ML Interest Tag: goblin

Halloween Costume Shops That Rock (& Shock!)

by Jen Peterson

These local costume shops are perfect for outfitting your little ones this Halloween—and beyond

It’s time for your family to begin pondering one of life’s big questions: what should we be for Halloween?! And, these days, it’s not enough to come up with a one-night-only disguise for Halloween trick-or-treating. All October, dozens of family-friendly Halloween events promise to get kids into the spooky spirit, with costumes highly encouraged. Thankfully, we have you covered with some of our favorite local storefronts and pop-up places to shop for costumes, accessories, and festive décor. Whatever your family needs to complete their costumes, keep the Halloween spirit alive with the help of these shops—many of which are open year-round and can help you with many a theme-party looks!—in both the city and the ‘burbs.

For a Vintage Vibe: Lost Eras
The cool speakeasy of costume shops, Lost Eras is a hidden gem with a throwback twist. It houses a showroom full of vintage and antique collectibles, and is known for renting props and costumes to theater and movie sets (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Untouchables, and Public Enemies—yep, Robert De Niro wore their clothes!). At Halloween, they add to their stock and go gangbusters. If you’re looking for funky décor—Halloween or otherwise—Lost Eras has a lot to choose from.

1511 W. Howard St.
Rogers Park
Online: losteras.com

Related: Our Ultimate Guide to Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches

For Treasure Hunting: Chicago Costume Company
Don't let its small facade deceive you: Chicago Costume is crammed to the rafters with costumes, makeup, accessories and anything else you need to transform your look. Kiddies will go bananas for the selection of Disney, Star Wars, superhero, and comic book-themed costumes. This is one of just a handful of year-round costume shops so don’t panic when your little superhero needs a new costume in January. Too busy to shop in the store? Purchase online and have your costume shipped to you or pick it up for free at one of their two Chicago locations.

1120 W. Fullerton
Lincoln Park

4727 W. Montrose St.
Portage Park

Online: chicagocostume.com

For a Spooky Setting: Halloween Hallway
Known for its robust selection of adult costumes since it was founded in 2007, Halloween Hallway also caters to kids with four Chicago locations (River North, Wicker Park, Downtown, Lincoln Park) that are open during Halloween season only. We love the overabundance of accessories. They take decorating seriously and some of the décor (zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night) might be a little scary for little ones—yet super-duper cool for big kids!

Multiple locations
Online: halloweenhallway.com

Related: Field Day! Local Chicago Corn Mazes to Get Lost In

For the Procrastinator or Late-Night Shopper: Fantasy Costumes
This year-round costume headquarters is a Chicago classic and known for helpful service. So helpful, in fact, that for the last few days before Halloween, they stay open 24 hours a day to satisfy all those last-minute, eleventh-hour switcheroos that parents love so much. Kids will love the Fortnite costume selection—and with so many adult costumes, your whole family can dress up together! Fantasy Costumes goes above and beyond in the accessories department, so expect to find an enormous selection of makeup, wigs, masquerade masks, and other do-dads to complete the transformation.

4065 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Portage Park
Online: fantasycostumes.com

 

For Kids, Pumpkins & Pets: Spirit Halloween
North, south, east, west—no matter where you turn, Spirit is like your friendly-ghost neighbor. With costumes for everyone (including pets!), a dedicated pumpkin carving area, and a "glow" section of accessories that will last well beyond Halloween, you'll find everything you need here. Because many locations are seasonal brick-and-mortar stores, open only during the holiday time, check their site for up-to-date locations. 

Multiple locations
Online: spirithalloween.com

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Your Top-10 List of Incredible Campgrounds Is Here, Thanks to The Dyrt

by Sarah Shebek

There’s nothing like hitting the road, sleeping under the stars and spending screen-free time together. Camping is one of the ultimate family pastimes and with campgrounds literally everywhere, the hardest part of the trip might be deciding where to set up. The Dyrt, a resource for campground discovery, just released a new top-10 list of the best sites in the U.S. — and you’re likely closer to one than you think!

The top spot? Located in iconic Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Jenny Lake drew rave reviews for its picturesque lakeside setting. Once you’ve made camp, you can walk to great hiking trails, paddle on the lake and spot wildlife without having to get back in your car! Since it’s located in a national park, spots fill up fast, but you can reserve your nights up to six months in advance at $36 a night.

