Halloween is Monday October 31, 2011 and like each All Hallows Eve, this one is sure to have unique features. But what about last year. Well, last year at this time a Daily Beast writer ranked the best U.S. trick or treat places, a Psychology Today blog said in candy is good for you and Snooki and Lady Gaga costumes were more prevalent than witches and goblins.
Best City in U.S. to Trick-or-Treat In
Richard Florida created his list of the best places in North America for trick-or-treating by compiling a statistical trick of treat index and studying data from U.S. cities. The index included percentage of kids aged five to 14, median household income (better haul), the share of people who walk to work and greater density of population, Halloween spirit and number of artists and designers in a community.
"The Trick-or-Treater Index covers all 300 plus U.S. metros, and includes both their core cities and suburbs," writes Florida, who backed his reasons for each stat, in The Daily Beast.
The result? Bridgeport-Stamford, Connecticut takes the top spot, then Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. make the top five and Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Milwaukee, Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey, and greater Philadelphia finish off the top 10. He gives a mention to the Canadian city of Toronto as well, though Canadian cities were not part of his stats examination.
Psychology Today and Candy
Kelly McGonigal has a Ph.D. and is a health psychologist at Stanford University. She says that studies have indicated that eating candy is in fact good for you, so Halloween should, in that regard, be welcome. Mind you she does add in moderation, though even eating it daily seems better than not at all.
If you eat candy you're likely to live longer than someone who does not. A Harvard University study found, she said, eating candy one to three times a month provides the best results but that even eating it daily provides better results than not at all. There's more sugar can restores motivation, gum improves mood and reduces stress and chocolate may decrease chance of cardiovascular illnesses.
She provides studies for all which makes it science, folks, so when the kids finally retire to bed on Halloween night know that you have contributed to their health and when you soon thereafter raid their stash you are contributing to yours as well.
Snooki and Lady Gaga as Halloween Costumes
Meanwhile People magazine reports that this year the best-selling costumes are Snooki and other Jersey Shore cast, and Lady Gaga. "Lady Gaga and Jersey Shore have been our top sellers," People magazine quotes an unnamed employee at the novelty store Ricky's in NY. "Of the Shore cast, Snooki has been the top. Everyone is coming in to find black wigs and Bump-Its."
The Vancouver Sun reports that Avatar costumes are selling well in that city along with Lady Gaga costumes. And what will Gaga herself go out as on Halloween? Here at Suite101 we suggest something really radical for her: jeans and a t-shirt.
Sources:
- English News.cn; "Traditional, Modern Halloween Costumes all the Rage in Vancouver," published October 30 2010, accessed same day.
- Florida, Richard, "The Best Cities for Trick or Treating," published October 210, accessed October 30; The Daily Beast.
- McGonigal, Kelly; "The Science of Willpower: The Superpowers of Candy," published October 25, accessed October 30'; Psychology Today.
- Taylor Ciarula, Lesley; "Why Toronto is Better Than U.S. Cities for Trick-or-Treating," published October 28 2010, accessed October 30; The Toronto Star.
- Ward, Michelle; \"'Lady Gaga and Snooki a Top Bestselling Celebrity Costumes," published October 29, accessed following day; People Magazine Online.
