The Day After

I hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween.   It has been a lot of fun to keep this blog and, truth be known, this was a practice before next year's Halloween (now 365 days away!).  I plan to continue updating this blog throughout the year, but maybe not every day.  To anyone who is following, thank you so much and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Happy Halloween!

To everyone... Have a very safe and happy Halloween. 

Image: http://theexpiredmeter.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/jack-o-lantern.jpg

Monsters

You into Monsters?  NBC has a great list of the Top 10 "monster" shows on TV.  I think my favorite was Tales from the Crypt or maybe Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

Real Costumes from the 80's

"URLesque" has a cool set of pictures from the 1980's showing a lot of popular costumes.  It was a trip down memory lane for me because I grew up during the 80's and remember a lot of these costumes.  Check it out!

Sears Zombies

On the Sears website right now, they have a zombie-themed page where you can find gifts for your "zombie" and even switch to a zombie "language."   It's pretty amusing and elaborate! 

It's the Great Pumpkin!

The famous, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" airs this Thursday, Oct. 28, on ABC at 8 p.m., but check local listings to be sure.  I just watched it on DVD and it's as good as ever.

How Old is Too Old?

How old is too old to Trick or Treat?  Some cities want to ban kids over 12 (or around that age) from the door-to-door ritual.  To me, I think that's a bad idea.  Kids over 12 could being doing a lot worse than Trick or Treating- vandalism and drugs come to mind.  Besides, to me, everyone under 25 is a kid anyway. LOL.  Why spoil their fun? 

The Top 10 Truly Haunted Houses in the USA

MSNBC had a great summary of ten of the most truly haunted houses (not Halloween attractions) in the USA.  It might be fun to pay one a visit before Halloween.  Maybe you will see a ghost looking back at you out the window!

New Haunted Houses

The linked New York Times article describes a new kind of haunted house in New York City that isn't simply a lot of gory scenes and scary "boo's!"   It sounds like it goes all out to create scary scenes and build tension in a way that is truly unsettling.  This is kind of cool because I get tired of haunted houses that are all the same- people jumping out a you and lots of screaming.  I can't wait to check this out!  It's called "Nightmare: Superstitions."

Forecast

Have you checked your Halloween forecast yet?  The Weather Channel has the national forecast through next Monday.  I peaked at both Saturday night and Sunday night (Halloween).  It looks pretty good for the Northeast U.S. but maybe some rain in the South and West.  But, of course, it's still a week away so all that could change.

That brings up another issue- when are you celebrating Halloween?  To me, I think Saturday night is best for adults because there's no work (for most people) Sunday.  In fact, because Saturday night at midnight is technically Halloween, it's a great time.  I think Sunday night is great for Trick or Treaters and maybe a scary movie or TV show at home.  What do you think?

Candy Horror Stories

I found a really cool chart showing some famous stories of dangerous Halloween candy over the years.  From it, you can see where a lot of the cautionary tales about Trick or Treating Halloween candy come from.  Unfortunately, it looks to me like parents were the main culprits!

Rocky Horror

Next week, the popular Fox TV show, "Glee," will pay tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  For those of you unfamiliar with Rocky Horror, it is a stage musical and movie depicting the strange happenings at a hidden castle when Brad and Janet, young lovers, stop to use the phone because their car broke down (it was written before the days of cell phones).  It is definitely for an adult audience as there's a lot of sexual innuendos but it is an excellent way to celebrate Halloween in an adult, "merry, not scary" way!

Rate Halloween Candy!

The Huffington Post has a cool survey right now- you can rate your some of your favorite Halloween candies on a scale from 1-10.  At the end, they will reveal people's top 10 favorite candiest and least favorite candies.  You may want to consider the winners before you buy your Halloween candy!

The Horror Dome

I found a really cool site for virtually every "thing" you could possibly need for Halloween- from costumes to decorations.  They have everything from basic costumes to some of the most elaborate costumes available, outside Hollywood.  The site is called "The Horror Dome"- visit today!

Halloween Safety

Halloween is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous, too.  I think that many people exaggerate the dangers on Halloween because of the nature of the holiday itself.  If you use common sense, you should be ok. I do think it's important to remember, though, that many 12-22 year-olds don't necessarily put safety as their number one concern, so this linked site has some great tips for keeping Halloween safe.

