CITY FOCUS: Get spooked locally

For Lagunans, Halloween doesn’t have to mean an out-of-town trip to Wal-Mart or the vast costume warehouse on El Toro Road.

There are plenty of options for candy and one-of-a-kind costumes right here in town.

At the top of many kids’ lists is the Candy Baron, 231 Forest Ave. The shop just received a boatload of Halloween-oriented goodies earlier this week and still has an assortment of Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs and Acid Pops.

A bucket of wax lips sits near a display of Toxic Waste Nuclear Sludge candy, perfect for any youngster dressing up as the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.

Tippecanoe’s, 648 S. Coast Hwy., is generally regarded as the town’s go-to spot for vintage, unique and outrageous costume items.

The shop is tucked away above the highway, daunting to first-timers.

Up a steep, concealed set of stairs, a box of beards is marked with a 50%-off sign on the porch.

Inside, the store’s many little low-ceilinged rooms are packed to the gills with fluffy neon tulle petticoats, antique bodices, oversized sombreros and enough pirate gear to outfit an entire schooner worth of nasties.

From his perch, store cat Che overlooks a stream of ever-more-frantic customers who survey leather pants while figuring out how to hide the fact that they don’t quite close all the way.

With trick-or-treating happening on a Wednesday night this year, store employee Tracy Walker is seeing a bit of decline in Halloween mania.

“Frankly, it’s been a bit slow,” owner “Tippecanoe” said.

But pirate costumes remain hot, as is ’70s and ’80s vintage wear, rather than licensed or character costumes.

“We didn’t expect that,” the store’s owner said.

Other options for unique Halloween wear in Laguna include the town’s two thrift stores: Second Chance, 355 Broadway, and the Turnabout Thrift Shop at 526 Glenneyre.

Second Chance is a thrift shopper’s thrift shop; the tiny space is packed with everything from housewares to shoes to the occasional designer find.

A small Halloween section holds the usual Disney Princess dresses and random wigs, but the gems are strewn throughout the store’s regular holdings.

Still hanging on the store’s boutique rack as of press time was a white adult ballerina costume (the real deal), with a floaty, petaled calf-length skirt and a bodice detailed with aurora borealis crystals; a steal at $25.

Another option was a blue-and-white Victorian-style laced bodice, which hung alongside a green fur coat that comes with a matching plush crocodile-head purse.

The Turnabout shop, operated by the Assistance League, also had a Halloween section, including décor and the usual assortment of black polyester witch costumes. Highlights included a sweet ladybug costume and a vintage metallic sari-type gown.

Be sure to visit the shop’s upstairs boutique for additional bargains, including enough sequined creations to rival Dolly Parton’s closet.

HAUNTING DEALS

 Candy Baron

231 Forest Ave.

(949) 497-7508

 Tippecanoe’s

648 S. Coast Hwy.

Phone: (949) 494-1200

 Second Chance

355 Broadway

(949) 464-0070

 Turnabout Thrift Shop

526 Glenneyre St.

(949) 494-5977