Happy Tuesday, Westside families.

Halloween season is officially ON. Our interactive Halloween map is live, we looked into that viral "give out milkweed seeds with candy" idea (good idea, big catch if you live near the beach), and we answered the #1 question from kids this month: when do the sand berms go up?

Plus Spooky Saturday at Coeur d'Alene, a new gymnastics class at Virginia Park, and a free drum circle in the Marina.

Every pumpkin patch, carnival, trunk-or-treat, spooky movie night and costume parade we could find across Venice, Santa Monica, MDR, Playa Vista, Mar Vista and Culver, all on one map. More than 35 events so far.

How to use it:

We're adding events as they get announced, so check back. Hosting something we missed? Hit reply and tell us.

Open the Halloween map →

Full write-up in our Halloween events guide.

Seen those "milkweed for monarchs" Halloween packets on social? We asked Olivia Jenkins, Manager of Scientific Programs at Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Her take: skip them. They don't list what species are inside, and the seeds are grown in the Midwest, not for SoCal.

Within 1.5 miles of the beach? No milkweed at all. That's most of Venice, SM, MDR and Playa Vista. Monarchs spend the winter on our coast (including at Ballona), and milkweed nearby can throw them off.

Plant winter flowers instead. Olivia's picks: coyote brush, California goldenrod, seaside daisy, California bush sunflower and California aster.

Have orange-and-red tropical milkweed? Cut it to the ground now and keep it cut all winter.

Plus what to plant if you're inland, where to buy seeds, a printable to hand out with candy, and a hidden butterfly garden by the canals.

Read the full monarch guide →

UPDATE, Mon Oct 12: We were wrong, and we're not mad about it. The berms went up this weekend, a full month early. Our guess is the county moved early because of the rain. Sledding season starts NOW.

(Heads up, podcast listeners: our host recorded this before the bulldozers showed up, so you'll hear "mid-to-late November." Ignore that and grab a sled!)

Why they exist: The berms are giant (up to 15 ft) sand walls that protect the lifeguard HQ, bathrooms and parking lots from winter storm waves.

Where: Both sides of the Venice Pier at the end of Washington Blvd. Smaller ones at Dockweiler in Playa del Rey.

Pro tips:

They usually stay up until Feb or March, so you've got all winter.

Great ShakeOut is Thursday 10/15. Most Westside schools run an earthquake drill that morning (SMMUSD's is 10:15am). Good excuse to do a quick drop, cover, hold on at home too, and check your family meet-up spot.

Choices/magnet deadline is Nov 6. Virtual fair Tuesday night. Region West's virtual Choices fair is Tue 10/13, 5:30-6:30pm on Zoom. Easy way to hear from schools without driving anywhere. Apps go through apply.lausd.net.

School closure talks update. Last week we said we'd flag Westside dates for LAUSD's "Stronger Schools Together" info sessions. The Region West session already happened Oct 5 at Webster MS. The sessions that matter more are coming up: input sessions run Nov - Jan, and that's when parents can weigh in on the criteria. Still no list of schools. We'll post those dates as soon as they're out.

Samohi AC problems during the heatwave. Students walked out last week after cooling broke down in parts of campus during the record heat. The district says the issue is in the Innovation and Discovery buildings and crews and outside HVAC contractors are working on it.

Next school board meeting is Thu 10/15, 5:30pm at the district office in SM.

School parcel tax is on the Nov 3 ballot. Culver City voters will see Measure AA, a 10-year parcel tax of $0.48 per sq ft (capped at $15k per parcel) that would raise about $18M a year for CCUSD. A joint city/district oversight board would track the money. Read the city's impartial analysis before you vote.

Tumbling, apparatus, props, relays, yoga, music and cooperative movement games. Basically all the coordination, balance and strength stuff, disguised as fun. Ages 4-8, 3-week session.

Perfect after-school slot. Grab a spot before it fills.

Haunted maze, inflatables, bouncers, a costume parade, DJ, crafts and food trucks, then a Halloween movie on the field. Open to the public, not just CDA families. Toddlers go early, big kids stay for the movie.

Spooky Saturday | 3pm-8pm | Sat | 10/17 | Coeur d'Alene Ave Elementary, Venice. Carnival 3-6:30, movie 6:30-8.

Tuesday 10/13
Grow Native! Gardening Club | 10am-12pm | Tue | 10/13 | Ballona Discovery Park, Playa Vista. Help plant and tend natives. Good intro if you're into the seed idea above.
Spooky Movie Night on the Turf | 6:30pm | Tue | 10/13 | RUNWAY Playa Vista. Weekly spooky outdoor movie, bring a blanket.
Region West Virtual Choices Fair | 5:30pm-6:30pm | Tue | 10/13 | Zoom. LAUSD magnet + Choices info from home.

Thursday 10/15
Kids Gymtastics Class | 3:15pm & 4:15pm | Thu | 10/15 | Virginia Park, SM. See above.
Zumba in the Park | 3:30pm-4:30pm | Thu | 10/15 | Burton Chace Park, MDR. Free, dance it out by the water.

Friday 10/16
Friday Habitat Restoration | 3pm-5pm | Fri | 10/16 | Ballona Wetlands. Hands-on volunteer time in LA's last coastal wetland. Check age rules before bringing little ones.

Saturday 10/17
Fall Fest at RUNWAY | 10am-2pm | Sat | 10/17 | RUNWAY Playa Vista. Morning fall festival, pairs nicely with the farmers market.
Kigala Preschool Open House | 10am | Sat | 10/17 | 2705 Pico Blvd, SM. Language immersion preschool turns 20. Toddler-PreK families on the 2027 hunt.
Absolutely Halloween! | 2pm | Sat | 10/17 | Santa Monica Playhouse. Interactive kids musical, under an hour, come in costume. $15 kids, $17.50 adults.
Fisherman's Village Free Concert | 2pm-5pm | Sat | 10/17 | MDR. Ohio Plus Trio, doo wop + soul classics on the water. Free.
Spooky Saturday | 3pm-8pm | Sat | 10/17 | See above.

Sunday 10/18
Marina Drum Circle | 11:30am or 1:30pm | Sun | 10/18 | Burton Chace Park, MDR. Free family drum circle, drums provided.
Absolutely Halloween! | 12:30pm | Sun | 10/18 | Santa Monica Playhouse. Sunday show.
Main Street Block Party + Day of the Dog | 12pm-6pm | Sun | 10/18 | Main St goes car-free. Kids Corner with pumpkin decorating, Halloween pet photo booth ($10). Bring the dog in costume.

Pumpkin patch run? Brentwood Country Mart, Mr. Bones and Shawn's are all open daily. Times and pins are on the map.