Take a bite out of Hallow’s Eve

Take a bite out of Hallow’s Eve
By Larry Nichols
PGN Staff Writer
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

All the great holidays are about being who you are not, whether it’s pretending to be generous on Christmas or that you’ve been going to church all year on Easter.

EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY ‘TERROR BEHIND THE WALLS

Halloween isn’t going to provide you with a paid day off like some of the other holidays, but that’s why we have sick days. In return, we have the closest thing gay (as well as secular adult) society has in a high holy day.

Here’s a rundown of all things wild and spooky going on in the area this Halloween season.

Let’s get the kid-friendly stuff out of the way first.

Philadelphia Family Pride hosts its annual kid-centric, non-scary Halloween Party, where GLBT-parented families bring the kids in costume from 12:30-3 p.m. Oct. 27 at Crefeld School, 8836 Crefeld Road.

Pizza and refreshments will be on the menu as well as some traditional not-so-good-for-you treats. For more information, e-mail pfp_raison@verizon.net.

The Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave., hosts its annual “Boo at the Zoo” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 27. Children can come in costume and trick-or-treat at candy stations throughout the zoo as well as participate in storytelling, creepy-critter stations, games, music and more. Guests will also have a chance to meet Dracula from the Pennsylvania Ballet Company and Peter Pan from the Walnut Street Theater.

For more information or tickets or to make a contribution, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org.

Edgier kid-friendly fun can be found at Dr. Physick’s Gross Clinic from 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 27 at The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks Physick House, 321 S. Fourth St. The little one(s) can have disgustingly educational fun making edible brains and eyeballs as well as check out live medicinal leeches and learn 18th-century medical lore. For more information, call (215) 925-2251.

Now that we’re done X-raying the candy and have tucked the kids in, let’s get to some real Halloween fun.

Eastern State Penitentiary, 2124 Fairmount Ave., hosts Terror Behind the Walls, with five separate haunted houses within the 11-acre, 177-year-old prison complex through Halloween.

You’ll hear real ghost stories about Eastern State, which has been featured on MTV’s “Fear,” FOX’s “Scariest Places on Earth” and the Sci-Fi Channel’s “Ghost Hunters.”

CRADLE OF FILTH WILL APPEAR AT THE ELECTRIC FACTORY

A real-life operational prison would probably be scarier and have more same-sex action going on, but Eastern State should be plenty entertaining. Call (215) 336-2000 for more information.

Halloweekend at Rainbow Mountain, 210 Mount Nebo Road, East Stroudsburg, kicks off at 11 p.m. Oct. 26 with Miss Heaven Leigh in the Nightclub, which she transforms into something of a house of drag horror with fellow queens Miss Visa D’Klined, Scarlett Lettah and Madelyn. For more information, call (570) 223-8484.

The 12th Air Command, 254 S. 12th St., hosts a Halloween Drag Ball with free admission for anyone dressed in drag and cash prizes for best-looking drag, best transsexual and most comical drag from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., (215) 545-8088.

The William Way LGBT Community Center hosts the Vampire’s Ball, a costume party featuring music, festive treats and horror movies from 8-11 p.m. Oct. 26, 1315 Spruce St. Call (215) 732-2220 for more information.

Shampoo, under the light of the full moon, transforms into “ShamBOO!” (clever, isn’t it?) at 9 p.m. Oct. 26, 417 N. Eighth St. Call (215) 922-7500 for more information.

DJ Deejay’s all Madonna-Michael Jackson-Prince dance party celebrates its Halloween costume party edition at 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Manhattan Room, 15 W. Girard Ave. Costumes are encouraged but not required. It’s a safe bet that there will be some “Desperately Seeking Susan”-era Madonnas and “Purple Rain”-era Princes, but let’s hope somebody goes the distance to show up dressed as MTV-Awards-yellow-bodysuit-with-the-ass-cut-out-era Prince, freaky-lingerie “Blond Ambition”-era Madonna or sequined-out “Rock With You” video with dripping Jheri-curl-era Michael. For more information, call (215) 732-2220.

