Some Ghoulish News

Halloween is just around the corner, which means scary fun for the kids. But this year, even the adults are shaking in fear. This year's ghouls are real. And in the Civic Center, locals have names for them: economic recession, construction, and Mayor Bloomberg.

If you're thinking of brushing this off as another urban legend, think again. Take a walk down Church Street, where you can see victims with 'for sale' and 'for rent' signs on their store windows. Many side-street stores have lowered their metal grates for the last time, unable to remain open as the economy flounders.

The sinking economy has also brought about a decline in customer turnout at Civic Center shops, according to an informal survey of local store owners and workers. Shoppers try to save money and buy less. Also, the seemingly never-ending construction - especially on Fulton Street - hurts business at small side-street stores, the survey revealed. New construction plans for 2010 will only worsen this problem, blocking many other streets and sidewalks.

Locals said the scariest ghoul of all was Mayor Bloomberg's quest to override term limits. And on Oct. 23 the City Council voted 22-29 to approve Bloomberg's third-term run. Opponents charged Bloomberg of bribing his private charities for support. The LaRouche PAC warned against Bloomberg's third-term bid and the economic bailout by handing out fliers around City Hall park on Tuesday.

Another scare is the redevelopment threatening the South Street Seaport. Developer General Growth Properties plans to demolish historic buildings and replace them with "a 42-story residential/hotel tower and a 12-story boutique hotel," according to AMNY.

But don't let this year's real fears scare you into staying indoors and missing out on traditional Halloween spookiness. There are still plenty of free and social events in the neighborhood. Trinity church will host three different free, open to the public activities on Halloween night. Other upcoming events at the church include a choir concert on Oct. 28 and a wedding workshop on Oct. 29. Visit the church from now until Nov. 14 to see the art exhibit "A Variety of Gifts."

For a different venue, check out South Street Seaport on Halloween and sail on the adults-only Haunted Ghost Ship. More events include a scavenger hunt at the South Street Seaport Museum on Oct. 25 and a Diabetes Fundraiser Walk at Pier 17 on Oct. 26.

If you're still not shaking with excitement at the prospect of all these events, try attending the Pace University performance of "All Shook Up" from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1. For those with a passion for acting, the Actors Theatre Workshop now offers "semi-private" classes.

Whichever event you choose, don't do what I'm doing, which is trying to look 12 so I can go trick-or-treating and get some free candy.