Muse Academy Halloween Ball 2009 — Planning Thread
Let’s try to make the plans for this year’s ball even better than last year’s.
241 thoughts on “Muse Academy Halloween Ball 2009 — Planning Thread”
The local bands are starting to e-mail in their MP3 demos. Remember that folksinger who wanted to perform at the ball last year? This year it’s another young woman named EmilÃana Torrini DavÃðsdóttir. She seems very nice, but her music is too slow and mournful for dancing. I’ve told her no, thanks.
I didn’t ask about that, but her father runs an Italian restaurant on the mainland. Maybe they can help with catering.
There’s a lot of strange Icelandic music nowadays. Have you ever heard of Amiina? They’re interesting and Muselike in their way, but again, not for dancing.
Ooh boy! This will be fun! I’ve never been to one before… How long are they?
GAPAs, I don’t know how much work this would be, but I was thinking, you know how on April Fools day a while ago for the Disney thing you made it play music the whole time? Well, what if you did that for this? It’s just an idea, I have no idea how hard it would be.
I have little preference as to which theme, except that 19th century might be a bit more versatile, as people showing up to a Twilight Zone themed party would no doubt feel inclined to dress Twilight Zoney.
How exactly do these work? You change your name to whatever costume you are wearing, and I guess now your email as well, and then you roleplay being at the dance? I have a fun idea for a costume. *coughcoughSumoWrestlercoughcoughcough* Just kidding. Inside joke.
This sounds like a lot of fun. I look forward to future planning.
Twilight Zone type party would be cool. I think you mean like supernatural, creepy stuff?
If so, then we should have the pumpkin patch be sorta like the island in Lost (I don’t watch it, but everyone else at my school does) and if you go in, you’re unwillingly time traveled.
Argh…I need to think of a costume (in both real life and for here). I like the idea of the 19th century/candlelit thing better than the Twilight zone idea.
And, like SudoRandom said, how exactly do these things work?
Would it be possible to have both themes? One ballroom is the traditional candlelit/19 century theme, and the adjoining ballroom is Twilight Zone themed? And people can dress either way.
About masking avatars: wouldn’t it be cool if we actually did, in the literal sense? If you have more than one email, you could use a different one and put a picture of your mask as your avatar. Or you could do part of your costume or your alter ego name or something.
That would probably work the best. You could just make a new Gravatar name under the same email and use your costume or mask as a picture, then everyone gets unmasked on the last day…er, hour!
By the way, I think my band, the Facetious Ferrets, might be interested in providing some musical entertainment for the ball! We have myself on cello, a guy on the cabasa, a girl on sax and a hamster who plays sitar. And other people are free to bring their instruments up and play! I know, it sounds a bit mishmoshed, but it’s got quite the overall spooky effect.
I like the mask/avatar/alter-ego idea. Except I have to go find last year’s thread to see who I was or I might accidentally repeat it… hmm. I may actually try to post at this one once or twice. I need some relaxing-time.
Hm. No one’s addressed the issue of foodstuffs yet. Obviously there has to be bobbing for apples. And lots of candy. But what about the main courses, so to speak? Obviously it’s a buffet, but there has to be something of substance upon which to munch. The fire wine last year was interesting, so we should definitely have that. That brings up a question: should the drinks be strictly dry? Or should some be akin to the questionable content of butterbeer, of HP fame? (Oh, we should have butterbeer as well.) For some reason I think we should have a roast pig or three. (Yes, Fireh, I want roast pig.) And… Egils Mix. And pumpkin seeds. And candy corn. And apple cider. And hot cocoa. And Bunny Cider. And lots of deliciousness catered by your humble barkeep from the H&H.
Okay, so it’s obvious I’m hungry at the mo’. What should the decorations be like? I suppose that depends on which theme we want: the 1800s, candlelit theme of last year, or a Twilight Zone theme? I would be partial to keeping last year’s formal theme. I suppose a link to last year’s planning thread would be useful here.
I talked to a HP-obsessed friend, who informs me that butterbeer is non-alcoholic, and a drink that can be made in the real world, assuming it exists.(The real world, not butterbeer. I’m a lot more sure that butterbeer is real than I am that the real world is.) Roast pig is a delightful idea… I can picture it crackling on a spit over a raging fire.
Can I raise the idea of puffin puffs? Will it be shot down again?
I think we should have a lot of fire in the decorations. Not just illustrated flames, but lots of candles and a bonfire and things. In the post-Roman, pre-feudal ancient United Kingdom, they’d go and gather rowan wood and build it into a bonfire to keep away the dark things in the world. In fact, I think the only form of lighting at the ball should be fire… and the moon and stars and suchlike. On Halloween itself, the moon will be nearly full, so that’ll be nice. (Yes, I did just go look up the phase of the moon on October 31, 2009.)
All Hallow’s Eve is such a nice time of year.
No, no, I don’t think Butterbeer is entirely non-alcoholic. Harry comments in GOF that it’s “not strong stuff”, implying that it has some alcohol content (this is the UK, afterall, drinking age is younger than in the US), but that the alcohol content is not particularly high. Also, the house-elves can get drunk off of it (true, they’re bodies could be significantly different enough that non-alcoholic beverages could induce drunkenness, but…..I still hold that butterbeer has alcohol, just not a lot).
But, yes, if you surf the web, there are recipes to be found for butterbeer. Do they really taste like what JKR had in mind, or are they just an obsessed fan’s thoughts on the matter? No clue. Supposedly Universal Studios HP theme park when it opens will be offeriing (presumably non-alcholic–hopefully) butterbeer……
This is quite exciting. Does dry mean non-alcoholic? I agree we should definitely have Butterbeer. (Is fire wine alcoholic? *hopes not* *is underage*) Roast pig sounds good, but we need vegetarian options. Hmm… perhaps some sort of pasta salad? I don’t know how much of a main course that would be… I know a delicious recipe for one with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, etc. You probably know it. It’s yum. A menu from last year, with add-ons I thought appropriate:
Food:
Eclairs
Fondue fountain
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Bengal Spice hot tea
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy [including candy corn] ((Quality stuff, not cheap candy you get from a convenience store))
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad? ((This might not be considered… fancy enough, for lack of a better word.))
