It is important to keep our kids and community safe during Halloween.
As you are getting yourself and family ready for the spooky festivities, the Arizona Highway Patrol Association has a few tips to consider.
"Children can hardly wait to put on their costumes and fill up their bags with treats," stated Sgt. Jimmy Chavez, president of the Arizona Highway Patrol Association. "Unfortunately that excitement can sometimes make both children and adults forget to be careful while they're out having fun. "
Arizona Highway Patrol Association is offering the public these instructions for friends and family to stay out of danger this Halloween:
- Teach children to yell and scream if anyone other than a parent or family member grabs at them, while making every effort to get away.
- A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
- Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which you are familiar with. Remain on well-lit streets and use the sidewalks. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway. Never cut through alleys or sidewalks.
- Check the sex offenders database so that you can avoid those houses, if applicable, in your neighborhood. Go to www.azsexoffender.org.
- Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
- Make sure you use a flashlight with new batteries.
- Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
- Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
- Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
- Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury. Also, beware that some masks can block light.
- Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
- Remember curfew and noise ordnance laws - police officer do enforce these.
If parents, friends and family follow these tips, the AHPA is sure that we will continue to keep our community safe. Founded in 1958, the AHPA's mission is to promote the positive role of Law Enforcement Professionals and to protect and secure rights and benefits for our members through effective representation with local, state and national governments.
SOURCE
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Halloween Costumes for Women
Yes, when choosing a look for a Halloween fancy-dress party, it seems to have become the done thing to take any normal costume and then cast it through the filter of Ann Summers. Take, for example, the Ghostbuster. Look up any fancy-dress hire shop and you will see that for men, the Ghostbuster costume is just as you might expect – a baggy beige boiler suit, sturdy boots and half a vacuum cleaner strapped to the back.
For women, however, the look has been re-imagined as Sexy Ghostbuster, which translates as a tight beige playsuit with hotpant-length shorts and a low-cut neckline. It bears really very little resemblance to the outfit worn by Dan Aykroyd et al for their ghost removal service. And the list goes on: Sexy Wednesday Addams, Sexy Miss Freddy Krueger, Jason Babe . . . Christ, there's probably even a Foxy Annie Wilkes costumes available somewhere online right now: hammer, smock and plaid shirt all rendered in PVC.
It's easier for men, I suppose. Most male Halloween costumes allow the dresser-upper to still look essentially, attractively male – they can be The Crow or Norman Bates or Hannibal Lecter or Jack Torrance. They can even go as something amusing or elaborate – a cauldron, say, or a killer octopus, and still seem charming.
And since essentially people want to seem attractive at a party, even though it is Halloween and they are dressed up in a spooky outfit, this is why women tend to opt for a Skimpy Chucky ensemble rather than one of the ghouls from Poltergeist. A man, you see, could go to a Halloween party as Pinhead or Leatherface, and not go home alone; for a woman it would be a little trickier to go as Regan from The Exorcist and still get someone's telephone number.
The recent zombie renaissance really hasn't helped matters; indeed it only seems to have encouraged large numbers of women to dress up as any old pedestrian male fantasy-figure, skimpy, scratchy, cheap-smelling little numbers justified via the medium of fake blood. And so we have Zombie Nurse, Zombie Schoolgirl, Zombie French Maid and, for the thinking man, Zombie Joan Bakewell. This year, the smart money is surely on Zombie Lady Gaga as the most popular costume.
Still, it could be worse. The other day I was perusing the Halloween section of an American fancy-dress website – as you are probably aware, Halloween in the US permits dressing up in non-spooky clothing, which is just one of the many things I have filed under Things I Shall Never Understand About America, alongside the national passion for Twinkies and the precise point of Los Angeles. There, among the Wilma Flintstones and the Cleopatras, I found a sexy ladybird costume. Let me repeat that: A Sexy Ladybird. Short, low-cut, cinched-in and probably wipe-clean, it looked as if the Pussycat Dolls had raided the insect house. Although that, I suppose, is a pretty scary thought.
It's even more depressing when you consider the fact that there are plenty of female horror characters suitable for Halloween party costumes that a) aren't totally unattractive, b) don't require you to dress as if you smell of latex and c) can be ordered through the post – Rosemary Woodhouse in Rosemary's Baby, Ripley from Alien, Irena from Cat People, even Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks.
Here we have hastily recreated cheap and easy costumes for three leading ladies of horror: Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels in The Birds, Elsa Lanchester as the Bride of Frankenstein, and Sissy Spacek as Carrie. The trick is simply to think laterally, not prostitutionally. And hell, if you really want to go scantily clad, at least be a little inventive and recreate the shower scene from Psycho.
How to recreate our three costumes
The Tippi Hedren look requires a blond wig wildly pinned and a smattering of fake robins (£2 from eBay). Unpick an old frock at the seams and stuff with feathers from a haberdasher. Small transfer bullet-hole tattoos double as peck marks on the face, arms and legs. The piece de resistance? A black crow from Hamley's for the perfect mix of uneasy laughter and terror. Kelly Bowerbank
The 1935 movie Bride of Frankenstein provides the inspiration for a fiendishly demure Halloween costume. You will need: one plain white double sheet (non-fitted), two long bandages, fright wig from a fancy dress shop, white foundation, kohl pencil, red lipstick, a few safety pins and one look of demonic bewilderment. LB
The image of Sissy Spacek as Carrie, the telekinetic prom queen drenched in a bucket of pig's blood, is a simple yet effective Halloween costume. You will need one simple white dress or slip and a large quantity of fake blood.
Do not try to replicate this look using tomato ketchup and pomegranate juice (as we did) as the ketchup will not dry and you will spend your evening reeking of tomatoes. LB
This article is from www.guardian.co.uk
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Halloween Costumes Ideas
It looks like the King of Pop will make his comeback thrilling trick-or-treaters this Halloween.
While Michael Jackson will presumably be mimicked in many costumes, vampires, pirates, athletes and witches are among the top adult Halloween costumes, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. The survey found some pop culture costumes of last year, including political figures and Batman, fell in popularity.
Jill Sherman, co-owner of Halloween Express on Picardy Avenue, said Michael Jackson and vampire accessories are popular this year.
“Sales [on vampire costumes] have been up because of the big movies and shows on television right now,” Sherman said. “We’re running out of certain vampire fangs and the makeup that goes along with making them white.”
Sherman said her store sold out of Jackson costumes early and had to order more, but it sold out of The King of Pop’s signature sequin gloves.
Christian Coleman, chemical engineering freshman, said dressing up like the late superstar is a respectful tribute to his memory if he’s portrayed in the right way and no lines are crossed.
Sherman said the sexier costumes are the most popular with women.
“We always sell cats, bumble bees, lady bugs [and] sexy firewoman [outfits],” she said. “With men, it’s the funnier costumes.”
Immigrant advocacy groups, offended by the “illegal alien” costume, urged retailers, like Target, to pull the adult costume from shelves in mid-October.
Ashlea Walker, Spirit Halloween store manager, said her store initially carried an “illegal alien” costume but pulled it off the shelf.
Sherman said Halloween Express also carried the costume. She said when news about it hit, people rushed to the store to buy it. She said she did not restock the costume when it sold out.
Chris Williams, history and French junior, said he noticed Target pulled the “illegal alien” costume but said he didn’t find it offensive.
Consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 this year compared to last year’s $66.54, according to the NRF survey. National spending on Halloween is expected to reach $4.75 billion — a decrease from last year’s $5.77 billion.
“Retail sales, in general, are down,” said Doug Weimer, economics professor. “You see Halloween sales reflect what’s going on in general. There’s also a projection that it won’t be as strong a Christmas season.”
Weimer said people are more likely to recycle costumes to spend less money.
Sherman said Halloween Express has not had any problems with sales.
“We’re about even where we were last year,” she said. “I expect to be up slightly, but not by a large margin.”
Sherman said this is Halloween Express’ second year in business in Baton Rouge. She said the store is doing better with sales this year because more people know about it, and the store has more costumes and accessories stocked.
Spirit Halloween declined to comment about sales.
Mollye Ashmore, apparel design junior, said the reason Halloween sales are up locally is probably because “people in Louisiana celebrate everything more.”
Sherman said the costumes at Halloween Express range from $19.99 to more than $100, but the average costume costs between $50 and $60.
The average 18 to 24 year old will spend $68.56 on costumes, according to the survey, but some University students have a lower number in mind.
Kayli Robichaux, fashion merchandising sophomore, said she and her roommates are dressing as Barbie dolls.
“I didn’t want to spend that much money,” Robichaux said. “I just needed a wig and a microphone. I already have the outfit.”
Robichaux plans to borrow her friends’ clothes for her Rockstar Barbie costume, but she went to Halloween Express for the accessories.
This article is from www.lsureveille.com
- - - -
Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com
While Michael Jackson will presumably be mimicked in many costumes, vampires, pirates, athletes and witches are among the top adult Halloween costumes, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. The survey found some pop culture costumes of last year, including political figures and Batman, fell in popularity.
Jill Sherman, co-owner of Halloween Express on Picardy Avenue, said Michael Jackson and vampire accessories are popular this year.
“Sales [on vampire costumes] have been up because of the big movies and shows on television right now,” Sherman said. “We’re running out of certain vampire fangs and the makeup that goes along with making them white.”
Sherman said her store sold out of Jackson costumes early and had to order more, but it sold out of The King of Pop’s signature sequin gloves.
Christian Coleman, chemical engineering freshman, said dressing up like the late superstar is a respectful tribute to his memory if he’s portrayed in the right way and no lines are crossed.
Sherman said the sexier costumes are the most popular with women.
“We always sell cats, bumble bees, lady bugs [and] sexy firewoman [outfits],” she said. “With men, it’s the funnier costumes.”
Immigrant advocacy groups, offended by the “illegal alien” costume, urged retailers, like Target, to pull the adult costume from shelves in mid-October.
Ashlea Walker, Spirit Halloween store manager, said her store initially carried an “illegal alien” costume but pulled it off the shelf.
Sherman said Halloween Express also carried the costume. She said when news about it hit, people rushed to the store to buy it. She said she did not restock the costume when it sold out.
Chris Williams, history and French junior, said he noticed Target pulled the “illegal alien” costume but said he didn’t find it offensive.
Consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 this year compared to last year’s $66.54, according to the NRF survey. National spending on Halloween is expected to reach $4.75 billion — a decrease from last year’s $5.77 billion.
“Retail sales, in general, are down,” said Doug Weimer, economics professor. “You see Halloween sales reflect what’s going on in general. There’s also a projection that it won’t be as strong a Christmas season.”
Weimer said people are more likely to recycle costumes to spend less money.
Sherman said Halloween Express has not had any problems with sales.
“We’re about even where we were last year,” she said. “I expect to be up slightly, but not by a large margin.”
Sherman said this is Halloween Express’ second year in business in Baton Rouge. She said the store is doing better with sales this year because more people know about it, and the store has more costumes and accessories stocked.
Spirit Halloween declined to comment about sales.
Mollye Ashmore, apparel design junior, said the reason Halloween sales are up locally is probably because “people in Louisiana celebrate everything more.”
Sherman said the costumes at Halloween Express range from $19.99 to more than $100, but the average costume costs between $50 and $60.
The average 18 to 24 year old will spend $68.56 on costumes, according to the survey, but some University students have a lower number in mind.
Kayli Robichaux, fashion merchandising sophomore, said she and her roommates are dressing as Barbie dolls.
