Best bets for batty dreams
REANIMATED BY SCOTT “SPOOKY” STIFFLER
KIDS ‘N COMEDY: “THE WARM-UP TO HALLOWEEN SHOW”
Forget zombies and psycho killers. For sheer terror that cuts to the bone, imagine being alone on stage and hearing the sound of crickets chirping where there should be waves of laughter. Those brave souls who haunt the “Kids ‘N Comedy” series know how to look the grim reaper of audience disapproval in the eye and laugh until it hurts — or until somebody gets bloodied up a bit. Stand-up comics Valerie Bodurtha, Conor Carroll, Angela Citrola, Mark Cohen, Ryan Drum, Joe O’Hare, Zach Rosenfeld and David Thompson have answered the challenge to come up with Halloween-themed material that’s funny enough to entertain mom and dad, yet disturbing enough to give their annoying younger siblings the nightmares they so richly deserve.
Sun., Oct. 23, 1pm, at Gotham Comedy Club (208 W. 23rd St., btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). For tickets ($15, plus a one-item food or drink minimum), call 212-877-6115 or visit kidsncomedy.com.
PUMPKIN PATCH and HIGH LINE HALLOWEEN HI-JINKS
Fulton Youth of the Future, Friends of the High Line and NYC Council Speaker Quinn’s office have joined (dark?) forces to transform the High Line into a pumpkin patch. Purchase pumpkins to take home, or decorate them on the spot. Sat., Oct. 22, 12-4pm and Sun., Oct. 30, 12-4pm. On the High Line, in the Chelsea Market Passage (near W. 15th St.).
For more fun atop the rails (or at least their skeletons), “Halloween Hi-Jinks on the High Line” happens on Sun., Oct. 30, from 12-3pm. Families are invited to dress in costume and join Friends of the High line for an afternoon of tricks and treats — and the first-ever Halloween parade on the High Line. The ghoulish procession begins promptly at noon (at the Seating Steps, on at West 22nd St.). Puppet Master Ralph Lee will lead, as the parade travels south toward The Porch (the High Line’s new open-air café, at West 15th St.). Following the parade, stay at The Porch to paint faces, dance to spooky tunes and howl at the moon — in the dead of the afternoon. This event is free, and open to visitors of all ages. Children age 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For info, visit thehighline.org.
BOOKS OF WONDER
The most terrifying experience you’ll have at Books of Wonder this Halloween season is being denied a frosted treat from ground floor neighbor Cupcake Café…or is it? A moonlit graveyard full of authors will be reading from some creepy books that may already be giving someone you care about bad dreams.
On Sat., Oct. 22, 12-2pm (for ages 11-14), “Fantastic Fiction” showcases seven creators of fiction whose teenage protagonists find themselves in extreme situations. The featured authors include Sarah Beth Durst — whose new book “Drink, Slay, Love” tells the story of a teen vampire stabbed by a unicorn horn. Jon Skovron shares “Misfit” — the tale of 16-year-old half-demon Catholic school student Jael Thompson; and Gabrielle Zevin’s “All These Things I’ve Done” takes readers on a trip to New York in the year 2083.
Sun., Oct. 23, from 12-1pm (for ages 3-8), cast members of the Broadway hit “The Addams Family” will sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Story Time will wrap up with one lucky family winning a free pair of tickets to see to see the show.
On Sat., Oct. 29, 12-2pm (for ages 8-12), “Great New Chapter Books” welcomes seven authors whose works target middle grade readers. Elise Broach will read from the first volume of her new trilogy: “Missing on Superstition Mountain.” Illustrator and debut author Scott Gustafson spins the tale of a dark little boy who grew up to be the master of the macabre, in “Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allen Poe”; and Josh Lewis catches fans up with the adventure of Super Chicken Nugget Boy (whose latest adventure finds him facing off against the Massive Meatloaf Man).
At Books of Wonder (18 W. 18th St., btw. 5th & 6th Aves.). For info, call 212-989-3270 or visit booksofwonder.com. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm; Sun., 11am-6pm.
HALLOWEEN PARADE AND EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE SCHOLASTIC STORE
On Sat., Oct 29 at 3pm (for all ages), Clifford the Big Red Dog leads the annual Halloween Parade. Listen to scary (but not too spooky) tales and dance the day away to bewitching music. Costumes are encouraged…treats are guaranteed. Then, on Sun., Oct. 30 from 5-7pm, the Halloween Extravaganza features storytelling, a “Black Cat Scavenger Hunt,” pumpkin bowling, eyeball relays and cupcake decorating — plus pizza, punch, snacks and goodies galore. The $20 per person ticket gets you a $5 in-store coupon. To RSVP, call 212-343-6166 or email thescholasticstore@scholastic.com.
At 557 Broadway (btw. Prince and Spring Sts. Stroller Entrance: 130 Mercer St.). Regular store hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm and Sun., 11am-6pm. For info, call 212-343-6166 or visit scholastic.com/sohostore.
GHOULISH GOURMET HALLOWEEN PARTY
It’s a fact: Evil eyeballs, ghastly ghost sticks, freaky Frankenstein fingers and putrid worm punch are almost as tasty as fresh human brains. But to get the most out of these undead snacks, they must be properly prepared. That’s what McNally Jackson’s Ghoulish Gourmet School of Halloween Cuisine is here for. With help from the fiendishly talented Chef Vladimir and Mistress of Scarimonies Yvonne Brooks, little monsters will learn how to conjure these dastardly dishes (then take their creepy cuisine back to their own dark crypt). They’ll also fly back home, like a bat out of a belfry, with a Haunted House Book of revolting recipes to prepare in their family laboratories.
This free event is appropriate for ages 3-10. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Sat., Oct. 29, 11:30am-1:30pm, in the McNally Jackson Café (52 Prince St.). For info, call 212-274-1160 or visit mcnallyjackson.com.
