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Brewing up all kinds of fun were several Halloween parties, and many, no doubt, included on the menu Vampire Merlot and the Velvet Devil Merlot, which were featured wines at The Vineyard.

ON Halloween, The Toledo-Lucas County Library downtown hosted a Little Boo Bash for free. The bash included carnival-style games, arts and crafts, and more. Tricks instead of treats turned out to be a free magic show in the home of Brian Garee. Scott Baker decorated his Old Orchard home with creative displays and lots of intricate pumpkin carvings and jack o' lanterns for a party.

On the bar scene that night, a Halloween party featuring Kentucky Chrome & Glass City Rollers was at The Blarney Irish Pub and the Boogie Matrix Halloween Party played at Mickey Finn's Pub.

Getting in the spirit of things on Friday, the Toledo Country Club hosted its Haunted Hayrides and a dinner. The fall harvest menu included comfort foods plus caramel apples, pumpkin pie, and more.

Other Friday events: The Wicked Magician Dorian Grey entertained at the Ground Level Coffee House in West Toledo. A Spooktacular adult costume party at the Toledo Club was sponsored by Senior Independence, Accessible Renovations, Enhanced Living Solutions, and fitting with the theme, Walker Funeral Homes and Crematory. The Event Center hosted by Work Play Live Toledo, the Toledo Ski Club, For Young Professionals, and the Toledo Sport and Social Club was a blast Friday night: Haunting music and booodelicious foods and libations were all part of the fun. AT the Collingwood Arts Center was an All Hallows Eve Masquerade ball. The Toledo Museum of Arts hosted “Mystery in the Cloister & After-Hours Flashlight Tour.”

THURSDAY bewitched those at the “Big Band Halloween Dance Party” at South Briar Restaurant.

Other events: JEN Creque and Donna Altemann, independent Arbonne consultants, hosted a Cosmetic Graveyard Party for members of The Chicks for Charity Tuesday at Calvino's Wine Bar. Ladies could bring their old makeup to discard and receive a discount on new makeup.

On Oct. 25, Highland Meadows Golf Club, like many of the country clubs, hosted a Children's Halloween Party for good little boos and ghouls.

Scaring up donations
A few organizations dressed up for donations in the Halloween spirit.

THE Toledo Area Humane Society's annual Fur Ball celebrated the 125th year of the local nonprofit organization's founding Oct. 24 at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes College. Local jazz trio Truth played as guests sipped and supped while perusing the silent auction.

A fashion show “Decades Of Dogs” featuring the society's “alumni” and available adoptable dogs, each escorted by a human model, gave a hint of what the fashionistas of the decade and their dogs might have worn. Then it was dancing to the tunes of The Homewreckers, along with desserts and coffees. About 260 patrons paid $100 each and helped to reap $57,000 for the cause, according to event chairman Judy McFarland and board chairman Peggy Brown. Lead sponsors included R.P. Communications, KeyBank, Weber and Sterling, and National City.

PAWS and Whiskers hosted its annual Cool Cat Strut at St. Clements Hall on Oct. 23 and pretty cool herself was emcee Laura Emerson of Fox. Dinner was catered by Annie's Pizza Factory and dancing was to the tunes of The Redbones band amid balloons, spider webs, and all. A costume contest for $250 added excitement.

A silent auction was available online in advance as well as at the event was that night.

The 125 in attendance, half of whom were in costume, helped net about $5,500, according to event chairman Pam Plunkett, assisted by Cindy Chamber, Ken and Gay Hosley, Judy Dudley, Ken Thomas, and Nancy Shanks.

THE Mayberry Memorial fund-raiser Oct. 17 harvested a lot of fun and $26,000 for the Hickman Cancer Center at Flower Hospital and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The event, held at Brandywine Country Club, included a buffet of fave food from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, and dancing to Johnny Rocker and the Hitmen. Supporters, who paid 100 smackers each, jumped into the mood and dressed in threads from their favorite decade, which meant a lot of bell bottoms, leisure suits, disco dresses, and of course, platform shoes. A live auction was also part of the fun.

WHILE the costumes were the latest fashion and not Halloween masquerades, Showtime! put an emphasis on the musical Wicked, and brewed up some serious cash during the Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary fashion review and luncheon Oct. 28 at Inverness Club.

An off-Broadway boutique, organized by Jackie Rousseau Werner, included pottery, glass, animal portraits, purses, jewelry, and more to get the excitement simmering. Chatting while feasting on a harvest menu added more sizzle for the 176 guests. Then came the music and action! Bewitching was when the first model dressed as a classy witch strutted out amid a cloud of fog. The fashion parade continued with threads from Ragazza, Bella Brie, Red Envy, Lily Whitestone, and Roth Furs and Leather, all modeled by locals.

Event chairmen Jean Smith, who wrote the catchy script and directed the show, and Bonnie Milano, were assisted by a host of committee members including board president Nancy Ligibel.

Nearly $10,000 is expected for the net.

Fantastic fashion
THE Sisterhood of Congregation B'nai Israel hosted an intergenerational fashion show Oct. 25 at the temple. Fagie Benstein is the Sisterhood president. Event chairmen were Marilyn Newman and Tova Eisenberg.

The show's highlight was Jean Liber's bridal gown, worn 70 years ago, modeled by her niece Judy Schienbach. Ayla Bar, noted Israeli jewelry designer, was present with her wares as was Lady C.

THE Owens Community College's Black Student Union held its second annual “Red Carpet Fashion Show” Oct. 2 in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The event for the American Diabetes Association included students from Owens, Toledo Public Schools, and Winterfield Venture Charter Academy, and community leaders. Entertainment included the Owens Dance Express Team and more. Emcee was funny Darrell Banks. Toledo's Glass City Church of Christ Rev. Robert G. Birt, Jr., shared his personal account with diabetes.

JUST for fun, the Toledo Bar Association Auxiliary's Fall style show was Oct. 2 at The Hilton Garden Inn, Levis Commons with members modeling fashions from Ragazza.

Fifi's 29th anniversary lunch Oct. 1 included fashions from Elegant Rags.
THE Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's “Back to School Teen Fashion Show” was Sept. 28 at the Kent Branch Library. Teens modeled their own fashions and uniforms.

THE Auxiliary to the Ability Center's 25th anniversary Fall Fashion show “Silver Screen Styles” was Sept. 23 at Stranahan Great Hall with Ragazza, Elegant Rags, Meigs, Gallippo's and Roth Furs. Thanks to the 386 patrons, the event netted nearly $14,000. The event chairmen were Mary Beaber and Barb Bettinger.

ALL Saints Episcopal Church hosted a Luncheon and Style Show sponsored by the church women Sept. 12 at Gladieux Meadows. In addition to the show, which featured African clothes, the event included an accessory boutique and silent auction.

The net of about $2,500 supports the scholarship and community outreach programs.

Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor.

Contact her at: bhendel@theblade.comor 419-724-6124.

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