Leadbelly Blues Festival

Halloween is fun. It need not be scary all the time. Halloween can be sexy too. Although it has its origin in the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, it has now become universal by nature. It is now celebrated all over the Western Hemisphere by the urban as well as the rural population.

Traditionally, Halloween costumes are that of monsters, such as ghosts, skeletons, devils and witches. Now, of course that has changed. We do have monster costumes. However, they are by no means limited to the devilish theme only. Halloween sexy costumes are as popular as that of monster costume, especially in the adult segment.

To be frank, not many adults will love to cover his or her face with a monster mask. How do you woo your ladylove dressed as a vampire? Which beautiful woman will love to hide behind a skeleton costume? Isn’t the ‘Flirty Mouse Costume’ far more suitable for the occasion? You will not only look cuter in them, but will also feel freer.

If you insist on having the scary element added to your Halloween sexy costumes, you will not be disappointed either. You can have ‘adult sexy witch costume’ for as little as $23. One size will fit all, since witch costumes are traditionally loose fitting. Such a costume includes:

1.A black dress

2.Belt

3.Hat

You will need to buy the witch stick separately. Shoes are not included in the package either.

Many adult costumes are as sexy as devilish. An adult hooded robe with low cut neckline and extra flared sleeves will cost around$30. A snake armband comes free with it. If you insist, you can get a ‘Black Widow Bride Robe; that costs $40 a piece. One size will fit most adults. The dress has a

1.wrist tie

2.an elastic off shoulder neckline

3.sleeve-lets

4.tattered robe collar

5.a veil

If you would rather do away with the horror part and would rather concentrate with the sexy side, there are many Halloween costumes that are just sexy enough to whet any appetite and yet modest enough not to attract any unwanted attention. ‘Hallo Sailor Costumes’ are just that. It comes in four sizes: small, medium, large, extra large. The dress has:

1.stretch knit ruffle hem

2. sleeve dress with satin bow trim

3. stripped neckline

4.gold anchor details

5.gold button details

6.sailor hat with a satin ribbon and a bow trim

7.matching bow stocking clips ( 3 piece set, lest you lose one)

It costs around $50, a small price to pay for such a Halloween sexy costume.

Bad Police Woman Costume will cost little more. For $55, you get a dress that is as hot as it is naughty. If you want to be booked for illegal activities, you can have your man dressed up in ‘Sexy Male Cop Costume’. This a three-piece costume includes:

1.lycra shirt featuring PVC details and badges

2.police hat

3.handcuffs

Halloween adult dresses have endless possibilities. A French Maid Dress is an apron dress with fluffy sleeves and comes with a feather duster. The short dress is as naughty as it is beautiful. If you would rather play the royalty, instead of maids, you will not be disappointed at all. A ‘Royal Antoinette Costume’ generally cost $95. However, if you are lucky you can get it for much less. Mary Antoinette is less royal, more naughty here.

Renaissance costumes too fall in this price bracket. These long dresses with off-shoulder necklines have a quite dignity in them.

Oh! This is Halloween; you may not be interested in ‘quite dignity’ aspect of any dress. You want to be sexy or scary. You are even ready for ‘Prep School Delinquent Costume’ or an ‘Army Nurse Costume’ rather than for a dignified old woman costume. Nevertheless, the anything dignified need not necessarily be dull. The Renaissance Costumes are dignified, but not dull.

Halloween is about not only horror or sex, although activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting haunted attractions, carving jack-o-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies. Halloween is a harvest festival, a time to rejoice, a time to prepare for the coming long winter.

Remember the farmers of those long passed days as you prepare for your Halloween parties. It is also a time to pay homage to our ancestors, not ridicule them with ghostly costumes.

The Elizabeth neighborhood is a very fine, leafy old section of Charlotte , just bridled with charm (and ghosts).

It is, by far, the most haunted neighborhood in Charlotte; even the main green space — Independence Park — is deemed to be haunted. It also has the distinction of being Charlotte’s first public park (1904).

‘Halloween Week’, they have a lighting of the pumpkins…all are welcome to set their pumpkins up on the stands and marvel at one another’s creations. Why not? Elizabeth can be spooky!

Elizabeth was developed in the early 20th century. Her mature trees create a gorgeous canopy over the streets;  large camellia bushes show off beautiful blooms; homes and businesses mingle, woven tightly together by rooty sidewalks and its haunted tales of those that have gone before us.

The Elizabeth neighborhood is tucked in amongst the following: Randolph Road/4th Street to the Southwest; Independence Boulevard to the West and North; and a creek on its East.  Two main avenues within this area are Elizabeth Avenue and 7th Street.

Along 7th Street there are numerous old houses that have been converted into shops, offices, and restaurants and small apartment buildings. Classics like Hawthorne’s NY Pizza and Bar, Loft 1523 (a cool Martini Bar), Philospher’s Stone Tavern  and Carpe Diem are all lined up just waiting to take your order!

