Last updated on November 2nd, 2015
Happy week before Halloween! Next Saturday, Silver Fox and I will host our fifth annual Monster Bash. It’s a frightening night that includes live entertainment, an open bar, and lots of yummy things to eat. Need a good scare? Walk this way:
Do have a seat in the music room. I have a guest who’s dying to meet you.
As far as decorating goes, I don’t try to make the house look haunted.
Why?
I do, however, try to make an appropriate table-scape for the dining room. It’s easy enough to drape the table with black vinyl, and place cheesecloth on top. This makes a nice background for pointy hats…
Or pairs of black candles and skulls. I usually add a few pumpkins, too. ‘Tis the season.
The dining room table holds the cocktail appetizers. Would you like to try a few? Most can be made in advance:
Crudite. I like to put the dip in a hollowed-out head of ‘Savoy’ cabbage.
Bacon-Wrapped Grissini. These perform a disappearing act the moment guests arrive. The step-by-step recipe:
Chive Pesto on slices of French baguette. My easy recipe:
Herbed Cheese Straws. Stand them in black mugs for a ghoulish effect. Click here for the recipe.
Salmon Soldiers. You don’t need a recipe for these one-bite appetizers. Just roll up some strips of smoked salmon, and pipe softened cream cheese into the hollow center. Garnish with capers and sprigs of dill. Easy!
Bean Dip with Fresh Rosemary and Sage. This is smokey-herby-delicious with crudite or crackers. The simple recipe.
Cheese Board. Here, a block of cheddar, a log of goat cheese, and a pile of crackers are sufficient. I like to adorn the board with fresh cranberries and local apples.
Oh. Click here to see all of my make-ahead appetizers.
To keep the dining room from over-crowding, the open bar is set up at the north end of the music room. The “bar” is nothing more than a rectangular folding table, draped with black vinyl. I do hire a bartender to mix and pour drinks. When you have more than 40 guests, it helps to have extra hands around.
The south end of the music room is where the entertainment happens. Some years, we hire a pianist to accompany Liza, Elvis, and other guests who can really belt out show tunes.
Other years, everybody dances to the beat of my friend Jim Guidera.
This year, however, hosts and guests will provide entertainment. Maybe, just maybe…I’ll play Schumann’s Phantasy Danze on piano. Perhaps Silver Fox will read a poem. Our friend Sarah Kilbourne might sing a torch song or two, and…well, we shall see.
Now, you certainly don’t need a big space to host a grown up Halloween party. Just invite some fun-loving friends, offer ’em food and drink, and trust me — a party will happen! Of course, your guests will need to arrive in costume.
A few costume ideas…
Everyone looks better with eye-liner.
Don’t argue with me.
We’ve hosted Liberace and Scott Thorson…
A witch (with beautiful blue eyelashes)…
And Hugh Hefner and his bunny.
One year, my BFF Michael Laudati arrived as this character from Monty Python’s Holy Grail (see this youtube clip).
We’ve had a judge, a cat, and a black widow…
And The Joker, who, sans makeup, is really the Silver Fox.
Well, I hope I’ve inspired you to host your own masquerade party some year. Playing “dress up” isn’t just for kids!
Love ya-
KLJ
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Need more costume ideas? Check out these parties:
Halloween 2013
Halloween 2014
Halloween Movies — Your Favorites and Mine
Mary in Iowa says
Fun. I vote for the Colonial gentleman–and the cheese straws.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Mary – I hope ruffled shirts make a come-back.
Another Carolyn says
You have the most wonderful artistic sense and hosting abilities. I’d love to attend one of your parties as one of your decorations, so I could watch all the fun, but kind of like a spy. Sadly, my “costume” is usually just dressing in black and using white and black makeup crayons to make a skull face. Although, come to think of it, it’s usually good for at least one startle and one slightly uncomfortable stare at the office.
Love your ideas and your recipes. I’ll be making the Rustic Apple Cake the next time my Mom comes to lunch.
And I’m torn between the pirate and the musketeer as my favorite costumes. I just wish I looked that good in eyeliner.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
During my teaching career, I hosted 46 separate Halloween parties for five-year-olds.
Collectively, they pulverized any future interest I might have had in Halloween celebrations, I am sorry to confess. School custodians are probably still trying to get the carpets clean.
But if I threw parties for this holiday, I would take a page from your book and make my appetizers ahead of time, hire help and cover the dining room table with something spill proof.
Your photos are priceless. The divine wallpaper really sets off the costumes.
Mary in Iowa says
Love ruffled shirts. Very sexy. Every new or retro clothing trend starts with someone having the confidence to wear it. Go for it! Better yet, find someone who knows someone who knows a designer and convince him/her to start a fashion trend. Voila! Ruffled shirts. 🙂
Cate says
Your Halloween party looks like a grand time! I’ve never thrown a grown-up Halloween party, but you’ve inspired me to give it a try. And I’m going to follow your lead & keep party cheese boards simple going forward. I always spend too much on fancy cheeses, which probably aren’t all that appreciated in a cocktail party setting 😉 Looking forward to your 2015 party recap!
Anne Schomaker says
As a guest, the other half of the fun is simply coming up with an idea for a costume. Imagination and cleverness really come into play for this event. One certainly experiences a different side of friends at such a gathering. Happy Halloween
Deb Stover says
I looked through photos from all the bashes you posted, and I’m jealous. I suddenly realize how much FUN I have been missing. Please keep sharing. I enjoy living vicariously through you. Boo!
Gloria Gellman says
I wish we lived closer. your party sounds like such fun! Miss you guys.
Margaret Califano says
Kevin, I love the musketeer costume! And I agree about eyeliner.
Carol McCarthy says
Looks like a fabulous, fun, creative party!
Linda A says
A good time to start shooting some video, Kevin!
Jaime Haney says
Oh how fun!! One thing I can’t stop thinking about though is your house really haunted?! I just adore your blog and now that I know you’re into Halloween too, well that just makes me like you even more 😉 I believe my favorite of you is the pirate (Cher). What a great photo, the look on your face is classic. I have quite a few Halloween costume ideas on my website for females, I love to dress up for Halloween.
Patricia says
Kevin,
I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed this Halloween segment. Amazing to see everyone’s creativity. Really enjoyed seeing your costumes; think the Musketeer is my favorite. Also appreciate all the ideas for appetizers. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
SueSchneid22 says
Kevin- It was a good day when I found your blog. I am not sure quite how it happened, but you come to my one email address that I haven’t yet lost control of. (Don’t be like me and end sentences in a preposition!) I love everything about your blog. The recipes, the gardening tips, and I have never been a big Halloween fan, but you made me smile and laugh seeing your parties. You are the BOMB! And a blessing, to boot!
Mary Wilson says
You have yet another talent I didn’t know about – I would love listening to the Schumann!