Houston Halloween Guide 2008

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

One Hermann Circle Dr., 713-639-4629,

www.hmns.org

Go to the museum on Halloween night to find a party of massive proportions. Watch an IMAX adventure and get sucked into the fun. This night will feature the electrifying music of The Chromatics as well as another visit from Steve Wallach. Fight to win in the Most Triumphant Costume Contest, and prepare yourself for your future with the help of Fatima and her team of psychics. Admission is $15 for nonmembers and $13 for members.

Houston's First Baptist Church

7401 Katy Fwy., 713-681-8000,

www.HoustonsFirst.org/recreation

A lively Halloween festival known as First Fest will include activities to suit all ages, including everything from a dunking booth, fire truck and mechanical bull to a petting zoo, pony rides and candy galore. Admission is only $5 per person for a complete evening of all-inclusive entertainment.

Hyatt Regency Hotel

1200 Louisiana, 713-654-1234,

www.hyatt.empiregx.com

The Hyatt Hotel is hosting Phantom at the Hyatt, the hotel's take on the traditional Halloween party. The costume contest will include prizes such as round-trip tickets, a 42-inch plasma TV, gift cards and $3,500 in cash for winners. The party will also feature a Salsa and Brazilian show as well as body painting and a great deal besides. Presale tickets (online) are $15 and tickets at the door are $25. The party will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Last Concert Cafe

1403 Nance St., 713-226-8563,

www.lastconcert.com

The Last Concert Cafe, a musical Mexican restaurant devoted to original music, not to mention drum circles and alternate lifestyles, will be hosting Havok On Halloween. The celebration will be one to remember, featuring such artists as Hit By A Bus, Muchos Backflips, Live Oak Decline and Jessica Leza for live performances while you enjoy the usual Tex-Mex standbys. The prices stand at $12/18+ and $10/21+.

Lucky's Pub

801 St. Emanuel at Rusk, 713-522-2010

www.luckyspub.com

It's the 12th Annual Pimp & Prostitute Ball, featuring live music from the Lost Boys as well as multiple DJs spinning in the background throughout the night. The quintessential costume contest has been amped with a prize of $4,000. Winning titles will include Pimp of the Year, Classiest Ho and Best Overall Costume. Those who wish to participate must sign up by 10 p.m. The party will last from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and will come with the benefits of $3 beer and $3 Skyy, Malibu and Tuaca brands. Tickets are $15 in advance (order online) and $20 at the door. Although the theme is Pimp and Ho, all kinds of costumes are allowed.

McGonigel's Mucky Duck

2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999

McGonigel's Mucky Duck is presenting Clandestine for Halloween. The Celtic music group from Houston will wail away with bagpipes, guitar, fiddle and drums (bodhrán and conga drums), certain to put you in a brooding Halloween mood. The festivities go from 7 to 9:30 and the tickets are $15.

Messina Hof Winery & Resort

4545 Old Reliance Rd., 800-736-9463

www.messinahof.com

A healthy alternative to the commonplace Halloween party, Messina Hof will be hosting a Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner called Disappearance of Death. The plot is: The Great Radinski, world-renowned magician, has been found dead along the shore of Mystic Lake. Participants must try to figure out who brought him to his murderous fate while enjoying a Halloween feast paired with exceptional wine. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and costs $69.95 plus tax and gratuity.

Mezzanine Lounge

2200 SW Fwy. #150, 713-528-MEZZ,

www.mezzaninelounge.com

Head over to the Mezzanine Lounge after dark for the Vampire Ball 2008. Come in costume for a "bloody" treat and the possibility of a $200 prize when the costume contest starts up. Upstairs music will be provided by DJ Robic, so arrive early for seats and don't worry about a cover charge. In celebration of this vampiric occasion, drinks will be sold at $3.50 all night long.

Santito's Bar & Grill

11520 N.W. Fwy., 713-682-3404

This bar's celebration promises to be a lively one, with a heady cultural mix of Halloween and El Día de los Muertos, the Mexican day of remembrance for the deceased. On the one hand, there will be a costume competition, live band performances in a wide variety of genres and the prize of a bucket of beer to whoever answers the band members' questions. On the other, the bar will be sporting the Día de los Muertos altar adorned with pictures of loved ones and their favorite foods and beverages, as well as a lucha libre (Mexican masked wrestling) theme for the bar. This restaurant plans on combining the best of both worlds, the height of which is none other than: free tequila.

The 2nd Annual Montrose Crawl

www.montrosecrawl.com

A new Houston tradition, this event calls for anyone and everyone of drinking age to join in for a night of pub-crawling down Westheimer in the Montrose. Participants enjoy such benefits as drink specials in the finest bars Montrose can offer, as well as an opportunity to compete in a costume contest, the Grand Prize Winner of which will win a brewery party for himself and a group of his closest 99 friends featuring all-you-can-drink Saint Arnold's beer. Along the way, lesser prizes will be awarded for other superior costumes, along with other Halloween activities at such favorites as Poison Girl, Boondocks, Etro Lounge, Catbirds and the final stop, Slick Willie's Pool Hall, where the Grand Prize will be awarded. Entrance in the Crawl is free, and no cover charges or minimum drink fees will be required at the designated stops. A portion of all drink sales will be donated to the Houston Women's Center. To take part, be at Brasil at 6:30, and don't forget your costume.