Treacle Tarts? ((I tried these before when HP7 came out. They were goooood.))
Drink:
Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider ((?))
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
((keep in mind this is a very tentative menu. Items can be added or dropped whenever it is seen fit.))
Oh, what about Puffin Puffs? Or are those only for May Day balls?
Yum, that looks like a good list even though I don’t like pig. (Sorry Piggy!!)
All of the food choices look good to me, but do you consider candy corn to be “quality stuff”? No offense, but if you’re going for quality stuff I wouldn’t do candy corn. It’s just a hunk of sugar. But that’s just me, and who am I to judge? I love pasta salad!! ‘Tis delicious.
As for the drinks, love ’em all! Especially the butterbeer!
Piggy suggested it. And by quality stuff I meant not stuff like snickers, and skittles, and such (as good as they are) I meant stuff like peanut brittle and caramel and saltwater taffy and *drools*
So, I think candy corn is acceptable.
Sparkling cider should be added to the menu. I still have no idea what bunny cider is, maybe it’s similar.
OOH! What about caramel apples?
Hehe, my mom sent me some candy corn the other day in my care package! I’ve not opened it yet, though. It’s Brachs, does that count as the “good stuff”?
I’ve never been to a Halloween Ball before, so I guess this will be a learning experience.
Anyway, it seems like we have a few different themes in mind so far: 1800’s, candlelit, and Twilight Zone. Would it be possible to do a mixture? I mean, could we combine two of them or possibly even three. What do you think?
I don’t have a second email address. I shall have to look in to getting one. Either that, or… Hm. You can’t register at Gravatar under a false email address… I don’t know. I’ll have to experiment. I have an idea that might or might not work, but I’ll be attempting it. Probably on the AE threads.
I’ll have to figure out what my costume is. I’ll probably go back through previous balls to see what’s there.
Additional food suggestions:
Meringues- The dry kind that are about an inch and a half across, not the wet-ish kind that are more like cake.
Kolulourakia- Greek butter cookies with cinnamon. They come in this cute little braid shape. (There’s this nice Greek lady on my block who gives them out to kids every year on Halloween.)
I’ve made meringue mushrooms — the caps and stems are made individually, then the caps are stuffed with crème Chantilly which helps to hold the pieces together. The resulting champignon is then dusted with cocoa. They look amazingly authentic.
They’re like little puffs of whipped cream ut hard, and they sometimes have some kind of powder sprinkled on top. They come in little buckets. THEY ARE SO GOOD.
Ooh, Kolulourakia! My family is part Greek Orthodox, so we make them every year for Easter. Ours look like little snakes. I could probably whip some up, they’re very easy to make and very yummy.
It should be held in one of those old-fashioned ballrooms with big red drapes and indoor balconies and sweeping staircases, like in Romeo and Juliet!!! *glee*
In addition to the theme, what are we going to do on the rooftop this year? I remember we’ve had a garden…and a maze…maybe we should have a haunted house? It might be really fun, especially if everyone pitches in!
Menu
Food Eclairs
Fondue fountain with various fruits for dipping (Pineapple, Bananas, strawberries…)
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad?
Treacle Tarts
Caramel apples
Meringues
Kolulourakia
Spanakopita
Baked pumpkin goods
Scones
Cranberry things
Wild rice
Drink:
Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
Sparkling cider
Items can be removed and added to the menu at any time.
Puffin Puffs! Of course! I forgot!
Please title all foods forgotten from the list “menu foods” so that I can alt+f to find them later, if possible.
I’ll help feed Robert the Puffin Puff as well, so there’ll be three.
Well, that’s all right. We’ll just follow you to New Zealand to feed you the Puffin Puff. Once that’s accomplished, I will take the time to visit Australia on the way back to the Ball.
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Don’t worry. We’ll box some up for you. You can eat them after you get back.
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We could also steal all his food for the flight and replace it with Puffin Puffs.
It started on the 13th last year, but I think it might be nice to have it start earlier this year…I felt like 18 days was a little short. What do other people think?
It’s a pity we can’t have a separate thread for Plan to Feed Robert a Puffin Puff without Robert knowing.
Maybe with all the Greekosity, we could hold the ball in a Greek amphitheater-shaped thing? I think it would be amazing to see the stars as we dance, but other people seem to want to be warm and not freeze their toes off, which is probably a good idea.
And can we have candles floating in water by the banquet table? It works, I have a book that tells you how to do it.
Pumpkin smoothies for food please? And pumpkin-flavored cookies. And pumpkin ice cream. And pumpkin pie. And pumpkin-flavored bagels with pumpkin-flavored cream cheese. Pumpkin soup if you want, though I myself don’t like it much. And pumpkin cake. And pumpkin bread. I’ll eat all of this stuff even if no one else will, so you don’t have to worry about leftover pumpkin food. Pumpkin pumpkin? Pumpkin.
Well, we can send secret messages the same way we did on Studge. Or are the GAPAs too much smarter then the GRIMMS for that to work? They probably are… Never mind, then.
Would that book be something like “The Book of Wizard Craft”? I checked it out once from the library.
Being a rather inconsistent MBer, I am mystified by this Puffin Puff thingy. I know that’s a type of cereal, but I’m still confused.
Yepyep, Book of Wizard Craft. Also gave me the idea for the pumpkin smoothie, though not for the pumpkin other things.
New food: pumpkin spice doughnuts. I saw an article about them in my local paper today.
Hey, I think I have that book! One of the presents i got last year for my week long birthday celebration. One present everyday all week long.
