Hocus Pocus, Ansley Focus
Ansley Park knows how to make an entrance.
By the time this issue reaches your mailbox, the Tour of Homes will have just wrapped up, and our neighborhood will once again have played host to visitors from across Atlanta, welcoming them in to experience its remarkable homes, history and unmistakable charm.
But October gives those same beautiful homes another chance to show off an entirely different side, and by now the skeletons are already out of the closet.
Literally.
Halloween in Ansley Park doesn’t exactly sneak up on you.
I have six kids, so I’m not entirely sure whether I love Halloween by choice or whether it’s some sort of parental Stockholm syndrome. Over the years, I’ve bought the costumes, carved the pumpkins, untangled the decorations, searched desperately for a missing piece of a costume approximately seven minutes before trick-or-treating, and purchased enough candy to feed a small country, only to discover that somehow we were “running low” before the first child ever rang the doorbell.
And I still love it.
But even by my standards, Ansley Park does Halloween like no other.
When Edwin Ansley began laying out this neighborhood more than 120 years ago, with its winding streets, grand homes and pocket parks, I doubt he envisioned them someday being overrun by witches, superheroes, princesses, dinosaurs and the occasional dog dressed as a taco.
But he certainly gave us one heck of a stage.
On Halloween night, Ansley Park puts on a show. Beautiful old homes become haunted houses. Porches become stages. Kids take over the sidewalks, neighbors settle into their posts on front steps, and otherwise perfectly sensible adults reveal just how much time they have spent thinking about lighting, cobwebs and whether one giant inflatable is enough.
And beneath all of it, there’s something genuinely sweet happening.
Kids race from house to house. Neighbors linger outside. People who might normally exchange little more than a wave stop and talk, and doors open all evening to friends, neighbors and complete strangers.
For all the effort we put into making Halloween magical for the kids, I sometimes wonder if the grown-ups get just as much out of it.
We’ve embraced the spirit in this month’s issue, too. Our cover features Liz Williamson, with Violet and a four-legged friend, who clearly understood the Halloween assignment. Junior Writer Matt McManus takes on the history of Halloween in Ansley Park. We also introduce you to Roxana Aguirre, the fascinating woman behind Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market, and look ahead to a special Ansley Park Night at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on November 5th.
And then there’s Reese’s, our appropriately named Precious Pet this month. I’m fairly certain Reese’s has no connection whatsoever to my youngest son's favorite Halloween candy, but at this point I’m choosing to believe it’s fate.
So when Halloween arrives, turn on the porch light, admire the costumes, compliment the neighbors who clearly spent far too much time decorating, and enjoy the show.
And if your candy bowl happens to be missing a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, I know absolutely nothing about it.
Happy Halloween, Ansley Park. You really do know how to do it right.
New & Renewing Partners
A warm welcome to our newest Stroll partners, Optimal K9 and Evolve Botanica!
Led by Dani, Optimal K9 offers personalized dog training focused on better manners, real-world skills and strengthening the bond between dogs and their people.
Evolve Botanica, founded by Jennifer, creates locally handcrafted botanical skincare, bath and body products, and crystal-topped soy candles, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and cruelty-free products.
And a special thank you to Selig Enterprises and AvitaCare Atlanta for renewing their partnerships with Stroll Ansley Park. Their continued support means a great deal.