Trick or Treat

Halloween is coming!

My All Hallows Eve weekend festivities include carving pumpkins with Katie and Jenna, watching "The Omen", "Young Frankenstein" and, if all goes well, the pilot episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel"; both of which were rerun on the last day of airings on the WB. God bless my DVR.

On Sunday we will make our way over to James's Gate in Jamaica Plain for adult beverages before we walk over to Jamaica Pond for The Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade. The Lantern Walk occurs annually on the last Sunday in October. People gather for a peaceful walk around the pond with lit candle lanterns. The parade has been a neighborhood celebration since the early 1980s. Since we started going in 1999 the crowd has greatly multiplied and there is now a band, fresh pressed cider, politicians, kids and many dogs making their way around the pond. As you cross the pond it is really a beautiful sight to look back across the water and see thousands of candles wind their way along the path through the trees and brush.

Of course, on Halloween night while Jenna is out terrorizing unsuspecting locals in Scituate, Katie and I will dress up in costumes, sit on our front porch and hand out candy to all of the little (and some not so little) kids that will make their way up our stairs. This years outfit is still unknown. I may be forced to break out my "Star Trek - The Next Generation" uniform. You have been warned.

Happy Halloween!

MAH BITCHES!

Check it! This is how we do it in MY neighborhood!

Bring It!

Fame. Ain't it a Beeyotch?

I'm sure that all of you remember The Horta from the "Star Trek" episode The Devil in the Dark.

But do you know the true story behind one of Star Trek's most memorable guest stars?

"E True Hollywood Story - The Horta" *

Few people realize that although the Horta was represented by the William Morris agency for many years, they were able to cast the Horta in only a smattering of forgettable projects following its "Star Trek" appearance.

The Horta tested for the new landlord role on "Three's Company", between Mr. Roper and Mr. Furley. An altercation, which the remaining cast members claim Sommers provoked, left "Chrissy" with a patch of burned scalp and Horta working the streets again. Even projects expressly written for Horta were ultimately put into turnaround, or left in development hell. "From Horta Eternity" remains one of the great screenplays never produced.

Horta got one last reprieve by Mel Brooks, starring as "Pizza The Hut" in his warmly received "Spaceballs". However, sadly, though Horta was on the shortlist for reprieving the role of Pizza for "Spaceballs: The Broadway Musical", the would be star suffered a major Hortattack and passed away September 2, 2006.

Horta was laid out for a public viewing in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, but ate through her casket and into a mausoleum beneath the cathedral floor.

* This piece of entertainment news was sent to Improbable Bostonian Headquarters by intrepid young papparazzi / journalist Dave Flanagan - aka "The Sock".