~~ en Halloween Weekend Edition Jay Schreiber arts editor Wednesday November 4 It’s Romantics appreciation night at the VSO with feature Pianist Lang Lang performing selections from Mendelssohn and Schumann. If classical sauce ain’t what you’re givin’ then get over to the Venue for the Mad Caddies featuring the Johnstones. My Pick: Skankin’ it up with Mad Caddies is always fun, but I’ll be at the symphony. Thursday November 5 Twin Crystals and the B-Lines are hanging vut at the Biltmore Cabaret, and that promises to be a good double bill. Check out Honey Lounge where 99 Problems is spinning for five bucks if you feel like a more electro scene. My Pick: Biltmore for the show, Honey for the scene. Friday November 6 If you missed the VSO earlier because it wasn’t pompous enough, then the 50-year gala celebration is where you can hang your nose higher than ever before. Still want a gala but want to stay local? Douglas College presents the opening night of theatrical production Blood Relations, which plays in the studio theatre on the fourth floor of the New West campus. Feeling grungy? Head to Pat’s Pub, for indie/alternative night and all the pats lager you can guzzle. My Pick: I'd be at Pat’s Pub if it wasn’t for my fear of theatre coordinator Allan Lysell. Saturday November 7 New act Lights plays the Commodore Ballroom if you dig attractive girls from Toronto who play electro music. The Jolts play Fairview Pub sharing a bill with the James T. Kirks and the Vicious Cycle. My Pick: Why not hit up both shows? Lights are out by 9:30 p.m. Sunday November 8 If you’re on Granville, check out the Vogue Theatre for Marianas Trench if that’s your scene, or march down to GM Place for David Foster and friends. The Railway Pub hosts a benefit for Cam Wagner featuring Still Creek Bros and Bug House Five. My Pick: Stay at home tonight, don’t getting stuck in a trench. Wile ela ec Halloween party, Vancouver style! Downtown was the place to be for All Hallows’ Eve antics Nosferatu at the Orpheum By Jay Schreiber, Arts Editor T= sun had set, and the night of altered identity had begun. Swarms of people took over the downtown core, and party goers celebrated with alcohol and packaged sugar. Police blockades made Granville a pedestrian only zone, which had all the local bars and pubs going wild with entertainment. The Commodore Ballroom was sold out for Five Alarm Funk’s special show. The group took to the stage early so that the boils and ghouls could get to bed and the party-goers could continue parting somewhere else later. This seemed to be the theme of the evening— party somewhere for a while till another spot comes up. Around the corner, the Orpheum Theatre projected Nosferatu, the famous silent film of 1922 accompanied musically by the VSO. This was definitely an event for the Halloween connoisseur, much like an annual showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Jagermeister-swilling Big John Bates gave the crowd its medicine with the Voodoo Dolls at the Penthouse Suite. This was a horrorbilly show that you would not have wanted to miss, what with all the burlesque dancing and flaming nipple tassels. If you’re not that interested in horrorbilly, and would rather rock out with psychobilly, then you would have been at the Railway Club. The Deadcats featuring The Horrors had their own little jive in Vancouver’s oldest night club. Gastown’s scene was pretty lively as well, with alt rock trio Scenery in Stereo jamming out at the Princeton Pub and the Cordova Corridor had some interesting things to offer. Most of the police officers were fairly friendly and good natured about the event, yet managed to keep things well under control. The popular costumes included such favorites as Spongebob Square pants for the dudes, and Lara Croft for the ladies. Watchmen characters such as Rorschach or the Silk Spectre made their debut walking down the street and of course, there was the parade of pirates that hasn’t died since Johnny Depp ruined it for everyone. Not forgetting the bloody gangster, bloody corpse, bloody French maid, and just about any other profession that can be bloodied. Luckily, only one or two Michael Jackson costumes were spotted throughout the course of the night. This is a surprisingly low number, considering how worried I was that the VPD would have to be on the look out for a lot of smooth criminals. All in all, the night was a good time, and shows how Vancouverites know how to party in disguise once a year.