Night & Day Events

1 Monday
As we settle into the month of October, we need to get serious about Halloween costume ideas. But it's sometimes hard to stop imagining repeat performances of successful past costumes or those we've admired on others. The bearded woman is an easy, clever costume, but it's already been done. Same with the postman with stuffed dogs attached to his uniform. And trying to imitate the dead tourist (with twigs and leaves in matted hair, a muddy Hawaiian shirt, blue and green face make-up and a picnic basket) would be such a clear case of plagiarism it's not even an option. Gypsies and French maids are obvious excuses to walk around half naked, so if those are your ideas, you might as well dress up as a flasher and save the effort. Perhaps a trip to one of the city's many haunted houses might help create the right atmosphere for thinking about being creepy. Most now are open nightly starting at 7:30. If David Lynch characters are up your alley, a trip to the Main Street Morgue, 1325 Main, could be worthwhile; the checkered room in Fire Walk With Me, complete with velvet curtains and passageways that lead right back to the same room, is one of the last trials to pass before being dumped back onto the street by a full-story slide. This torture costs $10. For more information, call 816-472-6768. For information on other haunted houses, check the calendar listings on the next page.

2 Tuesday
Although there's been some question about the opening date, managers at the Rio say that by tonight, Apocalypse Now Redux should be showing at their theater (7204 West 80th Street in Overland Park). This version of the Vietnam War classic starring Martin Sheen includes material that had been cut for the 1979 release; added footage includes a scene on a French plantation and sex scene with strippers. All in all, the movie turns out to be about 45 minutes longer. If you miss this ... the horror! For show times or more information, call 913-383-8500.

3 Wednesday
Parlay's Ernie Locke has left Kansas City. That means last Halloween season's weekly Gore-B-Q, which entertained the Pub's regulars with a combination of horror movies and barbecue, won't be repeating this year. But The Pub has replaced those oozing sessions of thick red blood on the screen and thick red sauce on the plate with a weekly kung fu night. Now the kitchen serves up noodle dishes while showing kung fu flicks on the television monitors behind the bar. Essentially, the philosophy is the same: Mix violence and food, and for some strange reason, people love it. The Pub is at 1727 McGee. For more information, call 816-421-1634.