This summer, my sisters and I sneaked behind some curtains and crept into the annual Halloween manor under construction at one of the most inspiring stores anywhere — Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach/Corona del Mar, California.  It was worth getting kicked out over — and yes, we did.  “Blackstone Manor” is a crystal-studded, bone-laden, black-painted, scary-eyed tingle fest. Helpfully, I have a few photos and Roger’s Gardens has more. It is worth a plane ticket/gas money and many happy hours in the car with your sisters to go and experience the splendor.

Behold:

Now hunting for vintage dress forms to copy this genius idea above. And below — just — WOW.

A close- up from my day behind the curtain – still under construction:

Clearly, I STILL need more black paint.

This  photo gallery  will have me in antique stores for weeks, scouring those sad discarded photo bins for women in black dresses and buns.

Up close:

Pretties for sale:

For a party, I’d hire a spook to sit at this piano and stare at people, while pretending to play with his hands hovering above the keyboard (and music creeping out from elsewhere).

I know. You’re on Southwest.com pricing plane tickets right now. Helpfully, there’s a YouTube video to tide you over — it shows how it all came together, and there’s a walk-through at the end. Turn on your computer sound and fair warning: plane ticket panic will increase tenfold.