Nadia Elkharadly: Halloween, Hurricanes and Hullaballoo

As I sit and write this column, the world outside my window is a windy, dark and cold.  While we in Toronto may only be getting a small dose of the unfortunately dubbed “Frankenstorm”, aka Hurricane Sandy, it’s still a pretty scary sight.  Everyone out there in the world affected by the storm, take care of yourselves and your loved ones.  Stay safe and send positive thoughts to those in places where the world is a lot scarier than some wind and rain.  I’m going to spend this spooky night in, writing and thinking about spookier things; Halloween.

Halloween has quickly become one of the biggest party holidays here in Toronto.  With its Wednesday timing, the parties began this past weekend, and yours truly was out and about.  What was my costume, you ask?

Well, if you’ve ever been around Bob, my friend Kim and I, you’ll know us girls as Betty and Veronica (she’s a blonde, I’m a brunette…I really hope you get the picture.)  So of course we decided to dress up as Ronald Mcdonald and Grimace!  Just kidding, we actually dressed up as Fifties era Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge.

Not to toot our own horns, but the resemblance was quite uncanny.  Our party hopping night began at an incredible multi-level haunted house party, put on by a group of very dedicated and creative young men.  Each floor had its own theme, from the meth lab in Breaking Bad to an Octopus breeding cave complete with creepy, glowing floating pods.  Observed costumes included a couple of Sons of Anarchy, an incredibly rotund Honey Boo Boo, Persian Marilyn Munroe, and not one but TWO Cleopatras (but my friend Sherine was definitely the better Queen).

(photos courtesy of my darling Eva aka Persian Marilyn)

The night would not have been complete without a quick stop at The Bovine Sex Club.  We’d missed the musical mischief of the Alice Cooper cover band Apocalypse Killers but it was worth dropping by just to see Ian Blurton and Caitlyn Dacey and Stephen Suttie from Bella Clava in their very cool Alice Cooper inspired costumes (Caitlyn’s was so good I didn’t even recognize her!)

If you didn’t hit the town for some costumed shenanigans this weekend, there are still two nights of potential freaky fun available to you.

Art Battle – Halloween

Everyone has heard of a battle of the bands competition, but a battle of the artists?  Well, it’s happening tonight at the Great Hall right here on Queen Street.

“16 painters in costume will compete in a one-night tournament of skill and courage, audience are welcome to wear costumes too, and as always it will be decided by vote who deserves to be the champion.”

Painters will splash, dash, smear and, well, paint paint onto canvasses in a battle to the death…potentially of art.  It’s a very interesting concept, and costumes are welcome!  And if you’ve got some bare walls to cover, you can buy the pieces once they are finished as well.  Or maybe just recruit a couple of artists to battle in your living room.

http://www.facebook.com/events/488864114466381/

Emma Lee’s Zombie Prom – The Drake Hotel

Fiery haired songtress Emma Lee has a cool new, zombie theme music video for her new single “Shadow of a Ghost”.

Did that get you in the mood for some sweet prom action?  What about some sweet ZOMBIE prom action?  I’m sure that got your attention.  On Halloween Eve (tonight!), the Drake Hotel will host the lovely and made-up-to-be-terrifying Ms. Lee and her band, and Lee will host Zombie Prom.  So pull out your best prom dress or worst bridesmaids dress. Throw some fake blood all over it and make your way to the Drake for a brain-eating good time.

http://www.facebook.com/events/387227894683937/

Porn Theatre Halloween Party

“Metro Adult Theatre of Bloor Street/Korean Fame will be the setting of Wednesday, October 31st’s first and most debaucherous Porn Theatre Party series event.”  Hosted in part by music manager and party goer extraordinaire Brock McLaughlin, this is sure to be one low down, dirty dirty debacle.  Scary party, sexy costumes and a skeezy location – this is definitely going to be one of the raunchiest, and best Halloween parties in the city.

The Hoxton Halloween Horror

Massive party venue The Hoxton will be hosting another one of its rousing Halloween parties, with a twist.  Being the eve of Movember (the month that gets mustachioed for charity), a portion of the party’s proceeds will go to the men’s health related cause.

http://www.facebook.com/events/154739231338461/159264197552631/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

And if you have no other plans and the above parties don’t tickle your fancy, drop by Cherry Cola’s Rock and Rolla Caberet for their annual Halloween bash.  There will be great music, sexy bartenders and dancing girls and flowing libations for all of you boys and ghouls…I mean girls.

Stay dry, stay safe and above all else, have fun!

Until next time,

Xo

N

Nadia’s column appears every Tuesday

Contact us at: dbawis@rogers.com

Nadia Elkharadly is a Toronto based writer with a serious addiction to music. Corporate drone by day, renegade rocker by night, writing is her creative outlet.  Nadia writes for the Examiner (.com) on live music in Toronto and Indie Music in Canada.  She has never been in a band but plays an awesome air guitar and also the tambourine.  Check in every Tuesday for musings about music, love, life and whatever else that comes to mind.