((It was spring break and I was home for the week, and the plan was I was flying back on my b-day, a Sunday, so I wouldn’t be having any sort of celebration that day, so we turned it into a birthday week. of course, as it worked out, I was home on my b-day and didn’t fly back until Tuesday thanks to a certain volcanic eruption, but….I am going off on a tangent, and I should probably just shut up and start thinking about going to bed. ))
We should have a few little nooks in the corners of the ballroom(s); places to take a seat in soft, comfy chairs and take a rest from dancing and enjoy the food. And the nooks must have fireplaces. [toasty]
We should go with the candlelight theme, with this month’s theme being darkness.
I know exactly who I’m going to be….. and you won’t suspect a thing!
*cackles* *dramatic chipmunk*
I know who I’m going to be. But I might clone myself and be two different people, you never know…
Start it on the 8th or 13th. Or the 7th.
We should do it in the same building we used last year.
Or in a Greek amphitheater, which will make it exciting…we need crumbling ruins and mild danger, don’t we?
I mean, we had vampires last year. And psycho ghosts. And people’s future dead selves.
Danger is the Halloween ball’s fun.
Oh, there’s absolutely no “norm” for costumes. See AvalonGirl’s post in 36.1 for the link to last year’s, you’ll see that costumes spanned an incredibly HUGE range.
Heh, okay. Interesting costumes. I think I know what I shall be. No, actually, I don’t. Anyways, I can’t wait! (BTW, Kokonilly, your costume last year was flamablamablous! )
We could combine dancing under the stars with candlelit by having a transparent roof like in Hey Arnold. (Or, because tearing out roofs is expensive, something like the “ocean” effect they do on the ceiling of the Hall of Ocean Life at the Museum of Natural History, only projecting live from a camera outside.)
How about the Great Hall’s ceiling combined with the Ministry windows? That way, you can choose the weather you want.
Of course, I’ve always thought that seeing the rain falling from the sky but not feeling it would be one of the coolest things about that ceiling.
So what have we decided on the date? Are we going to start this week or next week? I would rather like to start this Monday, but maybe that’s too soon.
Reply to all comments concerning the nature of Puffin Puffs: https://musefanpage.com/blog/?p=2029 (comment 32)
Agrrrfishi- I’d love to start as soon as possible, but I assumed we were starting on the 13th. I don’t know if we’re doing that every year, but if we aren’t, I’d like to start this Monday as well.
I was going to be a double costume with someone else, but she kind of abandoned me…we had an awesome costume in mind but then we found out that two other girls had stolen our idea and decided not to do it anymore, so now she’s doing this other costume thingy with someone else I think…argh. Anyway, I guess I should try to plan doing something solo, but I can’t think of what? Maybe something from Greek mythology or Percy Jackson related??
This is probably going to be a duh answer, but how do we finalize any of the plans, such as the theme or the date of when it starts? Is that final decision made by the GAPAs or do we just finally come to a conclusion? It doesn’t seem like anything is going to be set in stone.
It seems like that we’re heading toward classic Halloween, witches, ghosts and ghouls. I think I’ll draw my costume and send it in with a boatload of other stuff I’m planning to send in.
Randomish and off topic question:
Does anyone know if and how people celebrate Halloween in Turkey? because I am going to be in Istanbul during Halloween and I was wonderin what I can do.
Okay, so what is the final decision for the setting? I think that the Great Hall would be the best setting. (Of course assuming that there is a clear sky on Halloween night )
Have you ever posted something without mentioning AJAR? Just a thought. And no, you don’t need to answer that, although I’m sure you will to really tick us all off.
I’m assuming it starts on Tuesday?
Hmm, on Monday I’ll repost the menu, so any foods you want on there post now for me to add them. ((Remember to title them “Menu Foods” so I can alt-f for them, please!))
Oh, I thought you making a reference to that show. In that show, when ever Sonic got tired of waiting for someone else, he would say, “I’m waaaaaaiiiiiiitttttttiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggggggg…….”
That is one of my favorite old-time cartoons.
I’ve decided upon my costume/alias, although I’ve got a dreadfully sneaking (or not so sneaking) suspicion that it will be painfully obvious exactly who I am. Ah, well, whatever.
Ohhhhh. I think I’ve just changed my mind, again. Of course, i still think it’ll probably be equally obvious who I am, but…..Yeah, I do believe I’ve changed my mind.
But now I’m not sure if my second idea is all that good. That is, I just don’t see socializing at the party working too well if I were to stay in character….. *sigh* I suppose that might mean back to plan A. Or……. *gets genius idea* *is a very, very, very twisted individual* Yes, yes, that might just work. I like it. I like it very, very, very much. w00t!
I’m going to be sending mine in, eventually. Once I settle 100% on what it’s going to be. Although, I think my latest idea is going to be my final one, it is just so brilliant.
I will of course still manage to post on Tuesday, if that would be a better date. It just will be a little harder. Piggy- Yup. That does work more than the twelfth.
I think so. I’m going to have to figure out my new Gravatar account, because if I change the Gravatar for my current email, then it will show up in all my other posts and everyone will know who I am. Of course, it doesn’t really matter since you’ll probably know after the first few days. But, it’s still good to keep under wraps for a little while.
Menu
Food Eclairs
Fondue fountain with various fruits for dipping
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad
Treacle Tarts
Caramel apples
Meringues
Kolulourakia
Spanakopita
Baked pumpkin goods
Scones
Cranberry things
Wild rice
Cookies
Stuffing
Puffin Puffs
Drink: Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
Sparkling cider
The local bands are starting to e-mail in their MP3 demos. Remember that folksinger who wanted to perform at the ball last year? This year it’s another young woman named EmilÃana Torrini DavÃðsdóttir. She seems very nice, but her music is too slow and mournful for dancing. I’ve told her no, thanks.
Didn’t she ask about coming in to talk in the LOTR appreciation class sometime?
I didn’t ask about that, but her father runs an Italian restaurant on the mainland. Maybe they can help with catering.