“I didn’t want to spend that much money,” Robichaux said. “I just needed a wig and a microphone. I already have the outfit.”
Robichaux plans to borrow her friends’ clothes for her Rockstar Barbie costume, but she went to Halloween Express for the accessories.
This article is from www.lsureveille.com
- - - -
Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com
Halloween Candy Buy Back
NATICK —
Halloween, with its bounty of candy bars and sugary sweets, is the enemy of dentists who every day wage war against cavities and tooth decay in the mouths of their young patients.
But area dentists are fighting back, asking kids to turn over the bulk of their trick-or-treat take in exchange for $1 per pound of candy and the knowledge that their sweets will be sent to troops serving overseas.
"It's a great holiday, the only downside is the enormous amount of sweets," said Dr. Svetlana Novak of South Natick Dental. "It puts so much sugar into your system - it's like a bomb that goes off once a year."
Novak decided this year to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back, a national program, for the first time. Her office will be buying candy from kids Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to $1 bills, kids will also get samples of dental floss, toothbrushes and anti-cavity gum - as will the kids who arrive on Novak's doorstep on Halloween night.
She puts a basket of dental products and sugar-free candy and gum out for trick-or-treaters, and while hers isn't the most popular house, Novak said the basket is typically empty by the end of the night.
Participating in the candy buyback is another way to fight cavities and tooth decay in kids, which she sees in her practice often, while sending the candy to soldiers who will appreciate it.
Novak isn't advocating for a candy-free Halloween, but tells kids to brush and rinse after they eat sweets. Older kids run into tooth problems by not having proper hygiene routines, while small children can get tooth decay simply by drinking too much juice, she said.
For the staff at Accent Dentistry on Mendon Street in Bellingham, the candy buyback program is more about community involvement and supporting the troops than getting kids to scale back on candy consumption.
"Our concern is with the current military action, supporting the troops and raising awareness," said office manager Jason Kole. "And if it saves kids from having their teeth filled, even better."
The practice already supports troops, by donating the toothpaste and dental floss samples it gets for free. The candy is good for soldiers to have as a treat, but more often is given to the local people soldiers interact with to build relationships, Kole said.
The office joined the candy buyback program just two weeks ago, and has been letting people know about it through word of mouth and by telling other local businesses.
Kole said he has no idea how many people will come to the office's buyback day, on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, but he's heard that offices in the state have collected anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds in the past.
"We have no idea how many kids we'll get," he said. "But we've got a large scale and lots of $1 bills."
At Wellesley Dental Group on Seaward Road, which has participated in the buyback for several years, kids and parents last Halloween brought in 900 pounds of candy, said Abby Roitman.
"This is a good way for kids to feel good about where their candy is going," she said. "A few pieces of candy is fun, they don't need to be eating bags and bags of it."
The office is collecting candy for two weeks, Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Many participating dental offices provide their own money to pay kids, and send the candy to Operation Gratitude, which packages and ships the candy overseas, while the Wellesley group sends its candy to Special Kindness in Packages Inc., an East Bridgewater nonprofit organization that sends packages to troops.
In Waltham, Dr. Sally Farzaneh, of Sally Farzaneh & Associates, is also collecting Halloween candy from kids. She plans to donate $5 to the American Heart Association for every pound of candy dropped off at the 212 Charles Street office.
More information on dental offices participating in the buyback can be found at www.halloweencandybuyback.com.
Halloween, with its bounty of candy bars and sugary sweets, is the enemy of dentists who every day wage war against cavities and tooth decay in the mouths of their young patients.
But area dentists are fighting back, asking kids to turn over the bulk of their trick-or-treat take in exchange for $1 per pound of candy and the knowledge that their sweets will be sent to troops serving overseas.
"It's a great holiday, the only downside is the enormous amount of sweets," said Dr. Svetlana Novak of South Natick Dental. "It puts so much sugar into your system - it's like a bomb that goes off once a year."
Novak decided this year to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back, a national program, for the first time. Her office will be buying candy from kids Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to $1 bills, kids will also get samples of dental floss, toothbrushes and anti-cavity gum - as will the kids who arrive on Novak's doorstep on Halloween night.
She puts a basket of dental products and sugar-free candy and gum out for trick-or-treaters, and while hers isn't the most popular house, Novak said the basket is typically empty by the end of the night.
Participating in the candy buyback is another way to fight cavities and tooth decay in kids, which she sees in her practice often, while sending the candy to soldiers who will appreciate it.
Novak isn't advocating for a candy-free Halloween, but tells kids to brush and rinse after they eat sweets. Older kids run into tooth problems by not having proper hygiene routines, while small children can get tooth decay simply by drinking too much juice, she said.
For the staff at Accent Dentistry on Mendon Street in Bellingham, the candy buyback program is more about community involvement and supporting the troops than getting kids to scale back on candy consumption.
"Our concern is with the current military action, supporting the troops and raising awareness," said office manager Jason Kole. "And if it saves kids from having their teeth filled, even better."
The practice already supports troops, by donating the toothpaste and dental floss samples it gets for free. The candy is good for soldiers to have as a treat, but more often is given to the local people soldiers interact with to build relationships, Kole said.
The office joined the candy buyback program just two weeks ago, and has been letting people know about it through word of mouth and by telling other local businesses.
Kole said he has no idea how many people will come to the office's buyback day, on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, but he's heard that offices in the state have collected anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds in the past.
"We have no idea how many kids we'll get," he said. "But we've got a large scale and lots of $1 bills."
At Wellesley Dental Group on Seaward Road, which has participated in the buyback for several years, kids and parents last Halloween brought in 900 pounds of candy, said Abby Roitman.
"This is a good way for kids to feel good about where their candy is going," she said. "A few pieces of candy is fun, they don't need to be eating bags and bags of it."
The office is collecting candy for two weeks, Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Many participating dental offices provide their own money to pay kids, and send the candy to Operation Gratitude, which packages and ships the candy overseas, while the Wellesley group sends its candy to Special Kindness in Packages Inc., an East Bridgewater nonprofit organization that sends packages to troops.
In Waltham, Dr. Sally Farzaneh, of Sally Farzaneh & Associates, is also collecting Halloween candy from kids. She plans to donate $5 to the American Heart Association for every pound of candy dropped off at the 212 Charles Street office.
More information on dental offices participating in the buyback can be found at www.halloweencandybuyback.com.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Halloween Costume Ideas
BY ANDY COMER
A year ago, I wrote a column about creating cheap Halloween costumes in light of the poor economy.
One year later, the economy still stinks, and I’m still unwilling to spend more than $10 on a costume I’m only going to wear for a couple of hours.
Fortunately for you, dear reader, I have a few costume ideas that will be a hit at your next Halloween party, but won’t break your piggy bank, either. Using stuff from around your home, you can easily whip up an award-winning or hilarious costume with a dash of creativity and little to no expense. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, look no further than your local newspaper (hint, hint); current events are an excellent source of inspiration for costumes, and if nothing else, you can turn your copy of the paper into a hat to complete a pirate costume.
Andy’s Halloween costume ideas for 2009:
>> Find a tall cardboard box, cut out holes for your arms, legs and head, then paint the box black. Stencil the word "Bentsen Tower" in white letters onto one side, and prepare to impress your friends with your civic knowledge when you show up to the party as — you guessed it — McAllen’s very own Bentsen Tower, one of the few tall buildings in the city.
>> Get a few free balloons from H-E-B, tie them to yourself, and voila — you can gain instant attention just like the family of 6-year-old Falcon Heene of Colorado, aka the "Balloon Boy," who captivated the world last week as authorities raced to save him from falling to an early death from his father’s amateur weather balloon. The ordeal has since turned out to be an alleged hoax, but there’s no reason you can’t milk it for a Halloween costume.
>> Wrap yourself in a ribbon and bow and attach a card with "To women, from God" written on it. Presto! You’re God’s gift to women. This was actually my costume from 2008, and it cost about $3 to put together. Of course, it would be just as easy to create a "God’s gift to men" costume.
>> Dye your hair gray, wear a name tag showing that you live in some local RV park and pull your socks up to your knees to become a Winter Texan. You get bonus points if you can pull off a northern accent.
>> Dallas Cowboys fans could don a sport coat along with a shirt and tie, then find a fedora at a thrift store to become Mission native and legendary Dallas coach Tom Landry. The fedora itself could probably tackle better than the current Cowboys defense.
Andy Comer is the slot editor and a columnist for The Monitor. Contact him at acomer@themonitor.com.
This article is from www.brownsvilleherald.com
A year ago, I wrote a column about creating cheap Halloween costumes in light of the poor economy.
One year later, the economy still stinks, and I’m still unwilling to spend more than $10 on a costume I’m only going to wear for a couple of hours.
Fortunately for you, dear reader, I have a few costume ideas that will be a hit at your next Halloween party, but won’t break your piggy bank, either. Using stuff from around your home, you can easily whip up an award-winning or hilarious costume with a dash of creativity and little to no expense. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, look no further than your local newspaper (hint, hint); current events are an excellent source of inspiration for costumes, and if nothing else, you can turn your copy of the paper into a hat to complete a pirate costume.
Andy’s Halloween costume ideas for 2009:
>> Find a tall cardboard box, cut out holes for your arms, legs and head, then paint the box black. Stencil the word "Bentsen Tower" in white letters onto one side, and prepare to impress your friends with your civic knowledge when you show up to the party as — you guessed it — McAllen’s very own Bentsen Tower, one of the few tall buildings in the city.
>> Get a few free balloons from H-E-B, tie them to yourself, and voila — you can gain instant attention just like the family of 6-year-old Falcon Heene of Colorado, aka the "Balloon Boy," who captivated the world last week as authorities raced to save him from falling to an early death from his father’s amateur weather balloon. The ordeal has since turned out to be an alleged hoax, but there’s no reason you can’t milk it for a Halloween costume.
>> Wrap yourself in a ribbon and bow and attach a card with "To women, from God" written on it. Presto! You’re God’s gift to women. This was actually my costume from 2008, and it cost about $3 to put together. Of course, it would be just as easy to create a "God’s gift to men" costume.
>> Dye your hair gray, wear a name tag showing that you live in some local RV park and pull your socks up to your knees to become a Winter Texan. You get bonus points if you can pull off a northern accent.
>> Dallas Cowboys fans could don a sport coat along with a shirt and tie, then find a fedora at a thrift store to become Mission native and legendary Dallas coach Tom Landry. The fedora itself could probably tackle better than the current Cowboys defense.
Andy Comer is the slot editor and a columnist for The Monitor. Contact him at acomer@themonitor.com.
This article is from www.brownsvilleherald.com
Sunday, October 25, 2009
More Stores Open for the Halloween
The recession hasn't been so scary for Halloween stores. In fact, they're finding better haunts in the graveyards of failed retailers.
MARY ALTAFFER/The Associated Press
A family tries on costumes at a Spirit Halloween store in New York. Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year - the best day, according to those in the industry, because more adults throw parties - retailers are hoping for brisk business.
The seasonal sellers are taking advantage of the spate of retail bankruptcies and closings to open more – and larger – temporary stores this year in better locations. It adds up to an aggressive bid to capture cautious consumers' dollars in an industry that has grown rapidly over the past decade.
Halloween USA increased the number of temporary stores it has opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to 22 from 14 last year. The company has taken over a vacant Linens 'N Things on MacArthur Boulevard in Irving, space on Mockingbird Lane in Dallas that had been a Horchow Finale and a former Old Navy on Josey Lane in Carrollton.
