In Michigan City three girls were arrested for their antics the day before Halloween. The girls were 15, 16, and 17 years of age. They entered a Halloween store on October 29, 2009 and stole four pimp costumes. The store was located on 809 Franklin Street. Michigan City police announced on the 13th of November that the girls were found and arrested for their antics at Costume World.

Lt. Sue Harrison of the police department stated the arrests were made and the costumes recovered. The three girls went from business to business in the suits that they stole. The value of the costumes was $300 each. The costumes were returned to the store. Part of what made it easy to catch the robbers was the community. Many individuals in the community spotted the girls and reported to the department.

Sadly, this is not the only criminal activity to happen in a town for the Halloween week. Quite often crime, even of a small nature is carried out on Halloween. It could be eggings, toilet papering homes, or something as horrible as robbing a man. For the most part though, children are still able to have an enjoyable holiday without knowing the seedy side of things. It looks like next year these three girls will be going as convicts!

This Halloween Mario and Luigi were not the hero’s of the night. According to Eyewitness News four men wearing costumes in Staten Island robbed a cab driver on Halloween night. This story is still being circulated as the bandits are still on the loose. The two of the four men were dressed as Mario and Luigi. They were riding the cab in New Dorp. One of the suspects apparently tried to take cash out of the cab driver’s pocket. The driver is 48 years old.

The driver stopped at the gas station and asked the four men to remove themselves from his cab. This station was on Arthur Kill Road. When the driver stopped the cab and asked the men to get out, they dragged him from the cab, beat him and then stole his money.

Police are looking for any information from Halloween night. They are hoping anyone in the area could provide leads as to which way the suspects went and if they took off their masks. Eyewitness News is happy to field calls for information to help the police. Anyone who may have seen two men in a Mario costume and Luigi costume, with two other men are encouraged to report it.

If you are from Colorado like I am you may be a little tired of hearing about the supposed publicity stunt created by the Heene family. A few days ago the news was alive with a boy missing supposedly on a homemade air balloon. Many went out to help search for the missing boy and one person even managed to tackle the balloon in hopes of rescuing the boy. However, Falcon Heene was never in the balloon instead he was in his family home up in the attic.

Little Falcon was on CNN with his family and he let it slip to the media that the event was for “show.” His father supposedly planned the entire event. Colorado news media has suggested that the DA will be bringing charges against the family for the danger they could have caused as well as brining out rescue teams that could have been needed elsewhere. Nothing has been set yet regarding the criminal charges, but one thing has come from this massive hunt for a missing boy.

Balloon Boy Costumes hit the shelves not long after the stunt. A Canadian company has worked tirelessly to create the Balloon Boy costume in time for Halloween a week from Saturday. According to news reports these costumes are certainly flying off the shelves. In fact there may be as many Harry Potter costumes as there are Balloon Boy Costumes as they are so popular.

With just a little time left before Halloween, you might be scrambling for ideas. A new game by Nintendo has fired out an idea for us. Mario and Sonic have come together in a new video game called “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.” This is bringing together two of the most beloved characters from video games together. They have to join forces in order to win. It is the first time Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog have ever appeared in a game together.

The video game is being released on Wii and the Nintendo DS. Not only are these two title characters in the games, but Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails, and more will be part of the new game. Your favorite character can race against others at the 100m track, high jump or even swim water. Numerous games from the Olympic Summer Games will be part of this fascinating video entertainment.

The game is complete with Olympic sports and events, as well as venues. Wherever the Olympics have been you too can be for archery, skeet shooting, table tennis and gymnastics. There are plenty of game modes with Mario and Sonic to go through the circuit, take a challenge, or go into mission mode. As you play the game you will be able to unlock dream events with power ups and much more.

You have the choice of being on Team Mario or Team Sonic when you play this game. So gear up and get ready. The new game has just lent us new looks for Mario costume and Sonic costume options. Furthermore it brings back some of our favs like the Luigi costume for winning the gold in this Olympics! Who knows maybe next year Mario will need a figure skating costume!