There’s a lot of strange Icelandic music nowadays. Have you ever heard of Amiina? They’re interesting and Muselike in their way, but again, not for dancing.
I have an awesome idea for a costume, but I’m not telling!
I think we should have a ghost hunt, complete with a few supernatural sightings.
Should we go with the same general theme (19th century, candlelit) as last year or do something different?
I’d say we should use the same theme. It was nice. I enjoyed it greatly. But a Twilight Zone theme was suggested as well, and that would also be fun.
Can it be outside?
With a pumpkin patch?
We totally should turn the rooftop garden into a pumpkin patch!
Ooh boy! This will be fun! I’ve never been to one before… How long are they?
GAPAs, I don’t know how much work this would be, but I was thinking, you know how on April Fools day a while ago for the Disney thing you made it play music the whole time? Well, what if you did that for this? It’s just an idea, I have no idea how hard it would be.
I have little preference as to which theme, except that 19th century might be a bit more versatile, as people showing up to a Twilight Zone themed party would no doubt feel inclined to dress Twilight Zoney.
How exactly do these work? You change your name to whatever costume you are wearing, and I guess now your email as well, and then you roleplay being at the dance? I have a fun idea for a costume. *coughcoughSumoWrestlercoughcoughcough* Just kidding. Inside joke.
This sounds like a lot of fun. I look forward to future planning.
Twilight Zone type party would be cool. I think you mean like supernatural, creepy stuff?
If so, then we should have the pumpkin patch be sorta like the island in Lost (I don’t watch it, but everyone else at my school does) and if you go in, you’re unwillingly time traveled.
Yes, creepy, supernatural stuff with a slightly 1950s/60s vibe, like the TV show.
If there’s a sixty’s vibe, can we dress as other important 60’s things?
The decor doesn’t determine who you can dress up as. If you want to be something important from the 60s, go ahead!
Argh…I need to think of a costume (in both real life and for here). I like the idea of the 19th century/candlelit thing better than the Twilight zone idea.
And, like SudoRandom said, how exactly do these things work?
Would it be possible to have both themes? One ballroom is the traditional candlelit/19 century theme, and the adjoining ballroom is Twilight Zone themed? And people can dress either way.
It may get confusing as to who’s in which room.
Does this start at the beginning of October?
Last year’s ball started on the 13th, which seems suitable, not only because then it lasts from 13 to 31.
Like THIS?
I like the 19th century idea. Twilight Zone not so much. If the MDB is formal, shouldn’t the Halloween Ball be formal also?
I like the formal idea!
About masking avatars: wouldn’t it be cool if we actually did, in the literal sense? If you have more than one email, you could use a different one and put a picture of your mask as your avatar. Or you could do part of your costume or your alter ego name or something.
Would you change your name too?
Yes, names and e-mails would be changed.
Of course.
Yes. We did last year. You have an alter ego name that describes your costume.
I wouldn’t know…. *is a newbie*
The entire point of a masquerade ball is that no one knows who you are. People have costumes, and you change your name and email.
Rosequartz- That’s a great idea!
That would probably work the best. You could just make a new Gravatar name under the same email and use your costume or mask as a picture, then everyone gets unmasked on the last day…er, hour!
By the way, I think my band, the Facetious Ferrets, might be interested in providing some musical entertainment for the ball! We have myself on cello, a guy on the cabasa, a girl on sax and a hamster who plays sitar. And other people are free to bring their instruments up and play! I know, it sounds a bit mishmoshed, but it’s got quite the overall spooky effect.
I like the mask/avatar/alter-ego idea. Except I have to go find last year’s thread to see who I was or I might accidentally repeat it… hmm. I may actually try to post at this one once or twice. I need some relaxing-time.
Hm. No one’s addressed the issue of foodstuffs yet. Obviously there has to be bobbing for apples. And lots of candy. But what about the main courses, so to speak? Obviously it’s a buffet, but there has to be something of substance upon which to munch. The fire wine last year was interesting, so we should definitely have that. That brings up a question: should the drinks be strictly dry? Or should some be akin to the questionable content of butterbeer, of HP fame? (Oh, we should have butterbeer as well.) For some reason I think we should have a roast pig or three. (Yes, Fireh, I want roast pig.) And… Egils Mix. And pumpkin seeds. And candy corn. And apple cider. And hot cocoa. And Bunny Cider. And lots of deliciousness catered by your humble barkeep from the H&H.
Okay, so it’s obvious I’m hungry at the mo’. What should the decorations be like? I suppose that depends on which theme we want: the 1800s, candlelit theme of last year, or a Twilight Zone theme? I would be partial to keeping last year’s formal theme. I suppose a link to last year’s planning thread would be useful here.
I talked to a HP-obsessed friend, who informs me that butterbeer is non-alcoholic, and a drink that can be made in the real world, assuming it exists.(The real world, not butterbeer. I’m a lot more sure that butterbeer is real than I am that the real world is.) Roast pig is a delightful idea… I can picture it crackling on a spit over a raging fire.
Can I raise the idea of puffin puffs? Will it be shot down again?
I think we should have a lot of fire in the decorations. Not just illustrated flames, but lots of candles and a bonfire and things. In the post-Roman, pre-feudal ancient United Kingdom, they’d go and gather rowan wood and build it into a bonfire to keep away the dark things in the world. In fact, I think the only form of lighting at the ball should be fire… and the moon and stars and suchlike. On Halloween itself, the moon will be nearly full, so that’ll be nice. (Yes, I did just go look up the phase of the moon on October 31, 2009.)
All Hallow’s Eve is such a nice time of year.
No, no, I don’t think Butterbeer is entirely non-alcoholic. Harry comments in GOF that it’s “not strong stuff”, implying that it has some alcohol content (this is the UK, afterall, drinking age is younger than in the US), but that the alcohol content is not particularly high. Also, the house-elves can get drunk off of it (true, they’re bodies could be significantly different enough that non-alcoholic beverages could induce drunkenness, but…..I still hold that butterbeer has alcohol, just not a lot).