Other stores are open in Arlington, Cedar Hill, Garland, Grapevine, Hurst, Irving, McKinney, Richardson and Plano.
Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year – the best day, according to those in the industry, because more adults throw parties – retailers are hoping for brisk business.
Despite the recession, market research firm IBISWorld Inc. expects 2009 sales for costumes and decor to rise 3 percent from last year, to $3.8 billion. Pennsylvania-based Halloween Adventure CEO Joe Purifico confirmed sales were "trending up" as the company headed into the important two-week stretch before Halloween.
But seasonal retailers – which make about 70 percent of their sales in September and October – face tough competition for market share from lower-priced retailers such as Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., so visibility is key.
The stores say they're not really saving much on rent, but spending similar amounts to get better locations.
Empty retail space from the closings of Circuit City, Mervyns, Linens 'N Things and Home Depot's Expo Design Center have given the temporary stores plenty to work with.
Suzanne Mulvee, senior economist at Property & Portfolio Research, estimates that there is 269 million more square feet in vacant retail space – the equivalent of about more than 5,000 full-size Best Buys – across the country compared with a year ago. That gives retailers bargaining power, she said.
"A year ago they were in the corner of the mall, where no one went to," she said. "Now there are all these choices."
The Associated Press and staff writer Maria Halkias contributed to this report.
This article is from www.dallasnews.com
MARY ALTAFFER/The Associated Press
A family tries on costumes at a Spirit Halloween store in New York. Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year - the best day, according to those in the industry, because more adults throw parties - retailers are hoping for brisk business.
The seasonal sellers are taking advantage of the spate of retail bankruptcies and closings to open more – and larger – temporary stores this year in better locations. It adds up to an aggressive bid to capture cautious consumers' dollars in an industry that has grown rapidly over the past decade.
Halloween USA increased the number of temporary stores it has opened in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to 22 from 14 last year. The company has taken over a vacant Linens 'N Things on MacArthur Boulevard in Irving, space on Mockingbird Lane in Dallas that had been a Horchow Finale and a former Old Navy on Josey Lane in Carrollton.
Other stores are open in Arlington, Cedar Hill, Garland, Grapevine, Hurst, Irving, McKinney, Richardson and Plano.
Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year – the best day, according to those in the industry, because more adults throw parties – retailers are hoping for brisk business.
Despite the recession, market research firm IBISWorld Inc. expects 2009 sales for costumes and decor to rise 3 percent from last year, to $3.8 billion. Pennsylvania-based Halloween Adventure CEO Joe Purifico confirmed sales were "trending up" as the company headed into the important two-week stretch before Halloween.
But seasonal retailers – which make about 70 percent of their sales in September and October – face tough competition for market share from lower-priced retailers such as Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., so visibility is key.
The stores say they're not really saving much on rent, but spending similar amounts to get better locations.
Empty retail space from the closings of Circuit City, Mervyns, Linens 'N Things and Home Depot's Expo Design Center have given the temporary stores plenty to work with.
Suzanne Mulvee, senior economist at Property & Portfolio Research, estimates that there is 269 million more square feet in vacant retail space – the equivalent of about more than 5,000 full-size Best Buys – across the country compared with a year ago. That gives retailers bargaining power, she said.
"A year ago they were in the corner of the mall, where no one went to," she said. "Now there are all these choices."
The Associated Press and staff writer Maria Halkias contributed to this report.
This article is from www.dallasnews.com
Recession brings out homemade halloween ideas
This Halloween, expect to see more homemade costumes appearing on your doorstep as you pass out candy to trick-or-treaters, including Fort Collins' own "balloon boy."
With the ongoing recession, families are getting more creative when it comes to costumes. They're either making their own or recycling old ones.
According to the National Retail Federation's 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, rather than buy new costumes, 16.8 percent of Americans intend to make costumes this year.
Do-It-Yourselfers
On Tuesday afternoon, 18-year-old CSU students Ashley Grossaint, Chelsea Stewart and Emily Bayless looked through various fabrics at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts store, 2839 S. College Ave., for safari animal costumes they plan to make this Halloween.
The three women are looking for creative costumes to complement their male counterparts, who are dressing up as hunters.
The trio initially searched online and discovered the costumes were too expensive for their budgets, so they decided to take a more cost-effective route and make their own.
"We are all college students, so we look for anything to save us money," Stewart said. "We don't want to spend $80 on a costume when we are only going to wear it once, when we can make it for $10 or $12.
Across South College Avenue, 20-year-old Colorado State University student Jaime Goza checked out of the ARC Thrift Store, 106 E. Foothills Parkway, for a wig and feathers for a costume he is putting together. He said he plans to assemble his own costume this year from materials he finds at secondhand stores such as ARC, rather than investing in a ready-made costume.
"I try to save some money... that's why I come here," he said.
ARC, which has its own Halloween section full of costumes and decorations and a banner declaring it the "Best Halloween Headquarters," is doing standout sales this season, according to the store's district manager, Maria Knowlton.
Knowlton said Halloween sales are up 10 percent at the Fort Collins store this year compared with last. She notes that Halloween is like Christmas for the thrift store, which stockpiles used goods year-round for the holiday.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Do-it-Yourself Halloween Costumes
More trick-or-treaters will be donning "do-it-yourself" Halloween costumes this year, predicts HowStuffWorks.com, a website that offers explanation for thousands of topics.
The number of people who searched HowStuffWorks.com looking to create their own costumes has doubled since last year, likely due to tough economic conditions.
"Whether cute or creepy, we're seeing more and more resourceful people searching for information online on how to create homemade Halloween costumes," says Conal Byrne, Editor-in-Chief, HowStuffWorks.com.
Here are the 10 most searched 'do-it-yourself' Halloween costumes for kids:
1. Owl
2. Horse
3. Ghost
4. Pig
5. Zombie
6. Donkey
7. Elephant
8. Vampire
9. Turkey
10. Pilgrim
If you're in a bind and don't have time to make a zombie or donkey... how about making your own Halloween mask!
If you need a last minute transformation, this quick idea explains and illustrates how great Halloween Masks can be made with little more than a milk jug and a bit of enthusiasm!
Halloween Masks made from milk jugs!
Here's what you need:
One empty, washed gallon milk jug for every two guests
Scissors
Electrical tape
Permanent marker or paint
String
Hole punch
Glue and yarn (optional)
Directions:
Cut along the side seams of each jug, starting from the mouth of the jug.
Shift direction toward the center of the jug (toward the handle) when the scissors are about even with a point roughly one inch below the handle (the end furthest from the jug mouth).
Continue cutting across the jug until you reach the seam on the other side, then cut back up along that seam toward the mouth until the jug is in two pieces. The handle piece, with its built-in "nose," will be smaller.
To finish, cut the mouth part of the jug from each piece, making a slightly rounded cut after it is removed to echo the shape of the chin. Trim any rough edges.
On the larger piece, the jug bottom is meant to sit atop the child's head and the longer side against the child's face. Cut the shorter side so the opening is large enough to slide comfortably over a child's head.
Using your child as a model, mark dots on each mask for eyes and mouth holes.
Remove the mask, and cut out large eye holes -- at least twice the size of your child's eyes. Make evil upturned eyes, as well as wicked grins, crooked smiles, and gaping-gasp mouths.
Tape the outside edges of the mask with colored electrical tape to prevent scrapes or cuts.
If you're planning on making these with kids at a Halloween party, provide permanent markers or acrylic paints with which the kids can decorate the masks.
Yarn can be glued on for hair. Use a hole punch and elastic string to secure the masks to each child's face.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Halloween History and More
Carve the pumpkin and buy the candy; Halloween is just around the corner.
Whether going as a cute cat or spooky ghost, Halloween is all about being something you aren’t and has long been a tradition for people across the globe. Halloween was started approximately 2,000 years ago by the Celts, a group of people that lived in what is today Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France. They celebrated their new year on Nov. 1, marking the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of winter. On the night before, Oct. 31, they celebrated Samhain, a night when they believed spirits returned to earth and yielded comforting prophecies to get them though the winter. To commemorate the event, the Celts wore costumes and built large sacred bonfires, which they then used to light their hearth fires, believing it would protect them from the coming winter.
Years later, when the Celtic territory had been conquerred by the Romans, two more festivals were added to Samhain including a day to honor Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, whose symbol is an apple. Coincidentally, bobbing for apples is still a largely practiced game on Halloween.
By the 800s, Christianity had spread into the Celtic area and Nov. 1 was designated as All Saints’ Day or All-Hallows, a time to honor saints and martyrs. The day before it, Oct. 31, was called All-Hallows Eve and eventually Halloween. When European immigrants began to come to America, they brought Halloween with them. Around 1846, when Irish immigrants began fleeing to America to escape the potato famine, Americans began imitating their customs, dressing up in costumes and going house to house asking for food or money. Now, it’s all about the candy. According to Nielsen data, consumers buy 598 million pounds of candy, spending about $1.9 billion during the Halloween season alone.
Law enforcement officials want to make sure trick-or-treaters are kept safe this Halloween. They recommend the following safety tips: if wearing a mask, children should make sure they can clearly see, especially when walking at night; carry a flashlight or other illumination device to see and let others see you; make sure costumes allow you to be seen at night; stay on the sidewalks whenever possible; be mindful of vehicle traffic; walk in groups whenever possible; respect other people’s property and stay on walkways/sidewalks and along lighted pathways; do not go into any houses, unless they are of trusted friends and neighbors; and, parents should inspect all candy before eating, discarding unwrapped candy and treats.
Another hot Halloween market is the pumpkin industry. At first, settlers carved turnips or gourds as a way to welcome deceased loved ones and ward off evil spirits. When they arrived in America, the native pumpkin seemed a better choice, larger and easier to carve. Pumpkin carving used to be simplistic, featuring two eyes, a nose and a mouth. Now, people carve celebrity faces, animals and scenes onto their pumpkins.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), this year’s pumpkin patch is excellent. The VDACS estimates that Virginia farmers will sell around 67.5 million pounds of pumpkins this year. The crop is estimated to be worth approximately $10 million.
“The 2009 harvest has produced exactly what we hope for in pumpkins,“ VDACS Commissioner Todd P. Haymore said. “They have beautiful color and good size. This is the year of the specialty pumpkin.“
According to VDACS, popular pumpkins this year include white ones of all sizes and the ones with bumps and veining all over them.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Halloween Tips for Couples
Halloween costumes for couples are always a hit, but rarely unique (you know who you are, "plug and socket" and "Sonny and Cher"), so Moviefone is changing it up. We've got great Halloween costume ideas for couples and groups based on the hottest movies -- plus a few timeless classics -- that'll keep Halloween interesting. Also, you'll save money with our tips on where to shop and convenient how-to instructions for homemade costumes.
For couples, honor the late Patrick Swayze by dressing up as Johnny and Baby from 'Dirty Dancing.' A group of friends can kick-butt on skates as a roller derby team from 'Whip It.' And even grandpa can join in by teaming up with a grandchild for Carl and Russell from 'Up.'
So check out our costume ideas and make sure you come back throughout October for updates.
