Daily Loaf

Miss Destructo: Zombie Hunter

When you think of Orlando, you may think of Mickey Mouse and the tourist-filled, neon-lit strip of International Drive.  However, now all I see is Mickey’s zombiefied clone terrorizing tourists and International Drive becoming a twisted nightmare of ghoulish zombies … oh and Jake Busey.

My family has some strange traditions. For the last three years, we’ve packed up the whole crew to  go to Orlando for the horror-themed convention Spooky Empire (formerly known as Screamfest).  It’s a three-day-long event full of celebrity panels, vendors selling gory goods and infamously wild late night pool parties. Read more about Spooky Empire and watch the video after the jump…. Read the rest of this entry »

Deadite Empire stages another living dead event: ZOMBIE, A Dead Man’s Party. Locals are invited to dress up and take part in costume showcases, with bar tab prizes for the “Best Couple,” “Most Original,” and “Best Overall” costumes. Zombie costumes earn a free drink at the bar. 5-7 happy hour, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. party, The Ritz Ybor, free admission.

St. Petersburg’s Physiques by Damon Reio stages a “Halloween Pump’-kin Bootcamp Extravaganza,” a charity work out with the central piece of equipment a pumpkin. Participants should bring a pumpkin as their “ticket” through the door and are encouraged to dress in costumes and bring their favorite healthy versions of fall recipes. Physiques will be accepting donations for the Susan G. Komen Florida Suncoast Affilliate. For more information, call 727-320-7952. 6 p.m., North Shore Park Beach, St. Petersburg.

Avenue Cellars stages “Vampire Lair” Halloween wine tasting parties featuring wines from all over the world, vampires wine experts who guide guests through more than 120 wine, cheese and chocolate pairings in a haunted lounge, and on Halloween, a costume contest. 6 p.m. Oct. 30-31, Avenue Cellars Wine Merchant & Lounge.

Colorado’s twangy Drag The River plays a gig at New World Brewery. Raging country rockers Two Cow Garage of Ohio, and locals Nessie and Brahm Bones provide support, and singer-songwriter David Dondero plays an early-evening solo set to kick things off. 6:30 p.m., New World Brewery, $8.

Johnny Vitale hosts The Monsters of Art Show, a single night party with live music by Zombie Dragstrip Hookers and Funeral Daizies, Monster Mash-Ups by Suess, a “Best Monster Costume Contest,” and Halloween-themed art. 9 p.m., The Garage Bar, St. Petersburg.