10/20/09

Fright Night
The Hot List: Where to Party on Halloween

It's looking like another year without the Castro Halloween revelry. But fear not, we've scouted out a few under-the-radar spots that'll take partying in the streets to the next level. Behold, the short list…

CLIFT DIVING

A Monster Bash at the Clift

Get a head start on the weekend festivities and mingle with sultry kittens, naughty nurses and French maids at the Clift. The first floor—including the Redwood Room and Asia de Cuba—will be yours for the taking. And if that's not enough, feel free to get a room.

411:: $35, 8pm-midnight, Oct 29, Clift, 495 Geary St, 800-606-6090, tickets here

THE ART OF FRIGHT

Haunted Museum, Now With Cocktails

Museums are entirely more fun when free-flowing martinis are involved. Add a haunted Victorian mansion theme and your best lord of the manor costume, and you'll never look at a museum in the same way again.

411:: $85, 8pm-midnight, Oct 30, Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave, 415-750-3548, tickets here

MASKED MEN

Lucha VaVoom at the Fillmore

In between Halloween-themed masked Mexican wrestling matches, you'll see some of the country's finest burlesque acts. We're not sure how pogo strip tease works, but you'll find out soon enough.

411:: $32.50, 9pm, Oct 30, The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd (at Fillmore), 415-346-3000

GRILLS GONE WILD

Death of a Thousand Champagne Bottles

Sabering champagne bottles is nothing new, but chopping them open with antique French cleavers is. Let chef/bottle butcher James slash some open for you to enjoy with your 4505 Chicharrones, then let the wild-game dinner commence.

411:: $95 (BYOB), 7:30pm, Oct 30, Cook With James, email here

IN THE WOODS

Hillbilly Halloween at Bloodhound

Grab a seductive huntress (a cougar will do as well), show up in your slickest Elmer Fudd meets Deer Hunter costume and toss back a few Bloodhounds. Or stick with beer—perhaps Moose Drool—to complete your look.

411:: No cover, 8pm- 2am, Oct 31, Bloodhound, 1145 Folsom St (at 7th), 415-863-2840

MYSTERY MEAT

Food Fights at Maverick

Whether or not you dress up, a man's got to eat. So make it a sporting three-course, wine-paired dinner. The person at each table who guesses the most ingredients or varietals wins a bottle of wine. Let the games begin.