But, yes, if you surf the web, there are recipes to be found for butterbeer. Do they really taste like what JKR had in mind, or are they just an obsessed fan’s thoughts on the matter? No clue. Supposedly Universal Studios HP theme park when it opens will be offeriing (presumably non-alcholic–hopefully) butterbeer……
I sorta picture butterbeer as beer with melted butter in it. Not a pleasing thought
One recipe I have seen online suggests:
1 cup butterscotch schnapps
7 cups cream soda (almost one 2 liter bottle)
it goes on to say that butterscotch flavoring could be used instead, but actually has a higher alcohol content that the schnapps…. *shrug*
I found this one online and it seemed delicious:
Recipe #8
This one has quite a bit of ingredients but not too difficult a process.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups milk
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons hot chocolate powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ounce butterscotch schnapps for adults or butterscotch syrup for kids
Directions:
1. Melt butter and honey together
2. Add milk, sugar, vanilla, and butterscotch schnapps or butterscotch
3. Microwave or heat on stovetop until warm
4. Mix in hot chocolate powder and cinnamon
5. Serve
I’ll have to try that sometime…… *makes mental note*
This is quite exciting. Does dry mean non-alcoholic? I agree we should definitely have Butterbeer. (Is fire wine alcoholic? *hopes not* *is underage*) Roast pig sounds good, but we need vegetarian options. Hmm… perhaps some sort of pasta salad? I don’t know how much of a main course that would be… I know a delicious recipe for one with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, etc. You probably know it. It’s yum. A menu from last year, with add-ons I thought appropriate:
Food:
Eclairs
Fondue fountain
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Bengal Spice hot tea
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy [including candy corn] ((Quality stuff, not cheap candy you get from a convenience store))
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad? ((This might not be considered… fancy enough, for lack of a better word.))
Treacle Tarts? ((I tried these before when HP7 came out. They were goooood.))
Drink:
Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider ((?))
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
((keep in mind this is a very tentative menu. Items can be added or dropped whenever it is seen fit.))
Oh, what about Puffin Puffs? Or are those only for May Day balls?
What about sparklingly cider as well as hot apple cider?
Yum, pasta salad. It’s really good with Italian dressing.
And as for the pigs, I think we should have spiral-sliced ham, Christmas style. With that sweet stuff on the outside.
Tarty Tarts!
Yum, that looks like a good list even though I don’t like pig. (Sorry Piggy!!)
All of the food choices look good to me, but do you consider candy corn to be “quality stuff”? No offense, but if you’re going for quality stuff I wouldn’t do candy corn. It’s just a hunk of sugar. But that’s just me, and who am I to judge? I love pasta salad!! ‘Tis delicious.
As for the drinks, love ’em all! Especially the butterbeer!
Piggy suggested it. And by quality stuff I meant not stuff like snickers, and skittles, and such (as good as they are) I meant stuff like peanut brittle and caramel and saltwater taffy and *drools*
So, I think candy corn is acceptable.
Sparkling cider should be added to the menu. I still have no idea what bunny cider is, maybe it’s similar.
OOH! What about caramel apples?
Alright then, ’tis fine. Saltwater taffy… *drools also*
What is Halloween without candy corn, anyway?
You have a point there. I just don’t consider it to be quality stuff… *drools some more* Can you tell that I’ve had candy on the mind?
Gourmet candy corn served in crystal bowls, then.
(Sure, it tastes like sugar-flavored wax, but still. It’s candy corn. On Halloween.
Or we could have other, flavored candy corns… Anyone else for Lemon Candy Corn?
Absolutely fine, in my opinion. I’ve never even had it.
You’ve NEVER had candy corn?! We’ve gotta get you to this party man!
Nope, never.
Hehe, my mom sent me some candy corn the other day in my care package! I’ve not opened it yet, though. It’s Brachs, does that count as the “good stuff”?
It may not be the most quality candy ever, but I love candycorn. We absolutely must have some.
Bunny cider is hot cranberry juice with seltzer water.
We should also have Hot Pink Bubblies. (See H&H)
With lime seltzer.
XD. Piggy is a cannibal. He is. And he ate a cannibal, too.
He ate a cannibal? I don’t believe I was there for that part of the conversation, Jen…
Ya.
Whaaaaaaaat?!
In LOTF or on MB?
Lord of the Flies? Nooo.
I have a costume already, but I refuse to tell.
Yes, let’s go with the masquerade again… that was uber-fun…
I also have a costume, but I shant tell.
Me, three. But my lips are also sealed.
16: How ironic, you eat pig.
I like the masked idea. We could put a picture of(example) a vampire and your name vampire or more creative bloodsucker.
I’ve never been to a Halloween Ball before, so I guess this will be a learning experience.
Anyway, it seems like we have a few different themes in mind so far: 1800’s, candlelit, and Twilight Zone. Would it be possible to do a mixture? I mean, could we combine two of them or possibly even three. What do you think?
The 1800s theme and the candlelit theme are actually together as one theme. So we have two possible themes.
I don’t have a second email address. I shall have to look in to getting one. Either that, or… Hm. You can’t register at Gravatar under a false email address… I don’t know. I’ll have to experiment. I have an idea that might or might not work, but I’ll be attempting it. Probably on the AE threads.
I’ll have to figure out what my costume is. I’ll probably go back through previous balls to see what’s there.
Just wondering, but do your costumes have to fit in with the theme of the party?
Well, there’s pretty much no theme besides Halloween/Masquerade, so technically it could be anything as long as you wear a mask!
No, they do not.
Additional food suggestions:
Meringues- The dry kind that are about an inch and a half across, not the wet-ish kind that are more like cake.
Kolulourakia- Greek butter cookies with cinnamon. They come in this cute little braid shape. (There’s this nice Greek lady on my block who gives them out to kids every year on Halloween.)