The theme park is a massive undertaking and painstaking details and planning have gone into its production. Of course, Harry Potter’s creator, author J.K. Rowling has given the project her stamp of approval. This sprawling 20-acre park site attempts to recreate some of the Potter-verse’s most memorable locales. Shops and eateries like Olivander’s wand shoppe (where it has been confirmed that visitors can purchase their very own souvenir wands) and Honeyduke’s candy emporium are proposed, as are pub-style restaurants such as The Three Broomsticks which will serve butterbeer and traditional British pub fare to hungry visitors. A replica of Hogwarts Castle is also supposed to be on premises, as well as countless other favorite places from the series.

Beyond that, rollercoasters and rides make up a good portion of the park. The Dragon Duel ride features two twin rollercoasters, while The Flight of the Hippogriff is a slightly tamer rollercoaster more suited to families, as opposed to mega-thrill seekers.

The one aspect of the park that is still under wraps, guarded with the typical secrecy surrounding nearly every Harry Potter project, is an attraction known as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.” From the photos on the site, it may be speculated that this is a haunted house-style attraction, or some sort of a role-playing scavenger hunt.

One minor, disappointing detail revealed about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is that there will not be any costumed characters roaming the park, a la Disney World. However, that’s not to say visitors can’t strut their stuff with pre-made Harry Potter costumes based on their favorite characters, or even DIY versions of other beloved characters like a href=”http://www.costumzee.com/how-to-costumes/view/4950/”>Luna Lovegood and Professor Snape.

Although it’ll be a long wait until spring, some photos have been made available on the site of some of the proposed drafts for the attractions.

Check out the photo for “Ride of the Hippogriff”

and

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

More details and additional proposed renderings of rides and attractions, as well as a first look video can be found here: http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

Halloween dates back to the time of Celtic rituals, which means it has been a holiday for thousands of years. With such long traditions it is no wonder why each year we still feel excitement about the one day we can be anything we want to be. The Celts had their own symbols of Halloween that have slowly turned into witches, ghosts, devils, and hobgoblins. Many of the customs and rituals have changed dramatically since the early times. Today young or old we head out to celebrate with a light heart. Many go door to door wearing scary, funny, adorable, or interesting costumes asking for treats. Those, who no longer trick or treat, go to parties or haunted houses to get a little scare in life!

As Halloween draws near we will hear about popular costumes, like Harry Potter costumes or Disney costumes. Unicef boxes will be carried by millions that collect a little money and a little candy to help out. Costume contests judging the best Green Goblin costume against the best Sexy Nurse costume will be held. But, all of this is overshadowed by doubt. Safety concerns are discussed on local news stations. Warnings about parent’s checking the candy before their children eat it will reach our ears. Tales of child abductions will be rehashed as the warnings run rampant.

But this year perhaps a little something different is needed. Last year an estimated 36 million children ages five to thirteen were out trick or treating in the United States. That is up by 65,000 from 2007. There were 111.4 million houses occupied in 2008 all potential homes for trick or treaters. 93 percent of the individuals polled stated they felt safe in their neighborhoods to knock on doors. 78 percent said there was no place within a mile of their homes where they didn’t feel safe walking.

On the whole the American public is confident about letting their children trick or treat. So, while caution is appropriate it doesn’t have to ruin anyone’s fun. The United States is filled with Americans who enjoy seeing the interesting costumes like ghoul costumes or vampire costumes and rewarding the effort with treats. You still have a few weeks to prepare for Halloween, getting candy, as well as finding the right costume.

A few months back, a local came across a girl on the beach who, from a distance, looked to be relaxing in the sun. Upon a closer look, she had the upper body of a woman and the lower half of a fish with scales and fins. She appears for a few hours near sunset and does tricks for onlookers in the sea, yet disappears for the remainder of the evening.

A $1 million dollar reward has been offered for anyone who can snap a photo of the mermaid in action.

People have long been fascinated by mermaids, from the times of ancient Greece to centuries ago when Hans Christian Anderson wrote his tragic fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid,” which was Disney-fied up with a happy ending for singing mermaid, Ariel and friends. Some skeptics claim that some of the mermaids sighted are nothing more than manatees swimming close to the beach.

