Halloween

Tonight's moon was just right - bright, nearly full and with plenty of spooky clouds scudding by. Matthew I. captured the scene over the Back Bay.

Copyright Matthew I. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Swamp Thing awaits next victim trick-or-treater on Glendower Rd.

Even on Halloween, it's kind of weird talking to a guy who looks like he just climbed out of a fetid swamp, surrounded by body parts and giant vampire bats. He said it took him about a week to get ready for tonight. As I was leaving, he gave me a wave, as much as his condition allowed, and muttered "Have a good Halloween!"

He was holding a guitar, but in the short time I listened to him at Downtown Crossing, Fester didn't actually play. Instead, he sang "Yesterday" to a karaoke CD.

In the "kids today" department, as I was walking up to the Forest Hills side from the Oak Grove side, these two teen girls in front of me were talking about Halloween, when one blurted out, "I wanna be a WHORE!" You go, girl!

Here's what happens when you let people who use scalpels and other sharp implements on a daily basis near pumpkins.

Channel 4 reports the site took down a design for a jack-o-lantern with a three-foot-high flame after an aghast state fire marshal's office complained. The Globe said it agreed to delete the flaming pumpkin even though it "added a warning to only attempt it outdoors, away from flammable materials, and with a fire extinguisher at hand."

Teddy Kokoros reports the Allston Stop & Shop is now selling Halloween candy.

Jason reports that yesterday, the South Shore Plaza held a trick-or-treat thing for little kids and that everybody seemed to be participating except for the Godiva chocolate store - which he discovered when he was in there and some kids came in and went "trick or treat!" and the clerk told them they weren't participating:

... At first, I found it funny and ironic, but then I realized how idiotic and stupid the folks from Godiva were. Instead of being the store that handed out the best trick-or-treating candy in the mall - a great PR move with nominal costs - they instead became the fancy candy store that refused to give away candy to kids on Halloween.

When they had the opportunity to give candy to both the kids AND their parents - the ones with the wallets and pocketbooks who will soon be searching for holidays gifts - they created an entirely memorable yet unfavorable experience. ...

Sushiesque peered at a skull patch in Davis Square.

Jef Taylor reports that among the kids visiting his house in Brookline was a kid made up like the Zakim Bridge - "a complicated affair that he had to gingerly maneuver around the other kids." Read more

Finally, somebody has a ghost of a chance of getting a trolley at Brookline Village.

Sarah shows off what she brought to work today, while Dr. T shows just how creative the staffers at her hospital can get with gourds and the sort of things you find around a hospital.

AppleFoot reports the Halloween and Christmas decorations are facing off in the center aisle of the Malden Stop & Shop.

Korn over Kenmore.

No yolk: Boston Police report numerous stores along Centre Street in West Roxbury were egged on Oct. 1. So they scrambled at E-5 and asked local supermarkets and convenience stores to refuse to sell eggs to anybody under 18, at least through Halloween. Also:

We ask that parents be attentive to their children. Look out for things such as backpacks being brought out, especially on weekends and on Halloween night. Listen! Keep an ear out for talk about egg wars. If you do overhear your children and you think they might participate in throwing eggs inform them of the consequences of these actions. We consider throwing eggs to be a very serious crime. Anyone caught throwing eggs at businesses, houses, or cars will be charged with willful and malicious destruction of property. Anyone caught throwing eggs at people will be charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Red Sox pumpkins.

Via Joy of Sox.

Come on, this cow at North Station is just asking to be tipped:

Jade Sylvan: Man, being a vampire is hard work.

So of course the Brooks Pharmacy on Washington Street in Roslindale is out of charcoal but has a large selection of Halloween candy.

Michelle reports the Home Goods on Rte. 30 in Framingham is already selling Halloween stuff.

Carpundit reports he spent $5 buying candy off his kids tonight:

... My older son jumped at the first offer: ten cents a piece. But not his younger brother. No, the younger boy held out through several offers and only relented at 25 cents a piece. In the interest of family harmony, I gave both boys the benefit of the latter's hard bargaining. ...

Chef Brad Brown of the Blue Frog Bakery got really creative for Halloween this year and baked the cupcakes from every protective parent's nightmares. SPOOKY!

B.K. DeLong posts photos from Halloween Central.

Big Bri marvels that four alleged Bloods were arrested as they got off commuter rail in Salem:

... What a disgrace! What sort of good gang member takes the time to come up with the fare money to take the Commuter Rail? Whatever happened to the good old, honest, hard-working gang member who perhaps carjacks a mini-van or something to get to the showdown? ...

W.A. Hurd writes:

... [W]hen I step outside my door and see a white guy dressed in an afro and a dashiki, I realize how far we still have to go. Especially since the guy he was with (of course, also white) was wearing the Flava Flav oversized clock. I don't have any great words of wisdom to add other than these: That's not okay. Not even close. It's racist. You might think it's funny and charming, and I'm certain that your all white fraternity thinks it is, but it's racist. I don't care if you listen to rap and took an African American studies course. It's racist. ...