Oh, my mom made meringues in the shape of bones, once, for Halloween! And little chocolate mice…..
I’ve made meringue mushrooms — the caps and stems are made individually, then the caps are stuffed with crème Chantilly which helps to hold the pieces together. The resulting champignon is then dusted with cocoa. They look amazingly authentic.
The kind they sell at Trader Joe’s? THOSE ARE AMAZING.
I think so.
They’re like little puffs of whipped cream ut hard, and they sometimes have some kind of powder sprinkled on top. They come in little buckets. THEY ARE SO GOOD.
Yes, those.
YES! *pumps arm in air*
Ooh, Kolulourakia! My family is part Greek Orthodox, so we make them every year for Easter. Ours look like little snakes. I could probably whip some up, they’re very easy to make and very yummy.
It should be held in one of those old-fashioned ballrooms with big red drapes and indoor balconies and sweeping staircases, like in Romeo and Juliet!!! *glee*
In addition to the theme, what are we going to do on the rooftop this year? I remember we’ve had a garden…and a maze…maybe we should have a haunted house? It might be really fun, especially if everyone pitches in!
Haunted houses would be nice. But we’ve got to have ghosts again this year…
I’m just wondering how well we’ll do the whole avatar thing while masquerading.
For theme, I’m voting for a 1800’s/ candlelight/ gothic sort of atmosphere.
Food: Yum… I’d like to add to the list:
Spanakopita
Pumpkin things (Pie, muffins, cookies, bread, etc.)
Scones
Cranberry things
Hot chocolate
Wild rice
And pasta salad is good, SudoRandom!
24 (Agrrrfishi): I believe there will be a pumpkin patch.
Don’t forget Baklava!
Menu
Food
Eclairs
Fondue fountain with various fruits for dipping (Pineapple, Bananas, strawberries…)
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad?
Treacle Tarts
Caramel apples
Meringues
Kolulourakia
Spanakopita
Baked pumpkin goods
Scones
Cranberry things
Wild rice
Drink:
Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
Sparkling cider
Items can be removed and added to the menu at any time.
What kinds of candy? Droobles, Candy corn, Every Flavor Beans and Fizzing Whizbees, I hope. ;]
Could we have stuffing? I know it’s rather Thanksgivingy, but it also feels like a very Autumn food to me.
I take it there are no Puffin puffs this year.
There will be puffin puffs. There must be.
*turns pale green*
And I’m going you make you eat one, Robert.
But if we see somebody force-feeding Robert a puffin puff, wouldn’t we automatically know it was you?
No, cuz I’ll help Piggy!
Puffin Puffs! Of course! I forgot!
Please title all foods forgotten from the list “menu foods” so that I can alt+f to find them later, if possible.
I’ll help feed Robert the Puffin Puff as well, so there’ll be three.
*remembers that he has urgent business in New Zealand on Halloween*
Well, that’s all right. We’ll just follow you to New Zealand to feed you the Puffin Puff. Once that’s accomplished, I will take the time to visit Australia on the way back to the Ball.
Don’t worry. We’ll box some up for you. You can eat them after you get back.
We could also steal all his food for the flight and replace it with Puffin Puffs.
I like the way you think, Tesseract!
So will I! Or will I?
What are Puffin Puffs? Do I want to know?
Puffin puffs were first served at Muse Academy during the 2008 May Day Ball, where they proved unexpectedly popular.
Oh. I suppose I’ll try one, if they’re at the ball.
Could we have big chocolate chunk cookies? And fudge from the H&H?
With all this Greek food, let’s hope none of the mythological monsters decide to stop in. (Minotaurs are notoriously bad at sharing.)
27–Or Cyclops.
There should be cheese. Lots of it.
I think i’ve decided who I’m going to be for Halloween. Athena. Wisdom. Heh heh. That’s me.
29-I’m gonna be some randome Greek goddess (the website didn’t specify). Probably Athena. Oh yeah.
So, is this a virtual ball or a real one somewhere? Cuz I vote for fudge and a chocolate fountain with cake and stuff to dip in it.
It’s virtual. At least I think it is, I’ve never been to one but all of the posts have pointed to that assumption…
Virtual.
I think I know what I will be! But I’m not telling…
I’ve already drawn my masquerade outfit. I’ll send it in soon.
By the way, what day is the ball going to begin?
The 13th, I believe.
It started on the 13th last year, but I think it might be nice to have it start earlier this year…I felt like 18 days was a little short. What do other people think?
I think we should start it early as well! maybe we can start this Monday? Or would that be too too soon?
That works for me. How does it sound for everyone else?
It’s a pity we can’t have a separate thread for Plan to Feed Robert a Puffin Puff without Robert knowing.
Maybe with all the Greekosity, we could hold the ball in a Greek amphitheater-shaped thing? I think it would be amazing to see the stars as we dance, but other people seem to want to be warm and not freeze their toes off, which is probably a good idea.
And can we have candles floating in water by the banquet table? It works, I have a book that tells you how to do it.
Pumpkin smoothies for food please? And pumpkin-flavored cookies. And pumpkin ice cream. And pumpkin pie. And pumpkin-flavored bagels with pumpkin-flavored cream cheese. Pumpkin soup if you want, though I myself don’t like it much. And pumpkin cake. And pumpkin bread. I’ll eat all of this stuff even if no one else will, so you don’t have to worry about leftover pumpkin food. Pumpkin pumpkin? Pumpkin.
Well, we can send secret messages the same way we did on Studge. Or are the GAPAs too much smarter then the GRIMMS for that to work? They probably are… Never mind, then.
Oh, I love the Amphitheater idea! Maybe we could have plenty of fires to keep us warm?
Would that book be something like “The Book of Wizard Craft”? I checked it out once from the library.
Being a rather inconsistent MBer, I am mystified by this Puffin Puff thingy. I know that’s a type of cereal, but I’m still confused.
