Halloween, Greenwich Village-Style

I happened to be in the West Village in New York City the day before Halloween, and had to take some pictures of the decorations that were carried out so brilliantly by home and business owners alike. I love that the neighborhood got into the spirit (heh) and that some home owners really went for it in a big way. You can find elaborate displays anywhere, sometimes in surprising places, like one lone townhouse on a side street on the Upper East Side. 

Fabulous entrance to a house on Bank Street. I met the owner and she was happy that I got such a kick out of what she and her family had done.

Bat above lovely greenery and metallic decor on West 11th

                                    West 11th Street corner house

                                                 Perry Street skelly

                                      More West 11th, I think, heading toward 6th Avenue

                                                     Fun on West 11th Street

                                                                       Perry Street

Heads up on West 4th Street

                             Spooky red window and door at Marc Jacob's boutique on Bleecker Street

Pumpkin vendor at Union Square Greenmarket

Window of Mexican Restaurant on Hudson Street

                                                               Perry Street

The Reaper on Bank Street

                    West 11th again, quite the display with orange lights wrapped around tree and gate

                                                                      elaborate!

                                           Ralph Lauren on Bleecker - a nice autumn display

                                                             Bank Street pumpkins

               This evil little pumpkin was in the doorway with the hanging heads on West 4th Street

                                                                       Bank street

                                                        Awesome spider on Bank Street

                                                      Carved pumpkins on Bank Street

                                                           Corner house on West 11th

                                      West 11th off Bleecker. Fall foliage has finally arrived.

                              elaborate tombstone on West 11th further East (an oxymoron)

 I have seen a few of these figures in displays. This was in the "yard" of the house on West 11th with the orange tree lights

                                    Great rope spiderweb - and spider upper left! Bank street

                                           Very pretty window boxes on Perry or West 11th

Spider Bites!

I spent an evening this week turning some glass spider buttons into pendants for a new limited line of necklaces and bracelets for Halloween. I love Czech glass buttons, especially when there is a metal shank on the back that can be easily removed so I can turn them into cabochons. Available in the shop here.

Halloween Wrap-Up

The sneakers are an interesting shoe choice for Ancient Rome.

Definitely Phillies Fans at this house!

Book giveaway!

One family had the idea to give out garlic shrimp on a stick, which is my kind of treat! I loved seeing families on the porch enjoying a meal with wine as kids trooped up for their goodies.

Some lovely orange skulls and a festively decorated house.

Greeting callers at the door

The boys carry on under hot and sweaty maskes. The gangster's shoulders were inflated and also hot to wear.


I hope that everyone enjoyed a safe and Happy Halloween last night. The warm weather and rain were an odd mix, but fun was had. We enjoyed a sensational meal in the burbs, enjoyed the kids who came to the house and then ventured out in the rain to do a little T & T-ing with the boys. I have not had time to make them costumes since they were small, and now they prefer store-bought costumes as they can change their minds at the last minute. This year they chose some kind of skull ghost and Scarface, a "Wiseguy" which I thought was insulting, though most people thought it was Richard Nixon! With scars.

My pics are only so-so this year (The weather had a lot to do with this) but it was a ghoulishly good evening. The most inventive house was one we visited owned by the publisher of Scholastic Books - he gave out small bunches of books to the children, which is an insanely generous thing to do. My neffs were very excited, as were the teenage girls hoping to get their hands on a "Twilight" book.

When I Get My Brownstone, I'll Decorate for Halloween Like This, Too

There is a brownstone building on East 83rd Street that is sporting the most bewitching Halloween decorations. I was literally struck dumb last week by the sight as I got re-acquainted with my old neighborhood by the wonderfully creative and tasteful Halloween and Harvest spirit. Tall corn graces the archway, fake cobwebs have been stretched across the iron fences, spiders are dotted here and there and cheery/spooky orange pumpkins stand out amid potted mums and fall flowers. I wish I knew the names of the people involved and really should drop a thank you note inside the gate.

More pix at my Flicker here.