Cover: Nightmare Alley
The rerelease of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' in theaters and on DVD signals the beginning of the best holiday of them all.

Skeleton Cruz: Halloween lasts more than one night in Santa Cruz.

News: Let the Electioneering Begin
Why can't Santa Cruz politicians and partisans at least try to get along?

Election Endorsements: Metro Santa Cruz offers recommendations on state and county races.

Nüz: Highway weeds get their final reward from CalTrans' pesticide-spraying program.

Bruce Bratton: Santa Cruz City Council elections; this week's movies.

Work: The death of videocassettes.

Sights & Sounds: Spearhead entertains the protesting masses at Palookaville show.

Chapter and Wurst: Ben Lomond's Tyrolean Inn deserves its local landmark status--and the bratwurst is voluptuously juicy.

A La Carte: Charlie Deal has a new deal cooking, Steve Ball pours into Shoppers Corner, and Chef Jozeph holds court at the Pino Alto Dining Room.

Cockney Magnolia: London's calling is travail and toil for an unhappy family in 'Wonderland.'

The Power of Love: Bay Shore Lyric Opera goes for the big emotions in its new production of 'Carmen.'