Halloween

Critic's Pick -- Linus waits in the pumpkin patch for the elusive Halloween symbol in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (8 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2)

Leave it to Baltimore's Imaginative Cinema Society to do Halloween right. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, the group's monthly meeting will culminate with an all-night Halloween movie marathon. No word on which films will be shown; that depends on what the members bring. A potluck dinner and trivia contest are included, and costumes are optional but encouraged. First-timers can visit for free; after that, visitors are invited to join (annual dues are $20 per person, $30 per couple). The marathon is in the fellowship hall at Perry Hall Presbyterian Church, 8848 Belair Road.

Fred Flintstone was there. So were Uncle Sam, the Grim Reaper and Marilyn Monroe. An alien from a far-off planet dropped in. Even Miss America 1994 made an appearance.It seems nobody wanted to miss Loretta Metzler and Randy Bruner's wedding. Seven years in the planning, the costumed affair was held, appropriately enough, on Halloween. Loretta and Randy chose a Halloween episode of one of their favorite television series, "Beauty and the Beast," as the theme for their wedding, deciding the day would be complete only if they dressed the part.

Editor's note: A collection of poems to celebrate today's holiday.I'm Dressing Up for HalloweenI'm dressing up for Halloween --Don't want to be a bat,A mummy, ghost, or skeleton,Or a witch's snarling cat.Don't want to be a werewolfWith hairy hands and face;Instead I'll be an alienBeamed down from outer space --A creature with antennaeAnd a green-and-purple hide,But best of all a creatureWith three arms on either side.Six arms for hanging bags onBefore I hit the street;Just think of all the loot I'll getTonight for trick or treat.

The Baltimore Police Department will present two Halloween haunted houses this weekend -- one at the Northern District station in Hampden and the other at the Northwestern District.The Northern District event will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. today and from 4: 30 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. tomorrow at the historic police station at 3355 Keswick Road.The free show features creepy creatures, trick-or-treating and a short anti-drug skit by Maryland Institute, College of Art students.The Northwestern District, in conjunction with the Northwestern District Community Relations Council, will present its haunted house in the garage of the district station at 5271 Reisterstown Road from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. today.

It's time to check out some Halloween candy for your brain. Here are a few treats for young Yak's Corner readers."The Hallo-Wiener" by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic, $5.99) is new in paperback. Has your mom ever made you a Halloween costume -- maybe one you didn't like? If so, you'll love reading about Oscar the dachshund and his hot dog costume. This tale of a little wiener dog is a winner.Reading "Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden," by George Levenson with photographs by Shmuel Thaler (Tricycle Press, $14.95)

IT ALWAYS seems a pity that Halloween costumes are worn only once a year. Sometimes they get recycled to reluctant younger siblings, but that's rare.This year, Halloween falls on a Sunday -- presenting an opportunity for a weekend of activities to which costumes may be worn, before the Great Pumpkin arrives on Halloween.Here are some venues your children can enjoy while wearing their disquieting disguises.On Oct. 30, the Savage Community Association invites preschool and elementary school-age children with a parent to enjoy a scary good time.

Should Halloween be observed on the last Saturday of October? Some think so. When Oct. 31 falls on a weekday, children and parents must squeeze trick-or-treating and festivities in after school and work, often after dark, raising a safety issue. Celebrating on Saturday would allow earlier trick-or-treating and give families time to schedule other events, such as parties. What do you think?Let us hear from you, in 30 seconds or less, on our comments phone line, 410-715-2830. Or write 50 words or fewer and e-mail howard.

HALLOWEEN IS only one day on the calendar, but the celebration in our area lasts a good week. It began Sunday night with the sixth annual Pumpkin Night sponsored by the Crofton Civic Association.The event drew hundreds of children to Hardy Field for a spooky storytelling session, marshmallows, Halloween goody bags and a big bonfire.Carved pumpkins, from the traditional to the unusual, were the featured attraction. In the carving contest, Brittany Squillari's pumpkin won first place in the "funniest" category.

The calendar only says Oct. 1, but Halloween is coming, and it's never too early to start thinking about a costume.The folks in the know at the Home Sewing Association have polled pattern makers, fabric retailers and others in the industry to come up with the top 10 costume categories for this year. They are: Austin Powers and mod fashions from the late '60s and early '70s.Characters from "Star Wars."Anything involving Pokemon.Elizabethan and Renaissance looks.Tarzan and Jane costumes.Batman and other superheroes.