Movie character costume ideas for couples or groups:
Johnny and Baby: 'Dirty Dancing' Costumes for Halloween
'Harry Potter' Halloween Costumes: Harry, Hermione and Ron
Alan, Stu, Jade and Phil: 'The Hangover' Halloween Costumes
Spock, Uhura, Nero, & Captain Kirk: 'Star Trek' Halloween Costumes
Carl and Russell: Disney's 'Up' Halloween Costumes
Roller Derby Team: 'Whip It' Halloween Costume
Television character costume ideas for couples or groups:
'Gossip Girl' Halloween Costume: Serena and Blair
Sookie Stackhouse and Bill: 'True Blood' Halloween Costumes
Don and Betty Draper From 'Mad Men' Halloween Costume
'Vampire Diaries' Halloween Costumes: Stefan, Damon and Elena
'Dexter' Halloween Costumes: Dexter Morgan and Harrison
'American Idol' Halloween Costumes: Adam Lambert and Kris Allen
Dayman, Greenman & More 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Halloween Costumes
'30 Rock' Halloween Costumes
Jon and Kate Gosselin Halloween Costume
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
HalloweenMart's Top 5 Halloween Costumes
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 21 -- HalloweenMart, the Las Vegas-based retail complex and national leading retailer of online Halloween costumes, has announced this season's most popular costumes for adults and children.
"Pop culture icons and Hollywood are having a big impact on Halloween costumes this year," said Heather Siegel, HalloweenMart owner and fashion expert. "With Halloween just a few weeks away, there are several trends leading the way as costume favorites this season."
Top Five Adult Halloween Costume Trends for '09:
1. The Vampire: Box office hits like Twilight and television series like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries have made the vampire one of the must-have Halloween costumes this season. Turn heads with the "Vamp Vixen Costume," priced at $39.99
2. Michael Jackson: Many will pay tribute to the King of Pop this fall with elaborate costumes inspired by some of Michael Jackson's platinum-hit songs. This year women can sport a variety of Michael-inspired costumes including the elaborate "Queen of Pop," $199.99 and "Billy Jean Costume," $119.99. A top seller in for men this season is the "Michael Jackson 'Beat It' Costume," $99.99 paired with the "Michael Jackson 'Beat It' Wig," $34.95
3. Reality Stars: Popular reality shows like E!'s Girl Next Door has idolized the robe-clad Hollywood legend Hugh Hefner and the identical twin ladies that make up this popular television series. A very in-demand trio of costumes this season is the "Playboy Hef Smoking Jacket
Costume," $79.99, accompanied with of a pair of the "Playboy Pink Smoking Jacket Costume(s)," $59.99, and the "Blonde Seductress Wig," $19.99.
4. Zombie: In theatres now, the 2009 Zombieland film has brought this popular costume back from the dead. The "Complete Zombie Costume" is a hot commodity, priced at $44.99.
5. Bollywood: Pop culture icons like the Pussycat Dolls and the Academy Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, put this year's "Bollywood Beauty" costume on the A-list. Achieve the sultry look with the extravagant "Bollywood Beauty Costume," $59.99.
Top Five Children's Halloween Costume Trends for '09:
1. Vampires: The Twilight saga has teens screaming over the popular "Rockin
Vampire Costume" this season, priced at $34.99.
2. Superheroes: Box office hits like 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Wolverine have made superhero costumes a Halloween must-have. Children can transform into the heroic Bumblebee character with the "Deluxe Bumblebee Transformers 2 Costume," $44.99, or unleash their inner mutant powers with the child's"Wolverine Costume," $24.99.
3. TV Idols: The popular TV show Hannah Montana has turned this costume into
a rising superstar. Get the best of both worlds with the "Hannah Montana Gold Costume," $39.99.
4. Wonderland Wonders: The upcoming re-release of Alice and Wonderland has moved these whimsical costumes to the top of the list. Adventure through the looking glass in the classic "Fairytale Alice costume," $39.99 or rule in the suit of love with the "Queen of Hearts
Costume," $99.99.
5. Little Top Chef: The popular television show Top Chef has paved the way for a generation of chefs-in-the-making with this year's "Chef in Training Costume," $19.99.
HalloweenMart is located in Las Vegas at 6230 S. Decatur Blvd. Store hours are
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m.
Website sales are 24 hours, daily. For more information, please contact the
HalloweenMart experts at 800-811-4877 or visit info@halloweenmart.com.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Halloween Tips
Fall is here, the temperature has dropped, and we find our food tastes change from the high water fruits and vegetables of summer to the heartier and heavier foods of winter. It’s a natural food progression, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot more. It just means that you need to be a bit creative with your food offerings.
Want to know one of my favorite fall secrets for feeding lunch to a large group of hungry kids for just a few dollars? Broiled open-faced cheese sandwiches.
On slices of hearty bread, place a thin layer of a good cheddar cheese. Top with a thin slice of tomato and one slice of bacon.
Broil until the bacon is cooked. (If kids make these, remind them to not leave the kitchen, the broiling does not take long.)
Figure on two slices per person.
My kids love these tasty sandwiches, which are so easy that they often make them after school for snacks. These open-faced sandwiches are much easier, healthier and thriftier than their store-bought, processed cousins – Hot Pockets.
More Halloween thrifty ideas
With regard to thrifty Halloween costumes, Lynn Lippett, of Milford, told me about how her neighbor dressed her child in black and then used fluorescent tape to make him look like a skeleton. What a thrifty and safe idea. Lippett further suggested that orange or red tissue paper can be taped onto kids flashlights in the shape of a cone or flame to help them be seen better by cars.
As a way to keep down on costs, as well as sugar, instead of candy, the Lippetts often give out little toys at Halloween. She gets them from Oriental Trading and will throw in those unopened toys that come in kid meals at fast-food restaurants. The kids have fun choosing a toy, and the neighborhood kids always look forward to it.
Gina Rosati, of Merrimack, has the following tips for a thrifty Halloween:
• If you can’t find any cool costumes in the depths of your closets, check out the selection at thrift or consignment stores.
• Go to your local library, and look through past October issues of Family Fun and other parenting magazines. There are tons of ideas for costumes and parties.
• Be considerate of the pocketbooks of others. Don’t give out taffy or other sticky candies that will cause big dental bills.
• Save those pumpkin seeds and roast them. They’re very good for you – and a good source of zinc!
• A little ambience goes a long way. Rather than spend a fortune on Halloween decorations that take up a ton of space to store for the rest of the year, buy a Halloween CD or search for Halloween music on iTunes and play scary music for the little boys and ghouls
• Do not try to save money by turning out your porch light and pretending you’re not home. If you anger the little tricksters and they egg your house, power washing costs a fortune!
More Halloween Ideas
As the crisp fall air makes its presence known, leaves quickly falling, the light of day lasting less and less, it is clear that Halloween has almost arrived. Whether you’re going to a doctor’s appointment, the mall, or even to the grocery store — the ghosts, zombies, black cats, spider webs, witches, and vampires seem to haunt you everywhere. Aside from all of the ghoulish decorations, haunted houses and sinful candy, one question still remains; “What am I going to be this year?”
Most of us can recall our very first Halloween costume, whether it was a Disney princess or even a cowboy costume, Halloween was always highly anticipated. After all, who wouldn’t look forward to being allowed to wear make-up, dress up, stay up past your bedtime, and on top of that, be able to receive large amounts of candy all for yourself? The point is, that from a young age, we’ve established emotion associated with Halloween; that very feeling has followed us up to our college years. As we’ve grown throughout the years, our costume selection has varied. However, as the years continue, the themes of Halloween costumes have taken a slight shift in direction.
Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary, demonic, daunting, bloody, and the like. This original scary theme is by no mistake. The ancient Celts believed witches, ghouls, and goblins roamed the countryside on the night of October 31. In attempt to scare and trick them, the Celts would wear scary masks and costumes when walking outside that night. Naturally over the years, we have separated from this reasoning and now have more than just these scary costumes to choose from. Costumes now vary from childhood cartoon characters, assorted candies, fictional beings (fairies, mermaids, etc.), sexy authority figures, comedic costumes and celebrities.
Over the past year, there have been many famous celebrity scandals, well- known events, or just well recognized costume themes derived from the like. Dazzle your costume with these ideas for this Halloween.
Girls:
Lady Gaga – We all know Lady Gaga for her controversial performance at the VMA awards, along with her famous choice of outfits. Her wardrobe throughout the length of her career leaves the door open for endless costume choices this year.
Lindsay Lohan – Starting out as a child star, Lindsay Lohan has definitely become a media favorite. Her constant drug and alcohol addictions keep her in the spotlight
Gossip Girl characters – Every Monday night, many tune in to watch the next anticipated episode in the hit series Gossip Girl. Become just as controversial as Blair with this costume hit!
Kate Gosselin – Kate is no stranger to the tabloids. Become this mother of eight for Halloween without Jon!
Guys:
Michael Jackson- Despite his untimely death this year, this legendary King of Pop will always be a costume success.
President Barack Obama – The most powerful man in the United States, our president himself. Have fun being the man in charge.
Coach Calipari – Who wouldn’t want to be the highest paid college basketball coach in the country? Get a head start on coaching our Cats through this basketball season.
Lil’ Wayne – Do you want to be the best rapper alive? Achieve this look with dreads, sunglasses, a grill, and that mysterious white Styrofoam cup.
Injured Tim Tebow – Relive the classic injury of Tim Tebow from the UK vs. Florida game.
Couples:
Kanye West and Taylor Swift – Interrupt everyone’s Halloween party with this controversial VMA duo.
Beyonce and Jay-Z – Hip- hop’s favorite couple.
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom – These newlyweds are far from rookies in the celebrity world. Set the record straight if this marriage will last.
Alternatives:
Twilight characters- This successful book and movie was a hit! Don’t just be any vampire for Halloween.
Wizard of Oz characters- Celebrate the Wizard of Oz’s 70th anniversary with your costume.
With all of these media costume ideas, there is no reason for you not to get the tabloids talking with your Halloween costume this year.
This article is from kykernel.com
Most of us can recall our very first Halloween costume, whether it was a Disney princess or even a cowboy costume, Halloween was always highly anticipated. After all, who wouldn’t look forward to being allowed to wear make-up, dress up, stay up past your bedtime, and on top of that, be able to receive large amounts of candy all for yourself? The point is, that from a young age, we’ve established emotion associated with Halloween; that very feeling has followed us up to our college years. As we’ve grown throughout the years, our costume selection has varied. However, as the years continue, the themes of Halloween costumes have taken a slight shift in direction.
Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary, demonic, daunting, bloody, and the like. This original scary theme is by no mistake. The ancient Celts believed witches, ghouls, and goblins roamed the countryside on the night of October 31. In attempt to scare and trick them, the Celts would wear scary masks and costumes when walking outside that night. Naturally over the years, we have separated from this reasoning and now have more than just these scary costumes to choose from. Costumes now vary from childhood cartoon characters, assorted candies, fictional beings (fairies, mermaids, etc.), sexy authority figures, comedic costumes and celebrities.
Over the past year, there have been many famous celebrity scandals, well- known events, or just well recognized costume themes derived from the like. Dazzle your costume with these ideas for this Halloween.
Girls:
Lady Gaga – We all know Lady Gaga for her controversial performance at the VMA awards, along with her famous choice of outfits. Her wardrobe throughout the length of her career leaves the door open for endless costume choices this year.
Lindsay Lohan – Starting out as a child star, Lindsay Lohan has definitely become a media favorite. Her constant drug and alcohol addictions keep her in the spotlight
Gossip Girl characters – Every Monday night, many tune in to watch the next anticipated episode in the hit series Gossip Girl. Become just as controversial as Blair with this costume hit!