It isn’t, actually. I’m not quite sure what they are, but I think they’re similar to cream puffs, only made with puffins.
Oooh, I’ve read that, too! Great book.
Yepyep, Book of Wizard Craft. Also gave me the idea for the pumpkin smoothie, though not for the pumpkin other things.
New food: pumpkin spice doughnuts. I saw an article about them in my local paper today.
Hey, I think I have that book! One of the presents i got last year for my week long birthday celebration. One present everyday all week long.
((It was spring break and I was home for the week, and the plan was I was flying back on my b-day, a Sunday, so I wouldn’t be having any sort of celebration that day, so we turned it into a birthday week. of course, as it worked out, I was home on my b-day and didn’t fly back until Tuesday thanks to a certain volcanic eruption, but….I am going off on a tangent, and I should probably just shut up and start thinking about going to bed.
))
Now I know I’ve been spending too much time buried in graphics software — I read “presets” instead of “presents.”
We should have a few little nooks in the corners of the ballroom(s); places to take a seat in soft, comfy chairs and take a rest from dancing and enjoy the food. And the nooks must have fireplaces. [toasty]
We should go with the candlelight theme, with this month’s theme being darkness.
I know exactly who I’m going to be….. and you won’t suspect a thing!
*cackles* *dramatic chipmunk*
I like the candlelight theme. It would be mysterious…
I know who I’m going to be. But I might clone myself and be two different people, you never know…
Start it on the 8th or 13th. Or the 7th.
We should do it in the same building we used last year.
Or in a Greek amphitheater, which will make it exciting…we need crumbling ruins and mild danger, don’t we?
I mean, we had vampires last year. And psycho ghosts. And people’s future dead selves.
Danger is the Halloween ball’s fun.
I would have said mystery, but danger works, too.
I’m new to Halloween Balls. What are they like? This one will be my first. *feels neophyte-ish*
https://musefanpage.com/blog/?p=1512
That was last year’s. There was a rooftop garden, but it’s not important.
Ah, wonderful. Thanks.
I’m still not sure as to what is the normal thing to dress up as for this.
Whatever you would dress up as for Halloween, or would like to dress up as for Halloween but can’t because of practicality.
Oh, there’s absolutely no “norm” for costumes. See AvalonGirl’s post in 36.1 for the link to last year’s, you’ll see that costumes spanned an incredibly HUGE range.
Heh, okay. Interesting costumes. I think I know what I shall be. No, actually, I don’t. Anyways, I can’t wait! (BTW, Kokonilly, your costume last year was flamablamablous!
)
I like the Greek amphitheater idea.
Do you have to be a paleophyte to participate?
(39) Not at all. All MBers are automatically enrolled at Muse Academy if they want to be.
Okay, just checking.
That’s a very convenient way to handle things!
We could combine dancing under the stars with candlelit by having a transparent roof like in Hey Arnold. (Or, because tearing out roofs is expensive, something like the “ocean” effect they do on the ceiling of the Hall of Ocean Life at the Museum of Natural History, only projecting live from a camera outside.)
Or something like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. That would cover both stars and candlelight.
How about the Great Hall’s ceiling combined with the Ministry windows? That way, you can choose the weather you want.
Of course, I’ve always thought that seeing the rain falling from the sky but not feeling it would be one of the coolest things about that ceiling.
Yes, that would work…..Of course, if it’s a clear night that night, the regular ceiling works just fine.
And that would be pretty cool, too, if the ceiling were raining, but you couldn’t feel it.
That’s a really good idea! I like it! Very Halloween appropriate, lots of space, and mysterious at the same time…
So what have we decided on the date? Are we going to start this week or next week? I would rather like to start this Monday, but maybe that’s too soon.
Reply to all comments concerning the nature of Puffin Puffs: https://musefanpage.com/blog/?p=2029 (comment 32)
Agrrrfishi- I’d love to start as soon as possible, but I assumed we were starting on the 13th. I don’t know if we’re doing that every year, but if we aren’t, I’d like to start this Monday as well.
Ha ha! I have finally come up with an idea for a costume! (And for real life, too.) I shall start drawing it soon.
I was going to be a double costume with someone else, but she kind of abandoned me…we had an awesome costume in mind but then we found out that two other girls had stolen our idea and decided not to do it anymore, so now she’s doing this other costume thingy with someone else I think…argh. Anyway, I guess I should try to plan doing something solo, but I can’t think of what? Maybe something from Greek mythology or Percy Jackson related??
Some girl who won a Muse costume contest a few years back had a great Medusa costume, you could always do something like that if you like mythology.
Ooh! Thank you, now I’ve got an idea for my costume…
*laughs viciously*
Except you don’t want people to know who you are…
Actually, I’ve already changed it …
I’ve already drawn my costume. I shall send it in soon!
This is probably going to be a duh answer, but how do we finalize any of the plans, such as the theme or the date of when it starts? Is that final decision made by the GAPAs or do we just finally come to a conclusion? It doesn’t seem like anything is going to be set in stone.
It seems like that we’re heading toward classic Halloween, witches, ghosts and ghouls. I think I’ll draw my costume and send it in with a boatload of other stuff I’m planning to send in.
I think I have an idea for a costume, but I don’t know… I certainly couldn’t draw one.
Why wait? Start the ball now!
Hmmm *thinks of highly impractical costume* yes…
I second that motion!
Third!
Fourth!
Are costumes required to obey the laws of physics?
As the eponym of MA’s physical-science house, I’d say that the costumes of Coontz House students, at least, must respect the laws of physics.
Then I suppose Lasley House costumes should obey the laws of
chaosart.Do I have to know if I’m in Lasley House, Coontz House, etc.?
Of course not. It’s possible you’re better off not knowing…
Okay, good.
P.S.Originally I typed “god” instead of good.
And Spector the laws of Story Telling
Baker the laws of…. What laws does Baker follow? Randomness?