Candy, costumed witches and goblins, and even the word Halloween have been missing from many of the Howard County schools' celebrations this past week. The goons, goblins, witches and devils that have long been associated with Halloween celebrations are slowly becoming less commonplace. Instead, schools are following the suggestions of central office administrators and more kids are coming to school in doctor's scrubs and tool belts for career days or dressed as popular storybook characters.

As kids, we loved it when Halloween fell on a Saturday. Our parents tried to hold us back, but we set out with our costumes and trick-or-treat bags as early as we could. After dark, a big moon made the neighborhood even spookier. We're two days short of the full moon this year. But if skies are clear, that will be good enough. We won't have a real full moon over our Halloweeen haunts until 2020.

With infection rates rising and the H1N1 vaccine in short supply, this Halloween comes with the added scare of swine flu - and Baltimore-area parents find themselves balancing the fun of a favorite holiday with worries about keeping kids healthy. Bobbing for apples is out for many this year, along with excessive time in crowds. Keepers of the candy bowl are advised to hand children their treats piece by piece, instead of letting the costumed minions help themselves. Primed to prevent the spread of germs, parents are keeping sanitizer handy, making certain their children wash their hands before and after handling candy wrappers, and saying no to any unwrapped sweets.

SATURDAY TRICKS AND TREATS AT THE CHARLES: The Charles Theatre, 1711 N. Charles St., offers up a sweet cinematic treat for Halloween. "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" is a horror spoof starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi. For this special noon children's matinee, children are admitted free. Adult admission is $6. Go to thecharles.com. MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER MINI-MARATHON: B-movie fans can crack wise along with MST3K's Tom Servo, Crow and Gypsy when the Carroll County Arts Council, 91 W. Main St., screens "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," "Teenagers from Outer Space" and "Manos: The Hands of Fate."

For years, Fells Point has been Baltimore's premiere Halloween hot spot. Every Halloween, thrill-seeking partyers bounce from bar to bar, swilling drinks and showing off costumes. Mayhem is unavoidable. But this weekend, other neighborhoods such as the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Federal Hill and Remington are stepping up their Halloween celebrations, offering festivities for 20-somethings and children alike. "On the big drinking holidays, we've never put on a big show," said Joe Edwardsen, owner of Joe Squared, a Station North restaurant.

No lantern yet? Don't fret. This year, procrastinators will have the opportunity to walk in the Creative Alliance's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. Pre-parade activities at the new lantern festival, which begins before Saturday's parade, include last-minute lantern-making, hayrides around the park, live music, vendors and a beer garden. Arrive before 5 p.m. and pay $5 to construct your own lamps of bamboo, wax and tissue paper. Molly Ross, director and principal artist for the nonprofit Nana Projects Inc., an artists' collective, directs the parade, which is in its 10th year, and helps to oversee the festivities.

Halloween weekend Visitors can enjoy scarecrow making, face painting, hayrides and food as well as pick out a pumpkin this weekend at Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Route 108 in Ellicott City as part of its Halloween celebration. In addition, a costume contest will be held 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 25, with prizes for all who enter. For directions and more information, call 410-730-4049 or go to clarklandfarm.com. Exchange programs The Columbia Association is seeking adult and high school residents to serve a one-year term on the International Exchange and Multi-Cultural Programs Advisory Committee.

The time has arrived for one of our nation's most visible displays of democracy in action. No, not Election Day. I mean Halloween. Each year, as October draws to a close, I get excited. My days as a trick-or-treater are long over; my young children now fill that role. But Halloween in our neighborhood is a big deal. At dusk, the children in their costumes flood our decorated block. The autumn air crackles with their energy and enthusiasm, creating a festive atmosphere. And yet I see something more going on - something to do with us as Americans.

Tomorrow night after the kiddies trot home with their bulging candy bags, it's playtime for us adults. Not only is it Halloween - it's Friday night. That means double the tricks and treats for the taking - from Halloween-themed concerts to costume contests with cash prizes. You just have to know where to look. Here are some of the best options for Halloween revelry in and around the city. 1 How could Halloween night in Fells Point not be No. 1 on our list? Most of the bars are slammed all night, and masked mayhem will rule on South Broadway until the wee hours of the morning.

Hometown : Long Green and Baltimore Members: Mike Apichella, keyboards, vocals; Keith Backhause, backup vocalist and hype man; Josh Marchant, singer and producer; Rick Weaver, producer and multi-instrumentalist; Jeff Duncan, producer Founded: 2002 Style: experimental music Influenced by: Sun Ra, Lungfish, Steely Dan, Ludacris, Air Notable: Sometime during the holiday season, Human Host will release a new album called Creature Mountain. Each year, the band puts on a free Halloween show - and for good reason.