We’re a little late in posting pictures from the annual neighborhood trick-or-treat even on Queen Anne Avenue Sunday—but better late than never, right?

Our friends over at Zaw took some great pictures of costumed neighbors and shared them with us.

This Halloween there were quite a few Queen Anne-ers who dressed in matching ensembles for the day!

All in all the Halloween festivities were colorful as always.

Check out more of the Zaw team’s photos on their brand new blog.

Have some great Halloween pics you’d like to share with the neighborhood? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com and we’ll add them!

Costumed kids filled the streets of Queen Anne on Sunday, and right about now they’re probably counting up their stock-piled bounty, arranging them into categories, and either rationing their candy treats, or filling up on them—or a little bit of both.

MSN Money’s SmartSpending blog has a smart idea that will keep your kids from needing extra visits to the dentist and that will give America’s overseas troops a taste of home. Dentists across the nation are buying back extra candy for $1 a pound, and sending it to the troops through the Halloween Candy Buyback. The only participating location in Seattle is in Greenlake.

For more information, read the full story on our sister-site, Maple Leaf Life.

The 10-foot black cat that was stolen from Mike White’s festively decorated yard two weeks ago has reappeared just in time for Halloween!

We caught up with Mike to ask him about the cat’s mysterious reappearance. After being on the KIRO Ron and Don show a couple weeks ago, talking about the strange theft, the Walgreens in Silverlake donated a new cat to the Whites to save Halloween. So there you have it!

Happy Halloween Queen Anne!

(Thanks to reader Jai Schellhammer for the picture!)

Zillow has ranked Queen Anne one of the best neighborhoods to trick-or-treat this Halloween. Of the top five communities, Queen Anne ranks third, behind Wallingford and Ballard (we came in second last year).

There are always quite a lot of Halloween festivities happening in Queen Anne. Given that the holiday is just around the corner, here’s a roundup of what’s on our spooky celebrations radar:

Halloween Carnival, Queen Anne Community Center—Friday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 12 noon (pumpkin patch), 6 to 8 p.m. (carnival); Activity Fee: $3 per child

Come join us for a ghoulishly good time. Wear your favorite costume! We’ll have carnival games, treats and entertainment! This party is for children of all ages.

Special Halloween Farmers Market, Sunday, October 31

• 1 to 3 p.m.—Music by Bob & Sheldon
• 3 p.m.—Creative Costume Parade
• 4 p.m.—Pumpkin Pie Contest judged by Lynne Vea of PCC Cooks

Trick or Treat on Queen Anne Avenue, Sunday, October 31, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Know of a Halloween event happening in the neighborhood that’s not on our list? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com to add it.

Queen Anne Manor Halloween Party, Friday, October 29, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Come and join us for Food, Costumes, Music, and Fun at Queen Anne Manor!

Coe Elementary Monster Mash, Friday, October 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Music, games, bake sale, arts & crafts, bouncy house, cake walk, and more! Open to the community—come in costume and bring the whole family. No admission cost—some activities require tickets which can be purchased at the event. To volunteers contact Dena Angelos at paulangelos@hotmail.com.

Kevin and Margaret Frisch’s “Project Halloween”, Sunday, October 31, 2428 2nd Ave West

If you look forward to Halloween all year round and are having a hard time coping with the fact that the next costume and candy-clad holiday is ten months away, I have very exciting news for you: There is still one place on the hill you can go to feel the ghostly pang of eerie, spooky goodness–the women’s bathroom at 5 Spot.

I was surprised to find the restroom full of cow webs, ghosts, skeletons, plastic spiders and a jar of eyeballs when I stopped by earlier this afternoon. I tried to find an employee who could tell me why the ladies room was rocking the Halloween cheer, but as usual, they were quite busy and I never did get an answer. Had they decided to skip over Thanksgiving and Christmas and get a head start on decorations for Halloween 2010? Does this mean Santa will still be hanging out on the roof in June? Is the men’s bathroom also haunted? Is this where the ghosts of St. Louis like to lurk? Whatever the reason, the ladies bathroom at 5 Spot is, for now, a little Halloween oasis ready to lead us into 2010.

Update: Thanks to a reader who commented on this story, we now know why the ladies (and men’s) bathrooms are decorated to spook. Apparently they are designed to resemble the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, the home of the Lemp family, owners of a big brewing company in the first half of the 20th century who were almost all met with tragic ends. The mansion is supposedly one of the most haunted places in the country. I’d never heard of it before, and neither had the reader who noticed a plaque in the men’s room explaining the choice in decor, but it sure does make for an fun trip to the bathroom! You can read more about the Lemp Mansion here.

