Along with pirates, princesses, ladybugs, vampires and Chicago Cubs.
We’re hearing there’s a great haunted house at 77 Midland in Montclair. Send us a great picture and we’ll post it.
Beat this. Kids are coming up to my front porch bearing plastic bags with goldfish. Seems some enterprising moms down the block on Hamilton Road have set up a no-scare backyard carnival, with prizes.

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Holy Kruggerrands! You heard how gold is the new tupperware -suburban gold parties are pre-empting the modern home food, lingerie, and gift sale get-togethers. It’s all about turning your old jewelry into cold cash, and a Baristaville business wants to get some of the action.
Tomorrow from noon-4pm, local gold goddess Katie Kufperschmid takes her show out of the living room and into the showroom of Lynne’s Nissan in Bloomfield.

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Happy Halloween, Baristaville! It’s easy to see that the upcoming election, the turbulent economy, and the onset of winter have done nothing to dampen the spirit of Halloween.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

The recent ebb and flow of commerce in downtown Montclair we’ve noticed:
On Church Street, Sepia Home, interior design store is on its way out. Signs on the door tell us Montclair interior designer Marilyn Lavergne is saying au revoir to retail, but continuing her design consulting services. Ecco Bella, selling healthy chocolate on the corner of South Park seems to have vanished overnight. Ruby’s, known for designer jeans and glamwear opened Ruby Slippers, for shoes, two doors down.
Urban Outfitters on South Park, finally gets some neighbors. To its left, Lacrosse Unlimited is open; real-estate intel suggests the retail space to the right is getting fitted for American Apparel.
Down Bloomfield Ave…

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Just because Halloween will be over in a few hours, don’t suppress any desires to continue the masquerade. People and pets will have two more reasons to get in diguise:
Essex’s Canine Costume Halloween Parades: It rained (and blew) on last Saturday’s parades; both events are rescheduled for tomorrow. South Mountain Dog Park: register your pooch at 9:30am for the 10:15 am parade. Then do it again at Brookdale Dog Park: registration 1pm, parade starts 1:45pm. Win prizes for “Best In Costume.”
For the rest of you…don your best 16th century regalia, and get thee to Edgemont Park for Renaissance Middle School’s 2nd annual Renaissance Faire Fundraiser, Saturday from noon to 4pm. Family-friendly activities, demonstrations, and entertainment abound…

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Burger lovers, take note: soon you’ll be able to get your burgers green. Elevation Burger is one of the first confirmed tenants for the renovated Phoenix Building on Bloomfield Avenue. The Virginia-based company’s website purports to serve visionary fresh food that’s “good for you and the environment.” What that means: organic, grass-fed, free range beef and olive oil cooked fries. At last – guilt free, socially conscious fast food? Uh-huh, but what about the darn calories….Read what Urban Spoon and customers have to say about EB.

Each of my kids, who attend three different schools in Montclair, came home yesterday afternoon with tales of supposed gang initiation shootings planned for Halloween night. High schoolers heard an announcement over the PA reassuring kids that the rumors were false. The scary story, spreading like wildfire among the eager trick-or-treaters, was addressed by teachers in the classroom at Hillside and Renaissance. Wednesday, Montclair Chief of Police David Sabagh denied there was any truth to the rumors, and the topic is discussed on the front page of today’s Star Ledger…Every kid (and parent) deserves to enjoy this Halloween with peace of mind; remember to follow these “Lucky 13″ safety tips.
If you’re not going out on the street tonight, bring your costumed little ones out for early trick-or-treating in Bloomfield Center: from 3-7pm today, merchants will be passing out sweet treats and there are free magic shows at the MultiMediaArts Center, 562 Bloomfield Ave. The shows are at 5:30 and 6:30 pm; ages 8 and up.
Trick-or-Treaters can enjoy a free event “Zooloween” at Turtleback Zoo, and adults get spooky at a party/fundraiser sponsored by Mystic Spirit Metaphysical Shoppe in Montclair. Details follow…

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Gov. Corzine is showing support in Newark this afternoon. From Newsday…

Gov. Jon S. Corzine plans to be in the stands for a high school game in Newark Thursday after suburban schools refused to play because of drive-by shootings.
The schools changed their minds following pressure and assurances from athletic and government officials.
Roselle will face Newark Central at Untermann Field. The superintendent agreed after getting safety assurances in a conference call with Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
Newark’s school superintendent canceled all athletic events after two people were killed in drive-by shootings on Friday.
Central High and Cranford then refused to play in the city and met at a neutral site on Monday.

There’s room for new students at Montclair Community Pre-K (MCPK). The school has expanded its enrollment during the current school year to include out-of-town students. There are limited spots available to children who are 4 years old by December 31 of this year. MCPK offers full and half day options, extended day programs for working families and enrichment classes. Only residents of Montclair are eligible to participate in our the sliding-scale tuition policy based on family income. Families not residing in Montclair are eligible to send their children to the MCPK at the full tuition rate. For more information, visit the MCPK website or call (973) 509-4500.

Who knew that you could get your block closed for Halloween? I didn’t, until I found a note in my mailbox earlier this week stating that my street, Hamilton Road, will be car-free from 4pm until 10 pm “to ensure,” the note said, “a safe night of trick or treating for the children in our neighborhood.”
Too bad for the safety of the kids in your neighborhood.
Also closed for Halloween night: Forest Avenue, between Glenridge Parkway and Cambridge Road.
Hamilton is a notoriously heavily-trafficked trick-or-treating street. Just remember the rules if you come enjoy our car-free Halloween paradise. Lights out on the porch means that there’s no candy left. And as far as I’m concerned, if the barricades are moved at 10 pm, that’s when lights go out.