Tricks and Treats
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Cheap Dates
October 23, 2008 - 11:00pmHappy Halloween, Cheap Daters! Halloween evokes mixed feelings for us, as we love to dress up yet hate walking around in 30 degree weather in costume all night; we like to carve pumpkins but hate knowing that they will inevitably be smashed by rowdy drunks at 3 a.m.; and we love an excuse for a candy corn binge but regret needing to go to the gym the next day — and the dentist next week. All in all, Halloween is still an incredibly fun holiday with plenty of opportunities for causing mischief, pretending to be someone (or something) else for one night and taking a break from prelims. With Halloween just around the corner, many of you may be asking, “How can I have fun with my special someone on Halloween?” Cheap Dates is here once again to provide plenty of ideas for enjoying this holiday whether you want a low-key day frolicking in the pumpkin patch, a frightening evening stirring up spooks or a wild night out at the bars competing to win “best costume.”
$ — Pumpkins are a Halloween staple and are as much fun to pick as they are to carve or to eat. Why not bundle up and spend an afternoon at a pumpkin patch? Besides a plethora of this orange fruit, U-pick farms provide plenty of other harvest distractions. Cornell Orchards, located right across from the Vet School, is he most convenient place to pick your own pumpkin. We’ve already sung our praises of the Orchards’ many varieties of apples available for picking and hot cider available at the store, but they also offer pick-your-own pumpkins. If you have the means to travel a little further, try Iron Kettle Farm in Candor, a destination renowned for its fall activities. Not only do they have a handsome selection of pumpkins, but they also have a corn maze, hay rides, a pumpkin slingshot, tractor go-karts and other festive amusements. If you’re looking for a fun day in the countryside, this is the farm for you.
$$ — It wouldn’t be Halloween without a visit to a haunted house, and as it turns out, Ithaca is crawling with them. Discover some of Ithaca’s most eerie spots on the History Center’s Haunted History Tour of Downtown Ithaca. In addition to answering such burning questions as, “Which local house fell into a gorge, leaving behind a series of unsolved ghost sightings?” and “What happened to turn a Buffalo Street bobsledding trip into an infamous Ithaca tragedy?” the tour showcases local landmarks, including the City Cemetery. Along the way, tourgoers will be able to watch reenactments of major historical events and may even encounter a ghost or two. The Haunted History Tour is full of tricks and treats that will frighten and delight even the most stoic Halloween adventurers. Make sure to reserve a spot for you and your sweetheart today! Tickets are available at The History Center, 410 E. State St., Suite 100 in the Gateway Center for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tours begin every evening at 7:00, 7:15 and 7:30 and leave from the Main Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons.
$$$ — For some of us it wouldn’t be Halloween without the chance to show off a costume and have some fun, but never fear, the local nightlife has got you covered. If you’re downtown, be sure to check out Castaways’ Halloween Rock Bash 2008 with live music from 12oz. Muzzle and Ayurveda. Strut your in the best costume contest — if you win you’ll get a cool $100 and a free bar tab for your group. Prizes are offered for best male, female and group costumes, and as an added bonus, costumed partygoers get $3 off at the door. If you are looking for a more laid-back night, head over to Halloween Happy Hour at the Lost Dog Café where you can bob for apples, win prizes and listen to the Leah Randazzo Group, whose electrifying jazz music will “give you goosebumps.” If you can’t make it out of Collegetown, try out A Green Halloween at the Nines with Kyoto Now! and DJ Adam Vana. With a contest for best “green” costume and a dollar off the cover for bringing a recyclable item, this green Halloween party can’t be beat. How can you turn down a party with the tagline “Ghosts, ghouls and fossil fuels?” Of course, all your favorite bars will be having Halloween themed events, so be sure to check back as the spooky date draws near. Plan early so your Halloween won’t be a horror…