Since the Celts in ancient Britain rowdily paraded around their villages to frighten away spirits in search of a body to possess, many adults have looked on Halloween night as an excuse to get drunk and become a little pagan.
Around 2,500 years later it won't be much different around town in Taipei tonight, as bars and clubs tempt the population with special events and cut-price drinks to get you into the spirit of things.
Dressing up like a ghoul could even pay off this year as there are cash prizes and tickets to the Rolling Stones concert in Hong Kong next month, free entrance to bars and clubs, cheap booze and much, much more for the most fiendishly clever fancy dressers.
Sofa
Starting things off in a mellow way is Sofa which "could be doing something special, but we're not sure." Relax for an early drink anyway. It's open from 2pm, at 1F, 56, Ln 161, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei (
Roxy Jr Cafe
The nice lady who was asked if Roxy ill host anything special Halloween night said: "Yes, we have drink specials on Heineken and special tequila two-for-one." There will also likely be a festive spirit brewing in the park in front of the bar, with the spillover from Roxy, Underworld and the NTU and Shida student crowd mingling with Heinekens from the 7-11 across the street.
At 1, Ln 80, Shida Rd, Taipei (
The Tavern
Owner Michel Blanc has been putting his characteristic energy and flamboyance into another Halloween production of "immense fun, you have to come and have a look."
There will be human blood punch ("a bloody Mary, more or less"), a barbecue for NT$250 per person. Two VIP tickets worth NT$10,000 each for the Rolling Stones concert in Hong Kong on Sunday, Nov. 8 will be awarded to the two best and most original costumes. It all starts around 7pm and goes on until late.
At 5, Ln 380, Jilong Rd, Sec 1, Taipei 台北市基隆路一段380巷5號. Call (02) 8780 0892.
Citizen Cain
There are discounted drinks all night long into All Sants Day, with specials on Corona and Erdinger at NT$100 each. There's a costume contest at midnight with prizes such as bottles of liquor, tickets to LUXY and dinner vouchers. There are also free drinks for costume wearers who dare to drink the ghoul punch lying down on the bar and chugging.
At 67 Dongfeng St, Taipei
Dan Ryan's
There is plenty going on at Dan Ryan's with two-for-one Miller beer and three Halloween contests that could have just one winner. Dan Ryan's is teaming up with The Brass Monkey and Carnegie's, to offer a shuttle bus service doing a loop between the three bars from 9:30pm onward. There are also time-delayed costume contests. Dan Ryan's will hold its competition at 11:30pm and the winner gets NT$3,000. The Brass Monkey event is on at 1am and first prize is NT$5,000. Carnegie's holds its contest at 2:30am and NT$10,000 goes to the most inventively suggestive Hallows Night costume. If you go on the shuttle bus you can get into the three participating bars without paying or queuing.
At 8 Dunhua N Road, Taipei (
DV8
The nice lady said, "We've got a happy hour, but nothing special."
233 Jinhua St, Taipei (
Carnegie's
Dress like a ghoul and get a drink on the house. The drinking and dancing start around 10pm and end when the spirit has run out. Check out music from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (See Dan Ryan's).
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