• by Kelly Samardak , October 25, 2010

The 20th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, Tompkins Dog Run, New York
October 22, 2010

When I checked my gmail Friday night to find a forward from Alyssa Galella of M Booth & Associates containing the details of the Tompkins Square dog run's annual Halloween Dog Parade, I knew two things immediately: 1, Alyssa is not only a hard-working PR type, but is, was and always will be my #1 resource for cuteness alerts, events, and news. And 2, my head was about to explode.

I happened to have my 16-year-old niece Chloe in for the weekend, but I'm not going to pretend the Halloween Dog Parade was a young gal entertainment goal.  It was 100% in perfect alignment with my dog coveting needs.  As soon as I read that little Gothamist snippet, I knew it was going to be the greatest Saturday of all time.  Seriously.   Dogs in costume.  Weiner dogs, Frenchies, big gruff bulldogs, smiley golden retrievers, and mutts in their quirky glory.  IN COSTUME.

I arrived to the sound of giddy yips and yaps.  I nearly tripped over a Chihuahua as I tracked the happy four-legged sounds.  And the first thing I saw was a mini greyhound duo dressed up as a Kit-Kat bar.  An un-costumed Boston terrier rolled his eyes as if to say "Gimme a break."

I ran into Alyssa, whose eyes probably mirrored mine: wide-open, soaking in all the ridiculous cuteness.  "Did you see Scarlett O'Hara?" she oozed excitedly.  "Scarlett O'Hara!?" I barked.  She went on to describe a pug in full ball gown being wheeled around the park.  I eventually found the pug, lolling in its costume with its tongue blopping out, spindly legs jutting over the infamous curtain gown of Gone With The Wind fame. 

Space was becoming sparce in the area surrounding the dog run and I heard a gravelly voice pitching $5 tickets.  In my head I thought, "There is no way David Factor is going to go for paying to enter a dog run," but much like the miracle of dogs in butter costumes, Factor forked over the cash without a fight and we were in!

A drag queen introduced onto the puppy red carpet (next year they should rename it "The Yellow Carpet") dogs like "Lady Gaga" and "Breakfast At Tiffany's" at the far end, while a CBS news camera scanned the gate-separated watchers.  Ladybugs, spiders, punk rock kids, pumpkins, cows (cows!!), Cleopatra, and a lobster in a pot are only a few of the sweetest costumes that sent me into the adorableness stratosphere.

I left in time to play with the menacing Omar,  who was watching the ticket line with his owner who, upon seeing Omar lick the hell out of my face said, "Omar, what the !@#%?" I also caught Monster, the biggest, most brutish, most slobbery, most "really, people? Stop staring" bulldog of them all in his killer Orca outfit.  I left too early, though, and missed a dog dressed as Antoine Dodson of "Hide Yo Kids" fame.

This is why I love living in the East Village (or whatever neighborhood name you want to argue, I don't care) and in Manhattan in general. People love their dogs, and the city loves responsible (pick up that poop!), loving, maybe a little crazy, dog owners.  I would like to propose that every weekend be doggy-dress-up days, because I'd venture to say depression levels in this looming long grey winter town would take a major hit.  I left that park high as a kite on wagging tails and grouchy dog mugs, my face aching from smiling and my knees throbbing from getting low for that tongue-dangling photo opp.  My knees were also a little moist, but let's not talk about that.

This week hopefully won't include (as much) butt-sniffing, but it's definitely as packed if not more so than the Tompkins Square Park dog run. So get ready for a serious dose of Just An Online Minute, including a Perez Hilton party (with Sandra Bernhard performing!), a Halloween party from those party animals at VWORD, a Glenfiddich Yacht Party, dinner at Soho House, a skiing breakfast event, lunch celebrating Women On Top, and maybe a few surprises -- like, perhaps, a liver transplant. 

Adorable photos are over here.