Hundreds of families and costumed kids walked up and down Queen Anne Ave N yesterday for the neighborhood’s annual trick-or-treat festival put on by the Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association.

Some youngsters were even lucky enough to have transportation included as part of their costume!

Everyone was in the holiday spirit, even the neighborhood pets.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market also made a one-day comeback for the occasion, with music, vendors, food, a pie contest and costume contest just for adults, enticing many parents to dress up right along with their kids.

Over at the market, ten bakers entered their pumpkin pies into a contest/fundraiser to support the neighborhood market (and only independent farmers market in the city).

The contest was judged by Seattle magazine food writer and Queen Anne resident Lorna Yee, and there were no rules apart from the pie having to be pumpkin.

The winning pie ended up coming to Queen Anne on a plane, and was made with a fruit medley of pumpkin, banana, orange and lemon zest. Yum! Check back on the Queen Anne Farmers Market website for the recipe, which should be posted something this week.

Have great costumes or Halloween pictures you’d like to share? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com!

Halloween is almost here, and there are numerous ways to celebrate the spookiest of holidays on the hill tomorrow!

The Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association is putting on the annual trick-or-treat event. From 3-5 p.m. merchants along Queen Anne Ave N between Galer and McGraw will be handing out candy to kids in costume.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market is also back for a special “Pork & Gourds” Halloween market from 3 to 7 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave N and Crocket. The lineup includes a pumpkin pie contest at 4 p.m., a creative costume contest at 5:30, and a variety of vendors and mobile food options including Maximus Minimus, Skillet, Kaosamai Thai, Dante’s Inferno Dogs, Marination and Parfait Ice Cream. Enjoy tunes by The Blair Street Mugwumps from 3-5 p.m. and RedDog from 5-7 p.m., and many more surprises, including brand new “piekus” and seasonal spontaneous poetry by Evan Peterson.

Neighborhood coffee shop El Diablo, and Queen Anne Books will be handing out dum dums and Fireballs all day.

If you’re going to be down at the bottom of the hill tomorrow, and possibly forgot to get your Halloween candy in advance, you can swing by Whole Foods for free snacks, treats, and a contest to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin.

And if you’re going to be seeking your candy house-to-house, be sure to check out the spookiest homes on the hill. Queen Anne has been voted the #2 neighborhood in the city to trick-or-treating, after all! And if you don’t fill up on candy, be sure to stop by and say farewell to Opal Bistro, which will be closed as of Sunday, November 1.

Thanks to Thatgirlkelly for pointing out the superhero massacre on 11 Ave W and Dravus. This is definitely worth a look!

Happy Halloween! And remember, stay safe.

And if you’re not going to be in the neighborhood this weekend, check out some of the events going on in Ballard, Magnolia and Fremont, where they’re having “Trolloween” for the Fremont Troll’s 20th birthday!

On Sunday it will be time to “fall back” again, so don’t forget to set your clock back an hour when you go to bed on Saturday night after celebrating Halloween on the hill.

The Seattle Fire Department also suggests you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms when you change your clocks. Here’s why:

Most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. The most commonly cited cause of nonworking smoke alarms: dead or missing batteries. In a home fire, a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death by half.

The Seattle Fire Department can install smoke alarms and batteries free of charge in homes where the homeowner is either a senior citizen, living on a low income, or has a disability. If you live outside the city of Seattle, please contact your local Fire Department to request assistance.

Smoke alarm maintenance is one of the simplest methods of protecting your home and family from fires. For more information or to request assistance changing smoke alarms and batteries contact the Seattle Fire Department at (206) 386-1337.

The Seattle Police Department has put together a list of safety tips for parents whose children will be trick-or-treating tomorrow evening. Even though Queen Anne was voted the #2 neighborhood to collect Halloween loot in the city, you never can be too cautious. Here’s what they say:

• Don’t allow children go “Trick or treating” alone. An adult should accompany young children and make sure that all children carry a glow stick or flashlight and wear reflective clothing.

• Accompany young children to the door of every house they approach. Stay within sight of the door when opened.  Children should be cautioned to never enter a home without prior permission from their parents.

• Stay in familiar neighborhoods and only visit well-lighted homes that have their outdoor lights on.  Parents should be familiar with every house and with all people from which the children receive treats.

• Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent.

• All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant. When using facemasks, make sure the child can see and breathe properly and easily.

• Don’t cut through yards, parks or alleys. Walk, don’t run, and stay on the sidewalks, cross only at intersections and crosswalks, not between cars.  Don’t forget to look both ways before crossing the street.

• Be sure to carry a flashlight with fresh batteries and make sure your child knows your phone number and address.   For children under 12, attach a tag with their name, address and phone number (including area code) to their clothes in case they get separated.  Older children who might be going out with friends should have a cell phone, mapped route and set a time to come home.

