Cosmos' Doggie Blog

Scuro the Cat writes: Dear Cosmos, These days, it just isn’t enough being a black cat on Halloween to scare the bejeebers out of people. Where do you recommend people go in Balboa Park if they are looking for some real chills?

Cosmos responds: Though discussion of my black cat issues is best left in my therapist’s office, I realize many of my bipedal friends have become completely desensitized to the true horrors that you frightening felines can inspire. Fortunately for them, Balboa Park museums are presenting a number of hair-raising sights in their galleries and theaters this season.

In fact, a selection of the most terror-producing objects ever created by humans can now be seen in the exhibition Instruments of Torture at the San Diego Museum of Man. The exhibition presents a rare opportunity to get up close to and safely walk away from such infamous devices of pain as the Iron Maiden, the Rack, Thumbscrews, the Chastity Belt, and Guillotine.

Perhaps equally frightening, at least for humans, are the many smelly, sticky, mushy, slimy, crusty bodily functions dissected in the new Grossology exhibition at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. While I’ve personally never met a scent I didn’t like, I’m sure my bipedal readers will be duly disgusted by exhibits like “Look Inside” (the digestive tract), “Urine: The Game,” “Vomit Center,” “Y U Stink,” and “Toot Toot.”

And lastly, filed under “Creatures I’m Glad Are Extinct,” is the film Flying Monsters 3D, now showing at the San Diego Natural History Museum. This real life horror flick traces the history of prehistoric flying reptiles using realistic-looking 3D animation that makes the monstrous beasts fly right off the screen into the audience.

It’s times like these I’m glad I’m not a service dog with museum-visitation privileges.

If my species hibernated (12-hour naps don’t count), October would be the ideal time to start packing on an extra layer of warmth for the long winter sleep. Fortunately, we domesticated mammals don’t need any excuse to take full advantage of the weekly feeding frenzy known as the International Cottages’ Lawn Programs.

In case you have indeed been hibernating for the last few decades (or are new to the area), each Sunday at 2pm the 32 different cultures that compose the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages take turns hosting a weekly celebration of what makes their respective culture so distinctive.

And what can be more distinctive than food? (OK, the colorful costumes, music, dancing, and other lively performances featured at each Lawn Program provide a nice backdrop to all the edible treats.)

Take this Sunday, October 7, for example when the House of Spain will be serving a mammoth pan of paella, a traditional dish featuring my favorite food groups: chicken, seasoned rice, vegetables, and seafood. To complement this delectable dish will be ice cold lemonade and Spanish flamenco dancers.

The following two Sundays, the House of Czech and Slovak Republics (October 14) and the House of Turkey (October 21) bring their own unique brands of authentic singing, dancing, music, and, yes, food to the table.

The House of Scotland once again closes out October’s Lawn Program schedule on Sunday the 28th in recognition of the fact that Halloween originated from the Celtic festival of Samhain. Perhaps more importantly, meat pies and desserts, including the infamous “Death by Chocolate,” are on the menu.

While the Lawn Programs are always free to attend, there is a nominal charge for food and beverages—unless you go the scavenging-for-scraps route like I do.