A Bluegrass Country Halloween
Halloweeny in Louisville, Kentucky
story, video and photos by TL Chester
I had intended to be a dragon geisha for Halloween but as a last minute change of plans, I would be an evil fairy. As luck would have it I came out more as a go-go fairy. In some respects I was just plain go-go as I chose not to wear my fairy wings for the majority of the evening, as it would make it difficult for me to make way through crowds. Saturday, October 27th, Willy’s, O’Shea’s, Wick’s Flanagan’s and Molly Malone’s all each had their own costume contests for Halloween. Each bar would have the top 3 costumes and prizes awarded were up to $5,000 in cash. I stopped by Molly Malone’s early in the evening sampling an appetizer of fried green tomatoes with some awesome hot ranch sauce, while my company tried the wings. While sipping my adequately made Jack and Coke I took in the ambiance of the costumes.
<–Click this image for the video.
Most costumes I had seen earlier in the day at Caulfield’s while I searched desperately for my attire through the crowd similarly comparable to that of a Christmas rush. I saw the hot office chic costume, hot waitress costume, Jason, adult Star Bright and some 70’s couple in the bar. Molly Malone’s was not packed as of yet and since I wanted to snatch a snack and drinkage early and I hadn’t planned to enter the establishment at its busiest hour. For the remainder of the evening I had planned to go Phoenix Hill Tavern on Baxter. I was a bit concerned about my plans to visit as prior attempts have always come out badly as Murphy’s Law would have it; not because the establishment itself wasn’t entertaining but what followed was normally the equivalent of port-a-potty’s on crack, if I had to choose a metaphor.
Phoenix Hill Tavern also had a costume contest with cash prizes up the 5,000. As I entered the establishment I walked upon the main stage where pre-gamers were doing a bit of an opening act via dance. On another stage offered as a precursor to entertainment was bad singing thanks to the tried and true karaoke. The venue offered a variety as Burlesque X dance review, a Monster Mash dance party on the deck, live music from Speed of Sound, Scary Uncle, and King Sonic filled the air on multiple stages through out the massive bar. I spent the majority of my time listening to Scary Uncle as they rocked the house. The main singer was dressed as Spider Man while the remainder of the band wore fitting Halloween attire as well. This particular band seemed to have a lot of personality and knew how to handle a Phoenix Hill crowd. Playing up to photo flashes and playing an array of rock music this band was on point. I certainly won’t hesitate to listen to Scary Uncle again, though I wonder if the name of the band was permanent or just temporary for the holiday? All of the bands wore Halloween attire from all Elvis suites to a selection such as a character from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
It may have been that this particular bar was attaining the bar hopper crowd more so then others because the hours were getting later or it could have been that the Hill (Phoenix Hill) drew a larger crowd in general; but the costumes here were definitely a sight to see. Costumes such as Mario of Mario brothers video game, even a Nintendo Game boy, to Amy Winehouse, Hellraiser and even Batman and Batgirl, who actually looked like their predecessors. The city certainly had an array of activities available through out the evening. Jim Porter’s on Lexington Road offered live music by Flashpoint, the Dengerates and Boogie Man Blues. 21c/Proof on Main, had a G3 Halloween Ball. It offered Night of Fright & Spectacle, music by DJ Carnaby, fire breathers, tattoo artists, psychics, monsters, that were just some to name a few of the night’s entertainment. Following the 21c event, limo shuttles escorted guests to Fuzion, on Story Ave., for the after party with a live performance of the “Evil Dead Musical”.
Baxter Avenue Theaters, on Bardstown Road showed “Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Bearno’s, on Bardstown Road had a Halloween party with Captain Morgan and the Morganettes and scary Larryoke. Conrad-Caldwell House, on James Court had a Spirit Ball. Masquerade party with live music, dancing, prizes, gourmet cuisine, drinks and silent auction. Fourth Street Live offered Hallowfest with “Heaven and Hell” as the theme. Escape artist and magician Spencer Horsman and Fire and spinning dragon performances with music by DJ Ben were the offered entertainment. Headliners, on Lexington Road offered Exile On Elm Street with a ten-piece band covering the Rolling Stones’ as well as guest DJ Woody Chancy.
The Henry Clay Building, on S. Third St. had a Middle Eastern-style Halloween party with belly dancers Electra, Farouza and Taletha and music by Ahel El Nagam and George Wakim. I plan to visit the Waverly Hills Sanatorium as a haunted attraction on the 31st, where participants walk through the entire first floor of the allegedly haunted old TB hospital. HYPERLINK “http://www.whshistory.com” \t “_blank” www.whshistory.com, hopefully I will have no flashbacks of bar hopping gone array, hope your Halloween was spooky for all the right reasons, and remember kiddies, no port-a-potty’s on crack. -TLC