Then there’s  The Cajun Queen, she’s supposedly haunted-either by the old owner’s maid or a lush (depending on who you talk to). It serves up an authentic taste of New Orleans food and Dixieland jazz and beer.

The Elizabeth neighborhood offers a rich selection of beautiful Victorian homes, bungalows and historical houses. Here, single family residential prices can reach over a million dollars, whereas a condo can be purchased for around $175,000 or so.

To be sure, this is an easy walking section of town. Close to the hustle and bustle of uptown Charlotte for nightlife, yet filled with it’s own neighborhood pubs, for those evenings when you’d rather hang out ‘where everybody knows your name’.

Centrally located, Elizabeth’s Independence Park is hidden a little below street level. It offers great walking paths, beautiful gardens, benches and statues. The true neighborhood side of the park can be found on it’s southern end. It offers peace, tranquility…and a beautiful rose garden.

And, then, there’s the northern end…the northern end offers plenty of activity! There are ball fields, courts, play ground equipment, and a track..it is also on this end, that Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School is located.  The northern end of Independence Park is a fantastic spot to see a spectacular view of the city…especially good for watching Uptown’s  firework displays on the Fourth of July!

Back in 1897, Elizabeth College, a small Lutheran women’s college , was here. It is how the area came to be known as Elizabeth. The college has since been replaced by Charlotte’s main Presbyterian Hospital.

Elizabeth’s speedy development occurred just five years later, in 1902, when the trolley line was completed…and then she was promptly annexed into Charlotte  in 1907. 

The neighborhoods population hovers around 4,000 today……..ghosts not included.

If you’re looking for a place that’s rich with remnants of the recent past, then Germany’s the place for you. As you may well know, Germany was a key player in the previous world wars. Thus, it filled Germany with monuments to the stories of our grandfathers about times long past but never forgotten.

1.) Berlin Wall

There’s no other place in Germany that’s more suffused with charged up emotions than the Berlin Wall. You can just imagine the tears and the blood shed over this very wall. This remnant of the wars stands as one of the greatest monuments to democracy known to man – a sign that freedom will always come out victorious.

2.) The Romantic Road

Driving through the Romantic road would be one of the most pleasant drives you’ll experience in your whole life. This road is flanked by scenic landscapes on both sides. Occasionally, you’ll pass through a picturesque town, a beautiful gothic church, and sometimes, a quaint countryside inn.

3.) Augsburg

Passing through the Romantic Road will lead you to Augsburg, a town founded by the Roman Legions and named after the esteemed Roman emperor, Augustus. This picturesque town contains such historical places as St. Anne’s Church, the place where Martin Luther took refuge, and Dom, a very unusual Cathedral. You can also find here the Renaissance Golden Room, a sight that will make you squint with its shine.

4.) Neuschwanstein Castle

Did you know that Walt Disney used a castle found in Germany as his inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty? It’s true, those alabaster walls and those high towers and wide parapets were all based on the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is now hailed as one of the most popular tourist spots in Germany.

5.) The Castles of Fussen

Like most of Europe, several castles are littered throughout Germany. It contains the other two of Ludwig’s castles, the first one being the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a must-see for all those families who are traveling through Germany because the place literally looks like it’s been torn out of a storybook.

6.) Lake Constance

Lake Constance is both a tourist spot and an essential source of life for the Germans. Several areas in the country rely on this very lake for their drinking water, and this large lake is also a great place to swim and to go bird watching. Indeed, if you’re one for beautiful natural sceneries, then Lake Constance is not to be ignored.

7.) The Black Forest

The name looks like it has been taken from one of the fairytales, doesn’t it? The Black Forest – it sounds like a place where evil witches reside and cursed trees grow, but don’t let that deter you though. If anything, the Black Forest can hardly be related to its name as it’s a sunny forest with tall and sturdy firs. It’s a great place to go hiking and a great place for picnics.

8.) Cologne

When you hear the word, Cologne, what comes into your mind? A beautiful fragrance, right? Well, meet the town that’s called Cologne for a reason, and indeed, the town of Cologne has its own peculiar fragrance that’s very pleasing to the nose. Also, there you will find a beautiful view of the River Rhine and the Cologne Cathedral.

9.) Dachau

Take a break from the fairytale castles and mystical forests and go to the place called Dachau. Dachau is a concentration camp – a remnant of Germany’s dark past where you can just imagine the horrors that took place in this very spot. However, you will also find there a statue bearing the inscription, “Never Again”, a solemn promise of the German people that they will ‘never again’ commit such unspeakable acts – another true victory for peace.

10.) Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest – technically, it’s not a place, but it’s just too good a festival to leave out of any ‘top ten list’ that concerns tourism and Germany. This fun-filled festival in the town of Bavaria is guaranteed to leave you intoxicated and euphoric. You can spend days on end just drinking authentic German Ale and just letting yourself loose.