A spooky birthday was a good dry run for Halloweenby Jessica Shapley I had a Halloween dry run on my daughter's eighth birthday. It was in September but she wanted a spooky theme. I pulled out Oriental Trading Catalog and ordered grotesque gummy candies and crafts – we were off and running. Party games included mummy wrapping (this requires toilet papering a person), zombie red light green light, scary stories and a piñata we had made a couple days before. Baskin Robbins on W. 181st Street did a great job with decorating the cake to her specifications. I really don't want to focus on the candy for actual Halloween Day, trick-or-treating aside, I’m thinking more area events for the family. Bronx Zoo "Boo at the Zoo" events on multiple weekends in October including the 31st. 718-220-5100 Inwood Hill Park at W. 218th Street has a Haunted Hill event: Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m. 212-304-2365 Wave Hill in Riverdale has a family art project Oct. 31 1-4p.m. www.wavehill.org Van Cortlandt House Museum often has Halloween events.
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718-543-3344 For carving pumpkins Frank’s Market on W. 187th Street has a great supply. If you want to travel outside the city there are patches galore. Here is a website that has listings for where you might want to travel: tonymetroparents.com/newarticle.cfm?colid=18163&preview=on. Call the farm, before you travel, to make sure of hours of operation and events. New this year, Inwood resident Alison Stamas is trying to put together a noon Halloween Parade with area businesses opening their doors for trick-or-treaters. On Friday, Oct. 30 the Inwood Center where the Manhattan Times is located is hosting trick-or-treating in its Workspace offices in the seventh and eighth floors – check out the Manhattan Times in coming weeks for details. Whatever you do, do it safely. The New York Fire Department put out a list of safety tips for Halloween. Here are some of the points that I think are particularly applicable, but read the whole list (nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/safety/halloween.shtm). Adults should accompany children under 12 years old. Don't go inside anyone’s apartment. Don't go into a stranger’s automobile. Don't go through alleys or parks. When crossing the street look both ways. Always use the sidewalk. Trick-or-treat on well-lit streets within your neighborhood. Children should travel in groups. Use the buddy system. When you return home, adults should examine and discard all candies not factory sealed or wrapped by the candy manufacturer. Never eat homemade or unwrapped treats. Only purchase and use flame retardant costumes. Children should wear white, reflective clothing, or use reflective tape, carry a flashlight or glow stick. Avoid open flame or any heat source. Encourage children to wear face paint instead of masks. Face paint should be non-toxic, meeting FDA standards. If mask is worn, make sure child can adequately breathe and has full range of vision. Children should never carry sharp objects. All props should be soft and nonrealistic looking. Materials made of 100% polyester or modacrylics are less flammable. A flame-retardant costume does not mean that it is fire proof. During twilight and evening hours be mindful of children in dark costumes. See you in the neighborhood. Happy Halloween!!! Jessica Shapley, LMSW momsupport.org
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