Kate Gosselin – Kate is no stranger to the tabloids. Become this mother of eight for Halloween without Jon!
Guys:
Michael Jackson- Despite his untimely death this year, this legendary King of Pop will always be a costume success.
President Barack Obama – The most powerful man in the United States, our president himself. Have fun being the man in charge.
Coach Calipari – Who wouldn’t want to be the highest paid college basketball coach in the country? Get a head start on coaching our Cats through this basketball season.
Lil’ Wayne – Do you want to be the best rapper alive? Achieve this look with dreads, sunglasses, a grill, and that mysterious white Styrofoam cup.
Injured Tim Tebow – Relive the classic injury of Tim Tebow from the UK vs. Florida game.
Couples:
Kanye West and Taylor Swift – Interrupt everyone’s Halloween party with this controversial VMA duo.
Beyonce and Jay-Z – Hip- hop’s favorite couple.
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom – These newlyweds are far from rookies in the celebrity world. Set the record straight if this marriage will last.
Alternatives:
Twilight characters- This successful book and movie was a hit! Don’t just be any vampire for Halloween.
Wizard of Oz characters- Celebrate the Wizard of Oz’s 70th anniversary with your costume.
With all of these media costume ideas, there is no reason for you not to get the tabloids talking with your Halloween costume this year.
This article is from kykernel.com
Monday, October 19, 2009
Lesser Halloween Spending This Year
NEWINGTON — Out of work but not holiday cheer, Stacy Polk says tough economic times won't scare her out of enjoying Halloween.
"We were coming here with the thought of spending $50," she said Thursday, standing outside of iParty on Woodbury Avenue. "Honestly money's so tight right now we don't have enough to spend a lot on a good Halloween costume. Jobs are really hard to find."
She's not alone, according to other shoppers and the National Retail Federation. The nation's largest retail trade association commissioned a study that found consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 on the holiday this year, down from $66.54 last year, due to the economy.
Even so, total holiday spending is expected to reach $4.75 billion nationally, according to the federation.
With money tight but the allure of Halloween still strong, shoppers at iParty said they were trying to be more creative this year, checking several stores and websites before settling on decorations and a costume.
"You start looking at how you can incorporate your own and add the extra accessories to spruce it up and make it just as nice," said Carol Murphy, 50, from Stratham. "I think everybody is more cost-effective. I guess you try to be more creative not just for fun, but because we need to. We need to be able to mix and match rather than just pick up the already made costume, and it's more interesting that way too."
Meagan Cowan said she wants to enjoy the holiday even if it means shopping around more. That meant checking out three farms to find pumpkins before buying a batch for $37.
"We're definitely shopping around. Last year I didn't think twice," said the 21-year-old Dover resident, who dressed up as Little Bo Peep, as in the nursery rhyme character who lost her sheep. "I probably spent $80 on my costume alone."
Erica Westover, a 20-year-old from Rochester, picked up a second job to make ends meet and she said she's protective of her money.
"But with Halloween we go all out. We try to get as much stuff as possible," he said. "And my 21st birthday is coming up, so I have to have a really sweet party this year."
At Gauthier's Palace of Party Supplies in Rochester, owner Ginny Gauthier said no matter how important the occasion, this isn't a year for spending a lot of money on costumes and candy.
"People are trying to figure out where to get the next mortgage payment," she said. "I think you will find people will be trying to figure out what they did when they were younger," and bed sheets morphed into ghosts.
"I think you will see a lot of people buying cheap costumes for their kids at Wal-Mart," said Liz Dyer, manager at Piece O' Cake in Somersworth.
Back at iParty, Nick Polk, 19, was shopping with his wife, Stacy, 20, and her daughter Payton Fossa, 2, and her sister Stephanie Fossa, who is 18. He said he's been out of work since leaving a food processing job in Florida five months ago and wasn't looking to spend a lot on "something you're only wearing for like five hours."
But, he said, "you want to have a good time."
Besides, his wife said, Halloween is "the one time a year you get to be someone else." This year that means being a modern-day Marilyn Monroe.
She was eyeing a $24 wig fashioned in Monroe's style, but her husband didn't approve because of the cost. She ended up with a $10 blonde, fluffy wig, $6 eyelashes and a costume dress for around $20. He settled on the $12 wig inspired by reggae legend Bob Marley.
Little Payton already had her ladybug costume before they visited the store.
Maggie Perusse, the iParty store manager, said shoppers don't come in discussing their finances.
"We train people who work in the stores to listen to the customers, because a lot of times they won't tell ya. It's what's between the lines," she said. "And then you can steer them in the right direction."
The store offers something for every budget, she said, and costumes range from about $10 to $50. There's the Amelia Earhart "instant disguise kit" for $13, donkey ears and teeth for $7 and extra thick blood for $1.99, which could go well with $15 vampire teeth.
If none of those work, there are Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama masks, and costumes for aspiring hippies, gangsters, musical headbangers, gladiators, pirates, science fiction favorites and a getup for one of Santa's elves, which the package says is for those "Elegant Moments."
This article is from www.fosters.com
"We were coming here with the thought of spending $50," she said Thursday, standing outside of iParty on Woodbury Avenue. "Honestly money's so tight right now we don't have enough to spend a lot on a good Halloween costume. Jobs are really hard to find."
She's not alone, according to other shoppers and the National Retail Federation. The nation's largest retail trade association commissioned a study that found consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 on the holiday this year, down from $66.54 last year, due to the economy.
Even so, total holiday spending is expected to reach $4.75 billion nationally, according to the federation.
With money tight but the allure of Halloween still strong, shoppers at iParty said they were trying to be more creative this year, checking several stores and websites before settling on decorations and a costume.
"You start looking at how you can incorporate your own and add the extra accessories to spruce it up and make it just as nice," said Carol Murphy, 50, from Stratham. "I think everybody is more cost-effective. I guess you try to be more creative not just for fun, but because we need to. We need to be able to mix and match rather than just pick up the already made costume, and it's more interesting that way too."
Meagan Cowan said she wants to enjoy the holiday even if it means shopping around more. That meant checking out three farms to find pumpkins before buying a batch for $37.
"We're definitely shopping around. Last year I didn't think twice," said the 21-year-old Dover resident, who dressed up as Little Bo Peep, as in the nursery rhyme character who lost her sheep. "I probably spent $80 on my costume alone."
Erica Westover, a 20-year-old from Rochester, picked up a second job to make ends meet and she said she's protective of her money.
"But with Halloween we go all out. We try to get as much stuff as possible," he said. "And my 21st birthday is coming up, so I have to have a really sweet party this year."
At Gauthier's Palace of Party Supplies in Rochester, owner Ginny Gauthier said no matter how important the occasion, this isn't a year for spending a lot of money on costumes and candy.
"People are trying to figure out where to get the next mortgage payment," she said. "I think you will find people will be trying to figure out what they did when they were younger," and bed sheets morphed into ghosts.
"I think you will see a lot of people buying cheap costumes for their kids at Wal-Mart," said Liz Dyer, manager at Piece O' Cake in Somersworth.
Back at iParty, Nick Polk, 19, was shopping with his wife, Stacy, 20, and her daughter Payton Fossa, 2, and her sister Stephanie Fossa, who is 18. He said he's been out of work since leaving a food processing job in Florida five months ago and wasn't looking to spend a lot on "something you're only wearing for like five hours."
But, he said, "you want to have a good time."
Besides, his wife said, Halloween is "the one time a year you get to be someone else." This year that means being a modern-day Marilyn Monroe.
She was eyeing a $24 wig fashioned in Monroe's style, but her husband didn't approve because of the cost. She ended up with a $10 blonde, fluffy wig, $6 eyelashes and a costume dress for around $20. He settled on the $12 wig inspired by reggae legend Bob Marley.
Little Payton already had her ladybug costume before they visited the store.
Maggie Perusse, the iParty store manager, said shoppers don't come in discussing their finances.
"We train people who work in the stores to listen to the customers, because a lot of times they won't tell ya. It's what's between the lines," she said. "And then you can steer them in the right direction."
The store offers something for every budget, she said, and costumes range from about $10 to $50. There's the Amelia Earhart "instant disguise kit" for $13, donkey ears and teeth for $7 and extra thick blood for $1.99, which could go well with $15 vampire teeth.
If none of those work, there are Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama masks, and costumes for aspiring hippies, gangsters, musical headbangers, gladiators, pirates, science fiction favorites and a getup for one of Santa's elves, which the package says is for those "Elegant Moments."
This article is from www.fosters.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Easy and Cheap Halloween Costumes
Are you lazy? Cheap? Prone to procrastination? All of the above? If so, one or these easy and inexpensive costume ideas may be right for you or your kids
1. "Jay Crew." One of eight last-minute ideas from Real Simple. For Jay, you simply wear a polo shirt and khakis, and stick a name tag on that reads "Jay Crew."
2. A Grandma. Becoming an old person: Now that's scary.
3. Construction Worker, one of FamilyFun's Last Minute Kids Costumes. Easy so long as you already have the plastic hard hat in your toy box or basement somewhere. This is easily the easiest and cheapest outfits of all the members of the Village People.
4. Fireman. Again, you probably have this stuff in your house already. From a list of Storybook Costumes from Scholastic Parent.
5. A Recyclable. Wear a trash bag and adorn with empty bottles and cans—which you can later turn in for money.
6. Just about anything from Savers, or any secondhand store, really.
7. The Nerd. Some of us require less "dressing up" than others. A just-as-easy, just-as-dorky alternative here: the tourist. Hawaiian shirt, camera, sunglasses, and you're there—fanny pack optional.
8. Ghost, '50s Character, and the Joker are among WiseBread's Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes.
9. Backwards Man. I haven't seen this one anywhere, so I'll offer it up. It's my idea—or rather, I stole it from a college roommate who came up with it in a stroke of last-minute brilliance as we were on our way out the door to a party. It's free too: You simply put on a shirt and a pair of pants backwards, then put a couple of T-shirts or other padding into the pant's butt, to give yourself some "back." Presto! You're done. To impress partygoers and trick-or-treaters with your cleverness, tell everyone you're "ass-backwards."
10. Cheap Store-Bought Costume. Cheating? Perhaps, but you do what you gotta do. Use the coupon code PUMPKIN to get 20% off costumes at Walgreens.
SOURCE
1. "Jay Crew." One of eight last-minute ideas from Real Simple. For Jay, you simply wear a polo shirt and khakis, and stick a name tag on that reads "Jay Crew."
2. A Grandma. Becoming an old person: Now that's scary.
3. Construction Worker, one of FamilyFun's Last Minute Kids Costumes. Easy so long as you already have the plastic hard hat in your toy box or basement somewhere. This is easily the easiest and cheapest outfits of all the members of the Village People.
4. Fireman. Again, you probably have this stuff in your house already. From a list of Storybook Costumes from Scholastic Parent.
5. A Recyclable. Wear a trash bag and adorn with empty bottles and cans—which you can later turn in for money.
6. Just about anything from Savers, or any secondhand store, really.
7. The Nerd. Some of us require less "dressing up" than others. A just-as-easy, just-as-dorky alternative here: the tourist. Hawaiian shirt, camera, sunglasses, and you're there—fanny pack optional.
