The Very Best Of Special Events NYC (October 2009)

Fall has just begun but Halloween is right around the corner and there is no shortage of trick and treat events to attend. Of course no Halloween would be complete without heading to New York’s Village Halloween Parade. Celebrating its 36th year, the parade promises to be the biggest and best yet. Get you spot earlier as wildly-clad performers and a menagerie of giant puppets step off at 7pm in the Sixth Avenue & Spring Street area and travel up to 23rd Street. Those planning to march should arrive at 6:30pm.

After the parade head over to Theater for the New City for the 33rd Annual Village Costume Ball. This one-night fiesta takes over all four of TNC’s theater spaces, plus its lobby and most of the block outside. Customarily over 1,400 costume clad celebrants gather for dancing, dining and viewing acts from the cutting-edge of cabaret and theater. Enjoy holiday dishes contributed by village restaurants and dance to the big band sounds of La Cumbiamba and the Hot Lavendar Swing Band.

If you like to be scared by things that go bump in the dark then you’ll love the terrifying surprises that await you around each dark corner when the lights go off at Madame Tussauds After Dark. Guests who dare will be led through the eerie darkness and hallowed halls of Madame Tussauds New York, guided by only a single light. As life–like wax figures look on, visitors will be transported to the late 18th century, where Madame Tussaud began her craft by creating death masks of famous victims and executed nobles of the French Revolution. Guests will then be lead into Madame Tussauds’ taunting “Scream” exhibit, where spooky live actors are sure to frighten and thrill. 

Prepare to be really terrified at the Gravesend Inn Haunted Hotel a high tech haunted hotel in Brooklyn. Built from the ground up each year by the faculty and students at the New York City College of Technology’s Entertainment Technology Department, this theme-park-quality Halloween attraction has been thrilling children and adults alike since 2001.

For something a little tamer try your hand at pumpkin carving and enter the Sexy Jack-O-Lantern Contest. Bring your erotic jack-o-lantern to any NY Babeland store for a chance to win Babeland goodies. Jack-O-Lanterns are judged on creativity and craftsmanship. Entries accepted at all NY stores until 6pm Oct 31.

As fall continues there are plenty of special events to keep you busy. Join the women of Sage for their Women’s Fall Frolic Dance Oct 25 at the Imperial. Same great dance, same great women of all ages but at a new cozier venue. And as usual DJ NancyB’s will be spinning a fabulous selection of your favorite dance tunes, old and new. This annual dance is a fundraiser for Sage, all proceeds help fund the organization’s work among LGBT seniors.

Mix and mingle with women of all ages, ethnicities, style, professions, interests and expressions at the Women’s Night: Shaken & Stirred at the Leo Bar. Hosted by the Asia Society, OP.LYNX & Q-Wave, this networking and cocktail party has become hugely popular with over 500 women attending the last mixer. While you’re there don’t miss the current exhibits offered at the Asia Society & Museum.

All women are welcome to the fiercest lesbian jam in town as the Center holds its Women About Fall Dance Oct 17. Enjoy live DJ from Nightlife Entertainment; cash bar with wine, beer, soda and water.

Join Family Q at the Institute for Human Identity Whose Child Is It Anyway? Suzanne Johnson, PhD. leads this workshop which explores the special issues brought up by sharing parenting in LGBTQ relationships, as well as how individuals and couples can work together to form families and to comfortably define parenting roles that are inclusive and loving.

Empire State Pride Agenda holds their Fall Dinner Oct 22 at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. Margaret Cho emcees this very special night which celebrates the continued progress and success towards winning equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers and their families. The 2009 Douglas W. Jones Leadership Award will be presented to The Hathaway Family—Anne Hathaway, Gerald & Kate Hathaway, Thomas Hathaway and Michael Hathaway & Joshua Lawson.

PLAG NYC’s 29th Annual Awards Dinner on Oct.12 wil celebrate the PFLAG NYC Safe Schools Program. Safe Schools teams spoke with more than one thousand middle and high school students across the city and made presentations to parents, and administrators in schools with more than 10,000 students total. This year’s event will feature appearances by Barbara Cook, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, former Miss America and Broadway star Kate Shindle.

Also this month the 1st Glaad Media Awards in Advertising will recognize and honor individuals and projects in the advertising and marketing industries for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. Allan Cummings will host this inaugural event with IKEA, Kenneth Cole, Levis, Subaru and more as nominees.

One of the most popular events in Out Professional’s history returns this fall. Career Boot Camp will turbo-charge your work life, whether you’re just starting out or making mid-life moves. Renee Rosenberg from the Five O’Clock Club, one of the nation’s leading outplacement, search and employer-consulting firms will give you real-world, bottom-line tips and techniques on building a successful job search in these difficult times. In November presenter Susanne Rhow will show you new ways to think and research realistically about retooling your career.