Love the Week-Long Costume Party

Press the “Like” button on Halloween in the City for me. I love the personal expression we’ll see this week – and weekend. The place is full of laughter, satire, and send-ups.  Dressing up also gives me a way to make statements about who I am; what I’m about; and what I like. Sometimes, there’s no need to read into it – it’s just about a little fun.  I know I’ll appreciate the cleverness and the mirth I’ll see around the campus and the City – Thanks.

What I do not appreciate about the annual affair is that so many folks think wearing a costume is a license to ill. Don’t know about you, but I take extra care to watch my back during the Halloween season – plenty of bad actors and bad behavior – disrespectful costumes; fighting ghouls; unfortunate tears; regretful comments; next-day missed commitments, and, generally upset people.  I’m especially weary – and tired of – the spirits who drink too much gruel and other beverages.  It tends to be the source of lots of unhappiness.  I hope these folks and their friends can keep it all in check; tasty; and, safe.

Here are my quick tips for a slammin’ Halloween week:

• Spend time thinking about what you want to be, but don’t turn into a stress case trying to figure it out – it’s not worth it;
• pace yourself. Plan for this year’s long season.  (My guess is many will start on Thursday night and end early morning on Tuesday – yipes!);
• contact your stylist – have her or him incorporate red (or scarlet) and white in your costume for Thursday and Friday;
• look after yourself;
• look after each other; and,
• have as much fun as you can stand.

And, of course, here’s the Groove While You Play Dress Up in Public Playlist:

• Start with Slim Gaillard’s Yip Roc Heresy to get you in the mood – it’s a bit spooky;
• Blackmagic – José James;
• Max Sedgley’s remix of Peter Gunn;
• Afrojack’s Manufactured Superstars & Jeziel Quintela Remix of Take Over Control;
• Weird Fishez – AmpLive;
• Boom – Anjulie            ;
• Got to listen to Britney Spears’ Toxic ;
• I Just Want to Be  – Cameo;
• Dance jam Some Like It Hot by Club des Belugas;
• Insane in the Brain – Cypress Hill;
• Diplo grooves Must Be A Devil;
• Grand Master Flash’s classic Adventures On The Wheels Of Steel;
• The club mix of Jace Everett’s Bad Things;
• A Spice Girls and Beastie Boys mashup called Wannabeastieboys;
• Numbers – Kraftwerk;
• Manu Dibango is old school, but Soul Makossa bumps;
• My Love (JBLOW Horse RMX) – Justin Timberlake;
• Scrillex’s Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites;
• Echoplex by Nine Inch Nails is scary; and,
• before you head out listen to Soul II Soul’s Back to Life – hope it’s not a premonition.

Be and stay safe.

Peace.