8. Ghost, '50s Character, and the Joker are among WiseBread's Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes.
9. Backwards Man. I haven't seen this one anywhere, so I'll offer it up. It's my idea—or rather, I stole it from a college roommate who came up with it in a stroke of last-minute brilliance as we were on our way out the door to a party. It's free too: You simply put on a shirt and a pair of pants backwards, then put a couple of T-shirts or other padding into the pant's butt, to give yourself some "back." Presto! You're done. To impress partygoers and trick-or-treaters with your cleverness, tell everyone you're "ass-backwards."
10. Cheap Store-Bought Costume. Cheating? Perhaps, but you do what you gotta do. Use the coupon code PUMPKIN to get 20% off costumes at Walgreens.
SOURCE
Friday, October 16, 2009
List of Halloween Happenings
Here are lists of Halloween happenings. Find one near you. Enjoy. Happy Halloween!
Pumpkin Patch
The Butler Elementary PTO Pumpkin Patch will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 19-23, 27-30; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17, 24, 26; and 12 to 4 p.m. Oct. 18, 25. Pumpkins $5-$10. Popcorn and drinks will be sold on Saturdays and Sundays only. An area will be available for taking family pictures. Park in the main parking lot of the school.
Halloween at Uptown Station
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge haunted house, The Dark, will open at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October at Uptown Station. Ticket prices are $7 with a VIP, cut the line ticket at $12. The Dark Kids’ Day will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24.
Other activities on Oct. 24 are:
- 'Howl-O-Ween,' to open the new off-leash dog park Central Bark, will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 24. There will be a doggie costume contest and participants will receive a goodie bag filled with treats from '3 Dogs & a Chick.'
- Meigs Middle School Dance Team will perform at 6 p.m.
- Kids’ movie, Monster House, at 6:30 p.m. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
- Adults watch “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 10 p.m.
Fort Walton Beach Jaycees Haunted House
The Fort Walton Beach Jaycees 2009 Haunted House will be held at 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night and Oct. 22, 28 and 29 at Sunsations on U.S. 98 next to Fudpucker’s in Destin.
Haunted House
The United States Coast Guard haunted house will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 23, 24, 29 and 30 at Coast Guard Station Destin, 2000 Miracle Strip Parkway in Destin. Coast Guard vessels will be on display and there will be a kids bounce area. Admission cost, requested but not required, is an item of non-perishable food per person or cash donation. All proceeds will go to Destin Harvest.
Trunk or Treat Fall Festival
Good News United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach will have its Fall Festival Trunk-or-Treat from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Children of all ages are welcome to attend and trunk-or-treat, bounce or slide on the inflatables, make crafts and play games. This is a free event, but donations will be accepted. There will be a $1 charge for hot dogs and paint-a-pumpkin. Call 622-9191, Ext. 308 or e-mail dschaumann@goodnewsumc.net
Fall Festival and Jack-O-Lantern Contest
The City of Destin's Ninth Annual Fall Festival will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Destin Community Center. There will be booths with games and activities, a cakewalk, a children’s costume contest at 6 p.m., Jack-o-Lantern Contest, a spacewalk/slide, food for sale, and candy for Trick-or-Treat. Tickets will be on sale for 4 for a $1 with most booths costing one ticket.
All carved pumpkins are to be dropped off before 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26 to be judged by 5 p.m. The pumpkins will be lit and on display during the Fall Festival. All pumpkins not picked up by 8 p.m. Oct. 27 will be discarded. Call 654-5184.
‘Lil Goblins Spooky Halloween Costume Contest
For children ages 1-12, the Halloween costume contest will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 in Center Plaza at Destin Commons. Prizes will be awarded by age groups for the scariest, cutest and most original costumes.
Registration begins at 2 p.m. with contest at 3 p.m. Registration fee is $5 with all proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.
Trick or Treat Street at Baytowne
Merchants at The Village of Baytowne Wharf will be ready for trick or treaters from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Abrakadoole will be in the Events Plaza for children to decorate guitars to play with the DJ, who will play frighteningly good tunes from 6 to 8 p.m.
Magician Rick Moore performs a magic show featuring a Houdini Escape at 7:30 p.m. on the Events Plaza Stage and spooky fireworks light up the sky at 8 p.m.
The season’s debut of the Village’s outdoor ice skating rink will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $8 and skate rental is $2. Bring a coat for “Coats for Kids” and buy one ticket and get one free for the ice rink.
Orange Fest
Niceville First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches will host Orange Fest from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 on South Partin Drive in Niceville.
Trunk or treat, pumpkin patch, face painting, carnival games, balloons, hayrides, live music and more await the family at this free event. Food available for purchase.
Free shuttle bus service will be available to and from Ruckel Middle School’s parking lot every five minutes.
Participants are asked to bring a monetary donation and/or can of food for Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Sharing and Caring and Children in Crisis. Call 678-4621.
Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours
The Pensacola Historical Society hosts the 19th Annual Haunted House and Trolley Tours fundraiser Oct. 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Walking tours leave every 30 minutes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Trolley tours leave at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. All tours will leave from the Pensacola Historical Museum, 115 E. Zaragoza St., and will last one hour.
Walking tour tickets are $10/adults and $5/children 12 and under. Trolley tour tickets are $16/adults and $8/children 12 and under. Reservations and advanced payment are required. Call 595-1559.
Kids costume parade
The Destin Library’s annual Cuddlers and Toddlers Halloween Costume Parade for children 4 years and younger will be held at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29. Parents who have previously registered their children for the story-time program are encouraged to call the library at 837-8572 by Oct. 26 to sign up.
Family Fall Festival
Destiny Worship Center’s Family Fall Festival will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the church, 122 Poinciana Blvd. in Miramar Beach. Enjoy games, food, face painting, inflatables, a chili cook off and more.
Haunted History Tours
The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center presents The Haunted History Tours, based on authentic local history, folk stories and spooky downtown historic sites, at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Arrive 15 minutes prior to tour.
Cost is $8/adult and $5/child. On tour nights, tickets can be purchased starting at 6 p.m. outside the entrance to the Indian Temple Mound Museum where tours will begin. Pre-sale tickets are available during museum hours, and tours are limited to 50 people each. All proceeds raised from ticket sales support the programming and services of HPCC.
On Halloween Night, additional tickets to join a paranormal investigation and ghost hunt with Fort Walton Paranormal will be available for $10 each, all ages. The program will begin immediately following the conclusion of the 8:30 p.m. Haunted History Tour.
Halloween Bash
A pumpkin patch, kids’ costume contests, celebrity chef pumpkin carving contests and a Haunted Pub Crawl through the HarborWalk Village Oct. 31.
Monster Mash Bash
The Third Annual Monster Mash Bash will be held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 31 at The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. The event features full open bars, food and entertainment by Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sistas. Prizes will be given at the costume contest judged by the audience. Cost is $69/person or $129/couple.
A special party for children ages 5 to 12 will be held during the Monster Mash Bash. Cost is $39/child and includes dinner, drink and activities. For reservations, call 267-9500 or (800) 367-1271.
Halloween in Seaside
The Merchants of Seaside will have a fun-filled afternoon for the family from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 with trick-or-treating, games, contests and entertainment. In the Amphitheater, 30A Radio will spin terrifying tunes from the stage all afternoon long and Seaside REP actors will read spooky stories.
Also, hitch a ride on the Haunted Hayride traveling through Seaside. Pick up the hayride behind Heavenly Shortcakes on Quincy Circle.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Halloween Updates: Universal Studios Hollywood VS Knott's Berry Farm
The bloody writing is on the wall: Universal Studios Hollywood is this close to overtaking Knott’s Berry Farm for the top Halloween event in Southern California.
As in years past, it comes down to quality versus quantity: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights puts on a far better show, but Knott’s Halloween Haunt is still twice as big and far more established.
For 2009, Knott’s has 13 mazes, seven shows and three scare zones over 28 nights compared with Universal’s four mazes, two shows, six scare zones over 16 nights.
Up until a few years ago, Knott’s had a corner on the Halloween market in Southern California. Universal, which had attempted halfhearted Halloween events on and off since 1986, threw in the towel in 2000. Even Disneyland conceded the haunted holiday to its Orange County neighbor.
Then in 2006, Universal returned with a vengeance, and, since then, the movie and television theme park has had Knott’s in its crosshairs.
Universal has taken a decidedly different approach than Knott’s — relying on marquee movie monsters over generic vampire, alien and zombie themes, while significantly amping up the blood, guts and gore.
Universal’s formula worked well. Too well, in fact. The popularity of Halloween Horror Nights has resulted in too many people clogged into too few mazes over too few nights. The result: hour-long waits for traffic-jammed, meat-grinder mazes with no room for scares.
The ironic solution: Universal will never knock Knott’s off the Halloween hilltop until it offers more, more, more — more mazes, more shows, more nights.
Knott’s isn’t exactly shaking with fear. The Buena Park theme park still offers too much Halloween for just one night — even if Knott’s Scary Farm has grown a bit stale and staid in places.
After 37 years, the granddaddy of all Halloween events can’t get any bigger, but it can get better. And Knott’s officials have conceded as much — acknowledging Universal’s looming threat and vowing to focus more on quality over quantity.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter and Facebook.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
As in years past, it comes down to quality versus quantity: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights puts on a far better show, but Knott’s Halloween Haunt is still twice as big and far more established.
For 2009, Knott’s has 13 mazes, seven shows and three scare zones over 28 nights compared with Universal’s four mazes, two shows, six scare zones over 16 nights.
Up until a few years ago, Knott’s had a corner on the Halloween market in Southern California. Universal, which had attempted halfhearted Halloween events on and off since 1986, threw in the towel in 2000. Even Disneyland conceded the haunted holiday to its Orange County neighbor.
Then in 2006, Universal returned with a vengeance, and, since then, the movie and television theme park has had Knott’s in its crosshairs.
Universal has taken a decidedly different approach than Knott’s — relying on marquee movie monsters over generic vampire, alien and zombie themes, while significantly amping up the blood, guts and gore.
Universal’s formula worked well. Too well, in fact. The popularity of Halloween Horror Nights has resulted in too many people clogged into too few mazes over too few nights. The result: hour-long waits for traffic-jammed, meat-grinder mazes with no room for scares.
The ironic solution: Universal will never knock Knott’s off the Halloween hilltop until it offers more, more, more — more mazes, more shows, more nights.
Knott’s isn’t exactly shaking with fear. The Buena Park theme park still offers too much Halloween for just one night — even if Knott’s Scary Farm has grown a bit stale and staid in places.
After 37 years, the granddaddy of all Halloween events can’t get any bigger, but it can get better. And Knott’s officials have conceded as much — acknowledging Universal’s looming threat and vowing to focus more on quality over quantity.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter and Facebook.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Popular Halloween Mask: The Madoff Halloween Mask
According to an October 12, 2009 NY Times article, " Trick or Treat: The Madoff Halloween Mask ," Halloween masks with the face of Bernard L. Madoff are selling very well at stores and on web sites. Rubie’s Costume Company makes a rubber Madoff mask. As stated in the NY Times article, the store "has sold 15,000 of them to stores across the country and expects more sales in the coming weeks, according to The Associated Press."
What's it about the Madoff masks at retail stores and on Web sites that are selling so fast, flying off the shelves? Is it the facial expression? Is the mask a real face image of Madoff, a stereotype, or a caricature? See the CBS article, Madoff Mask A Natural for Halloween .
The actual inmate, Bernard L. Madoff pleaded guilty in March to a Ponzi scheme that lasted decades and cost investors tens of billions of dollars. He is serving a 150-year prison sentence.