Scuba Cat

I found a funny Halloween costume for a cat!  I don't think either of my cats would stand for this though.  But I think it's super cute!

From the website, Myfunnyanimals.com.   

GaGa for Halloween

Anybody dressing up as Lady GaGa for Halloween?  As you might imagine, many people have selected one of her outlandish outfits as their costume for this year.  I think it's a great idea but it won't be original.  So if you're going as Lady GaGa, I would take extra care to make your costume truly amazing! 

An Adult Halloween

Having a party for adults featuring adult beverages?  I found a great slideshow on delish.com featuring some great options.  I especially like the Vampire Kiss martini.

Halloween Your Whole Life

Cracked.com has an amusing article (for adults only) about how we celebrate Halloween at different stages in our life.  Halloween is not just for kids! 

Delicious Halloween Strawberries and Treats

These are some of the most delicious and (sort of) healthy treats for Halloween I've seen.  I wish someone would treat me to these treats.  :)

Great Site for Jack O'Lanterns

Looking to carve your pumpkin soon?   I found a great website, Pumpkin Lady, that has everything you will ever need to carve a great Jack O'Lantern this Halloween!

 

Top 50 Scariest Movies

I found a great list of the top 50 scariest movies of all time, in the opinion of the Boston Globe.  If you hurry, there's still time to see them all before Halloween!

Looking to Save Money?

As much fun as Halloween is, it can really add up!  With costumes, candy, haunted attraction visits, movies and decorations, it's almost as hard on the wallet as Christmas.  Fortunately, the good folks at US News and World Report have made a helpful list to save money this Halloween.  I like the suggestion to reuse or make a costume because sometimes those are the best costumes!  I don't like the idea of avoiding chocolate-based candy though ;)

Halloween Art

Are you an artist?  Do you make Halloween art?  Here's a great site for you!  Halloween Art Exhibit offers a place to promote and even sell your art.  Some of it is pretty cool!   If you're in Chicago, it's even better because there is an actual location to display it as well.

LA Times Also Shows Some Great Ugly Costumes

Ever had an ugly Halloween costume that was frightening for all the wrong reasons?  In addition to the Albany Times article yesterday, there is an LA Times article showing more hideous costumes!

Avoid an Ugly Costume

Here's some ideas from Albany, New York on how to avoid an ugly or just plain bad Halloween costume.  None of us want to be the person everyone talks about as having a hideous costume! 

Halloween Movie Guide

Ok, October is here and scary movies will be opening every week. Which ones will you see?  NBC has a great guide, complete with video previews.  For me, I am a fan of the "teen scream" genre, a la the "Scream" movies, so I'm most interested in "Chain Letter" and "My Soul to Take."  I know there's a lot of gore fans out there too, so don't forget about "Saw 3D!"

Hershey's Halloween!

I'm a huge chocolate lover but it was always a little disappointing on Halloween when I was young because so many people gave out non-chocolate candy.  I think that the non-chocolate candies are easier to hand out and, in many cases, cheaper for people.  But to me, the chocolate ones are the best!  I especially loved Snicker's bars and M&M's.   It's nice to see that Hershey's has a great Halloween website with many ideas for treats, including chocolate. 

Brain Jello

How does some Jello made from brains sound?   What about toothpicks from a voodoo doll?  I found some real interesting treats for Halloween parties this year.  Take a look

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Halloween Contact Lenses?

What will they think of next!  This site offers contact lenses especially for Halloween.  It looks like kind of a "robo-site" because I think it just links to other sites.  But still, it's an interesting idea.  I have never worn contact lenses but it might be kind of cool to change my eyes to wolf or cat eyes for Halloween!  

Halloween for Pets

Do you dress your pets up for Halloween?  I have to admit, I have on some Halloweens.  One year, my girl chihuahua as a ladybug.  I also dressed her brother up, but I think it was just some kind of hat and he wouldn't wear it.  This year, I haven't decided yet about costumes for the dogs.  What about cats?  Has anyone ever dressed up their cat?

Spirit Halloween!

The Spirit Halloween store finally opened in my area (actually a couple of them).  I visited both tonight and was impressed.  They have nearly everything you could possibly want for Halloween.  From talking Freddies and Jasons to costumes galore, there isn't much you can't get here or at their online store.  I would recommend more than one visit.   I saw this Scarecrow mask that just might be the basis for my Halloween costume!  What do you think?

