You'd enjoy Halloween more if it weren't for those pesky kids, right? Never fear.
Luckily, there are alternatives to hiding in your house with the lights off, cringing at every doorbell ring! Here are some ways you can enjoy an "adults only" Halloween: Gothic Evening of Romance You don't have to dress up like Fred & Lily Munster and go to the dungeon to have a sexy Halloween.
A romantic graveyard picnic will do the trick! Pack some candles (don't forget the matches!), a bottle of boo-jolais (don't forget the glasses!) and assorted Halloween goodies.
Spread out a blanket under the full Halloween moon and tell each other ghost stories...
you're almost guaranteed to end up in each other's arms.
Visit a Fortuneteller You know it's just a silly hoax...
or is it? Visiting a fortuneteller is a titillating experience and definitely an entertaining way to spend a Halloween evening.
Or, if you don't feel like letting a stranger tell you your future, buy a pack of tarot cards and teach a group of friends how to read them.
And top the evening off with a Ouija Board to see if there are any spirits around! Go See a Halloween Show Every Halloween, tons of shows pop up about Halloween...
all for kids! But there are a few great Halloween-themed shows for adults.
Check your local theatre listing for shows like "Little Shop of Horrors" or "Dial 'M' for Murder.
" Or if you prefer something more off the beaten path, original musical revues like "Halloween Hullabaloo," feature skits and songs written expressly for adults with a Saturday Night Live/Laugh-In feel.
Take a Ghost Tour If you like exercise, history, and spine-tingling tales, why not try a ghost tour? There's not a city in the world that doesn't have its share of spooky sites, so you can get the bejesus scared out of you while learning about the past life of your favorite locale.
Host a Murder Mystery Was it your best friend with the corkscrew in the kitchen? Or was it your neighbor with the nail clippers in the laundry room? A murder mystery party is a distinctive and unforgettable event that allows your guests to tap into their inner actor as they navigate their way through a "real" live murder mystery.
If you have the time and creativity, you can write your own script, but, if you prefer to spend your time preparing the décor and foodstuffs, there are companies that offer everything you need to host a spooktacular evening.
Scary Movie Night Invite a few friends over to watch your favorite scary horror movies.
Turn off all the lights, burn some candles, and pop in little-known chillers like "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things," "Trick 'r Treat" or "The Bad Seed.
" And, whatever you do, don't forget the popcorn and Sno Caps! Haunt Your House And, finally, if you CAN'T get rid of those blasted trick or treaters, at least you can have a little fun with them.
Deck the halls with boughs of spider webs...
and skeletons...
and churn up the fog machine.
You can frighten...
er...
entertain anyone who comes to your door by making them walk through a spooky maze in order to earn their candy.
And, if your friends are game, put them in costumes to jump out and scare anyone who dares to enter.
But, if you're employing your friends as apparitions, definitely have some Halloween-themed appetizers and cocktails on hand.
Haunting is hard work.
Have fun.
And stay spooky, my friends!