Illustration by Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Many of us “dwellers” are in a rare juxtapose when it comes to celebrating what was certainly our favorite childhood holiday. We’re not parents yet, so candy bumming in the suburbs is not on our radar, while hitting Hollywood for the overpriced nightclub bash is in our rear views. Thankfully, Downtown L.A. has matured into having several options for us to put together a sexy/comical/topical costume for the evening and drink the night away.

Thursday, October 28th

Drop Dead Derby Halloween Party / 410 Boyd

L.A.’s flat-track roller derby league, the Angel City Derby Girls, will host the party. DJ’s will spin dance music and prizes will be awarded through the night. A $100 best costume contest will draw in some great outfits. $5 cover with proceeds benefiting the Derby Girls. 410 Boyd St. (Just south of 3rd and San Pedro)

Friday October 29th

The Scary Mary Costume Ball and Pleasure Fair / Club 740

An annual Halloween party that is very popular with the gay and straight crowd, this year featuring $1,000 in costume prizes. Fortune-tellers, palm readers and aerialists will pepper the fabulous vibe with mystery and mayhem. Starts at 10pm. $10. 740 S. Broadway

Standard Hotel

A Chucky-themed party hosted by the underground music mavens at Mad Decent, taking over the lobby and the stunning rooftop setting. DJs will get the crowd pulsing (Nadastrom, Munchi, Krossed Out) while a full Halloween décor will raise the spirits. Event is free with RSVP, but sign up soon because it will fill up. 21 and over. Until 2am. RSVP: danceright.net/halloween

Saturday October 30th

Freak Fest 2010 / J Lounge

The 20,000 square feet of space is transformed into a spooky lounge with cabanas, carnival games, VIP areas and three dance floors blasting musical themes from Top 40 to House and Electro. The $1,000 prize for sexiest costume will draw in the sexiest of Downtown party-goers, and the Wandering Marionettes are sure to conjure up childhood nightmares. Tickets $20-$45: www.freaksfest.com/link/jlounge 8pm to 3am. 1119 S. Olive

Evil Cathedral Night of Mayhem / Royal Clayton’s

Festivities at this swanky English pub include a “blessing” by a priest upon arrival, which I have a feeling involves some sort of shot. Downtown’s XRT theater company will have actors floating through the crowd inspiring church-themed shrieks and shrills. $1 PBR drafts, $2 shots of bloody holy water, and $100 for best costume. First 100 guests receive a goody bag. 1855 Industrial St.

Hulaween / Trader Vic’s

Experience a night of tiki-themed terror, live music and a Captain Morgan costume contest. No cover! 800 W. Olympic

The 213 Bars: Seven Grand, Golden Gopher, Cole’s, CANA Rum Bar, Las Perlas, Casey’s, and Tony’s

Old school candy and old school cocktails will be liberally doled out, making for a low stress, no-brainer option for Halloween. Following in with their mixology mastery, all seven bars will craft special cocktails including highlights like the Corpse Reviver #2 gin cocktail at Cole’s, the Horse’s Neck tempered with rye at Seven Grand, and the Indiscretion (a rum daiquiri with blood red mist) at Cana Rum Bar. Best of all, these special cocktails are only $7. Promotion runs through Sunday at the open on Sunday locations. Casey’s will also be hosting the Halloween themed band Adam West the Bat, rocking covers of Smashing Pumpkins and the Ramones. No cover! Locations throughout Downtown LA.

Rokk n’ Roll Nightmare / La Cita Bar

Costume contest, rock performances by Angus Khan and Thunderdikk, with Zack Morris at the turntables. $5 cover. 336 S. Hill

Sunday Oct 31st / Club Cicada

This 20-30’s style supper club is a logical option for Downtown’s upscale residents on Halloween. Dean Mora and his Haunted Orchestra perform. Dinner reservations are recommended due to limited seating room. Doors open at 6pm, first set at 8pm. $60 cover. 617 S. Olive

All Hallows Eve Bash / The Edison

Helios Jive, Stilt Circus and contortionists perform at one of the best Halloween parties Downtown. Prizes for best original, humorous and ghoulish costumes will be awarded. Sold out, but standby tickets available for $25 with costume, $35 without. 108 W. 2nd

Suede Bar and Lounge

A Halloween masquerade including several DJs and prizes for scary costumes. Being that this place is on the small side, I would say drop in if you are in the area. 404 S. Figueroa St.

All weekend

Exchange LA

A weekend of bashes for the Halloween weekend starting with “The Fright Night of Whor-or” on Thursday night. Proceeds go to St. Jude’s Children hospital -I wonder if they were in on the event naming? No cover charge. Friday is “Freaky Wonderland”, a Halloween themed hip hop and soul massive with a $500 costume contest from 9pm to 3am. No cover with RSVP before 10:30 (email OriginalGlazeLA@gmail.com), $10 after. Lines will be long, so plan ahead. Saturday will be “Freakshow” with Modern Mou5e and a $700 costume contest. Pre-sale tickets are $13 from EXLAHalloween.com or $25 at the door. Sunday will be another party with DJs. 618 S. Spring

The Mezz at the Alexandria

A weekend of events at the speakeasy jazz club include a frighteningly erotic gothic art freak show on Friday night. Cover: $5. On Saturday, the Mezz becomes Club FLAP: Seven Deadly Sins with costumes and vaudevillian revelry. Sunday will feature burlesque and a DJ spinning tunes. 5th and Spring

The Villains Dark Carnival / Villains Tavern

My top choice and most likely destination for the Halloween weekend. The potent slew of creative cocktails will be flowing alongside a mélange of entertainment including tarot card readers, a freaky as heck freak show, a bed of nails, glass eaters, face-painting and magicians. Bands like Speedway and Dustbowl Revival will whip the crowd of artists, locals and those in the know into a frenzy. Some new fall cocktails will debut alongside eggnog, ciders and special punches. Carnival runs Friday and Saturday night. No cover charge. 1356 Palmetto (6th and Santa Fe)