Hurricanes aside, the Fall enchants me: from the crisp weather to the picturesque foliage – and of course – the festive social happenings.
Sure, there’s the apple and pumpkin picking, the hayrides, the corn mazes and all the piping-hot apple cider donuts you can eat.
But there are also a few activities somewhat unique to our Northern New Jersey area in which my family and I take great delight:
1. “Boo-zing” & “Ghost-ing” – Picture this: it’s just about 7pm and your husband is not yet home from work. The doorbell rings, you glance out the window to see no one there on your dark doorstep. You consider alerting the authorities (because you are that paranoid gal on the block who does things like this) but then realize that “it’s that time of the year” and excitedly open the door to find one of two delightful surprises – that you’ve either been “Boo-zed” or you’ve been “Ghost-ed.”
We were both Boo-zed and Ghost-ed this year – on two separate occasions throughout this month. So here’s how this works:
Boo-zing: A mystery friend picks some poison and pulls together a wicked bag of goodies like wine, beer or other spirits (along with some candy) and leaves it on your doorstep with an accompanying poem and door poster that tells the neighborhood that you’ve been “Boo-zed.” The recipient then “pays it forward” to two other friends or neighbors who have not yet been Boo-zed. Check out this site for more details, or to get the tradition started in your own neighborhood: http://www.beerandwhiskeybros.com/2010/10/28/boo-zed
Ghost-ing: Same as above, except this one’s for the kiddies. No ID required for sampling the loot.
My hunch is that something like this might be happening in other towns across the country, but in my thirty-plus years living in the great state of New Jersey, it was the first time I had heard of such an activity when we moved to our town almost three years ago.
2. Progressive Dinner – Again, I know an event like this happens in lots of towns. Our newcomer’s club hosts one every Fall, and it’s all about the wining, dining, moving and grooving as you bounce from one house to the next for appetizers/cocktails, dinner, dessert/dancing.
The dining table of our gracious hosts, Jude and Michael S.
3. Spooky Street – We all know of “that house” in our town that goes all-out for Halloween. But I don’t know of many towns that have an entire street dedicated to being extra spooktacular. Clinton Street in Hackensack, New Jersey gets three gold stars for their amazing displays and is a must-see for my family every year. In times past, we’d go at night to get the full effect (read: have the bejesus scared out of us by live zombies jumping out of lawn displays). But with a two-year old in tow, we decided to take the Rated G route and head out on a lovely Sunday afternoon around 3pm. Thankfully, the Zombie Night Club is far more benign in the daylight.
Clinton Street houses go from scary…
…to creepy cool
A red carpet and a coffin…
And for the kiddies…a trip down the yellow brick road
and the Peanuts Gang
What Fall social activities are unique to your area? Ever been Boo-zed? Share below!
Happy Fall, Y’all
oxox
-mom a la mode
Let’s not forget that time honored tradition of carving the family pumpkin, roasting the seeds to a salty perfection, inserting a ceremonial candle, and then turning out the lights and watch the glow on two beautiful children’s faces. (That would be you, Sweet Pea and Brother Jenkins!!! Another great piece of writing, my daughter. Remember…Good things are coming your way. XOXOXO Mom
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I had never heard of “Ghost-ing” until some of my co-workers said they do this activity in their neighborhoods. I like the idea of “Boo-zing” for the adults.