Those who feel October—and not December—is the most wonderful time of the year are probably the same type of people who feel delight—and not dread—when everything turns spooky through Halloween. If you're in this boat, we've got some killer news: Starting this weekend, Arts District watering hole Westbound is becoming Ghostbound, a "spooktacular"-themed bar where you'll find scary-movie screenings, fall-themed activities and a handful of creepy cocktails.
The speakeasy-inspired spot, which also transforms into the Miracle on Santa Fe holiday bar each year, soft-launched the concept earlier this week with a screening of Hocus Pocus and some bobbing for apples on the back patio, and during the official launch, they're offering a double screening of Friday the 13th, on, well, Friday the 13th. Expect cobwebs, a dark hallway of "floating" candles, a corpse bride, boarded-up windows and even some murderous scrawlings in the restrooms, all the better to have yourself a frightful little season.
Every Sunday, catch double headers beginning at 6pm: This Sunday, see The Addams Family and Beetlejuice; on October 22, it's Young Frankenstein and Killer Clowns from Outer Space; find Shawn of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead there on October 29; and head to Ghostbound on Halloween night for showings of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Halloween.
Photograph: Stephanie Breijo
You can't have a spooky bar without spooky drinks, and the team's concocted some ghoulish cocktails for the occasion: the Ichabod Plane, with mezcal, Aperitivo Cappelletti, Kina L'Avion d'Or, lemon juice and simple syrup; the Double Bubble Boilermaker Trouble, a fall-ish spin on a shot-and-beer combo with Pumpkin ale with a shot of applejack; and the They're Here, a cocktail with Appleton rum, falernum, Amaro Montenegro and clover bitters. What's more, these spooky cocktails go on special for $10 apiece during the "Witching Hour," a late-night happy hour that runs from 11pm till close Tuesdays through Thursdays and on Sundays.
Those looking to fall headfirst into fall—or just a bushel of water—can get in on season-inspired, Wednesday-night activities such as bobbing for apples, pumpkin bocce and pumpkin painting out on the back patio.
Westbo—errrr, Ghostbound is located at 300 South Santa Fe Avenue and will operate as a spooky bar through October 31 on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5pm to 2am, and on Sundays from 5pm to midnight.