Cultural Connections

We all know that Halloween has Celtic roots, but in a country as diverse as the United States, the holiday is taking on new traditions.  Universal Studios Hollywood is introducing "La Llorona" (The Wailer) as a character in their annual Halloween events.  La Llorona is "a folktale about a woman who drowned her children after she was abandoned by their father. Tormented by what she has done, the woman's spirit wanders the earth, crying out for her dead children."    What additions do you suggest for Halloween?

Here's a picture of La Llorona from a movie about her:

Picture link here.

FOOD!

Even though we dress in costumes, watch scary movies and attend parties to celebrate Halloween, everyone knows that Halloween Treats are an indispensable part of Halloween.  Not just candy, but cakes, drinks, ice cream, cookies, waffles.... the list goes on and on.  The Food Network has set up a page full of delicious ideas for Halloween treats.  Check it out get your appetite ready!

Halloween Parade NYC Needs Help!

It looks like the Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village, New York City, needs our help!  This is the largest Halloween parade in the United States (probably the world) and it is cool. I've been a couple of times and there are SO MANY people.  It is a lot of fun and virtually anyone can march in the parade if you are in costume.   Apparently, there are some funding problems this year so, if you plan on attending the parade, maybe everyone can give a few buck and help them out.  Or, if you have never been, consider going this year for something unique to do on Halloween!

$5.8 Billion on Halloween?

I don't think I'll spend that much, but that's the amount expected to be spent in the US this year on Halloween.  Amazing!  No wonder so many business advertise and sell Halloween items.  The article says that the average American spends $66 for Halloween, including about $20 for candy!  How much do you usually spend?

Celebrate the 1980's!

This website offers cool costumes if you want to be a 1980's icon for Halloween.   I remember that I was E.T. for two years in a row during the 80's because my mother had sewn a costume herself.  It was too much work for just one Halloween- so I wore it twice!  I would love to be E.T. again this Halloween, but I think I'm a little too tall.  Maybe a Star Wars character- Darth Vader!  Lol. 

Halloween at an Amusement Park?

Have any of you gone to any of the big amusement parks' Halloween events?  I know that many of the big parks in the north are open during October even though it is cold so that people can enjoy Halloween-themed events.  I have never been but I am really looking forward to going someday.   This link is to Six Flags in New Jersey, but I think all Six Flags do something for Halloween.

Top Halloween Episodes

What is your favorite Halloween episode of a TV show?   I remember, when I was a child, I really looked forward every year to all the Halloween episodes of my favorites shows and I was disappointed if a baseball game or something was on TV instead.  Halloween episodes helped define the season and spice up the nights around Halloween when you had school and couldn't really celebrate properly.

I think my favorite last year was "The Office," where they set up a haunted house inside the warehouse. So funny!

Interesting and "Different" Halloween Candy

Tired of passing out the same old Halloween candy every year?  Try something different from this website!  No, they didn't pay me to post this, so let me know if it's any good.  I look and found a lot of cool candy that would be fun to pass out.  Personally, I love the little Brach's pumpkin-shape mellowcreme's, but it is hard to pass those out.  A better idea might be the Pumpkin Patch Pop Rocks!

A Blaze of Jack O'Lanterns!

Do you like Jack O'Lanterns?  For me, it's one of my favorite parts of Halloween.  The unique designs, connection to harvest and nature, the "spookiness" of it!   One of the biggest displays in the country is at the "Blaze" in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, right up the road from Sleepy Hollow.  I've gone several times and every year it really puts me in the mood for Halloween.  There are thousands of carved Jack O'Lanterns made up into unique displays.  It's really cool.  If you will be in the area, get your tickets quick because they sell out early.

$2 Billion on Halloween Candy? I Don't Think It's Enough!

This site has some interesting facts about Halloween- some you have probably read before, others that might be new.  What stood out to me was the $2 Billion in Halloween candy!  Wow!  That's a lot of money on candy.  It also says that 25% of all the candy sold in a year.  What was your favorite candy to get on Halloween when you Trick or Treated as a child?  For me, I think that Snickers and/or any whole candy bar was my favorite.  I hated getting those Bit O' Honeys.  Yuck! 

My Soul to Take

I just saw this preview for a new Wes Craven movie opening October 29, 2010.  The preview looks really good, especially if you are a fan of "teen scream" movies like "Scream," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," etc.   If I had to pick a movie to see Halloween weekend, this one is it.  I'm a big fan of these kind of movies.

