31 October 2008

Trick or Treat anyone?


In my list of things to worry about as a parent, Halloween doesn't appear at all. I remember the excitement and sugar highs of my childhood, but that was followed by quite literally decades of indifference. However this holiday does expose the weakness of downtown parentage, the lack of a critical mass of kids.

I know that in the past the folks in the Prospect Hill historic district have tried to have some festivities, but I never made it to them, and have heard nothing about them this year. So, if I limited myself to the neighborhood my son would be dressed up with no place to go. And that would be a true shame to the world at large, dressed in his penguin outfit (yes... I have become one of those parents).

Our solution is simple. One of our long-time friends has invited us year after year (well at least my wife, I have tagged along intermittently) to her neighborhood for trick or treating. It has become a tradition; we bring the Graeter's Pumpkin Ice Cream and Bittersweet, and she supplies the cute kids. Well for the second year, we are bringing a bonus cute kid. It is also great because it is the same 'burb my parents and sister live in, so we get to make the Grandparents and Aunt happy.

So I am curious, what do other City parents do for Halloween?

OK, I know the picture doesn't totally match, but it was the best Halloween-themed picture I have. It's what happens when a Polar Bear meets a pumpkin at Hallzooween.

15 comments:

scott d said...

we're grilling in the front yard and sharing the food with whoever stops by. i'm prepared with lots of food and candy.

my parents, my wife's parents, our siblings are all coming to our place. at least our family will be trick or treating on our street, and i'm guessing the smell of the grill will draw others as well.

Unknown said...

Have you all ever tried the Clifton Lantern Walk?? 1st Sunday after Halloween, so this year-- November 2, 5:30 pm. Meets and ends behind Annunciation Church and there will be cider, cookies, etc. Keller's IGA on Ludlow has some paper lanterns found between the cashiers and the cigarette case, or, when our kids were younger we took flashlights. It's a sweet event and should have good weather that evening. Have fun whatever you do

http://www.cliftoncommunity.org/calendarpage.cfm
or you can google Clifton Chronicle

CityKin said...

The lantern walk sounds excellent.

Also, the Mt Adams Moms group usually organizes an event that we have never gone to.

So no, we do not attempt to trick or treat in OTR! ...though I have seen some intrepid kids doing that, mostly going around to stores, not apartments.

Similar to you, bsherm, we have a developing tradition in which we go to our friends' house in Westwood and often have some potluck dinner.

Anonymous said...

We're in downtown Covington, and we will be driving to neighboring Newport to trick-or-treat near my daughter's school on Park Ave. It's quite the Halloween scene over there. Then we'll head back to our street where neighbors hold an annual block party with tents, food and candy.

Anonymous said...

My kid "goes to the country" and Halloween has started involving a visit to my parents' house & trick or treat with my Father (who is a GIANT kid). It also makes a nice fall break for her since it's 2 months or so after the start of our school year. We also always have a trip to the zoo - but that has just become less and less fun over the years.

Morris said...

I'll be sitting on my steps in Prospect Hill giving out candy. It's not the easiest place to trick or treat because of the hills, so I want to make sure that the kids get something.

Anonymous said...

Going to a Halloween party in Prospect Hill.

Mark Miller said...

I've given out the candy for 19 years now, and it's always the same. Hyde Park is racially diverse on Halloween like no other night. I try to live up to our reputation for giving out the good stuff.

There are 50 or so kids in our neighborhood, and we always see them. It's fun watching them grow up. But the imports make it a non-stop party. Car after car, dropping off and picking up kids, usually with a mom on the sidewalk following along and reminding their kids to say "Thank you" on the rare occassion that they forget. The costumes are interesting and creative, and everyone's having a good time. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

My 4 kids are all out with their friends. One in Oakley, two in Mt. Lookout, and who knows what AdamBomb is doing; he's not even home from practice yet.

Readers are cordially invited to stop by. Busken's down the street gives out pumpkin cookies, and four doors up we have 5 big Sam's-sized bags of candy to get rid of.

Happy Halloween!

Anonymous said...

Which end of the polar is that? It's scary that I can't tell whats what.

bsherm said...

Which end of the Polar? That would be the south pole... his crashed, and you can see the tip of his ear on the north pole...

Quimbob said...

Your kid dreese as a penguin, so you & the SO dress as a Mac and a PC ?

Mark Miller said...

Good one Quim.

bsherm said...

Didn't think of that. I could have pulled off a decent (albeit tall) John Hodgman, but I don't think my wife could have been smarmy enough to be the Mac. Plus, while she has more than enough knowledge, she does not have the passion to go that geek... :-)

Mark Miller said...

I had two little kids show up dressed as Obama.

Both had matching jacket and slacks, white shirt, and proper necktie. One of them had a nifty Obama mask too. He also had brite white tennis shoes.

Great costumes. I gave them more candy than anybody else. Didn't see any McCains though.

CityKin said...

The neighborhood we go to in Westwood I feel is too politically strained to go out as a political figure, and I didn't see any. It is usually such a beautiful night and everyone in such a good mood.

One house we stopped at is home to a guy from Madcap Puppets and he had a great costume, but he had to remove it because the little kids were too scared.