First and foremost I’d like to apologize to my adoring fans for my recent absence on the site. I reluctantly challenged myself to three weeks of sobriety and let me tell you, it was the most boring time of my life. That being said, I’m glad to be back with a bottle of Sam Adams’ Oktoberfest in my hand and ready to talk to you all about getting the most nerdiness out of your Halloween.

Like many folks out there, I find Halloween to be one of the more enjoyable holidays. This is mainly because I considered it a bit of an adult party-esqe type of holiday rather than its costumed-children trick-or-treating appearance. Although Halloween thrives on the spooky thrills, I’ve discovered a few interesting ways to make your holiday into a nerdy Halloween.

For those of you out there with kids of your own who will be forced to go trick-or-treating with your children, there are a few ways to take that mundane night in the neighborhood and turn it into a fun-filled nerd-venture with your kids. For example, instead of chaperoning your kids round the neighborhood door-to-door, why not dress up with them? Do a little family costume-making, maybe dress up the kids as Ninja Turtles then dress yourself up as Shredder or Splinter and the wife as April O’Neill; don’t be afraid to change it up a little bit. Remember, just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to hide that inner-nerd in you; embrace it and have fun with your children.

After the trick-or-treating here’s a little tactic I’ve recently come up with for my friends/siblings that are parents. We all know how kids empty their bags of sugar loot all over the living room floor and inspect their winnings from the night’s festivities. Well, to limit their sugar consumption for the night and any sort of sibling rivalries, I say have the kids duke it out Halloween style. If your kids dressed up as Ninja Turtles have them duke it out with their toy staffs and swords in a winner takes all candy duel (this tactic also works well if the kids dress up as Jedi/Siths or even G.I. Joe/Cobra). Of course, after it gets out of hand (which should be within 2-3 minutes) you can send the kids to bed and take the candy for yourselves. After all, why should you let the kids have all the fun?

After they get riled up, send ‘em to bed!

Now for those of you who do not have kids and cannot partake in the Halloween parties going on round the town perhaps because you have an early shift,  you’re under the weather, whatever your excuse may be, fear not: the Drunken Nerd has some fantastic Halloween ideas you, too can enjoy. Now for starters, if you’re staying in I recommend a horror-movie date night with that special someone. However, you don’t want your date to be interrupted by those pesky trick-or-treaters do you? So, I’ve come up with two options one: you could build a fortified moat in your front yard that is filled with obstacles leading towards that basket of candy at your front door.

However, seeing that moats and booby-traps typically are frowned upon within in most municipality by-laws you’ll have to settle for my second option, welcome the costumed intrusions instead. So, rather than leaving an unprotected basket of candy which will surely be devoured within ten minutes, actually answer your door and greet the trick-or-treaters. Surely, this will give you bonus points with your date and second it presents you with the option to make your holiday a bit more enjoyable and nerdy. When the trick-or-treaters ring your door bell, instead of handing out candy immediately like some push-over, make the costumed hecklers work for their candy by asking them trivia questions of your choice.

The correct answer is, Bane.

Any kid who guesses correctly receives the candy. It is wise to remember Halloween trivia should be treated the same as the lazy-unprotected basket of candy: first come first serve, or better yet, first to answer first to get the candy. So, when the doorbell rings ask them, “Who is the leader of the Rebel Alliance?, What villain appeared in the Batman: Knightfall comic series?, or “What is the name of the first Reaper Commander Shepard destroyed? Of course, if they get any of these questions wrong tell them better luck at the next house kids, shut your door, and go back to enjoying your date.

Lastly, for those who will be participating in Halloween parties by dressing up, drinking, and having fun, my suggestion is make sure you unleash your inner nerd. If there’s any time where being a nerd is cool (outside of conventions and basements) it’s Halloween. So, let loose, design your best War Machine costume and let the drinking begin. Just remember, not all girls like the over-masculine type so it may not be a bad idea to trade the cannons in for a Dr. Who bow-tie.

With all these suggestions I’m dishing out you may ask yourself, how am I spending the holiday? The only way I know how: by dressing up as my favorite comic-book alcoholic, Tony Stark, and doing some Stark-level drinking. Have a Happy (and safe) Halloween everyone!!

Follow on Facebook and Twitter @theDrunkenNerd.

About Neil Strebig

Neil is a journalist student by choice and cook by trade. When he's not busy writing or slaving away in the kitchen, he spends most of his time trying to find the Legion of Doom's hideout. So far no luck, but he did manage to stumble upon Castle Greyskull in the swamps of New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @theDrunkenNerd

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