• Children should be cautioned to remember any suspicious incidents and report them to their parents, a trusted adult or the police.

• Children should be cautioned to run away immediately from people who try to lure them with special treats.  Children should be instructed to scream and make a scene if anyone tries to grab them or force them, in any way, to go with them.

• Don’t approach unknown animals or pets; they could be frightened by the costumes or strange noises.

• Parents should inspect all treats and dispose of anything that has been opened or has never been wrapped. The police should be notified if something has been tampered with.

Happy Halloween Queen Anne! Be safe.

With Halloween just two days away, I thought it time to pay tribute to some of the more decked-out homes on the hill. Here are some pics I snapped while driving around the neighborhood this afternoon:

This house has been in the Halloween holiday spirit since I was a kid!

My favorite part was always the crash scene.

Some houses transformed their front yards to graveyards for the occasion.

And others just couldn’t decide between a headstone garden and a giant spooky spider.

Thanks for getting into the Halloween spirit. I really must say, it almost makes me wish I was still young enough to trick-or-treat!

Zillow, an online real estate information service, has ranked Queen Anne second in the top five best Seattle neighborhoods for candy gathering on Halloween night in their first ever Zillow Trick-or-Treat Housing Index.

“The Index names the top five Seattle neighborhoods to trick-or-treat using four equally weighted data variables: Zillow Home Value Index, population density, Walk Score, and local crime data,” Zillow PR rep Whitney Tyner wrote.

Although we were beat out by Wallingford for its high density population and easily walkable streets, we came in ahead of Magnolia, the University District and Capitol Hill. According to Zillow, we are an “affluent, family-friendly” community, “with gorgeous homes and small-town charm, plus a bustling main street business district.” They also noted our high home values.

“The genesis of this research is the theory that homes in higher end neighborhoods give out bigger or better candy (think King size snickers instead of minis). However, on Halloween night trick-or-treaters need to safely cover the most ground, in the fastest time, to collect the most Halloween loot,” Tyner wrote. “This Index reflects neighborhoods that will yield the most candy, with the least walking and safety risks for trick-or-treaters this Halloween.”

Not too shabby Queen Anne! And remember, there will be tons of cool holiday events going on this weekend for Halloween. Check out the schedule here.

With Halloween just a couple of weeks out, Queen Anne is gearing up for its many festivities. The Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association is putting on its annual Trick or Treat festival on Saturday, October 31. From 3-5 p.m. merchants will be handing out candy to kids on Queen Anne Ave N between Galer and McGraw.

As the Trick or Treat is always a busy event, UQAMA has taken measures to ensure participant safety, putting funds together to provide for officer assisted traffic control on the day of the event at the intersections of Queen Anne Ave and Boston, and Queen Anne Ave and Crockett.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market is also making a special return appearance for All Hallows Eve. Their “Pork & Gourds” Halloween market and street food fair will be filled with all things spooky (and delicious, of course!) Stock up on all you need for hearty fall cooking from 3-7 p.m. at Queen Anne Ave N and Crockett. Farm stalls will include Local Roots, Baird Orchards and Full Circle. There will also be some delicious street food vendors out to celebrate the holiday in style, including Maximus Minimus, Skillet, Kaosamai Thai, Dante’s Inferno Dogs and Patty Pan Grill. This special event will be a fundraiser for Queen Anne’s very own nonprofit market.

Enjoy tunes by The Blair Street Mugwumps from 3-5 p.m. At 4 p.m. there will be a Pumpkin Pie Contest, judged by Lorna Yee, food writer at Seattle magazine and The Cookbook Chronicles, and author The Newlywed Kitchen: Delicious Meals for Couples Cooking Together, which is coming out soon. After the remarkable turnout the market had at their 1st Annual Blue Ribbon Pie Contest, the Pumpkin Pie Contest will be limited to the first ten registrants. Pies will be judged based on taste, appearance, technique and creativity. Because this event is a fundraiser, registration will be $10, to be collected at the contest. The first prize winner will be awarded a Le Creuset pumpkin cocotte (cast iron casserole), and the second prize winner will get a lunch for two at the Belltown Bakery Boulangerie Nantaise. As of this afternoon, there were still six places available, so hurry! To register email qafarmersmarket@gmail.com.

At 5 p.m. there will be a Creative Costume Contest for adults and kids ages 16 and up. Registration for the contest is $10, and the top prize winner will walk away with a $100 gift certificate to How to Cook a Wolf. So get a head start on your creative costume today! For rules and to register, email Julie Whitehorn at qafarmersmarket@gmail.com.