Howard Beige, an executive vice president with Rubies, told The Associated Press "that he thought the Madoff mask would be outsold by those for Michael Jackson and the Super Mario Brothers."
Now, let's look at the idea of making Halloween masks out of real people in the news. Is there something more behind the look of the mask, perhaps an ethnic stereotype in portraying his particular facial features?
Real people, particularly older women, don't like their faces portrayed as Halloween masks, perhaps with or without exaggerations of realistic features of aging or ethnicities, as witches, but not as cute elves or angels. Masks that portray older women as witches are done to remind young people that older women whose faces show the aging process, found exaggerated in most witch's masks, also remind younger males of their own mortality.
See Bernie Madoff's mug shot . With the Madoff mask, it's unlike most of the presidential or celebrity masks sold on Halloween because it shows Madoff as an ethnic stereotype of specific Dinaric and Armenoid features native to the Adriatic, N. Indian, and Anatolian regions, Southeast Europe, Crete, the Greek Island, Southern Italy, and/or Asia Minor and Iran. The mask particularly captures the space between the eyes, the face length, and the convexity of the features. The mask, in fact, looks like Madoff's mug shot.
It's more of an ethnic stereotypical mask than a Halloween mask, say, compared to the facial expressions portrayed in the Nixon masks or Regan masks of several decades ago that were made more to look somewhat more like smiling cartoon figures or sometimes even closer in the grin to trolls and elves.
Then again, it's the purpose of Halloween, according to some stores, to make fun of celebrities and people in the news. But nobody really makes many different Halloween masks from the real faces of living prison inmates.
So why is Madoff's facial features selling like hotcakes as a Halloween mask? Is it because the profile is supposed to be comical or an ethnic stereotype that people associate in their minds with the usual features of witch's masks? What do you think of when you first see a Madoff rubber Halloween mask? What kind of first impression does it make? Does it link the idea or image of a Ponzi scheme person to a particular group of people? Shame. Or do you just take it in stride as part of Halloween? What does the mask make you feel like at the gut level?
Should Halloween masks be funny or frightening or both? Should masks be realistic? Should masks focus on celebrity faces say, compared to prison inmates currently serving time? Are masks supposed to be about making you laugh more than frighening you--even costumes are supposed to be about Halloween and portray the haunted, the shadows, and the element of surprise? Or should masks be comical and make you laugh?
How about one of those elaborate and elegant masks worn at 18th century Venice balls instead? Or a Halloween mask that makes you feel adored? Regardless of whether you buy the mask, ask yourself this question: Would you buy it if you or your dad looked almost exactly like Madoff, a very common facial type and expression in the USA and Europe?
What kind of Halloween mask would you really like to wear as your alter ego? Think about it, what makes the Madoff Halloween mask popular as a best seller? It seems everyone wants one.
This article is from www.groundreport.com
What's it about the Madoff masks at retail stores and on Web sites that are selling so fast, flying off the shelves? Is it the facial expression? Is the mask a real face image of Madoff, a stereotype, or a caricature? See the CBS article, Madoff Mask A Natural for Halloween .
The actual inmate, Bernard L. Madoff pleaded guilty in March to a Ponzi scheme that lasted decades and cost investors tens of billions of dollars. He is serving a 150-year prison sentence.
Howard Beige, an executive vice president with Rubies, told The Associated Press "that he thought the Madoff mask would be outsold by those for Michael Jackson and the Super Mario Brothers."
Now, let's look at the idea of making Halloween masks out of real people in the news. Is there something more behind the look of the mask, perhaps an ethnic stereotype in portraying his particular facial features?
Real people, particularly older women, don't like their faces portrayed as Halloween masks, perhaps with or without exaggerations of realistic features of aging or ethnicities, as witches, but not as cute elves or angels. Masks that portray older women as witches are done to remind young people that older women whose faces show the aging process, found exaggerated in most witch's masks, also remind younger males of their own mortality.
See Bernie Madoff's mug shot . With the Madoff mask, it's unlike most of the presidential or celebrity masks sold on Halloween because it shows Madoff as an ethnic stereotype of specific Dinaric and Armenoid features native to the Adriatic, N. Indian, and Anatolian regions, Southeast Europe, Crete, the Greek Island, Southern Italy, and/or Asia Minor and Iran. The mask particularly captures the space between the eyes, the face length, and the convexity of the features. The mask, in fact, looks like Madoff's mug shot.
It's more of an ethnic stereotypical mask than a Halloween mask, say, compared to the facial expressions portrayed in the Nixon masks or Regan masks of several decades ago that were made more to look somewhat more like smiling cartoon figures or sometimes even closer in the grin to trolls and elves.
Then again, it's the purpose of Halloween, according to some stores, to make fun of celebrities and people in the news. But nobody really makes many different Halloween masks from the real faces of living prison inmates.
So why is Madoff's facial features selling like hotcakes as a Halloween mask? Is it because the profile is supposed to be comical or an ethnic stereotype that people associate in their minds with the usual features of witch's masks? What do you think of when you first see a Madoff rubber Halloween mask? What kind of first impression does it make? Does it link the idea or image of a Ponzi scheme person to a particular group of people? Shame. Or do you just take it in stride as part of Halloween? What does the mask make you feel like at the gut level?
Should Halloween masks be funny or frightening or both? Should masks be realistic? Should masks focus on celebrity faces say, compared to prison inmates currently serving time? Are masks supposed to be about making you laugh more than frighening you--even costumes are supposed to be about Halloween and portray the haunted, the shadows, and the element of surprise? Or should masks be comical and make you laugh?
How about one of those elaborate and elegant masks worn at 18th century Venice balls instead? Or a Halloween mask that makes you feel adored? Regardless of whether you buy the mask, ask yourself this question: Would you buy it if you or your dad looked almost exactly like Madoff, a very common facial type and expression in the USA and Europe?
What kind of Halloween mask would you really like to wear as your alter ego? Think about it, what makes the Madoff Halloween mask popular as a best seller? It seems everyone wants one.
This article is from www.groundreport.com
Friday, October 9, 2009
Halloween Holiday Trivia
In three weeks time, Halloween will come again. As you may know, Halloween is considered as one of the most captivating holidays often celebrated by children and adults. The element of surprise makes it fun and unpredictable. Enlighten yourself with Halloween trivia and fun facts to enjoy the holiday even more. Take the trivia and make a quiz for your next party!
* Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
* Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
* Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings!
* Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
* Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
* The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
* Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
* Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
* Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
* Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
* Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.
* Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
* Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
* Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings!
* Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
* Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
* The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
* Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
* Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
* Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
* Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
* Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Perfect Halloween Makeup
I don't think that you should have to buy a full Halloween makeup kit if you don't want to. Halloween's coming up, and when you check out all the shops that pop up around this time of year, they always have an impressive set of grease paints and little sponges--for a price. Why not cut some corners and save?
Here are some top Halloween makeup tricks for you to test out, but keep one thing in mind--these products should be patch tested on your inner arm before you apply them all over your face. If you don't do that, you could end up with a horrific Halloween face after your makeup comes off, too!
Dark Circles: Do you need a Dead Bride or Ghostly Cheerleader face? Forget the expensive makeup and simply pick up Wet 'n' Wild eyeshadow and eyeliner, and go to town smudging and smearing. You'll save around $5 when you pick up $1/each tools at the drugstore.
Homemade Blood: This is one of the biggest rip-offs out there, because it is so easy to make. Combine half a bottle of light corn syrup with a dribble of hot water for the proper consistency, and then add one teaspoon of dish detergent and drops of red food coloring. You can store this in the fridge, and to use it, simply apply Vaseline or cold cream to your face first, and then smear away. Grotesque!
Bruises: Bruises do not need to be crafted with a special kit, either. Buy cheap eyeshadow in black, green, and dark blue, or grab some of your own that you don't like or never use. Add blotches of blue with your fingertips, touching it up with the black and green.
Halloween on a budget really isn't too bad, and you don't have to be a ghost, either.
Choosing a Pumpkin for the Halloween
Legend traces pumpkin provenance, at least the jack-o’-lantern variety, to Ireland and Scotland. Youngsters there hollowed out turnips, placing candles or live embers inside before going door to door begging for pennies at Halloween.
The Irish and Scottish families who emigrated to America brought the tradition with them, but they replaced the turnips with pumpkins, which, being native to the New World, were plentiful. They quickly learned that the big, bright orange globes were exponentially easier to carve than turnips.
Legend or no legend, hundreds of pumpkin pickers and choosers who descended on Kingsway Pumpkin Farm Saturday afternoon were looking for the ultimate jack-o’-lantern candidate.
“We want one big as we can find,” declared Mark Britton of Massillon, surrounded by his partner, Kristie Mark, and her sons, Dylan, 8, and Tyler, 5. Kristie said she had been taking her sons to Kingsway each autumn since she accompanied a preschool class there three years ago.
Several groups of the Portage County chapter of Big Brothers and Sisters were enjoying the corn maze and the farm animals. Julie Arnold , a caseworker for the organization, was accompanied by a young friend, J.T. Wilson, who looked anxious to jump into the fray.
The scene was idyllic. Sunshine had broken through earlier clouds. A large herd of Holstein cows grazed behind whitewashed fencing.
Owners Mary and Lloyd King and their 28-year-old son, Kevin, made the acreage Kevin now calls home with wife Brittany into a virtual child’s haven with upside-down scarecrows, decorated gazebos, a hut where kids could husk corn and several hay wagons at the ready for rides to a distant pumpkin patch, where riders jump off to pick their own.
“We don’t have any Halloween scary stuff here. We want it to be nonscary and geared toward the kids,” Kevin explained.
He said his mom was the talented artist who painted the signs welcoming one and all. She didn’t miss a beat, including one that read, “Free kittens and cats.” She also was the one who planted the first small field of pumpkins in 1990 and sold them in the family’s front yard.
Though national news reports predicted large pumpkins would be rare this year, there was no shortage at Kingsway. Kevin said his family’s 30-acre planting yielded plenty of traffic-stopping big boys.
“Places like the Carolinas, they say they don’t have any, but we had a good crop,” he added.
Pumpkin choices ran the gamut from three-for-$1 minis that could hide in the palm of a man’s hand to hulking $9 ones. In between were all sizes and shapes along with pie pumpkins, squashes and gourds.
The difference between pie pumpkins and the ones that get faces carved and a candle for Halloween? Ask Mary or Kevin and they’ll stop what they’re doing to explain. A pie pumpkin depends on texture and flavor to gain plaudits, while a carving pumpkin is all about shape and show.
PUMPKIN DOS
Carefully inspect your prospective pumpkin, especially the bottom where it’s been sitting on cold, damp ground. Even a nick, let alone a bruise, begins the rotting process.
Tap a carving pumpkin. You should hear a hollow sound. Then lift it. If it is a strain, then you can count on struggling to carve through thick walls.
Place your chosen pumpkin on a level surface to see if it can sit securely by itself.
Consider a white pumpkin for both jack-o’-lanterns and pies.
To give your carved pumpkin longer life, keep it in a cool spot and out of direct sunlight. And if the weatherman is predicting frost, take it inside for the night.
For pies, choose a smaller pie pumpkin, usually under eight pounds.
PUMPKIN DON’TS
Never pick up or carry a pumpkin by its stem. It breaks easily and leaves the pumpkin with a wound that welcomes infection and rot.
For pies, don’t turn your back on a pumpkin with a dull shell. That means it has aged a bit but its flesh may be sweeter than its younger cousins.
Don’t rule out winter squash if you can’t find a pie pumpkin you like.
