Is it any wonder that Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in American culture today?  Not only do you get to pretend you are someone (or something else) for an entire day, but you get to act weird and scary without getting arrested.

Almost every bar and nightclub in Pittsburgh is having a costume oriented night this year - some of them will be celebrating on the weekend nights, and others will be celebrating on Tuesday the 31st.  A couple will even be celebrating early, so be sure to call around before you make solid plans.  You wouldn't want to walk into your favorite haunt (pun intended) dressed as Little Bo Peep, only to find out that everyone else in the bar celebrated the holiday the previous week.

Halloween is a highly commercial holiday, ranked second only to Christmas, so naturally you will have your fair share of stress on everything from picking the right party to attend to picking the right costume.  Sadly most people can usually pick the right party, but a lot of people pick the wrong costume.

I have noticed that a lot of people will pick a costume that looks good over a costume that will let them have a good time.  For instance, when I was a kid I made a really great looking robot costume that impressed everyone who saw it.  It had a built in candy-bag holder, interior light, and it only weighed about 70 lbs.  Without going too deeply into the story, the costume only lasted about 4 houses before it ended up in someone else's trash.

You should pick a costume that will keep you warm if you are going to be outside a lot.  You should pick a costume that will be light if you are going to be in a hot bar or crowded party, and if you aren't sure what the party is going to be like, then work on accessories for your costume that can be added or removed depending on the environment around you.  Shawls, caps, blankets, and overcoats can be added to a lot of costumes while still keeping the theme alive and working for you.

Be sure that your face is going to be comfortable with what you are wearing.  Lots of makeup can quickly become sweaty, messy and impossible to fix.  Be careful with masks too - a lot of the masks that cover your entire face can become your own personal sauna within minutes.  Also try to keep in mind your smoking and drinking habits.  If you are going to wear something that covers most of your mouth, be sure to bring a straw along with you, and if you are a smoker, you may want to invest in a cigarette pipe.

Remember to have fun - Halloween is a time when you can be someone else.  Don't let the drinking carry this behavior too far for you.  Everyone else is out to have a good time too.  The police will be out in force all weekend long and through the holiday, so don't push your luck.

You don't want to be sitting in jail wearing a Little Bo Peep costume.

--Nathaniel Beall

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Nightlife in Pittsburgh
Where's the party? Pittsburgh has a lot of opportunities for evening entertainment including dance clubs, sports bars, comedy clubs, movies and great local bands.