Besides all of the cheap bought-in-bulk Halloween candy, you can get your palate in the October mood adult-style by swinging down to Olde Peninsula Brew Pub (200 E. Michigan Ave.) and sip on its famous Pumpkin Ale.
Oberon is to Bell's as Pumpkin Ale is to Olde Peninsula. Vicki Bolen, manager of Olde Peninsula said "Our Pumpkin Ale is by far our most popular seasonal beer," and it's easy to understand why once you taste the pumpkiny-cinnamony goodness of this golden ale. The pub will be filled throughout the month with people who understand how remarkable Olde Peninsula's Pumpkin Ale is. But don't worry if you can't find a seat; you can buy a glass jug to take home with you straight from the tap.
Olde Peninsula also serves up great pub-style food and has plenty of vegetarian dishes. So have some food with your ale and enjoy the old-world pub atmosphere.
If you still need some October flavor but are looking for a more traditional approach, go to Verhage Fruit Farms (8619 West ML Ave.). It's more than just an apple orchard, it's an apple wonderland.
The Verhage Fruit Farms has a cider mill where guests can see how the cider is made. It also sells fresh-baked, homemade doughnuts and has plenty of other attractions like a kids' carnival, hayrides, craft shows, jams, jellies, candy apples, pumpkin patches, and of course, freshly-picked or u-pick apples. This farm has it all, and keeps coming up with creative ways to add more fun. Last time I went, they had a good ole fashion barbershop quartet.
The best part about this farm is the roam-free attitude. The Verhage family has owned this farm for more than 100 years and they've opened it up for everyone to enjoy. Feel free to roam, find a spot on the farm that makes you feel peaceful, and set up an afternoon picnic. The family will be glad to have you.
If local history and ghosts tickle your fancy, the Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tour is back, growing in popularity each year, proving that "nothing ever truly dies."
The Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tour, put on by the Kalamazoo Jaycees, offers creepy glimpses into Kalamazoo's haunted history by guided walking tours of cemeteries, the streets of downtown, and places that have been haunted for ages.
These tours delight and fright attendees, offering little-known facts and a few good myths about the paranormal of Kalamazoo. Not only are the Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours fun for attendees, but ticket proceeds go to Warm Kids Project, Inc. which provides under-privileged Kalamazoo kids with warm coats and hats in preparation for the winter months. Tickets are $7 a night per person or attend three tours for $18 per person. Go to ghostsofkalamazoo.com for more information.
If you prefer a haunted house to haunted history, then go to the Phobia House (921 Portage St.). Voted one of Michigan's best haunted house attractions, Phobia House is more than just a haunted house and offers more than just a scary experience. Whether you have a fear of clowns, spiders, or darkness, the Phobia House will exploit your phobia and add fright to your night.
Its theme for 2009 is "Torment and Torture: 13 Centuries of Pain." Sounds fun! The tour time is approximately 20-30 minutes, depending how long you cower in the corner or how fast you run out of there. The Phobia House costs $15 and a free pair of 3D glasses is included.