PLACES TO GO FOR PUMPKINS AND FUN
STARK COUNTY
The Irish and Scottish families who emigrated to America brought the tradition with them, but they replaced the turnips with pumpkins, which, being native to the New World, were plentiful. They quickly learned that the big, bright orange globes were exponentially easier to carve than turnips.
Legend or no legend, hundreds of pumpkin pickers and choosers who descended on Kingsway Pumpkin Farm Saturday afternoon were looking for the ultimate jack-o’-lantern candidate.
“We want one big as we can find,” declared Mark Britton of Massillon, surrounded by his partner, Kristie Mark, and her sons, Dylan, 8, and Tyler, 5. Kristie said she had been taking her sons to Kingsway each autumn since she accompanied a preschool class there three years ago.
Several groups of the Portage County chapter of Big Brothers and Sisters were enjoying the corn maze and the farm animals. Julie Arnold , a caseworker for the organization, was accompanied by a young friend, J.T. Wilson, who looked anxious to jump into the fray.
The scene was idyllic. Sunshine had broken through earlier clouds. A large herd of Holstein cows grazed behind whitewashed fencing.
Owners Mary and Lloyd King and their 28-year-old son, Kevin, made the acreage Kevin now calls home with wife Brittany into a virtual child’s haven with upside-down scarecrows, decorated gazebos, a hut where kids could husk corn and several hay wagons at the ready for rides to a distant pumpkin patch, where riders jump off to pick their own.
“We don’t have any Halloween scary stuff here. We want it to be nonscary and geared toward the kids,” Kevin explained.
He said his mom was the talented artist who painted the signs welcoming one and all. She didn’t miss a beat, including one that read, “Free kittens and cats.” She also was the one who planted the first small field of pumpkins in 1990 and sold them in the family’s front yard.
Though national news reports predicted large pumpkins would be rare this year, there was no shortage at Kingsway. Kevin said his family’s 30-acre planting yielded plenty of traffic-stopping big boys.
“Places like the Carolinas, they say they don’t have any, but we had a good crop,” he added.
Pumpkin choices ran the gamut from three-for-$1 minis that could hide in the palm of a man’s hand to hulking $9 ones. In between were all sizes and shapes along with pie pumpkins, squashes and gourds.
The difference between pie pumpkins and the ones that get faces carved and a candle for Halloween? Ask Mary or Kevin and they’ll stop what they’re doing to explain. A pie pumpkin depends on texture and flavor to gain plaudits, while a carving pumpkin is all about shape and show.
PUMPKIN DOS
Carefully inspect your prospective pumpkin, especially the bottom where it’s been sitting on cold, damp ground. Even a nick, let alone a bruise, begins the rotting process.
Tap a carving pumpkin. You should hear a hollow sound. Then lift it. If it is a strain, then you can count on struggling to carve through thick walls.
Place your chosen pumpkin on a level surface to see if it can sit securely by itself.
Consider a white pumpkin for both jack-o’-lanterns and pies.
To give your carved pumpkin longer life, keep it in a cool spot and out of direct sunlight. And if the weatherman is predicting frost, take it inside for the night.
For pies, choose a smaller pie pumpkin, usually under eight pounds.
PUMPKIN DON’TS
Never pick up or carry a pumpkin by its stem. It breaks easily and leaves the pumpkin with a wound that welcomes infection and rot.
For pies, don’t turn your back on a pumpkin with a dull shell. That means it has aged a bit but its flesh may be sweeter than its younger cousins.
Don’t rule out winter squash if you can’t find a pie pumpkin you like.
PLACES TO GO FOR PUMPKINS AND FUN
STARK COUNTY
Adam’s Strawberry and Pumpkin Patch, 10123 Lawndell Road, Navarre. (330) 767-4109. Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m.. Tractor-drawn wagon takes you to the patch or you can walk.
Kingsway Pumpkin Farm, 1555 Andrews St. NE, Lake Township, (330) 877-6241. Daily, 2-6 p.m. Pumpkins, corn maze, mini maze, straw tunnel, corn slide, barrel train, hayrides and farm animals.
Maize Valley, 6193 Edison St. NE, Marlboro Township. (330) 877-8344. Pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, farm animals, parties, group gatherings and a pumpkin cannon.
Nickajack Farms, 2955 Manchester Ave. NW (state Route 93), Lawrence Township, (330) 323-9714. Pumpkins, train rides, corn maze, child-sized hay-bale maze, tractor-pulled hayrides, honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, pony rides, petting zoo and farm animals.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Bender’s Farm, 3725 Minor Road, Copley, (330) 666-1455. Pumpkins, corn maze, child-sized hay-bale maze, tractor-pulled hayrides, farm market and farm animals.
Graf Growers, 1015 White Pond Dr., Akron, (330) 836-2727. Pumpkins and prepicked produce.
Please note that this list is only a partial listing of the area’s farm markets.
Source: www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/OHcleveland.php
Kingsway Pumpkin Farm, 1555 Andrews St. NE, Lake Township, (330) 877-6241. Daily, 2-6 p.m. Pumpkins, corn maze, mini maze, straw tunnel, corn slide, barrel train, hayrides and farm animals.
Maize Valley, 6193 Edison St. NE, Marlboro Township. (330) 877-8344. Pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, farm animals, parties, group gatherings and a pumpkin cannon.
Nickajack Farms, 2955 Manchester Ave. NW (state Route 93), Lawrence Township, (330) 323-9714. Pumpkins, train rides, corn maze, child-sized hay-bale maze, tractor-pulled hayrides, honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, pony rides, petting zoo and farm animals.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Bender’s Farm, 3725 Minor Road, Copley, (330) 666-1455. Pumpkins, corn maze, child-sized hay-bale maze, tractor-pulled hayrides, farm market and farm animals.
Graf Growers, 1015 White Pond Dr., Akron, (330) 836-2727. Pumpkins and prepicked produce.
Please note that this list is only a partial listing of the area’s farm markets.
Source: www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/OHcleveland.php
VIP Slots Casino Halloween Promotions
Halloween Day is far away, but the Halloween party has already begun at VIP Slots online casino. VIP Slots Casino has announced two promotions that will run throughout the month. One is an online tournament with a fantastic guaranteed prize pool and the other doubles loyalty points all month.
The online tournament is aptly called Halloween Party and is even more appropriately being played on the online slot game called Black Magic. Black Magic is an eerie looking slot with the starry night sky as a background to the reels. The symbols on the reels come straight out of a witch’s manual. Players will find a full moon, an owl, a bat, a snake, a skull, a grave and a witch’s hat. And controlling them all with her black magic is the witch. During the animations she is at her evil best, unleashing a torrent of green light with her bare hands.
The online tournament has already commenced and will run till October 31. It has a prize pool of $100,000, which runs very deep. The first place player will win $50,000 and the second place player will win $20,000. Thereafter the prize amounts begin to fall. Players in the 151st to 275th positions will win $10 each. The tournament has an entry fee of $10 and players can re-buy for the same amount. The popularity of the event can be gauged from the fact that over 500 players have already registered though the tournament is yet only in its fourth day. RUSTY25 heads the leader board as of now. Starting from only $300 he has managed to reach a tally of over $26,000.
VIP Slots online casino offers loyalty points to its players as they wager on the excellent spread of games offered. As players earn more loyalty points they move to higher VIP levels, starting from Amber all the way to Diamond. This Halloween VIP Slots online casino has a promotion that will make it easier for players to climb to higher VIP levels. All players who wager on the Monster Money slot game in October will earn double the loyalty points. Monster Money is themed on Frankenstein, who is a popular Halloween character. The slot game features various body parts of Frankenstein which the Professor joins together using nuts and bolts and then gives life to the body using an electric rod. The bonus game on the second screen in Monster Magic will keep players engrossed as well.
VIP Slots online casino is a leading brand of the English Harbour group. The software is fromVegas Technology and the casino is licensed in the gambling jurisdiction of Antigua and Barbuda. Halloween is a popular festival in the United States and VIP Slots online casino accepts American players. Hence they can take full advantage of these promotions.
from www.casinoadvisor.com
Share your room with a Ghost this Halloween
SHARE YOUR ROOM WITH A GHOST FOR HALLOWEEN
Regardless whether you believe in ghosts, haunted hotels can be a real hoot. Haunted America Tours has put together a Top 10 Haunted Hotels of the United States at www.hauntedamericatours.com/toptenhaunted/toptenhauntedhotels/.
Topping the list is Hotel Provincial in New Orleans, where guests report seeing the ghosts of soldiers in what was once a Confederate hospital. Building No. 5 is reputed to be the most haunted. (www.hotelprovincial.com; 800-535-7922; rates from $79). You can find reports of haunted hotels all over the country. To narrow the choices, look for one that embraces its ghostly brethren.
• The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo.: Horror novelist Stephen King stayed in room 217 while writingThe Shining, but rooms 408 and 418 are said to be the most haunted. The hotel offers the Historic Ghost Tour, which includes visits to haunted rooms and an underground tunnel, for $15 per person. Reservations are recommended; call 970-577-4110. (www.stanleyhotel.com; 800-976-1377; rates from $129).
• Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, Calif.: During select nights in October and on Nov. 1, the ocean liner-turned-hotel hosts ``Shipwreck: 15 Nights of Terror,'' which includes five scary mazes. Tickets start at $29. Get two tickets and accommodations on board for $225 with the Shipwreck ``RIP'' Overnight package. (www.queenmary.com; 800-437-2934).
• The Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Ark.: Once a cancer hospital and girls' school, this hotel is packed with ghosts, including a regular in room 218. Mediums conduct nightly tours for $18 per person, $7 for ages 5 and younger. (www.crescent-hotel.com; 877-342-9766; rates from $149)
• Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans: Capitalizing on its four resident ghosts, the hotel offers the Le Pavillon Haunted Experience with evening seance-inspired turndown service, two adult passes for the Ghost Expeditions French Quarter Investigation and more. Package starts at $149. (www.lepavillon.com; 800-535-9095)
• Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco: The hotel lobby is the starting point for the San Francisco Ghost Hunt, a walking tour that leaves daily at 7 p.m., except Tuesdays. Cost is $20 per person, $10 for ages 16 and younger (not recommended for 8 or younger). Reservations are not required; visit www.sfghosthunt.com or call 415-922-5590. (www.queenanne.com; 415-441-2828; rates from $159)
-- ANN TATKO-PETERSON
from www.miamiherald.com
Halloween destinations: safe trick-or-treat for Halloween at Sea World Orlando
It’s time to start thinking about plans for Halloween weekend. Since Halloween is on a Saturday this year, it is the perfect opportunity to get out of town and try something new.
Sea World is a fun and exciting place without any extra events or activities; add in some extra surprises for Halloween and it’s just “spooktacular!” You can also enjoy lighter crowds during this time.
Along with the festive decorations and events all around the park, you can also go trick-or-treating right in the heart of Key West!
This is a fabulous opportunity for you and your children to dress up in your best costume and have some fun!
Spooky shows, crazy creatures, and treats are all a part of the fun. This event is included with park admission.
The event takes place October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 30, and 31st beginning at 12 noon.
Don’t forget about the new Manta rollercoaster! Fly through the air with one of the most high-tech coasters in Florida!
In addition, you can ride Atlantis and Kraken- one of the top rollercoasters in the southeast!
Click here to buy tickets! Also note, Sea World admission is still free for Florida educators through December 2009!
from www.examiner.com
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