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I originally published this post on my old blog last year and thought I would offer an updated version for this Halloween. Of course, you’ll have to wait until Halloween night for pictures of the children in costume, but I hope that the suspense makes you return.
My oldest child is somewhat famous around these parts for choosing over the course of his short life a number of unusual Halloween costumes. In the spirit of the season, I thought it would be fun to feature both a montage of costumes and a list of places to get some great sweet treats in various locales I’ve passed through with my children. This allows me to indulge in two of my favorite topics (travel and food) and share some funny photos. I also hope that in stopping to read this post I might save you from demolishing a few of those bite-sized candy bars.
Please note that I made the sacrifice of trying everything that I describe below. What can I say? I’m just that devoted to my readers.
So here is Tommy’s first Halloween costume:
Yes, that’s my child dressed as a donut – a sprinkle donut to be more precise. And perhaps the reason that he chose this costume, insisted on it, was that even at two, he knew from donuts, having had a number of opportunities to try them.
Happily for me, I can get what I consider to be the best cider donuts in the world about five minutes from my house. Milburn Orchards, a family-run affair that also offers apples, pumpkins, and a great petting zoo. But the primary allure is the donuts; not too sweet, with a fabulous texture.
If you’re in the mood for something a little smaller, Matt and the boys swear by the mini maple donuts to be found at the Big Picture Theater and Café in Waitsfield, Vermont.
And a final note about donuts in a surprising place. Il Rifrullo, the little bar up the street from the apartment we rented in the Oltrarno in Florence had some fabulous ones flavored with orange water. And the cappuccinos weren’t bad either.
So now we’re on to Tommy’s second Halloween costume, and it’s a doozy. When Tommy was three, he decided he wanted to be a blade of grass:
Yes, people were confused, and yes they did ask if he was dressed as Saint Patrick or Gumby. But he was insistent and always said quite distinctly that he was a blade of grass. Not a piece of grass, not just grass. A blade. And you know what? Cows eat grass and then produce milk and cream, and we all know what that means at this blog! Ice cream.
I’ve talked elsewhere about Berthillon in Paris and Vivoli in Florence, and I recommend them again here. Stateside I recommend Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont, Amy’s in Texas, and Woodside Farm right here in Delaware.
But if what you’re craving is a milkshake, the place to go is sunny South Pasadena, California where the Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain will serve you one with an entire pint of ice cream in it. And if you think that it’s not possible to finish such a thing, well, I double dare you to go and try (bring your kid to share if you must).
So a blade of grass is tough to top and the following year, Tommy was a monster in a homemade costume. We believe in homemade costumes at our house. In fact, most of our costumes are more abstract than literal although this one was a little bit fierce:
This was followed, after a few months in kindergarten, and a new awareness of folklore, with his hero, Johnny Appleseed:
Although, for the record, he insisted that he was Tommy Appleseed. Now apples, that’s easy (yes I skipped the monster, but I’m trying to keep this a quick and breezy read). Apples of course make me think of pie and when I think of pie I think of another Pasadena landmark, the Pie ‘n Burger where you can get apple pie and a number of other varieties, including my favorite, ollallieberry.
And for something a little different, I’d suggest the Skinny Pancake in Burlington, Vermont, where they sell a tasty little morsel called the Hot Apple Crispy which is a crepe full of apples, honey, cinnamon, whipped cream, with an optional side of ice cream.
Last year Tommy dressed as a spy:
His dark costume gets me thinking about chocolate And since it’s getting to be a bit chilly here, I prefer my chocolate on the warm side. You can always go to Angelina on the Rue de Rivoli for a hot chocolate the next time you’re in Paris. But I actually cast my vote for Rivoire in Florence. The silken substance served in the white cups there is worthy of its own food group. And while you eat it (which is indeed what you do – it can practically be cut with a knife) you are gazing at the lovely Piazza della Signoria, one of the great open-air museums in the world.
And what if you’re just looking to stock up on candy? Especially some of the older varieties that are tough to come by these days? I have two recommendations (and both of them offer mail order). Either branch of The Vermont Country Store is worth a visit just for the hundreds of varieties of candy. My kids went nuts for the licorice, gummy worms, malted milk balls and rock candy all presented in old-fashioned self-service glass jars – just grab a paper bag and help yourself. And the iconic Dylan’s Candy Bar in Manhattan is like ever child’s dream come to technicolor life.
This year Tommy’s newest passion is reading the Hardy Boys mysteries and so he dressed up as Joe Hardy. Teddy was a brachiosaurus (which is what they now insist we call a brontosaurus. I think it has something to do with the fact that Pluto isn’t a planet). The costume, which he helped to make, has glittery toenails.
I hope I’ve satisfied a bit of your hunger and maybe kept your nose out of the candy for a few minutes. And now, where are those KitKats?
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WHAT great costumes!! brava!
Nicely done! Can’t wait to see what he’s going as this year!
And thank you for giving me something to focus on other than the call of the Almond Joy. Mmmm coconut.
Great post. This was super fun to read
hmmmm … donuts … hmmmmmm…
Jess was extremely excited for Halloween and wanted to be a bat. I have procured said costume, and now she’s a bit anxious that it’s too scary. So we’re looking at it and sizing it up!
Saw your tweet! What great costumes. This is our first year to buy costumes and we are a little less in the Halloween spirit I think. The blade of grass is absolutely my favorite. My 5-year-old Chatter Box would have done something like that. Instead, he is “Dark” Vader. And, don’t go trying to call him Darth Vader, because you can bet right now he’ll correct you every time. LOL
Happy Halloween!
These are so original. I love the BLADE of grass, although he’s adorable in all of the costumes.
Darling pix!! I love the creativity.
I am so impressed at all the home-made costumes. You’re amazing.
You all are too kind! I feel like our homemade costumes tend to be more approximations than literal representations. Matt and I definitely are not the types to invest too much sweat in that kind of thing and our kids always have definite ideas about what they want to do, so we let them.
I will add a picture from this year to the post when I have one!
Great costumes! He sure has an imagination! I LOVE the blade of grass one.
Hope everyone is having a very Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain!
Cool blog. Cute costumes.
Love those costumes…very creative idea’s…I may have to try this homemade costume thing out next year..with four kids I spent way over 100 dollars on the darn things…I think that is to much on something they will wear once..well okay my little ones will wear allot to play in…lol…cute pics!
The blade of grass costume is too funny!
Mara, what special costumes they are!! Half the fun on Halloween is guessing what the kids are dressed are! Love the donut with sprinkles costume! Bet they got lots of wonderful treats!
And by the way, I love Bethillon and Vivoli, too!!!!
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I can see why your son is so creative. Apple doesn’t fall far… as they say. Those were inspirational, and a testament that anything can be a costume. Love the food followups. What a fun post!
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What great costumes, we love making them too! This year the five year old was a robot, made from a tinfoil covered box with flashing bike lights and old computer cables stuck on.
Italian hot chocolate is just amazing isn’t it? There’s a place in Venice, where they serve the hot chocolate with a side of vanilla ice cream, which is amazing. We have a really good chain of reasonably priced Italian restaurants called Carluccio’s which serve proper hot chocolate in tiny cups. It’s not quite the same as sitting in a Florentine square, but it’s a close second!
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[...] titles. And as I’ve made my passion for ice cream well known around these parts (see here and here for example) I think I am qualified to serve as some kind of judge. And this ice cream is fantastic [...]