D.C.’s Frightastic Halloween Activities
Its the eve before “All Hallows Eve” and if you are like me, you’re scrambling to put a costume together. Your Heath Ledger Joker getup is looking a little wilted after five years, everyone this year with a foam finger is going to be Miley Cyrus and the little toilet paper you own would make for a pretty patchy mummy. Things look grim, but while your ensemble may turnout as appealing as a box of Good & Plentys (has anyone ever actually tasted these?), here are some king-size ideas about how to best celebrate this pagan holiday turned festival of candy.
D.C. has plenty to smile about this Halloween (Photo: Telegraph)
Trick-or-Treat Embassy Row
Down Massachusetts Avenue NW from the vice president’s home at the Naval Observatory to Dupont Circle, the world’s nations will open their doors for the geo-political trick-or-treaters of D.C. Revelers can bag cultural sweets while learning a thing or two about the countries they visit. Not all participate (France, Russia — boo), but its probably best to leave your eggs and tee-pee at home.
Night of the Living Zoo
Oct. 30, 6:30-10 p.m., the National Zoo will go bat sh*t crazy with a 21-and-older spectacle of fortune tellers, fire eaters, illusionists and even talking bats. Tickets ($20 FONZ members, $30 nonmembers) will get you after hours access to the small mammal house, the great ape house and reptile discovery center. Wow! There will be a cheeky monkey sideshow, which just sounds wrong and delightful, as well as food and witches brew available from D.C. food trucks.
Costume Parties
If you have been carefully crafting your Oct. 31 disguise, there will be many D.C. area costume parties to showcase at and maybe even take home some prize-winning treats and we’re not talking chocolate coins here either. The W Hotel is hosting a rooftop Halloween social (Oct. 31) with DJ Ghost and DJ Philipz spinning the monster mashes. Winners receive an overnight stay, champagne and breakfast in bed. The Mansion on O will open its 100 rooms to guests for an evening of Halloween treasure hunts, chocolate fountains, costume contests and dancing.
Richard is a freelance writer who enjoys building a healthy appetite with long runs around the city. When not logging the miles, he can be spotted training the palate at brunches, happy hours and food trucks.
