3 Ways to Make Halloween Interesting

1. Throwing a party? Create amusing dynamics with your friends by way of an “Identity Party”.

If you’re anything like me, you have your best costume ideas in July when you’re nowhere near your phone or journal to document. Because the idea is so brilliant, you concede it’s ok to not write it down – there’s no possible way you’d forget such genius. But, alas you do and the week before Halloween is spent finding something somewhat interesting on Amazon that will allow you to participate in the holiday’s flair despite your procrastination.

Cue an “Identity Party”. An identity party is the easiest way for your friends and yourself to dress up with minimal preparation while also sparking a dynamic you just can’t create in your every-day clothes.

If you’re not already sold, I’ll get to the point. An Identity Party is simply dressing up as any identity you can think of (we’ll let you dub what’s appropriate for your friend circle) and then staying in character and true to your constructed identity for the entirety of the evening.

Your identity could be as simple as being a woman named Debra who owns a thriving casino in rural Alaska or as complex as an aspiring actress named Amethyst in LA who sells crystals to pay for her Erewhon hot bar, despite couch-surfing for shelter.

The point being, you’re not necessarily dressing up as an identifiable proper noun, but some version of a made-up archetype. It’s a little less obvious, allows for a slow build that usually lends itself to grand humor and is almost too easy to prep for.

2. Having an intimate gathering? Tap into your dark sides and build connection with thought-provoking questions.

I’m a big fan of providing questions for dinner parties – especially when bringing together folks from different walks of my own life to help break the ice. While there are times when deep questions fit the mood, a halloween gathering doesn’t quite feel like the right venue.

Rather, get your friends to think outside the usual realms of conversation while playing with edges. Here’s a few questions to get you started.

• What is the most taboo thing you desire? Describe this desire in as much detail as possible.
• If you had to describe your naughty side as a person, what do they wear and how do they behave?
• What bizarre thing can you do in the next 6 months that will mix up your life? Explain in detail how it’ll shake things up (superlatives are welcome here!).

3. Getting cozy solo? Satisfy your senses with something equal parts mysterious and mood-boosting.

While St. Ember would be the perfect accomplice for the above two scenarios, I’m a big fan of creating beautiful experiences for yours truly, even when there’s nobody around to impress. The creativity makes me feel good and creating something just for myself makes the ordinary a little more special.

Also, my sleep on solo nights is sacred to me. St. Ember makes me feel fancy and gives a nice little lion’s mane mushroom buzz without disrupting my beauty sleep. 

I mixed this up the other night and was inspired by its dark color and robust flavor – it feels destined for a cozy Halloween evening.

St. Ember’s Dark Side

Ingredients:

• 2 oz St. Ember
• 8 – 10 blackberries
• 2 – 3 fresh sage leaves, torn
• .5 ounce agave nectar
• 1 ounce pomegranate juice
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Ice
• For garnish: your favorite salt or raw sugar and sage sprig 

Instructions

• Rim glass with your favorite salt or raw sugar
• Combine blackberries, sage leaves, agave nectar and lime juice and muddle until blackberries are smashed
• Add your muddled creation and remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake until cold.
• Strain into a rocks glass, garnish and enjoy.