Here’s the full top 10 list from The Dyrt, including urban camping and tenting under palm trees:

10. Camp Rockaway — New York
9. Palo Duro Canyon State Park — Texas
8. Monte Sano State Park — Alabama
7. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort — Washington
6. Fort De Soto Campground — Florida
5. Split Rock State Park— Minnesota
4. Goblin Valley State Park— Utah
3. Alabama Hills Recreation Area — California
2. Havasu Falls — Arizona
1. Jenny Lake — Wyoming

Using a special algorithm, The Dyrt sifted through 45,000 reviewed campgrounds to select the top 10. Number of ratings and quality reviews were also heavily considered. You can use the website to find camping near you, review your favorite campgrounds and access tons of helpful tips. Get out there and enjoy our beautiful world!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of The Dyrt Magazine

 

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New LEGO Massive Spiderman Set Has 3,722 Pieces for Your Building Enjoyment

by Sarah Shebek

If you’re a fan of Spiderman, LEGO, or a challenge in general, you’ll love the newest set from the beloved brick company! The LEGO Daily Bugle set just launched and it’s a complex construction of the classic comic’s newspaper building. It’s also the tallest LEGO Marvel set yet, with over two and a half feet tall, with a whopping 3,772 pieces.

LEGO spared no detail with the newest building, featuring three floors, the front street and back alley. You’ll find J. Jonah Jameson and Peter Parker’s offices, the newsroom with donuts and 25 minifigures. Look for Spiderman, the Green Goblin, Gwen Stacy, Venom, Mysterio and many more.

Mark John Stafford, the LEGO set designer, said “One of my favorite elements is the Green Goblin flying inside the building through the window. Being able to design a moment of frozen action like this in a LEGO set has always been a dream and I finally got to make it happen!”

Round up your partner or some adult friends to take on building this massive set. It’s available to LEGO VIP members online and in stores starting May 26 and to the general public on Jun 1 for $299.99.

—Sarah Shebek

Images courtesy of LEGO

 

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Mummy Quesadilla Polenta Bites

by Veggies Don't Bite

Spook your little goblin the fun and healthy way this Halloween with this recipe from Veggies Don’t Bite! The combination of crispy polenta, salsa, beans and dairy free cheese will get them into the eating spirit.

Makes: 15 Mummy bites

Ingredients:
1 sleeve of polenta (18 ounces)
6 slices white dairy free cheese
½ cup fresh salsa, or jarred
1 can (15 ounces) black beans (you will have extra to serve on the side)
Guacamole (optional as a side)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice polenta into ¼ inch rounds (should make 15 slices), place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes, flipping at 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile cut cheese slices into ¼ inch strips, then cut those strips in half so they are about 2 inches long. Rinse black beans.

4. When polenta slices are done, take out of the oven. Top with about ½ tablespoon salsa, place black beans for the eyes. Then cover with cheese slices back and forth to form mummy strips.

5. Place back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Serve and watch little faces light up with excitement! For a complete meal, serve with the extra black beans and guacamole or diced avocado on the side.

Notes from the Chef:
I used Follow Your Heart dairy free cheese on these, it melted great. You can use any salsa and beans you like, but I had good success with my fresh salsa recipe and black beans.

Tips to prep ahead: Make salsa and guacamole.

Baby/kid food idea: Great for toddlers and kids as is! Can cut polenta in small pieces after baking and serve to older baby with black beans. For younger baby blend black beans with avocado.

What do you think of this recipe? Do your kids love Halloween-themed food?

Sophia DeSantis is the author of Veggies Don’t Bite, a vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free food blog targeted to all types of eaters. She is the mom of two beautiful boys and wife to an amazing husband. Her and her family live a vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free life 90% of the time because she believes that the stress of having to be perfect shouldn’t overpower the benefits that their healthy lifestyle brings. Through her website, she hopes to reach anybody interested in making a positive health change in their life.

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The World’s Easiest Octopus Costume

by Erin Feher

If you’re wanting a DIY costume for your little goblin this Halloween, but when it comes to using the sewing machine it feels like you have eight arms (none of which know how to use a said sewing machine) then we have the perfect, unbelievably easy costume for you. Turn your tike into a spectacular sea creature by following these simple instructions.

