Morning Brew - ☕️ Wicked

Welcome to the first ever Halloween-themed Essentials. My top five candy rankings: Reese’s, Reese’s, Reese’s, Reese’s, and finally, Reese’s. What’s your preferred candy-binge this Halloween? I hope you enjoy all the fun tricks and treats below. 

— Rachel Cantor 

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For those of you who love to get spooked, you might’ve heard of the infamous Corpse Husband (aka Corpse). He’s known for reading “true” horror stories in a deep, ominous voice that simultaneously haunts me and makes me want to fall asleep. It’s time to get goosebumps with the world’s most popular horror narrator. 

• Here’s some background on this mysterious guy, who has ~3.6 million YouTube subscribers (not too shabby).
• Check out his YouTube channel and his video on three of the most popular scary stories found on Reddit.
• Corpse has become a sensation on Among Us, the video game that’s recently taken over the internet. 
• His TikToks are very strange and sometimes set to his own creepy, catchy music. 
• Most of Corpse’s stories come from two subReddits, r/nosleep and r/LetsNotMeet, which may or may not give you spooky tales around the campfire vibes (but 10x more scary). 

Candy craze: Use these ingenious hacks to (safely) distribute candy to all the Mandalorians and Cobra Kais who come knocking on your door. 

Safety first: Stay up to date with the latest Halloween trick-or-treating dos and don’ts from health experts. 

Bang for your buck: Non-Halloween-related, but I shared 15 of the best products on Amazon for $10 or less. Brb, purchasing the jar opener.

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Portland Press Herald / Getty Images

Pre-candy-binge appetizer: RIP to my dinner plans. These Halloween charcuterie boards are not lac-“ghost” intolerant, but they’re filled with tasty treats. And here’s a guide on how to pair cheese with Halloween candy. 

Pre-candy-binge workout: Forget your pasta sauce jar weights—what you need is a pumpkin. Hit your at-home gym and take on the Smashing Pumpkin Pull-Up Challenge. 

Mid-candy-binge horror movie: If you’ve already watched The Shining and Carrie, here’s your next hit list of horror movie recs. What’s the best movie to watch if you’re new to the genre? I’m genuinely scared of anything more intense than Stranger Things. 

Post-candy-binge read: For all you Stephen King fans, 14 authors shared their favorite haunting reads. 

Post-candy-binge podcast: Pick your poison—holiday music or frightening podcasts.

Currently trending: Float your way through a haunted car wash. 

Corpse pose: Yoga for when you feel dead inside. 

In character: Abby Roberts is TikTok’s Halloween makeup guru. Peep Liam Payne. 

Open house: Sign up for a haunted house virtual tour. 

Costume inspo: Lauren Mancke dresses her kids in elaborate, handmade Halloween costumes every day for the month of October. Not inspired yet? Be spontaneous bangs for Halloween, or find another hilarious, “scary” costume idea from this list. 

Cooking tip: October is also known as spooky shroom season. 

Pure joy: Watch this golden retriever puppy pop out of a pumpkin. 

Ben Hider / Getty Images

Between the handwritten book recs and the tucked-away reading nooks, independent bookstores are definitely one of my Happy Places. The Strand in NYC is an all-time favorite, and it’s at risk of closing. When I was in high school, I left a little note in The Catcher in the Rye (one of my favorite books) for the next Strand reader. Please consider supporting The Strand or one of your favorite independent bookstores. 

See you on Monday when I’ll still be snacking on Halloween candy. Reese’s, of course.