When was the first Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, who started it, and what was the first one like?
The Halloween parade was started in 1974 as a hay ride by famed puppeteer Ralph Lee (shown above). Lee filled a wagon up with hay, added children, and invited neighbors to walk through the streets of the West Village, before ending up in Washington Square.” The first parade avoided major streets and avenue; today’s parade . . . does not.
You can read more about Lee and the parade’s origins at http://www.downtownexpress.com and at …

For Halloween I am replacing my typical column with a contest announcement. So here’s the deal. Make sure you get a picture of yourself in costume tonight and email it to jpm438@nyu.edu. On Monday I, along with a very skilled advisory board will pick a first, second, and third place winner, along with a last place loser for worst costume. Prizes will be given for those four honors. The prizes will be awesome and of value.
Be safe and have a Happy Halloween.

How about that Obamercial? That was… weird.
*One Thing I Love: Negative McCain Ads by Hollywood Directors*
They’re all great, but specifically the Diablo Cody, Wes Anderson, M. Night Shyamalan are outstanding.

*One Thing I Hate: Phillies *
Only because it was you, and not the Indians.

107 days till spring training.

Day five of sickwatch: Still sick. Improving. But sick.
*One Thing I Love: Tina Fey… Again*
Ms. Fey, aka my future wife, was on Conan last night. It was adorable and hysterical. Just like Fey herself. *Swoon*.

*One Thing I Hate: Act Identification*

Why is it important to know what Act a quote is from on a midterm? I mean, if you can look at a quote and identify who said it, and in what play it was said, then why is it necessary to know it came in Act I Scene IV, rather …

I’m still sick. It’s raining outside. I have a giant midterm in two days. Life is beautiful.
*One Thing I Love: The Obama Show*
Tomorrow night at 8pm, Barack Obama will have a half hour television program on NBC, CBS, FOX, and probably countless cable news channels who want ratings. (ABC initially balked at the bid not wanting to preempt “Pushing Daisies,” by the time they decided to get on board the Obama campaign had allocated the funds for ABC’s ad buy elsewhere). I have no idea what he’s going to say, …

“I got $600 for my scrap gold!”- Today’s blog brought to you by those ridiculous goldkit.com ads.
*One Thing I Love: Don Draper’s Guide to Picking up Women*
In honor of Mad Men’s fantastic season finale last night (the shotgun?!?!?) here is Don Draper’s guide to picking up women. If it works for him. It probably won’t work for you.

*One Thing I Hate: Upper Respiratory Infections*

This is part of the Upper Respiratory Tract. Mine is currently infected. By what? A virus, I’m told. It sucks. My throat is on fire, and …

When was the first Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, who started it, and what was the first one like?
To enter the contest, send an e-mail to uhallfunfacts@gmail.com before 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29. Include the words “Fun Facts Contest 10″ in your subject line. In addition to your answer, your message should include your first and last name and your U-Hall room number.
This week’s prize is a $25 gift card from Virgin Megastore. The winner will be announced here on Friday.
[Photo by Andrew Kane from www.coocoohandler.com.]

PILLOW TALK
BY MEREDITH BAKER