As a child, I was always a hobo for Halloween. That's what we called it.
It was an easy disguise to construct — just some oversized clothes and a few facial smudge marks. The idea was to mimic someone more like Red Skelton's Freddie the Freeloader than someone homeless — a concept I didn't yet know. And one that seemed not to exist back then (though I'm sure it did).
Mrs. Kane, who lived in the last house on Brewster Road, would dress up each year in some imaginative outfit. She was the only one in the neighborhood who did anything special. The houses were all unadorned, except for maybe a carved (or plain) pumpkin on the top of the outside stairs.
But unlike my small Massachusetts neighborhood, I was surprised to notice how different my one is here. These I saw on a recent walk, just a few blocks from my home; some of these characters even move and light up:
What street is that? 91st between Lex and Park is also great.
ReplyDeleteEast 69th betw First and Second, and East 77th, same cross streets.
DeleteIf you want a treat walk up any of the blocks between Madison and Lex from 93rd-90th! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete(Linda) I was always a “beatnik.” I just needed to wear black tights, black turtleneck, black beret and fake cigarette holder.
ReplyDeleteYa know, in retrospect, I think I may have been a beatnik too!
DeleteYour photo images are excellent.They illustrate what the Halloween market will bear. Your old neighborhood compared to your now neighborhood is testament.NYC is many things, but never wanting for display, celebration, or max partying.
ReplyDeleteHere in Bridgewater, Ma. neighborhoods display some great Halloween decorations, scary scenes, and those giant skeletons! This seems to have really increased in the past 5 years....I am thinking that people got into this during Fall, 2020, i.e. first Halloween during the pandemic. So instead of all the other ways to celebrate that involved being in public, families home together did this as a way to celebrate and entertain themselves. Since then, it's almost been like Christmas in terms of decorations. In fact, some keep their skeletons out there in their yards and then decorate them in Christmas gear. I absolutely love Halloween and what it has become lately!! And in our neighborhood, we still have tons of kids out trick or treating. Love seeing them in their costumes and delving into the candy supply.
ReplyDeleteKaren (just in case anonymous shows up again)
Sounds like a great neighborhood to live in!
ReplyDelete