(Thanks to Greg and the Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association for the picture).

Queen Anne shoppers will have to start buying their fresh produce indoors again. The the last Queen Anne Farmers Market of the season is going out with a bang today, from 3-7 p.m. at W. Crockett St. at Queen Anne Ave. N.

Enjoy the acoustic/country stylings of Adam Borkoski of The Whiskey Swillers from 3-5 p.m. and baroque, classical, tango, ragtime sounds by Quartette Con Brio from 5-7 p.m.

Don’t miss a book signing with Molly Wizenberg, Orangette blogger, author of A Homemade Life and co-owner of the new Ballard wood-fired pizzeria Delancey.

Attendees also have a chance to catch three chef demos. Greg Atkinson of West Coast Cooking and author of West Coast Cooking, The Northwest Essentials Cookbook and In Season: Culinary Adventures of a San Juan Island Chef will be demoing at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m. Becky Selengut, from Cornucopia Cuisine, will be doing a demo as part of Sacred Heart Shelter benefit cookbook 40 Seasonal Soups. Craig Serbousek, of Betty and Crow, will be up at 6 p.m., also as part of Sacred Heart Shelter benefit cookbook.

For those of you who just don’t think you can make it until the market returns next week, pencil this into your calendar: The QAFM will be making one final appearance at the end of the month before packing it in for the season. On Saturday, October 31, there will be a special Halloween market at the same location (General Manager Julie Whitehorn says they’ll be holiday-themed festivities to coincide with trick-or-treaters on the hill, and they’re hoping to get Maximus/Minimus, the hog-shaped pulled-pork vendor on wheels, to make an appearance). More information on that to come.

Until next year, Queen Anne Farmers Market, you will be missed.

Queen Anne residents of all ages turned out in force for the annual Trick or Treat along the Ave.

The merchants, decked out in their Halloween finest, passed out candy and other goodies to the passersby.

No estimate of how many people walked through the Avenue on this afternoon is available. Your guess is as good as any.

Trick-or-treating in Queen Anne: Take your kids (12 years or younger) trick-or-treating along Queen Anne Avenue on Oct. 31st from 4-6 pm.  This is a much anticipated tradition in the neighborhood.

Fall Carnival :Come to the Queen Anne Community Center.  Bring your kids to a safe place to Trick or Treat on Friday, October 31st at 8 pm. Games, face painting, and lots of goodies. Costumes are optional but encouraged!

Halloweeen Howl at the Paragon: Once again it is time to exhume the costumes and bring back to life the horror, the terror, the fantastic fun that is Paragon’s Halloween Howl! Come in costume and partake of; Potent Paragon Punch (not for panzys)!! Scary Movies on the big screen!! Psychic Readings!! INSTANT photo magic!! It will be all the mayhem and madness of a Paragon party!  October 31 from 8 pm to 2 am.

Don’t leave those beers too close to the pumpkins!  A wild and crazy reader, Stephanie, sent us this hilarious Halloween photo.  (She actually got this from her dad.)  Send your funny photo to tips@queenanneview.com. 

Halloween is just around the corner. It’s a fun time for adults and children alike. But it can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for your pets.  Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan offers the following tips to keep Halloween from being a fright for pets and trick-or-treaters:

• Don’t leave your pets out in the yard on Halloween. There are too many stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, or even killed pets on this night.

• Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

• Watch out for the ‘lethal wagging tails’ or curious kittens near lit pumpkins or other flames. Pets can knock them over and cause a fire or burn injuries to your pet and people.
• Don’t dress your animals in costumes unless you know they love it.  If you do dress them up, be careful not to obstruct their vision as even the sweetest dogs can get snappy when they can’t see what’s going on around them.

• Keep your dog(s) in a separate room during trick-or-treat visiting hours as too many strangers in strange garb can be scary for a dog.  If you are having an indoor party, keep pets in a room where they won’t be disturbed or frightened by costumes.

• Make certain your pet is wearing a pet license in case your cat or dog darts out through an open door.

For more information, check the website of the Seattle Animal Shelter: http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

A number of Halloween activities are coming up in Queen Anne.  Bring out the gremlins and the goblins and walk through the upper Queen Anne business district for the annual “trick or treat” rush.  You won’t believe your eyes when you see a sea of 1,200 kids going through the street in 2 hours!  From 3 to 5 p.m., the stores hand out candy to the little (and sometimes not so little) ones.  Always a “rockin’” Queen Anne event.

Check out the Fall Carnival at the Queen Anne Community Center.  Bring your kids to a safe place to Trick or Treat on Friday, October 31st at 8 p.m. Games, face painting, and lots of goodies. Costumes are optional but encouraged!