There’s still some time to get your costume

Pirates are the No. 1
favorite costume this year.

By JEANNE STARMACK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

They are gathering, in the gloomy dusk of Halloween.

They are gathering, on your porch.

You have put the warning light in the big orange jack-o’-lantern. It is grinning evilly: Beware.

But they do not heed it.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Inside your house, you jump from the couch. Wildly, you look, from the front door to the clock, and back to the front door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Six p.m. already?

You remembered to buy your Halloween candy days ago. You remembered the orange bandanna with bats on it for the dog.

You remembered to light your decorations, and you have a CD of spooky music in the player.

But for weeks, you’ve been trying to figure out a costume for yourself, and tonight, you accidentally fell asleep on the couch during the preciously small allotment of time between getting home from work and 6 p.m., when you were going to try to throw something together, and —

Knock. Knock. Knock.

It’s Halloween, and you don’t have a costume — aaaaaaaah!

Up and down your street, parents are dressed as pirates, while their kids are putting on blond Hannah Montana wigs. At parties all over town, men are dressed as gorillas and their dates are dressed as giant bananas.

Suddenly, you awaken — really, this time. It’s only 3 p.m. — you fell asleep at your desk.

There’s still time, so leave work early and go to one of the many stores that supply costumes.

Ward’s Costume Shoppe in Niles has extended hours tonight until 7. Ahoy, it’s pirates that have been her big seller this year, said owner Shirley James.

Pirates, whether of the Caribbean or just the general variety, have been popular for the last several years, she said.

For girls this year, long blond wigs with bangs have sold out — Hannah Montana, the Disney Channel character who’s a regular kid with a teen pop star alter ego, is the reason why.

Roman centurions have been popular for men this year, she said, probably because of the movie “300.”

“It tends to trend toward movies,” James said about costume choices.

At the Party Place in Boardman, manager Marisa Scott reported pirates were the No. 1 choice also — mainly Pirates of the Caribbean. They’ll be open until 9 p.m.

At Party Max, also in Boardman, also open until 9 p.m., you’ll have your choice of pirate costumes. Depending on whom you want to be, said assistant manager Tara Yuengert, your costume will cost $20 to $50.

After pirates, kids are wanting to be Transformers — likely because of the movie, and Star Wars characters, Yuengert said.

Women who want a sexy costume are going to be out of luck, because the “Leg Avenue” line is sold out. No more hottie Raggedy Anns, candy corn witches, Alice in Wonderlands, baseball players or referees at Party Max.

At Perfect Occasion in Champion, pirates were also in great demand — second only to gorillas.

“I have no idea why,” said owner Debra Miller. Her shop is open by appointment, and Miller, who’s also a makeup artist, is taking appointments until 9 p.m.

Those gorillas, mostly men in their 20s, are often complemented by 20-something women dressed as bananas, Miller said.

If none of those ideas strike you, The Vindicator had some suggestions in its Wednesday horoscope: Aries, alien; Taurus, rock star; Gemini, celebutante; Cancer, a member of the animal kingdom; Leo, a bad fairy; Virgo, historical figure; Libra, movie star; Scorpio, something you were once afraid of; Sagittarius, zombie; Capricorn, a professional nightmare; Aquarius, an overtly sexy version of yourself; and Pisces, a notorious menace.

Oh, and start worrying about a costume earlier next year.