Halloween fun at The Garlic Tree

It's Halloween weekend and everywhere people are dressing up and getting into the spirit of the occasion. And the same can be said at my restaurant, The Garlic Tree, where the staff have been hard at work making the customer experience as creepy as could be.

It all starts with the shaking fist of the Trick or Treat Ghost.

Haunted House and pumpkin patch at The Garlic Tree

Standing in front of his Haunted House, it's fair to say that this ghost is not a happy ghoul. And that's because the Creepy Kid is helping himself to some of the ghost's prized pumpkins. He's got Jack-o'-lanterns and Pumpkin Stools as well as a Wagon of Pumpkins, all in the front garden. Problem is - in case you weren't aware - ghosts are transparent - and therefore are not well equipped to put up a fight over a pumpkin theft.

Standby then for the Werewolf. He hangs out with the Grim Reaper and Headless Horseman in the Trick or Treat Ghost's back garden which is effectively a graveyard. Hearing the commotion out front he has made his way through the Cemetery Arch to investigate and will no doubt be licking his lips at the sight of the Creepy Kid. The Fall Owl recognises this and is wide-eyed with grave concern.

Let's nip inside quickly to avoid witnessing a horrific event. Perhaps Gran-Gran will be able to reassure us that there won't be anything bloodcurdling going down outside? Turns out that operating the Cash Register is the Creepy Doll. That's my visit well and truly ruined. We shall continue travelling at breakneck speed, legging it straight through to the main section of the diner, and wonder all the while what's happened to Gran-Gran.

Main section at The Garlic Tree

The usual four-pillared centrepiece of The Garlic Tree has been moved out for Halloween, with the Haunted Clock Tower taking pride of place. Caked in spiderwebs and surrounded by irritable bats, this tower is guarded by Wells of Spirits and provides a dramatic backdrop for customers as they tuck into their meal.

However the bots will probably be a little distracted by the Spiderweb Chairs they are supposed to park their backsides upon or - if they somehow find a way around that dilemma - by the Crooner offering up an eerie song with the Spooky Piano. Not to worry, there are special Halloween Desserts available, just ask the Pirate Pand-Arr for assistance. Or don't.

There are more animals than just a panda with an eyepatch have found their way into my place for Halloween.

Animal sanctuary and safe room at The Garlic Tree

There's a care centre being run by the Sea Trainer where rare and elusive beasts are being looked after. Among them is the Loch Ness Decor who enjoys a juicy fish and the poisonous purple octopus who enjoys the Pirate Treasure Chest. Visitors can get a sight of these creatures but should be wary as they are very capable of escaping and causing much alarm.

The Hanging Monkey is a fine example of this, having made his cheeky way into the adjacent safe room. Normally this is a polished and secure space, with a Sleek Couch and White Carnation Vase. But the Floor Safe itself has been cracked open by the mischievous monkey, and Detective Phoebe is on the case trying to find the banana loving culprit. I daresay the Footprint tiles will give her a fair clue as to where the monkey may be hanging out.

This is all very amusing, but there's a more serious escapee out there. One Spider Table remains in the sanctuary but five others have scuttled out and are spinning their webs. Maybe you could help find them? Meanwhile, I'll visit a fortune teller and find out if those red-eyed monsters are expected to sink their fangs into anyone (if so let it be the Creepy Doll!)

Halloween party and fortune telling at The Garlic Tree

Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait my turn to see the Fortune Teller since the Playful Parasol and Lake Fisher are visiting at the moment. They've got their pooches - the Frisbee Dog and Lake Dog - with them which indicates that this is a serious appointment. Problem is I can't hear what's being said because of the racket next door.

So I'm heading there, and so is Action Chef Lee. He's just arriving at a Halloween party where the judging of a Costume Contest has just taken place. A Superman outfit has won out, with a vampire and fairy among the runners-up. Those who didn't make the final aren't losing any sleep mind - the Infinity Dance Floor is filling up as a wide range of folks boogie until the boogieman tells them to go home.

 Want to visit The Garlic Tree?

 Invite the Storm8 ID 'lorettasapron' and visit the wall

Elsewhere, at the Coffin Couch the Cowboy Greeter is giving Captain Phoebe a cowboy greeting. Not sure what that means but I doubt they'll be setting down together to a volume from the Coffin Bookshelf.

The one thing missing at the party is a drink, so perhaps a trip across to The Garlic Tree's famous bar is in order?

Drink lab at The Garlic Tree

Ah, I should have known that with it being Halloween all would not be as it seems. The usual grandeur has given away to a controlled environment. But this isn't a problem since the bar's two regulars are still hanging around. The Lounge Lizard needed no persuading to become a tester for the Drink Lab where unimaginable concoctions are bubbling away in flasks and beakers.

Then there's the Pool Shark who just cannot let go of his cue. He appears to be consulting the Touch Screen Menu - has he spotted something that tickles his fancy from the Futuristic Display I? I think it more likely that he has ordered a Pool Table.

There's testing taking place in another location within my restaurant too, with an experimental classroom in session.

Experimental classroom at The Garlic Tree

The spectrum of experimentation being undertaken here is very expansive. The Mad Scientist is getting some assistance from the Robo Dog on a Lab Experiment, whilst the dog's partner in crime, the Mad Chemist, is training as an astronomer using the Bronze Telescope. He's got a world class resource to use for reference, with the Galaxy Hologram indicating the relative position of various significant bodies across the skies.

But at Halloween science is not restricted to the laws of physics. A Witch's Kitchen is in full flow, with numerous weird and wonderful ingredients being mixed and roasted together. I must warn you that these are trainee witches so small and uncontrolled explosions are highly probable. That'll wake the Wicked Cat!

What is needed is an authoritative figure who is capable of not only providing a quality education but also some discipline when required. Cue My Fair Gran-Gran who it turns out is a talented witch! She's got her very own Wicked Spell Station where she conducts her own experiments and monitors the work of her students. Among them is the Jock who, unsurprisingly, has been misbehaving. He's been told before that attaching Saturn's rings to Uranus is not acceptable.

 Recent posts from The Garlic Tree

 02/09/17 TGT Presents ... Nineteen Years Later
 05/08/17 Fifth anniversary party
 02/07/17 Annual revamp
 11/02/17 Valentine's Day 2017
 24/12/16 Christmas 2016

Well that just about does it for this Halloween tour. Those players such as myself who are fortunate enough to have been at the races for many years are so lucky to have a plethora of Halloween decor to choose from, so much so that I've left out the Trick or Treaters which is a favourite item of mine! There's no other theme quite like it for the storylines and subplots you can conjure up, and hopefully I've been able to provide some entertainment to you dear readers again this year!

And just before I call it quits, a shameless plug for a post that should be headed your way on Halloween. It's a showcase, with some of my neighbours getting the light of the full moon shone upon them, and there are some gloriously gory and sinister sights to see. Watch out for that!