Historical accuracy, perhaps.
this is gonna be great.
SFTDP. Sorry for bad punctuation.
Are there any rules as to what kinds of costumes are allowed?
Fully clothed and G-Rated (Or PG, or PG-13)
I know what mine is going to be. I’ve already drawn it.
Is sending in a drawing required?
Nope.
Randomish and off topic question:
Does anyone know if and how people celebrate Halloween in Turkey? because I am going to be in Istanbul during Halloween and I was wonderin what I can do.
I assume expats and travelers do, but I don’t know about locals.
I’ve got a great idea for a costume!
I’ve never seen a planning thread go vacant so close to a ball.
I guess I’ve run out of ideas! Tomorrow, I think I’ll be able to make a summary of the theme/food etc.
Wouldn’t it be cool to do it Gothic Cathedral style? With all the old monster myths, and maybe even an outdoor section for dancing under the stars?
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
YES.
Are there any restrictions WHATSOEVER that I haven’t already mentioned?
Something in the way you phrased that question makes me think we’d better ask you what you have in mind.
Okay, so what is the final decision for the setting? I think that the Great Hall would be the best setting. (Of course assuming that there is a clear sky on Halloween night
)
If there’s not, we can borrow some planetarium tech and do a jerry-rig. I vote yes.
What is the email address again? Where I can send my costume sketch? Is it still gapa @ musefanpage.com?
Yep, gapa @ musefanpage.com is correct.
A Halloween ball? Balls aren’t really my thing, but I’m sure I’ll do this…
I might join, just as long as AJAR isn’t there. It looks like he ruined last year’s ball, as well as this year’s may-day ball.
Have you ever posted something without mentioning AJAR? Just a thought. And no, you don’t need to answer that, although I’m sure you will to really tick us all off.
I’m assuming it starts on Tuesday?
Hmm, on Monday I’ll repost the menu, so any foods you want on there post now for me to add them. ((Remember to title them “Menu Foods” so I can alt-f for them, please!))
Is Paul Baker going to be there?
Maybe.
I think I’ll send in my dress soon.
Ok, I sent in my dress. ^_^
I hope everyone likes it.
I just sent my dress in, which completely blows my cover, but yes, I sent it in. Can’t wait until Monday! *lurks*
Does our outfit have to be a dress, or can it be a Halloween costume?
Oh, you definitely have to wear a dress, I-Man. But everybody else can wear whatever they want, be it dress or Halloween costume.
It’s whatever you want it to be, within reason.
Excuse me, Piggy, but I have decided he must wear a dress. It would be much appreciated if you would back me up on this.
=P
Yes Piggy Dresses are required for all who reference porcine creatures in their names.
… wait what?
May we start it on Monday? Weekdays are hard for me to post on due to homework, but I have Monday off.
I’m waaaaaaiiiiiiitttttttiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggggggg…….
LOL, “AoStH” reference for the win!
Snooping as usual, I see.
Huh?
Based upon a google search, AoStH would appear to stand for Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
No clue if that helps.
It doesn’t.
Oh, I thought you making a reference to that show. In that show, when ever Sonic got tired of waiting for someone else, he would say, “I’m waaaaaaiiiiiiitttttttiiiiiinnnnnnnnnggggggggg…….”
That is one of my favorite old-time cartoons.
I’ve decided upon my costume/alias, although I’ve got a dreadfully sneaking (or not so sneaking) suspicion that it will be painfully obvious exactly who I am. Ah, well, whatever.
Ohhhhh. I think I’ve just changed my mind, again. Of course, i still think it’ll probably be equally obvious who I am, but…..Yeah, I do believe I’ve changed my mind.
But now I’m not sure if my second idea is all that good. That is, I just don’t see socializing at the party working too well if I were to stay in character….. *sigh* I suppose that might mean back to plan A. Or……. *gets genius idea* *is a very, very, very twisted individual* Yes, yes, that might just work. I like it. I like it very, very, very much. w00t!
I’ve got my costume and alias as well, and have sent something to the GAPAs.
We must send something? Huh?
Only if you want to send in a full picture of your costume.
I’m going to be sending mine in, eventually. Once I settle 100% on what it’s going to be. Although, I think my latest idea is going to be my final one, it is just so brilliant.
I’m sure many MBers will be pleased with my costume!
Let’s get this party started! I can’t wait for the ball!
I second Fishy’s motion to start the ball tomorrow, if no one else has.
I third that motion!
I fourth that motion.
People: Halloween Ball. October 13th. It just works. Tuesday, I say.
I will of course still manage to post on Tuesday, if that would be a better date. It just will be a little harder. Piggy- Yup. That does work more than the twelfth.
Have we settled on a final theme yet?
19th century candlelit with starry ceiling and pumpkin patch in the Rooftop Garden.
Okay, I also sent my alias. ^_^
Shall we be masked?
YES!!!!
I can’t wait for the ball to start!
Are we go for tomorrow?
I think so. I’m going to have to figure out my new Gravatar account, because if I change the Gravatar for my current email, then it will show up in all my other posts and everyone will know who I am. Of course, it doesn’t really matter since you’ll probably know after the first few days. But, it’s still good to keep under wraps for a little while.
Tell me if you figure out how to do that.
Menu
Food
Eclairs
Fondue fountain with various fruits for dipping
Pumpkin tarts/pies
Apple tarts/pies
Bombe
Wung Buttons
Roast Pig
Bobbing Apples
Candy
Pumpkin seeds
Pasta salad
Treacle Tarts
Caramel apples
Meringues
Kolulourakia
Spanakopita
Baked pumpkin goods
Scones
Cranberry things
Wild rice
Cookies
Stuffing
Puffin Puffs
Drink:
Hot apple cider
Bengal Spice hot tea (very spicy and sweet)
Limeade
Lattes
Hot Chocolate
Bunny Cider
Egils mix
Butterbeer
Fire wine?
Sparkling cider