Halloween 2010 guide: Free costume ideas, NYC haunted houses and a pagan history lesson (photos)

Are you ready for Halloween 2010? Don't be left out as New Yorkers take to the streets to celebrate our most festive holiday (if you don't count the Gay Pride Parade).

That's me on the left!  I dressed as Michael Jackson for the 2009 Village Halloween Parade.

This weekend New York City will be packed with vampires, zombies and Lady Gaga lookalikes. Lecherous celebs Mel Gibson and Brett Favre may even make appearances, as ripped-from-the-headlines costumes are all the rage.

I'm ready for Halloween, my favorite holiday. I've visited New York City's biggest haunted houses and have studied the elaborate costumes-- and homemade swords-- at NY Comic Con. [If the comic convention is any indication, Super Mario Brothers, Alice in Wonderland and Ghostbusters will be top costumes this year].

I've already started to put together my Halloween costume: I'll be dressed as Jillian, the fiendish trainer from NBC's The Biggest Loser. I'm still contemplating whether to be a zombie or devil version of the muscular brunette, but I'm not worried. It's easy to pull together last-minute costumes if you use a little creativity!

Get in the Halloween spirit by checking out these stories from my NY Destinations column.

These New Yorkers made convincing Frenchmen-- and all they needed were t-shirts, berets and wine. 

Free Halloween costumes

I'm a purist--I believe Halloween costumes should be made or created from items you find in your closet, not purchased from the store. Do you really want to buy a costume kit from the drug store and look like every other sexy nurse, vampire or cop?

Last year I asked my Facebook followers to share their DIY costume ideas. Their creativity was astounding; they created head-turning looks without spending a dime! Click on the link below for free Halloween costume ideas and a slideshow of homemade outfits.

>> Continue Reading: Free Halloween costumes: Creative ideas for costumes that don't cost a dime

I met actor Brice C. Foster at the 'Blood Manor' haunted house press preview.  He was dressed as "Brutus" and stayed in character throughout the night!

Behind the scenes of the 'Blood Manor' haunted house

What really goes on behind the scenes of Blood Manor, New York City’s premier haunted house? According to insiders, actors refuse to break character, even when attacked by crazed patrons. Women have thrown themselves at a performer in serial killer costume. Occasionally, visitors pee their pants. Every show is an adventure at this popular Halloween attraction, located in the heart of Chelsea’s nightclub district.

>> Continue Reading: Exclusive: Behind the scenes of NYC’s Blood Manor haunted house

I bumped into rapper/actor Ice T at the 'Blood Manor' press preview. 

Review: 'Blood Manor' haunted house

Thanks to the level of detail-- from the sound and light effects to sets and costumes-- Blood Manor lives up to its claim of being "New York City's premier haunted attraction." The dedicated cast and crew have transformed a generic urban space into an ornate mansion with nineteen distinct rooms.

>> Continue Reading: Step inside a horror movie at NYC's 'Blood Manor' haunted house

The “Never Give Away a Rabbit's Foot” room at Manhattan's 'Nightmare: Superstitions' haunted house.

Review: 'Nightmare Superstitions’ haunted house

Warning: The Nightmare: Superstitions haunted house is not for the squeamish. Psychiatric patients hurl body fluids. A grown man in soiled diapers lunges at visitors. And if you are especially (un)lucky, you’ll get to spend one-on-one time with a crazed killer in a pitch black room. This popular Halloween attraction lives up to its tagline—“New York’s Most Horrifying Haunted House.”

>> Continue Reading: ‘Nightmare Superstitions’ is NYC's most disturbing haunted house

Adorable costumes aside, Halloween has a rich and spooky history.

The pagan origins of Halloween

Did you ever wonder how Halloween got its start? Its origins are Celtic, which explains why the holiday is traditionally celebrated in Britain, Ireland, Canada and the United States. Halloween was originally a festival in the pagan Celtic calendar that celebrated the end of the year.

>> Continue Reading: Spirits, ghosts and witches: The pagan origins of Halloween

The wardrobe of this all-male dance revue may be the closest Australians come to wearing Halloween costumes.

