New York’s Outrageous Halloween Parade

The city that never sleeps threw its annual Halloween Parade on the 31st, where New York’s wackiest, weirdest and downright freakiest came out in full force.

The 33rd Greenwich Village Annual Halloween Parade’s humble beginnings date back to 1973, when the event was started for the neighborhood children. Today, it is the biggest in the city, with thousands of participants dressed to the nines, complete with marchers, giant puppets and ornate floats.

Unlike most parades these days, the New York event is a virtual free-for-all, where the guideline for admission is simple – all you need is a costume and you’re in. Show up at the starting line in costume and join in the fun along with around 50,000 participants and a massive audience of 2 million.

The parade starts at 7 pm. at the HERE Arts Center on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Spring Street and continues up the Avenue of the Americas to 22nd Street.

Every year the theme changes, and this year it was “The Village Hearth” which was reminiscent of the ancient times’ rituals where bonfires and the change of seasons were celebrated.

The parade, which as presided over by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS decked out in full-on performance regalia, joined the teeming crowd where costumes of every variety were seen – from old standards like witches to elliot ant ET as seen in the pic above. Whatever their costume, a grand time was had by all, as young and old alike strutted to the music played by the Princeton University Band.

Feminine Vanity In The UK

A recent study in the UK boldy claimed that the avarage woman will spend two years of her life looking at the mirror. Then another poll, in which 3,000 women participated revealed even more vainity in the British Isles – that even if they checked their reflections about 4 times before leaving their homes, a QUARTER of them still headed straight for the ladies washroom at the office just to ensure that the tube or bus journey didn’t displace their hair or clothes.

Taking this further, a shocking ?659 million is spent by the British on cosmetic surgery, especially celebrities who take the art of looking good very seriously.
Men, on the other hand apparently only look at themselves once or twice a day , 44% of them taking a quick look at the mirror before heading out for the evening. By comparison, men spend less than 6 months a year in front of the mirror in their lifetimes.

Is this why women are called the fairer sex? because they take the time to look good, while men clearly couldn’t give a toss?

Barbie Dolls Up for Auction

Barbie Doll collectors will be very excited. On September 26, 4,000 Barbie dolls will go up for auction.

This impressive collection comes courtesy of Letje Raebel, a Dutch housewife. She bought her first Barbie as a gift for her daughter, Marina. Her daughter scorned the doll but Letje loved it and continued to buy more pieces.

Her collection is very impressive. She has collected not only the dolls but Barbie’s many outfits and accessories. She loved the many fashions created for Barbie, having been a bit of a seamstress herself.

The collection is valued at around 100,000 pounds. The value is very high because Letje Raebel kept all of the various items of Barbie in their respective boxes. All of them are unopened and have never been played with. Truly it is a collector’s dream.

Barbie Millicent Roberts (better known as simply Barbie) has been around since 1959. Invented by Ruth Handler, co-founder of US Toy giant company Mattel, the doll is named after her daughter Barbara. Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, is also named for one of her children.
Barbie has become the top selling doll all over the world. She has been dressed by such high fashion designers as Christian Dior and Calvin Klein. For many little girls, she has been the symbol of glitz, glamour and possibility. She has been an astronaut, a teacher, a model, even a policeman.
This collection is not just about a doll, it is also a showcase of history and the changing fashions. Truly it is a very valuable piece of history.

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