Friday, October 19, 2007

Prepping for Halloween

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Ok, the same questions come up every year, so here's my attempt to answer most of them in one shot:

1. Yes, kids actually trick or treat around here. How many will hit a certain street varies, but if all/most of the porch lights on a street are out you might get skipped. I suggest buying candy anyway, but getting something you (or friends/people at your office) will eat. I've got one friend who got frustrated by the left over candy last year and is giving out pretzel packs this year. If you will be home at all on Halloween (even earlier evening) turn on your light and hand out candy if you can. At least, if you agree with me that cultivating local trick or treating is a good thing (lots of kids go south for more dependable loot). I tend to stock chocolate, dum dums, and sweet tarts (lots of parents seem to want candy too).

2. No, not all of the kids wear costumes. Particularly (but not exclusively) true of older kids. Some people find this jarring/rude. I just think it's annoying, and no, I don't think it's a matter of kids not being able to afford costumes. There are lots of ways to dress up that are cheap/free.

3. Interestingly, you don't see a lot of pumpkin smashing here. It hasn't happened to me yet, and I've pretty much had a pumpkin/jack-o-lantern every year for the past 6 yrs. In other places where I've lived your pumpkin will always get smashed. Often before Halloween night.

4. If you insist on leaving that bowl of candy out it will be gone within the first 4-5 kids who approach your house.

5. Even if you specifically tell a kid to only take 2 pieces of candy, they will sometimes take more. If this bothers you, just drop two pieces of candy into the kid's bag.

6. Be aware that we may be enduring a taxi strike on Halloween.

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ADDITIONAL TIP
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7. It's probably also a good idea to have something around that doesn't have nuts/peanuts/chocolate in it in case the kid is allergic.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Someone stole my pumpkin this year and last year it was taken and smashed in the alley next to my house (after Halloween). I'm a little bitter that someone stole it so I'm not handing out any candy this year.

-Bitter on 14th PL

inked said...

Seriously 14th? I've heard of a couple of eggings, but that's really the first pumpkin smashing I've heard of around here. They don't exactly seem prevalent.

Cara said...

C'mon 14th Place...I'll be out on my porch handing out candy that night (also on 14th Place) and someone was shot there. We don't get many kids but the ones we do are cute.

Anonymous said...

In my bland suburban childhood neighborhood out west, every single pumpkin was always smashed after halloween. One was only allowed to be annoyed if it happened before Halloween. I don't consider that a particularly painful prank. What do you want it for after Halloween anyway? To me it's as if a "prank" were to dispose of your Christmas tree...thanks!

inked said...

Glebe,
I prefer to compost my pumpkin. It's less of a big deal if people smash them after Halloween, and I'm sure that the rats love it when pumpkins get smashed in the alley, or on the street.

Anonymous said...

Just FYI, it's "trick or treat."

Anonymous said...

squirrels love pumpkin too! I have seen them "break into " pumpkins with out waiting for someone to smash them.

inked said...

It is trick or treat. Sorry, I'd been watching an MPRE video for 4.5 hours when I typed that.

Anonymous said...

hey, inked...
good luck on your multistate pre-BAR thing.

i know you'll kick some butt!

:o)

Anonymous said...

This will be my fourth Halloween in Trinidad and I pretty much concur with everything Inked said. I haven't had my pumpkins smashed or stolen.
So, despite the gunshots nearby on Saturday very early morning followed by the high speed chase where an SUV chased us all around Trinidad as we left for a 6am flight I'll be handing out candy.

Anonymous said...

Rob:

What happened? You were being pursued by an SUV? Related to the gunshot? Do tell.

Anonymous said...

We ran out of candy for two years in a row, and last year had maybe one qtr of the kids we had in years past. We lived on the 700 block of G Street and had several homeless people, several adults getting candy for their "babies who were at home," and a number of a parents who drove in from PG cty (were in their cars following kids up the road), along with locals. I found everyone to be polite, and I do agree with the strategy of giving kids the candy, to limit the number of pieces.

Anonymous said...

Just moved north of H Street (will be my first Halloween here) but used to live in Shaw at 9th and S NW. I agree that it's annoying to give candy to kids who don't bother to dress but there are a number of gems every year that keep me waiting for the bell to ring. What I don't like is when the parents (not in costume of course) of the children walk up with a plastic grocery bag and expect you to give them candy too. Trust me, if they are collecting candy for a kid whose too young and at home you can be sure that the kid will not be sharing in that bounty....

inked said...

Yes, this parent trick-or-treating thing is very common...and very annoying.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, but isn't there an implied contract between the parties when it comes to trick or treating? The kid (or adult, as the case seems to be)dresses up in a fanciful outfit and in consideration for the entertainment derived from said fanciful outfit, you provide them candy?

If the kids, or adults, fail to dress up I suggest NOT PROVIDING THEM CANDY. Instead, serve them with a lawsuit for breach of contract. ;-)

Seriously, if someone shows up to my door without a costume,they are not getting any candy! I'm curious now how many adults will show up to my door with some sort of BS story about how their kids couldn't make it out. How pathetic can you get...lying about your kids to get free candy for yourself!

poppopbang said...

Someone was just shot in the head on my corner last night (18th pl and d) and we'll still be giving out candy. And I will be giving out candy regardless of costumes. It's called trick or treat for a reason...I don't want to have to wash egg off my house.

Anonymous said...

I think it's strange that the kids in DC don't destroy pumpkins. They'll mug you, deal drugs and litter all over the place, but they don't destroy pumpkins.

In the Midwest you're lucky if your pumpkin lasts an hour. Here in DC, your pumpkin will remain secure until it freezes and rots to the ground in February.