Heather Kisko (as Carmen Sandiego) and Shulman (as King Louis XVI) at Dirtbag's in Tucson, AZ – Halloween 1994

Halloween is one of those holidays that you’re either really into or you’re not; but you can’t half-ass it.  One year I went as a Court Jester (jerkin, bells, tights, and all).  Another year I went as Louis XVI (brocade coat, lace jabot and kerchief, and more tights).  For about a decade, when asked what I planned to be for Halloween, I would immediately say “Connie Chung.”  (I never went through with it, but as a throw-away line, it never failed to elicit a laugh.)  Last year, I went to a party thrown by my friends Heather and Todd duBoef, and didn’t wear a costume; but en route to the party, decided to tell everyone that I was dressed as transitioning FTM transsexual Chaz Bono.  Unbeknownst to me, there’d been a photo of Chaz in that week’s People – so it was bizarrely timely.  Sadly, I was just me – in jeans and a Shanghai Tang zip-cardigan.

Cholo Shulman

This year, I decided that I was gonna make my triumphant return to the world of costumed fabulosity.  So, after deciding upon a costume – one of the Hispanic gang members known as a cholo – I began to put-together my look.  I went online to buy a pair of gaucho-style shorts from Dickies; then cruised to WalMart for some over-the-calf tube socks, a plaid shirt, a do-rag, and a pair of house-shoes.  I went to Walgreen’s for some blue eyeliner that I would use to imitate my “prison tats” (a tear below the eye, “Jacob” on my neck, and the words “LOVE” and “HOPE” across my knuckles) – and before you could shout “Hey, Ese!” I was as vato as I would ever be.

Alambre Tacos at T&T at Luxor

We started our crawl at Luxor Las Vegas, at T&T’s festive Mariachi Brunch.  Today was extra-special, as it was a celebration for El Dia de los Muertos, and proved to be a wonderfully left-of-center way to begin our Halloween.  Between my yummy Albondigas Soup (a bowl of zesty, minty, chicken soup with meatballs), and the signature Alambre Tacos (tender morsels of grilled skirt steak with bacon, Oaxaca cheese and chile poblano, wrapped in a flour tortilla) I was en el cielo! 

Jacob and Mariachi Elvis

According to Jacob, who had “two of the best Margaritas I’ve ever had in Las Vegas,” his Mexican Cobb Salad (with Napa cabbage, hearts of romaine, tomato, bacon, black beans, Panela cheese, garbanzo beans, and chopped egg in a tangy avocado vinaigrette) was “really, really, really good” – so I guess I wasn’t alone in my culinary heaven.  The Day of the Dead was in full effect at Luxor, as Los Mariachi Muertos provided the groovy tunes, and we ran into friends decked-out in costume, including T&T Proprietor Michael Frey as a Miller Lite Beer-Pong Table, and the Speigel kids as a Cupcake and a Prize Fighter (right down to the miniature Everlast gloves).

HRC's Josh Miller

After brunch, we zipped down to Henderson, and out to Anthem Country Club, where we joined the members of the Federal Club of the Las Vegas chapter of the Human Rights Campaign, at the lovely home of John Pinocci and Bill Wrightsman, where Congresswoman Dina Titus was spieling as we arrived.  The HRC is a great organization that – in addition to attempting to do away with such absurd and outdated legalities as DOMA and DADT – has a foundation that spearheads a number of programs, including the HRC Youth & Campus Outreach Program.  Especially now that “bullying” has been brought to the attention of mainstream media, it’s not enough that people be aware.  There must be achievable solutions provided; whether by HRC or by some other organization.  Bonus: It was also the first time we got to see the adorable son of our friends Josh Miller and Steve Amend.

Trina and Andrew Pascal as Sandra Bullock and Jesse James

After we’d gotten our fill of politicking (and cupcakes) we split for home, where – with Jacob’s help doing my “ink” – I got into my cholo get-up. 

Heather and Todd live in a swanky gated community that is ideal for trick-or-treating with kids.  Also, they have one of those homes that just lends itself splendidly to entertaining: It’s beautifully decorated, yet inviting and comfortable.  Lots of warm hues and dark woods that encourage people to kick-off their shoes and grab a drink (to that end, Todd makes a marvelous Margarita and has an enviable collection of wines).

Dena, Mason, and Heather duBoef as KISS

Some of my favorite costumes of the night include Jennifer Lerner as Princess Leia Organa Solo (née Leia Amidala Skywalker), Trina and Andrew Pascal as Sandra Bullock and Jesse James (respectively), Alan Waxler and his daughter (a legitimate cutie) as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell; and Heather duBoef, Dena duBoef and Mason duBoef as three-quarters of hard-rocking glitter-punk mega-band KISS.  Despite the fact that last season’s Lady Gaga episode of Glee (“Theatricality”) had the guys of New Directions (sans Kurt) performing “Shout It Out Loud” and “Beth” by KISS (both from the 1976 album, Destroyer), I guess none of Mason’s classmates had any idea whom he was dressed as.  Fortunately, his teachers saluted his moxie (seriously, his make-up, wig, and silver lame accessories were flawless) and told him to “Rock on, Man!”

I guess if there was ever a holiday for which one should aspire to partying during the day, followed by a need to “rock and roll all night” – it’s Halloween!  Trick or treat, y’all!