Ideas for Adult Screams this Halloween
(ARA) -
Even though trick-or-treating may be out of the question
for most adults, Halloween doesn't have to be a holiday
just for the kids. In fact, it's a perfect time to recapture
the excitement of youth by either dressing-up or just
getting together to have fun with the guys and ghouls.
Fortunately, you don't have to be a professional party
planner to host a devilishly clever Halloween party.
If you want your party to be truly haunting, here are
a few recommendations that should make for a real scream.
Make
a Scene with a Theme
One sure-fire way to capture the Halloween spirit is
to host a themed costume party. For example, why not
host a Greek or Roman mythology party -- think of it
as a toga party for adults. As your guests show up dressed
as Zeus, Minerva, Mercury and Aphrodite, turn on some
music, pour some drinks and serve snacks truly worthy
of the gods. Ripe grapes, rich cheeses, artichoke/spinach
dip with black bread, and single-serving salads or sandwiches
fit flawlessly.
As for a suitable wine, try Corvo's Rosso and Bianco.
These celebrated 100 percent Sicilian wines accentuate
any hors d'oeuvres and won't break your budget at $9.99
for a 750 mL bottle. Also, they blend in with the mythology
theme, as Sicily was the center of the wine world during
that time period.
Other great theme ideas include historical figures
(Billy the Kid, Napoleon, Cleopatra), superheroes (Spider-Man,
Wonder Woman), famous couples (Romeo and Juliet, Bill
and Hillary) and movie villains (Dracula, Frankenstein,
the Wicked Witch of the West).
Monster Makeover
Once you've decided on a theme, set the tone by turning
your "crib" into a "crypt." Start
by making cardboard tombstones for your front yard.
Spray-paint the tombstones with gray textured paint
and anchor them to the ground with tent stakes and duct
tape. As for the epitaphs, feel free to be as spooky
. . . or humorous . . . as mortally possible.
To set the mood inside, set up blacklights and cotton
spider webs (both readily available at most party stores),
and if you want to go all-out with the eerie ambiance,
a small smoke machine or cooler of dry ice will complete
any haunted house. A phantasmic way to set the mood
for your gathering is to place candles throughout your
abode. Luna di Luna makes a Pinot Bianco/Sauvignon and
a Sangiovese/Merlot that are ideal wines for entertaining,
and whose goblin-green and poltergeist-purple bottles
(respectively) are perfect for Halloween candleholders.
Simply pour the delicious wines into carafes for easy
serving, and then top the bottles with orange and black
candles.
As the candles burn, and wax drips down, these bottles
will make for shockingly suitable place settings and
centerpieces . . . just make sure you put a plate or
foil at the bottom to catch the drippings. Soundtrack
your spine-chilling masterpiece with a Halloween mix
tape or CD with spooky sounds (cackling, thunder, cat
screams, etc.) thrown in between songs.
Creature Feature
If hosting a party seems a bit too sinister for you,
why not invite a handful of your favorite fiends over
for a night of scary movies. Once again, it's a good
idea to run with a theme. If vampires send the chills
down your spine, try "Dracula," "Shadow
of the Vampire" and "Blade." Should marauding
monsters be more your gig, rent "Frankenstein,"
"Hellraiser" and "An American Werewolf
in London."
But, if psychotic maniacs are what make you jump out
of your skin, there‚s nothing better than the Hannibal
Lector trilogy ("The Silence of the Lambs,"
"Hannibal" and "Red Dragon"). While
we‚re on the topic of the good Dr. Lector, why not serve
your guests a nice glass of Piccini (a fine Chianti)
. . . of course, the fava beans are optional. Piccini
Chianti is a deep red colored wine with a ripe, spicy
flavor. And, with its orange and black label, it's a
sure-fire fit for Halloween festivities.
As you can see, it only takes a few simple steps to
put together a monstrously marvelous Halloween party.
With that said, there are only two other things to keep
in mind. One: make sure your guests have either a designated
driver or plans to get home safely at the end of the
evening if they've been drinking alcoholic beverages.
And, two: have plenty of candy on hand for the wee ghosts
and goblins that come knocking.
Courtesy of ARA
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