by Julie D. Andrews
It’s time for the annual Halloween Howl. Go all out: It’s Fido’s trophy on the line!
Last year it was the pug with the mock refrigerator tied to its back – dressed up as a refrigerator magnet – that won the accolades. This year, it could be your dog. You’ve got three days to find the clever costume that might take home the prize.
The ninth annual Halloween Howl at 15-acre Carl Schulz Park, located at End Avenue opposite 88th Street, will take place on Sunday, October 22, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Upper East Side.
| Have a look at last year's Halloween Howl by clicking on the picture below |
Dogs large and small are welcome. Registration costs five dollars per pup and starts at 12:00 p.m.; judging begins at 1:15p.m. Funds raised will support park enhancement projects and park-sponsored community programs.
“The big dogs go first,” says Dave Williams, who has been president of the Carl Schulz Park Association, founded in the 1960s, for eight years. “They’re a little less receptive to being dressed up.”
Three winners will be chosen based on costume originality. Favorite numbers from last years include: A group of pugs dressed up like a court of Henry the VIII; a Chia Pet pug covered with a coat of green leaves (Note: Pugs seem to win big); an astronaut dog riding in his very own spaceship.
Williams will preside over the festivities, accompanied by his little black dog, Jack. They’ll be joined by a cadre of mysterious witches – a panel of ex-fashion-industry pros who, as tradition goes, sip on Bloody Mary’s on a neighborhood terrace before swooping down to the judge’s booth. Williams will be on the microphone, announcing dogs and their owners as they parade past the panel and spectators.
The booty provided by local-business sponsors is not shabby: A $100 dinner certificate to Maz Mezcal, located at 316 E 86th St. between First and Second Avenues; a $50 dinner for two at Sharz Café & Wine Bar, located at 435 E 86th St. between First and York Avenues; a $50 certificate to Flowers by Jo Ann Fellan, located at 1621 First Avenue between East 84th and 85th Streets.
And, owners aren’t the only ones who take home prizes. Gift baskets from Calling All Pets, located at 301 East 76th Street between First and Second Avenues and Canine Styles, located at 830 Lexington Avenue between 63rd & 64th Streets, are sure to be real pet pleasers. And, of course, the three best costumed in show will receive trophies fashioned like canines tied with orange and black ribbons.
Becca Whitin Mitchell, who lives at 86th Street and First Avenue and has been a volunteer with the park association for more than a year, will also be there with her dog Chester, a beagle mix. Last year, Chester appeared as a dinosaur. It’s entirely possible that Chester may show up this year as a favorite type of local transportation.
“This event has really grown over the years. Last year 40 large dogs and 100 small dogs participated in the Howl,” says Williams. Indeed the event grew so large it was moved to the basketball court from the dog run as to accommodate the throngs of spectators.
One Tip: This is no amateur canine costume contest.
Competition is steep and standards are high. If you’re planning to participate with your dog, plan to go all out. “We don’t want any more princesses or bumble bees,” says Williams. “That just doesn’t cut it. It’s too easy to go to Petco and pick up those costumes.” And, be advised, there is also a prize given to the best pet-and-owner matching costume.
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