Kiryat Yam seems to be boosting tourist numbers with the prospect of seeing a mermaid. Will the fascination with these (possibly?) mythical creatures carry over to Halloween costumes? These cool, oceanic beauties may find themselves on the hot list for 2009 Halloween costumes if mermaid sightings keep up, planting a subtle cue to capture the attention of party-goers the same way Israel’s mermaid has become a focal point.

A number of beautiful styles of striking (and surprisingly easy to walk in!) mermaid costumes are available in a variety of sizes to suit sea sprites of all ages. Little girls may want to opt for the more familiar face of the Little Mermaid with officially licensed Disney costumes and wigs. However, other mermaid costumes are available in a variety of colors and styles, ranging from pink to shimmering green, and some with dazzling sequins.

Adult ladies may want to choose from slightly racier styles that can either offer full coverage (such as the Elite Mermaid costume with it’s beautiful hot pink bodice and cleverly ruffled tail in aqua blue) or the glittery two-piece, midriff baring Mesmerizing Mermaid costume. Fun accessories you may want include a sea-themed tiara or a “seaweed” draped Mermaid Purse or Shell Purse.

Who knows, you just might be mistaken for a real mermaid!

Although the sounds and faces have changed, there’s something almost immortal about the performers (many of whom are no longer performing — or living, for that matter) who played at Woodstock. Bands like the Jefferson Airplane; Joni Mitchell; Joe Cocker; and Crosby Stills Nash and Young are renowned as legends, occassionally releasing albums and performing to live audiences. Others who have since passed on such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin have influenced thousands of musicians with their distinct sound and even more distinctive look.

Pay homage to Woodstock’s performers and attendees with costumes straight out of the Summer of Love. Dress as a hippie with long hair wigs and fringed faux suede vests. Ladies can opt for airy, cotton dresses in an ankle length style with long wigs and feathered jewelry for an Earthy look.

Or, dress as some of the legendary performers of Woodstock. Gents can find themselves in a “Purple Haze” with an afro wig and Jimi Hendrix costume with a hat and bellbottoms. Don’t forget a guitar, preferably one with a fire/flame motif to (safely) emulate Jimi’s flaming guitar solo, part of the mythos that cemented the brilliant, electric guitarist’s legacy.

Women may want to dress as the late, great Janis Joplin with a pair of Janis glasses with tinted lenses and round frames. Put on a long, straggly wig of brown hair and an outrageous costume with bellbottoms and a ton of jewelry to capture the essense of this gritty singer. Rock on!

Now, 40 years later, the Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk has continued to capture the minds and hearts of people everywhere about the possibilities that exist in space. No one ever would have believed a man could walk on the moon. To this day, astronauts continue in Armstrong’s footsteps, attempting to travel to further reaches in the galaxy and beyond.

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this pivotal event in human history with astronaut costumes in sizes to fit adults and kids. Beyond classic astronaut looks complete with jumpsuits and space helmets, other takes include Disney’s Toy Story space ranger, Buzz Lightyear, or other fictional astronauts (albeit ones without the heavy, atmosphere-assisting uniforms) like the men and women of the Starship Enterprise of Star Trek.

Keep your eye on the sky and who knows where it may take you!

Coinciding with the show’s fifth season premiere on Thursday September 17th, 2009, “The Nightman Cometh” will be playing at Philadelphia’s Tower Theatre. While no previews of the show have been given to the public, the episode enough is incentive enough for fans of the series to check out the musical. The prospect of hearing the show’s cast including Philadelphia native, Rob McElhenny, who plays Mac (and who is also one of the show’s creators and writers), his real-life wife and co-star Caitlyn Olson who plays Sweet Dee, and Danny DeVito among others sing such songs as “You Gotta Pay the Troll Toll” and “Day Man” and its reprise is enough to pry fans away from their television sets.

If the mood strikes, dress up for the occassion and head to the theatre as some of your favorite characters from the musical episode! Ladies can dress as Dee’s character of The Princess Waitress and wear a pink Disney Princess Aurora costume as worn by the Sleeping Beauty character. Or, get creative and check out some of DIY tutorials and learn How to Make a Nightman Costume and How to Make a Dayman costume.

Tickets go on sale at 10AM on Friday August 7th, 2009 on Livenation.com for all six shows. Snap ‘em up for what’s sure to be a fun-filled show!