What You’ll Need

  1. A onsie. Long-sleeves, short sleeves—it doesn’t matter.
  2. 4 pairs of knee socks. We went to the dollar store and found these spotted beauties—it’s like they were made to be tentacles! (And the whole purchase set us back less than $4)
  3. 4 Safety pins.
  4. Extra fabric for stuffing. Light weight fabric is best. We used muslin swaddling blankets and a few scarves.

How to Do It

Stuff 4 of the socks with fabric or other stuffing. Use the safety pins to attach 4 tentacles to the onsie, 2 to the front, 2 to the back. Slip the remaining 4 socks over their arms and legs and, poof! Octopus! If you are handy with the needle and thread, feel free to sew the tentacles on for a more sturdy costume.

Do you have any ideas for super easy Halloween costumes? Tell us in the comments below! 

–Erin Feher

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3 Things to Know Today (October 29)

by Erin Lem

Here are 3 things you need to know for today, Wednesday, October 29, 2014.

1. Don your costumes for the San Anselmo goblin spooktacular parade at 5 p.m.

2. Join a toddler circle time at the Bay Area Discovery Museum beginning at 9:30 a.m.

3. It’s the last week you can ride a mechanical bull and pick a pumpkin at Nicasio Family Pumpkin Patch open today until 6 p.m.

photo: Vicki Watkinds via flickr

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5 Sweet Spots to Score Some Tricked-Out Treats

by Phebe Wahl

From class parties to hooplas in the ‘hood, there are plenty of reasons to spring for some seasonal sweets this month. We scoured the city for some tricked-out treats to give your little goblins this Halloween.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
From October 6th through 31st, treat your favorite ghost, goblin and monster with Sprinkles’ Halloween “BOO Box” filled with vanilla milk chocolate, red velvet, black and white and caramel apple cupcakes adorned with ghost and BOO sugar decorations. The spiced apple cake and caramel cream cheese frosting is so good it’s just plain scary.

Details: Sprinkles Cupcakes, 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, 404-846-1599, sprinkles.com

Gigi’s Cupcakes
Available October 13th through 31st, Gigi’s “Boo Box” is just frighteningly cute. Or, if you are looking to spice things up a bit, snatch up one of their fall flavors like spiced apple cider or pumpkin spice latte. Gigi’s is now offering mini pumpkin and pecan pies as well if cupcakes aren’t what your crew craves.

Details: Gigi’s Cupcakes, 3655 Roswell Rd., 404-846-4400, gigiscupcakesusa.com

Atlanta Cupcake Factory
One of the first cupcake boutiques in Atlanta, Atlanta Cupcake Factory was on the forefront of the cupcake craze. Located in a simple little storefront in Poncey Highland, it’s easy to miss, but you won’t forget this sweet spot once you try their apple caramel cupcake. Flavors change each week and are inspired by the season. Be forewarned, you’re going to have a hard time deciding on just one flavor to try.

Details: Atlanta Cupcake Factory, 624 North Highland Ave. NE, 678-358-9195, www.theatlantacupcakefactory.com

CaJa Popcorn
With a rotating menu of flavors, you know you’ll have something new to try every time you open the door, but this month’s flavor of spiced pumpkin was custom crafted by Adrian Villareal from The Spence Restaurant. Brilliantly bag up this couture corn for trip-or-treaters as an alternative to candy. Located next door to Baskin Robbins in the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, here’s fair warning that your tots might want to double dip!

Details: Caja Popcorn, 2333 Peachtree Rd. NE, 404-846-2156, www.cajapopcorn.com

River Street Sweets at Phipps Plaza
River Street Sweets means business. The location at Phipps Plaza is every bit as delicious as the original in Savannah, where it holds the title as the city’s oldest candy store. Their candy apple selection is the best in town and don’t leave without a bag of the caramel pecan popcorn. One mouthful will make you have more of a Southern accent.

Details: River Street Sweets, Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree St., Suite 1011, 404-364-0810, www.riverstreetsweets.com

What will you give your trick-or-treaters this year? Share with us in the comments section below!

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Brian C. via Yelp, Atlanta Cupcake Factory, Sprinkles, River Street Sweets and CaJa Popcorn via Facebook

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