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Henry Northmore digs out the fright mask and hits the dancefloor
First up. annual Optimo (Espookio). one of Glasgow's most enduring terror-filled dress-up nights. which is appearing on both coasts this month, commandeering Cabaret Voltaire for its first Edinburgh fright fest (Cabaret Voltaire. Edinburgh. Sat 25 Oct and the Sub Club. Glasgow. Sun 26 Oct). Never shy when it comes to dressing up. the Central Belt's burlesque nights are relishing the Samhuinn festivities. Scotland's biggest cabaret night Club Noir weighs in with its Nightmare (Carling Academy. Glasgow. 25 Oct), while Glasgow's newest burlesque night brings us the scary Cheesecake: Night of the Living Tease (Capitol. Glasgow. 31 Oct).
More leftfield offerings are on the cards as punk club Fast (Bongo Club. Edinburgh. 31 Oct) has. appropriately enough. secured the live talents of Fangs for its Halloween shindig. Meanwhile Croc Monsieur vs Croc Madame (Flying Duck, Glasgow. 30 Oct) features live sets from Gay Against You. Babyshaker and Raxyor. cardboard sets and a ‘loose. half All Saints Day. half Halloween theme' plus new indie. new wave. psyche rock. Meanwhile. soul night Sonic Arcade (from the folks who brought us Superfly) continues with a Halloween date (Woodside Social, Glasgow. 31 Oct). while Edinburgh‘s Studio 24 hosts two nights. JakN (31 Oct) and under 18s rock night Sanctuary (1 Nov). while over 183 night Retribution takes the form of a monster‘s ball (1 Nov). At Byblos. Lost Prophets put in a DJ set (30 Oct) and Sloveinian techno act Umek guest at Hell (31 Oct).
Back in Glasgow. check out Inside Out (Arches. Glasgow. 25 Oct) with Super8 & Tab. Marcus Schossow and Kamui. Or get yourself along to Back to the Future (Carling Academy. Glasgow. 31 Oct) and Boombox presents BooBox (Luna. Edinburgh. 31 Oct) with special guest Richard Durand.
I See clubs listings for full details.
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If ever there was an excuse for slipping into bad fancy dress and watching a run of slasher flicks, then it's Hallow's Eve. Zaineb Al Hassani reveals how to get your freak on this party season
trouble with some guy called Michael. toffee
apples litter the floor. and the smell of rotting pumpkin fills the air. All hail Halloween. the one night of the year when it is acceptable to dress as a walking shower or a six-foot bat and gorge yourself on a feast of horror movies. food and gore. First up is decor. and there is always an abundance of spooky toys and creepy ornaments in shops at this time of year. Use black and orange as the main colours and instantly turn your home from cosy retreat into evil hovel. Glasgow’s Art Shop (014] 221 110]) has coloured crepe paper. and the local greengrocer should sort you out with a pumpkin to carve into a lantern. To further authenticate the look. visit Halloween Yard Haunter (www.yard haunter.com) to browse a selection of cobwebs— in-a-can. stretchable cobwebs and several other variations on the cobweb theme. Next. scatter plastic spiders liberally around the house in the hope that at least one person will develop an irrational fear of spiders afterwards. As for
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costumes, we predict a run of Sarah Palin lookalikes turning up at Halloween bashes this year, but if you prefer to keep politics and partying separate. take inspiration from Italian giallo-horror films of the 70s. Tim Burton’s darkly brilliant back catalogue. brat-pack vampire flick The Lost Boys or any one of the Garbage Pail Kids.
For drinks. fridges are very 2007. but bathtubs filled with ice. drinks. and the dramatic top half of a dummy are definitely the look du jour. Place the dummy at one end of the tub. hands placed upwards in fear. bottles wedged all around, then splatter fake blood everywhere. For extra charm. place bottle openers in your floating dead guest’s upturned palm. In keeping with the gruesome theme. keep all foodstuffs as dark as possible. and give an evil twist to innocent desserts by adding black food dye to ice—cream and jelly. Monkey nuts. mini Mars bars and jelly sweets may be useful to have too, in case local guisers decide to crash your party. For a finishing touch. hire a friend to dress up as Death and scare unsuspecting guests. Last but not least, for games. go retro with pin-the-wart-on-the-witch. apple dunking and ‘drink-a-shot-for-every-scary- moment-in-le Shining’.
Finally. remember to smile as you offer your guest a drink. then laugh manically as they notice the gooey eyeball winking at them from the bottom of their glass (pick one up from Tam Shepherd’s Trick Shop).
I Fright Night RSPB Loohwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road. Loohwinnoch, 01505 842663. 6—9pm. 531. Be prepared for a spooky time as you walk through the woods meeting creepy characters. Tours leave every half hour. Booking essential.
I Halloween Night Honor Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield. Livingston, 01506 414957. 6—9pm. 25 (£3.50). Come after hours to can ride on the ghost train, explore the candlelit trail and relish all kinds of scary games. Come dressed up.
I Chatelherault Halloween Special Chatelherault Country Park, Carlisle Road, Hamilton. 01698 426213. 6pm. Etbc. All sorts of spooky fun and nonsense will take
28 THE LIST 16—30 Oct 2008
place at Chatelherault including a scary supper and a terrifying tour.
I Halloween Disco and Ghost Tour Scottish Mining Museum, Lady Victoria Colliery. Newtongrange. 0131 663 7519. 6.30—8.30pm. $25. A Halloween disco for primary school age children with dancing. fancy dress competition. ghost tours, crafts and refreshments.
I A Haunting Halloween at Kellie Castle Kellie Castle, Pittenweem, Fife, 0844 493 2184. 6.30—8.30pm. 96. Haunted tales and tours of the castle with a competition for the best costume. Booking essential.
I Witches Gathering Lauder Car Park. Glenbranter Forest, Argyll Forest Park, Dunoon, 01369 860703.
7—9pm. £2. Gather your courage and enter the ‘Spectacular Floodlit Witches Walk’. Give the spooks a run for their money by wearing your own terrifying costume, ducking for apples and having your face painted.
I Halloween Party Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, Cumbernauld.
01236 732887. 7.30pm. Free. Get dressed up for games. spooky stories and apple dooking.
STORYTELLING
I The Puffin Club Scottish Seabird Centre. The Harbour, North Berwick, 01620 890202. 2—3pm. £7.95 (£5.95; children £4.50; under 4s free).
A special story-tastic spooky Puffin Club for both National Tell a Story Day and Halloween.
I Ghost Tours of HRS Discovery Discovery Point. Discovery Quay, Dundee, 01382 309060. 7pm. £3 (£1.50). Hear ghostly tales of sailors past on board RRS Discovery. A fun and entertaining evening for all the family.