Illustrated cover: Halloween at Our House, Glendale, Saturday Oct 31 2026, a backyard smoker under string lights with jack-o-lanterns on the steps and storm clouds rolling in

Halloween at Our House

Two days after the fair, it’s Halloween, and it’s a Saturday, which hasn’t happened in a while. So we’re doing the thing: everybody to our place, the smoker going since before sunrise, the kids in costumes, and trick-or-treating down our street at dark. If you’re reading this, you’re invited. Text me for the address if you don’t have it. Shirley was going to host a barbecue, GiGi says “need lots of food,” and I’ve been looking for an excuse to run the smoker all day. This is the excuse. ...

October 29, 2026 · 8 min · TJ Swanson