Haunted Houses, Hayrides, Hollows, etc.

Do you make it a tradition to go a "haunted" event every year?  By "haunted event," I mean one of the places where you pay an entrance fee (usually), tour around the house only to have people in costumes jump out at you, view scary displays, etc.   I have gone to several over the years and I think they are a lot of fun.  I am not too big a fan of being startled, but with a group of people and cool, well done displays, I enjoy it.

Here in New York, one of the most popular is "Blood Manor" in the city.  I've never been buy might go this year.  I live about 5 minutes from the Sleepy Hollow, NY "Horseman's Hollow" may go there, too.  Why not do both?  Lol.  

In case you are looking for your area, hauntedworld.com has lists for every part of the United States, Canada, and even an "international" section.   Take a look and enjoy whatever you do!

Blood Manor Video from the NY Daily News

A Halloween Musical!

Well, not exactly Halloween, but the Addams Family Musical, playing in New York City, seems like the best show to see for the Halloween season this year.  I heard some of the music live today in New York (during the Broadway on Broadway event) and enjoyed it.   I hope I get to see it before Halloween!

What are You Going to be For Halloween?

Have you decided?  Do you usually wear a costume or do you prefer to help your kids/spouse/bf/gf, etc.?   I only wear a costume when I am going to a Halloween party or event, not the whole day.  Last year, I wore a black "Scream-type" robe with a shiny gold mask.  I am going out this year, but I haven't decided yet what I want to wear.  It's usually decided in the last couple weeks before Halloween. 

This site, Costume Kingdom, seems to offer some of the best assortment of costumes I have seem online.  It gave me some good ideas, even if I end up buying it somewhere else!  

Great Ghosts!

What's more Halloween than ghosts?  But where can you find some ghosts to visit this Halloween?  There is a great website called Ghosts of America where you can not only find ghosts, but add your own sightings as well!  Just visit the site and find your state.  It looks like than even have a map of the presently "ghostly" parts of the United States. Sounds like a great way to make for an interesting Halloween!

The Perfect Storm

I really hope that Halloween does not bring the "perfect storm" to any part of the country this year.  For me, perfect Halloween weather is a sunny day in the 70's, followed by a cool, crisp autumn night in the low 60's, high 50's.  That way, if you have a heavy costume, you won't get too hot!  Some clouds are ok, too, but no rain and definitely no snow!   Snow is the absolute worst on Halloween.

The link above is to a NOAA site about the terrible East Coast storm in 1991 that sank the Andrea Gail and inspired the movie, "A Perfect Storm."  Hopefully, that kind of awful disaster can be avoided this Halloween!  I like a scary Halloween, but not that kind of scary.

Halloween Party Ideas

Having a Halloween party? No matter if it's for adults or children, Halloween parties are all about fun, eerie ambiance. But sometimes it's hard to think of new ideas and we end up buying a whole bunch stuff last minute. Here's a great link for Halloween party ideas.  There's a ton of ideas that you can use whether your party is for adults or kids.  I especially like the pumpkin cocktails!  

This Year's Big Halloween Movie?

Did you like "Paranormal Activity?"   Well, only a week before Halloween comes Paranormal Activity 2!  I'm kind of excited about it because I liked the first movie.  I know it wasn't the scariest movie I've ever seen or the mostly "Halloweeny," but it makes you think about the people you know- are they really as normal as you think?  Are you the crazy one or, like the woman in Paranormal Activity, is there something truly bizarre going on?  Plus, Paranormal Activity was eerie, not gory.  I like eerie better!   But, if you love gory, Saw 3D will open Halloween weekend for your bloody enjoyment.

However, the most Halloweeny movie of this year has to be Horrorween.  I had never even heard of this movie until tonight.  Apparently, it's sort of an adult "merry, not scary" movie, so it might be good for some light-hearted (maybe drunken) fun.  Worth a look.

Our First Post!

I know what you're thinking..."Another Halloween blog?  Great."   LOL.  You're right.  But I love Halloween and it's coming soon. I am only going to post truly unique and interesting things I find about Halloween this year- not the same stuff I see in every Halloween blog out there!  Living in the Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow, New York dual Halloween towns, I think I'll have a lot of inspiration.  That being said, check out the link and read one of America's greatest short stories- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Image by Leonard Everett Fisher