Did you know that in the spirit of the season the first Halloween-themed stamps ever will be issued this year by the U.S. Postal Service? The jack-o-lanterns were carved by Paul Montanari and photographed by Sally Anderson-Bruce. Send someone you love a Halloween card – not only is the gesture a great gift to friends and loved ones but you get to use these adorably festive stamps!
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With Halloween quickly approaching, I start getting a tad anxious about what fabulously original, artistic concoction I’m going to conjure up for my Halloween costume (trust me, even if I’m not going anywhere I always “work” the holiday in some sort of get-up!). When I’m in a creative pickle, my go-to destination for inspiration is NYC’s perennial favorite “Abracadabra“. You’ll be more than inspired by the 100,000+ items in this 12,000 square ft., tri-level store. It offers everything from costumes (rent or own), wigs, props, masks and a full service, on-site makeup artist who can create a complete look ( from face makeup to full body paint costumes). Leave your magic wand at home – Abracadabra’s got you covered!
Abracadabra, 19 West 21st Street http://abracadabranyc.com
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Floor-to-ceiling shelves and cases spilling over with old time favorites, candies by color, assorted nuts and dried fruits have called these sweet hallowed grounds home since 1937. You’ll marvel at the eye-popping, saliva-inducing variety of goodies that this “Nosher’s Paradise of the Lower East Side” has to offer including a giant gummy rat, how New York is that! I’ll bet my newly-filled cavity on it!
Economy Candy, 108 Irvington Street http://economycandy.com
Can’t decide what to be for Halloween? Want to create something new, fabulous and different than the pre-packaged Halloween costumes? Head to the Garment District for some creative inspiration. Here are a couple of my favorite spots:
TRIMMINGS
M & J TRIMMINGS, 1008 Sixth Avenue between 37th & 38th Street
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As an inveterate lover of all things related to decorative design, I often wish that I could wave a wand, (a’la those gown-making fairies from Sleeping Beauty) and instantly create the magical confection of my dreams. Short of that fantasy, you will find all you need to go creative crazy at M&J Trimmings – my go-to incubator of imaginative ideas and execution for years. A legendary fashion industry destination and shangri la for all you fellow “DIY-ers”, this shop carries it all from ribbons, buttons, trims, rhinestones, bobbles and brilliance. With Autumn’s arrival our thoughts turn to Halloween (in other words – full blown fun, creative time). Get yourself over to this marvelous mecca. Time is a-wasting!
EAST COAST TRIMMING CORPORATION, 142 West 38th Street
Expect to be inspired by their beautiful assortment of ribbons. Go with a friend because you are going to want to have someone to point out all the eye-catching ribbons too.
PACIFIC TRIMMING, 220 West 38th Street
Appliques, ribbons, buttons, artificial flowers, sequins, feathers and things you’ve never even dreamed of.
FABRIC SHOPS
The fabric shops in the garment district are mostly on 39th and 40th Streets, between 7th and 8th Avenues. Here are a couple of my favorites for costume fabric.
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-SPANDEX HOUSE, 263 West 38th Street
This is my type of store! Everything in here stretches and they have a huge range of fabric: metallic, hologram,sequin, pleather and tons of prints.
-NY ELEGANT FABRICS, 222 West 40th Street
This labyrinth- like store is filled with an impressive range of fabrics from fake fur, printed cottons, novelty fabrics and lace. It’s well organized and swatches are available.
-AYAZMOON FABRICS, 214 West 39th Street
Beautiful saris (these also make great tablecloths) and Chinese silk brocades.
-Fabric for Less, 239 West 39th Street
Good selection of fake fur.
Sunday, October 2nd 11am – 4 pm
Join The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in celebrating their 32nd annual Feast of Saint Francis festivities! At this signature Cathedral service, the “Earth Mass” brings together a choir of hundreds of voices, a dance performance by Forces of Nature and a musical performance by the Paul Winter Consort, all in celebration of the beauty of the animal kingdom. The service concludes with the Procession of the Animals, a silent parade of creatures great and small down the Nave of the Cathedral. Go to http://stjohndivine.org/visit/calendar/events for advance passes and more info.
The Cathedral of Saint John The Divine 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (112th Street)
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Williamsburg is home to a slew of cute shops, packed coffee houses, arts organizations, music venues and restaurants that are giving Manhattan a run for their money. Over the past 15 years this Brooklyn neighborhood has developed into one of New York’s most culturally vibrant enclaves. How to get there? Take the L train to Bedford Avenue where you will encounter a dynamic scene that’s rapidly transforming a neighborhood. Wander the streets between Kent and Bedford Avenue, from North 11th down to South 1st Street, where old school Brooklyn residents mix with young families and milennials. Williamsburg has become synonymous with creativity and self expression. Check it out.
Are you looking for a more unique way to celebrate Halloween? Head on over to The Morbid Anatomy Museum – an extremely unique 4,200 square foot space dedicated to the celebration and exhibition of artifacts, histories and ideas of high/low culture, death and beauty. The museum includes a library, gallery, cafe, gift shop and classroom space.
The current exhibition running through November 6th is Taxidermy: Art, Science & Immortality Featuring Walter Potter’s Kitten’s Wedding. The “Wedding” was created by Walter Potter, a self -trained British taxidermist best remembered for a series in which he posed stuffed animals such as kittens, rabbits and squirrels engaging in traditionally human activities. Truly bizarre!
The Kittens’ Wedding; Circa 1890
While at the museum you may want to check out their class schedule – I mean, haven’t you always wanted to take a class in taxidermy?!
MOUSE TAXIDERMY CLASS-HALLOWEEN EDITION with Divya Anantharaman
October 29th 12pm – 6pm
In this class students will learn the skills required to make-and leave class – with your very own anthropomorphic taxidermy. Admission of $120 includes all materials, including Halloween themed props, a wood base for the finished mount and complimentary museum admission for the day. You will leave with the knowledge to create your own pieces in the future. Creepily fascinating!
Morbid Anatomy Museum, 424-A 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn http://morbidanatomymuseum.org
October 1st – 31st
Among New York City’s architects and building buffs, October is architecture and design month, otherwise known as “Archtober”. The city’s elite design community opens its doors, offering a behind-the-scenes peek at buildings that give NY it’s distinct character. Participants include St. Anne’s Warehouse, Museum of Modern Art, Cooper Hewitt, the Guggenheim, The National September 11th Memorial and Museum as well as the Central Park Conservancy.
Schedule and more info @http://archtober.org
October 7-9th
Are you a New Yorker magazine fan? Hear famous and influential authors, journalists, poets screenwriters and cultural icons (Bruce Springsteen, Daniel Craig, David Letterman and Jhumpa Lahiri to name a few) speak at the New Yorker Festival, which also includes comedy, film screenings, tastings and walking tours. The events will be held at various locations around the city.
Ticket info @http://festival.newyorker.com
Saturdays, October 8 & 15th 7 – 10pm
Spend an evening viewing Kiku: the Art of the Japanese Garden the latest installation at The New York Botanical Gardens. The chrysanthemum (“kiku” in Japanese), is the most celebrated of all Japanese flowering plants. Sip a glass of sake and enjoy the sounds of traditional Japanese music as you admire the carefully trained plantings. Get an in-depth look at kiku from guides located throughout the exhibition. Explore Kimono dressing workshops and listen to the thunderous performances of Taiko drumming on select nights. Tickets are $35. Advanced tickets recommended.
NYBG, 2900 Southern Blvd http://nybg.org