Halloween in Australia and New Zealand

The US has a great deal in common with Australia and New Zealand; we are English speaking nations, former British colonies, and we love a good party. So what separates us from our Southern Hemisphere brethren? They do not share our love of Halloween.

>> Continue Reading: Halloween in Australia and New Zealand: Trick or treating, bonfires and Guy Fawkes

Costumed women at the Tokyo Disney Halloween parade.

Halloween in Japan

Halloween has spread beyond its Celtic roots and is no longer celebrated exclusively in Ireland, Britain, Canada and the United States.Now it is popular around the world, thanks in part to the global reach of American movies. Read on for first-hand accounts of Halloween customs in Japan.

>> Continue Reading: Japanese celebrate Halloween with costumes, parades and parties (photos)

The Yankees may be out of the World Series, but they are still a rich source of costume ideas!

Last minute Halloween costumes for Yankees fans

Show your loyalty to New York's most successful sports team by donning a Yankees-inspired costume this Halloween.Your look will be timely-- and surprisingly cheap. Chances are you already own at least one baseball cap, t-shirt or jersey emblazoned with the team logo.

>> Continue Reading: Last minute Halloween costumes for Yankees fans

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Cajun Country meets NYC: Burlesque, alligator appetizers + music at Louisiana Tourism event

This week I attended the Cajun Country media event at Bourbon Street Bar in midtown Manhattan.  It was sponsored by the State of Louisiana and the Acadiana Tourism Coalition.

I enjoyed live music (by Grammy-winning artists), sipped Pinot Grigio and chatted with a dozen burlesque performers and tourism reps.  I learned a great deal about Cajun culture and the thriving arts scene in Lafayette, LA.

Performers with the "Les Marionettes" troupe performed musical selections from their show "Dream of the Marionettes", which is part of the FringeNYC festival.

>> Check out my article on Examiner.com for details: "Louisiana promotes Cajun Country tourism at Manhattan's Bourbon Street Bar"

@LeslieTravel posing with two of the friendly performers from the "Les Marionettes" theater company.

In retrospect, I dressed a bit too conservatively for the occasion! I was told the dancers' stunning costumes were handmade by a Lafayette, LA local.

The live band got the crowd on its feet!

The music was a fusion of Cajun and other styles.  The musicians were all multi-taskers: the guitarist co-wrote the "Dream of the Marionettes" show, and the bassist doubled as an accordion player.

>> Click here to view the full article, which includes a slideshow and video of "Les Marionettes"

NY Destinations: Bachelorette parties in NYC - from tame to wild!

My latest article on Examiner.com is a topic I hold near and dear: bachelorette parties in the Big Apple.

Many of my NYC friends are getting married and I have been to my share of bachelorette parties in recent months. It turns out the countless hours of drinking and dancing at "hen" parties have served a higher purpose: research.

In writing this story, I decided not to include any salacious details from the bachelorette parties I've attended in Manhattan. After all, what happens in the East Village stays in the East Village. Isn't that how the saying goes?

I had intended to include a photo from my own bachelorette party at the Awesome 80s Prom. (Note: it was G-rated, so I'm not breaking the Girl's Code). However, the photo did not appear in the published article because of problems with the new Examiner website.

Here it is, exclusively for readers of LeslieTravel! (Well, at least until Examiner fixes its Pub Tool).

Leslie (in pink hat) and friends with an actor at the Awesome 80s Prom in Manhattan.

Scroll down for an excerpt of the "NYC Bachelorette Parties" article.  The full text appears in my NY Destinations column.


Manhattan bachelorette parties for every type of bride 
by Leslie Koch  
Originally published in NY Destinations column on Examiner.com

Planning a bachelorette party in New York City can be a challenge-- even for the most nightlife-savvy Maid of Honor. With thousands of bars and clubs to choose from, the planning process can be overwhelming.

Will your bashful bride enjoy a racy All Male revue? Or will she cower on stage eyeing the 'exit' signs?

And where can you possibly take your outrageous college roommate who is barely ready to settle down to a life of wedded bliss?

Fortunately, Manhattan offers bachelorette party options for every type of bride. Whether tame, adventurous or downright wild, your bride will have the night of her life at the following venues...

>> Keep reading on Examiner.com