a large crowd of families, students, volunteers, and onlookers to enjoy the day. A DJ was spinning, and the vibe was fun and energetic.

Last Thursday, we grabbed brunch reservations for Honeymood, a new restaurant that opened on Clement Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. We had been watching the space for a while, ever since their signage went up, excited for a new breakfast and brunch option in the neighborhood. We wrote up our experience below.

*The Halloween decorations in our thumbnail are from Lake Street and some side streets in the area between Park Presidio and 26th Avenue. Go check them out!

For me, the spooky season is a special time of year all on its own for Halloween treats. I’m not ready for pumpkin pie or apple cider donuts yet; instead, I’m looking for Halloween-themed treats around town, like ghosts, goblins, and skulls. I found some great ones this season at Fillmore Bakeshop, Arizmendi Bakery on Valencia Street, and See’s Candies on Clement Street. Arizmendi has their painted calavera (sugar skull) cookies; Fillmore Bakeshop has Dracula fangs, gravestone gingerbread, ghost cookies, and more. To top it off, See’s has several creative seasonal Halloween boxes. I picked up the “Rest in Pieces” tombstone box filled with assorted chocolates.

One of our readers, Andrew, kindly submitted some local showtimes for spooky movies during Halloween week. Thanks Andrew!

The Balboa

Night of the Creeps at the Balboa (Wed 10/28, 7:30pm)

The Exorcist on 35mm at the Balboa (Thu 10/29, 7:30pm)

Scream on 35mm at the Balboa (Fri 10/30, 7:30pm)

Balboa's Halloween Mystery Marathon, four secret horror picks with candy and a costume contest, $13 for the night (Sat 10/31, first film 4:30pm)

The 4 Star Theater

Deadbeat at Dawn with a live horror-punk set from Meat Hook & the Vital Organs at the 4 Star (Thu 10/29, doors 7pm)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! for the little ones at the 4 Star (Fri 10/30, 6pm)

Halloween day (Sat 10/31): a free Labyrinth showing at the 4 Star (Sat 10/31, 10am, first come, first served)

The Shining at the 4 Star (Sat 10/31, 1:45 & 8:45pm)

* Check out Andrew’s site here for these and more Bay Area showtimes.

Maybe I’ll just go take a look. It isn’t far. I sense her here tonight. There is something different in the air. The lady in the white dress. The lady from the lake.

No, I tell myself. I was supposed to come to the park for an evening jog. Forget about looking for her, and get home before it gets too dark. I’ve never liked the dark. I’m alone and scared. Where is everyone tonight?

Yet I find myself veering off the path toward the pioneer mother and her children. The pioneer woman who, legend tells, turns her head toward Stow Lake when the lady in white walks. 

I circle the lake with haste keeping track of the time, the setting sun. Yet I am compelled to search. I search the water. I search the slope of Strawberry Hill for a glimmer. But nothing appears tonight. Just that feeling in the air remains. 

I know how to call her. They are just words, say them. 

“White Lady, White Lady, I have your baby.”

You allow the words to come out. Once. 

“White Lady, White Lady, I have your baby.”

The wind picks up.

“White Lady, Wh…”  Suddenly a branch snaps behind me. A sharp, heavy crack. I start to sprint back toward the main path and the safety of the streetlights. But the safe feeling quickly evaporates. Out of the corner of my eye, a white flash is reflected on the water’s surface behind me.

Read more about one of the oldest San Francisco ghost stories here. Happy Halloween!!