I haven't dressed up for Halloween in ages but I adore any holiday that combines costumes and candy. Whether you prefer to stay at home and watch a scary flick with a cocktail or want to take a Halloween themed vacation, here are a few classy-creepy ways to spend the holiday.
First Class Captain Costume
($59.99 at Party City)
Why fly a broom when you can captain a plane? Now, I don't think the TSA would approve of you wearing this costume on your next flight but you will certainly turn heads at any Halloween soiree. Available in small, medium, and large.
Book a Haunted House with FlipKey
Over the years, I have visited several cities and hotels that declare themselves to be haunted. Do you dare to share your room with a ghost? If so, FlipKey makes it possible to rent your very own haunted house. Operated by TripAdvisor, FlipKey takes the stress and worry out of renting a private home. Their Halloween Haunts collection includes a Haunted Savannah Cottage, Villa Radu in Transylvania (pictured), a Venetian Castle with Unsettled Royal Spirits, and more ghostly getaways.
Have a Haunted Good Time in New Orleans
Fun loving New Orleans proclaims to be "The Most Haunted City in America." I can't guarantee any ghost sightings but you are certain to have a grand time in the Big Easy. Fun Halloween themed events include haunted tours through the French Quarter and the Boo Carre Halloween & Harvest Festival. Want to snuggle with a ghost? Make the 125 year old Hotel Monteleone your NOLA headquarters - in March 2003, the International Society of Paranormal Research spent several days investigating the Hotel Monteleone and made contact with more than a dozen earthbound entities. Boo!
Ghosts at the Hotel Monteleone
Pumpkin Martini
Toast Halloween with this festively colored cocktail. Share the candy with the trick-or-treaters, but this tasty treat is for grown-ups only!
2 oz vanilla infused Russian Standard Vodka**
½ oz Cream Liqueur
½ oz pumpkin puree*
Pour the cream liqueur and vodka into a shaker filled with ice. Add the pumpkin puree. Shake again. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
*To make pumpkin puree
-Take 1 pumpkin, cut in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff, lie face down on a foil or baking sheet with. Bake at 350°F until soft, about 45 min to an hour. Cool, scoop out the flesh and puree in blender along with 2 Tbsp of ground cinnamon, 1 Tbsp of ground ginger, 1 Tbsp of ground cloves and 16-28 oz of simple syrup (can be adjusted according to desired sweetness). Store in the fridge. Freeze whatever you don't use for future use.
-If you are using pumpkin pieces, roast or boil them until tender, then remove and discard the skin and follow the same steps above.
** To make vanilla-infused Russian Standard Vodka
-For every 750ml bottle of Russian Standard, add in a couple vanilla beans allow to infused in an airtight container for approx. 24 hrs. Fine strain beans and re-bottle. Store in fridge.
