Have you guys heard of this? Apparently it's been happening for the last two years, but this is the first time I've caught wind of the local pseudo-holiday phenomenon known as Hallowang.
For some, the fact that Oct. 31 comes only but once a year is simply not enough. Like the set that enjoys celebrating half-birthdays, the proprietors of Hallowang have selected the last weekend in April to celebrate Halloween's half birthday.
Here's the deal:
According to the holiday's creator, known affectionately as "Housecat," anyone with a little springtime costume ingenuity is encouraged hit the East Side streets tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, for a little Hallowang bar-hopping. (What else?)
Beginning at 7 p.m., Cans, Yield, Vitucci's, Y Not 3, The Eastsider and LIVE have discounts going on for the costume clad. And of course, there's a friendly costume contest for six categories: Famous people (dead or alive), stereotypes & occupations, fictional characters (traditional or original), non-human, team and spectacular.
Here, why don't I just let the Web site explain the rest?
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
