Like most Pacific Northwest women in my general age bracket, I adore the autumn season. Scarves, hats, boots, pumpkin-flavored everything, falling leaves and Halloween! I always buy the kids' costumes a size too big so I can bundle them up underneath, and they look like wee puffy marshmallow monsters terrorizing the streets of Tacoma. Naturally, as with any holiday season, I also enjoy the concept of eating in celebration of said holiday season. Halloween tends to focus on the little ones in your family, as they knock on neighboring houses' doors demanding sweet treats and candy bars, but there are also some establishments around town concocting special Halloween-y-esque eats and drinks.
Puyallup River Alehouse (120 S. Meridian, Puyallup) is doing it big on Halloween with a Halloween Pumpkin Beer Party! What does that mean? A poo-ton of pumpkin brews for $4 a pint. I mean ... seriously, so many pumpkin brews. The lineup preview includes: Jack O' Lahar; Black Pumpkin Saison; Gourdy Wow!; Elysian's pumpkin series such as Dark O' the Moon, The Great Pumpkin, Punkaccino and Night Owl; Doc's Draft Hard Pumpkin Cider; Dogfish Head Punkin and Bainbridge Island Pumpkin and MORE. Is there more? I guess ya'll will find out.
Steel Creek (1114 Broadway, Tacoma) is celebrating with an epic costume contest with a total of $1,000 in cash prizes to be scored for those who come costumed, including "best overall" and "best group/couple." These shenanigans will include the usual happy hour and drink wheel, meaning drink specials every 30 minutes. Will this include some Halloweenesque flavors? Throw on your Ghost of Jesse James costume and find out, partner. DJs will spin country and rock.
Proctor Frozen Yogurt (2510 N. Proctor St., Tacoma) is serving up delightful treats for the whole family with autumn-inspired flavors, such as salted caramel corn, pumpkin and soon candy corn! Who needs to trick or treat when you can just visit Proctor Fro Yo and scoop your way through your favorites.
The Social Bar and Grill (1715 Dock St., Tacoma) is serving up a fun sipper called the Drunk'n Punkin'. This delicious drink involves Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and a housemade pumpkin hot buttered rum mixture topped with whipped cream. Holy wow, it's all kinds of delicious and means that The Social is well equipped to fulfill pumpkin hankerings, especially when you pair this cocktail with its pumpkin soup, which, I would like to add should be credited to Kip Gigliotti.
If that isn't enough to quench the ghouls and goblins in you, you can always reference my Pumpkin Tacoma story for delightful pumpkin recipes from local chefs that you can find in their restaurants. Or try your ninja-like skills in the kitchen and make them yourself to nosh upon while waiting for those pesky trick or treaters.