new times halloween guide special section oct 23rd-oct 29th, 2025 29 costume, and prepare for a night of frights and fun from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. Black Pearl Halloween W Scottsdale Hotel 7277 E Camelback Road, Scottsdale w-hotels.marriott.com/destinations/ scottsdale/ Set sail for a night of “moonlit mischief” at W Scottsdale’s “Black Pearl Halloween” bash on Friday, October 31st. This premier 21+ event transforms the WET Deck and Cottontail Lounge into a high-seas party where legends rise from the deep. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., immerse yourself in a night of mystery and music. Don your most creative costume to join this exclusive soiree (just leave any toy weapons at home). Tickets are available for purchase, with VIP table reservations open for those looking for a legendary experience at one of Scottsdale’s most anticipated Halloween parties. Phantom of the Biltmore Spire Bar at Arizona Biltmore 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix arizonabiltmore.com/phantom-biltmore- halloween-party/ Experience an evening of eerie elegance at the “Phantom of the Biltmore,” a Halloween Masquerade at the iconic Spire Bar. On Saturday, November 1st, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Arizona Biltmore transforms for a 21+ soiree under the stars. Guests are encouraged to don their most glamorous masquerade attire to enjoy a night of live DJ entertainment, specialty cocktails, and spellbinding surprises. This exclusive, ticketed event is the perfect way to celebrate the Halloween weekend in iconic Biltmore style. Don’t miss this night of captivating, spooky celebration. Black Lagoon Pop-Up Sunny’s Lounge 2701 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix blacklagoonpopup.com Black Lagoon, the award-winning Halloween pop-up celebration, has officially announced its return for another season, promising new horrors for thrill seekers and cocktail enthusiasts across North America. The pop up will be returning to Phoenix, once again finding home at Sunny’s this October. Far more than a typical bar pop- up, Black Lagoon delivers a fully immersive experience, complete with hauntingly detailed décor and a creatively crafted cocktail menu featuring Halloween-inspired original cocktails. Four Peaks Haunted Brewery Tours Four Peaks Brewing Company 1340 E 8th St #104, Tempe fourpeaks.com With reports of mysterious noises, moving tools, and even full-bodied apparitions, the Four Peaks 8th Street Pub is haunted, a fact rooted in the building’s tragic history of train wrecks and deaths. You can explore these spooky tales on a special Haunted Brewery Tour, running at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from September 21st through October 29th. The $40 ticket is for guests 21+ only and includes the guided tour, a limited- edition crowler of Pumpkin Porter, and a commemorative T-shirt. Please note, as this is a working brewery, flat, closed-toe shoes are absolutely required for all participants. Science Skele-Bration Arizona Science Center 600 E Washington St, Phoenix azscience.org/visit/events/science-skele- bration/ Explore the spooky side of STEM at the Arizona Science Center’s annual Science Skele-bration, running from October 25- 31. This family-friendly event, included free with general admission or membership, features frightfully fun activities and daring demonstrations for all ages. Discover the strange and spirited science behind Halloween through a series of hands-on activations. Costumes are encouraged (though masks and weapons are not permitted), and members can even join an exclusive scavenger hunt to win a special prize. It’s the perfect way for the whole family to get into the Halloween spirit! Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) WELL, I GUESS THIS IS GROWING UP. 2025 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SEL 2025 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SEL Blink once and the Tiguan Blink once and the Tiguan just grew up. The 2025 just grew up. The 2025 SEL ditches the “student SEL ditches the “student loan-era compact SUV” loan-era compact SUV” vibe for something sleeker vibe for something sleeker and more confident—like it and more confident—like it traded in pop-punk angst for traded in pop-punk angst for a Roth IRA and a skincare a Roth IRA and a skincare routine. Step inside and routine. Step inside and you’re greeted with a clean, you’re greeted with a clean, tech-filled cabin that’s more tech-filled cabin that’s more “Saturday morning farmers “Saturday morning farmers market” than “Friday night market” than “Friday night parking lot hangout.” parking lot hangout.” The 2.0-liter turbo under The 2.0-liter turbo under the hood hums along with the hood hums along with 201 horses, pulling smoothly 201 horses, pulling smoothly through an eight-speed auto through an eight-speed auto that’s more dependable that’s more dependable than your old bandmates. than your old bandmates. It’s not fast enough to It’s not fast enough to make your face melt, but make your face melt, but it’s got the right kind of pull it’s got the right kind of pull for merging, road-tripping, for merging, road-tripping, and pretending you’re late and pretending you’re late to band practice. Steering’s to band practice. Steering’s crisp, ride’s composed, and crisp, ride’s composed, and the AWD system makes it the AWD system makes it feel grounded—like you, feel grounded—like you, now that you actually pay now that you actually pay your bills on time. your bills on time. So yeah, the Tiguan So yeah, the Tiguan SEL might not stage-dive SEL might not stage-dive anymore, but it still knows anymore, but it still knows how to have fun. Priced at how to have fun. Priced at $41,180 it’s mature without $41,180 it’s mature without being boring, polished being boring, polished without being pretentious, without being pretentious, and ready to tackle life’s and ready to tackle life’s next chorus. You can still next chorus. You can still crank Blink-182 with the crank Blink-182 with the sunroof open—just don’t sunroof open—just don’t forget to schedule that oil forget to schedule that oil change first. change first. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