THE ABSINTHE DRINKERS

Tritone, 1508 South St., will preempt its regularly scheduled girl-friendly episode of “Sugar Town” with a special drag-edition night of “lady” rockers and DJs at 9 p.m. Oct. 27. Attendees are invited to dress like their favorite lady rocker, rapper, soul sister, pop tart, disco diva, etc., while being entertained by Liberty City Kings, Divine Ms. Jimmi, DJ Ricky Paul and DJ Robert Drake. Call (215) 545-0475 for more information.

Meanwhile, back at Rainbow Mountain, the afternoon of Oct. 27 finds the partygoers who are awake during daylight hours learning how to carve jack-o-lanterns. Then they can enter their pumpkin in one of the many contests in the Halloween Party at the nightclub that evening. Cash prizes will also be awarded for a number of costume categories.

The 12th Air Command keeps the party going with an all-ages Halloween Party from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. and a costume contest.

Woody’s Bar is the place to be on Mischief Night when it hosts “Mischievous” at 10 p.m. Oct. 30, 202 S. 13th St. The sexy pre-Halloween party will feature an underwear contest with some impressive prizes (a trip to Las Vegas, membership to 12th Street Gym and gift certificates). Call (215) 545-1893 for more information.

Enough of the pre-game ... Let’s get to the main event.

The Academy Theatre, 146 Rt. 130, Bordentown, N.J., hosts a production of campy musical classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 8 p.m. Oct. 31. For more information, call (609) 291-9000.

The Venture Inn hosts a Halloween Party at 9 p.m. Oct. 31, 255 S. Camac St., featuring go-go boys, a costume contest, a drag show and dancing. For more information, call (215) 545-8731.

If you’re looking for more of a we’re-here-we’re-queer-we-like-to-microbrew-beer type of evening, head to Triumph Brewing Company at 8 p.m. Oct. 31, 117-121 Chestnut St., as Bruce Yelk presents Triumphant FEAR. This event features a costume contest, music and dancing. For more information, call (215) 625-0855.

For something truly sinister and a little dangerous, head down to the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., for Viva La Bands featuring Cradle of Filth, GWAR, CKY and Vains of Jenna, with a special appearance by MTV star Bam Margera. Call (215) 627-1332 for more information.

While the show isn’t inherently gay, U.K. black metal darlings Cradle of Filth will probably be wearing enough bondage gear and performing with gothic drama queen bombast to make Judas Priest look like N’Sync. Then there’s GWAR, a heavily costumed metal band whose onstage props include cartoonish medieval violence and large fake penises that spray the audience with fake ejaculate.

That being said, if you want to spend your Halloween dodging or getting hit with the real thing, then you might want to trick or treat at Midian, a celebration of flesh, sex and carnal debauchery, from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 31 at The Pit of The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St. Call (215) 627-1662 for more information.

All the cool kids are going to the John Hughes movie prom of Halloween in Philadelphia, aka the Henri David Ball at 10 p.m. Oct. 31 at Sheraton City Center Hotel, 17th and Race streets. The annual event features what is sure to be a massive costume contest at the stroke of midnight. Partygoers are advised to arrive before 10 p.m. if they plan to purchase tickets at the door. Call (215) 732-7711 for more information.

Halloween is officially over Nov. 1 (time to break out the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza lights!), but wait. L’Etage, Sixth and Bainbridge streets, isn’t done with the season of the witch yet. The club hosts The Ossuary: Halloween/Day of the Dead Costume Party at 8 p.m. Nov. 1 featuring burlesque acts Ann Atomic and Candy Mayhem along with audio and visual debauchery from DJ Dave Ghoul, VJ Gina Izzo, The Absinthe Drinkers and The Oubliette Ensemble. Call (215) 592-0656 for more information.

Larry Nichols likes Dots, Snickers, Twix, Peanut M&Ms, Nestlé Crunch and Twizzlers (red); hates candy corn and anything with coconut or toffee in it, and can be reached at larry@epgn.com.