Good neighborhoods for trick-or-treating?
Sean emails:
I was wondering if your readers could weigh-in with the places they think are the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. Our family had a lot of fun exploring a new neighborhood last year and were hoping to do the same this year.
On a tangent from Sean's question: Candy and costumes get most of the attention for Halloween, but one of the great -- yet probably under appreciated -- things about the holiday is the way neighborhoods become, at least for one night, explicitly open and friendly to people we might not know. There's something heartening about that.
Anyway... got a suggestion for Sean and his family? Please share! A sentence or two about why you're recommending a neighborhood is helpful.
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Comments
Stay in your own neighborhood!!
... said Oswald on Oct 19, 2016 at 2:48 PM | link
Curious about why someone would be so vehement about telling someone to stay in their own neighborhood!
Anyway, dropped in to recommend stopping by Troy Night Out on the Friday preceding Halloween - lots of local businesses hand out candy and there are always a ton of littles (and puppers!) walking around in costume. It's a great time - plus, your kids' costumes can do double duty and stretch trick or treating to 2 nights!
... said s on Oct 19, 2016 at 3:13 PM | link
I live in the Woodlawn neighboorhood in Schenectady by Mohawk commons and there are tons of families trick or treating in our neighborhood. There are a lot of side streets and the houses are pretty close together so you can cover a lot of ground.
... said Sarah on Oct 19, 2016 at 3:23 PM | link
My parents live in West Sand Lake and every year there are hundreds of kids dropped off in their neighborhood for trick or treating. Last year they had 340 kids come to their door, there are 27 kids in their development. They think the kids are cute and fun so it really doesn't bother them.
Personally, we fill our our outdoor jack o'lanterns with heavy rocks and slather them in olive oil. Then we turn off the lights and wait for the pumpkin thieves to come by... IT. IS. HILARIOUS.
Happy Halloween everyone!
... said J on Oct 19, 2016 at 5:23 PM | link
Maybe I shouldn't say it...oh, OK - the Helderberg neighborhood is fabulous for Trick or Treating, maybe too much so. We always see families coming from other parts of Albany by the van load - being dropped off at one end and working their way to the other. Lots of houses in friendly neighborhoods = a packed and good time. It is also rumored that a few adults dress up and roam the streets handing out adult beverages to other adults. Again, just a rumor...
... said James at 46 or so on Oct 20, 2016 at 8:23 AM | link
We live in Old Niskayuna and there are a lot of kids whose parents drop them off in our neighborhood. Last year we had over 150 trick or treaters.
... said Chrissy on Oct 20, 2016 at 8:43 AM | link
I would agree with the notion of "stay in your own neighborhood". If you want to support communities that are conducive to treat-or-treating, live and pay taxes in them! Halloween is a great time to catch up with YOUR neighbors and introduce your kids to them.
That being said, I grew up in the Helderberg/Buckingham Pond area and it is ideal for the Halloween season. Densely-populated and excellent sidewalks and streetlights with fairly little traffic. Altamont is quite nice as well.
... said Sean on Oct 20, 2016 at 10:00 AM | link
I live over by St. Sophia's, between Manning and New Scotland Ave. and I can tell you that part of the neighborhood is dead. I've gotten one or two trick or treaters in the five years I lived there. I wonder if it's because most of the people on my street are elderly and shut their lights off for the night, looking down my street it looks deserted and unfriendly.
... said C on Oct 20, 2016 at 11:52 AM | link
Nights like Halloween are so key to community building and getting to know your neighbors - so the best place is where you live! I have a young toddler and I live in Center Square/Hudson Park. Sure, a busy downtown is maybe not optimal for toddler toting, until you realize that neighbors are accommodating and kind, houses are close together, and I get to meet other moms who are raising kids in the city too! I love it. When my son is old enough to care, I bet he will love it too.
... said Jenna on Oct 20, 2016 at 1:36 PM | link
for those that live in neighborhoods that are not kid-friendly for whatever reason, Albany Law School hosts a "trick or treat street" event indoors where the kids can walk from table to table to collect candy from the students. (probably a little too boring for older kids, but a good option for toddlers and the young kids)
... said jd on Oct 20, 2016 at 6:58 PM | link
I just read an article about something called "the trick-or- treat" test where it turns out the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating also have the best elements of urban design for living in general.
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2016/10/the_trick_or_treat_test_is_amazing_zillow_ruined_it.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/brent-toderian/neighbourhood-trick-or-treat-halloween-community-design_b_2012797.html
... said chrisck on Oct 28, 2016 at 12:53 PM | link
I'm a year late with the comments, but honestly, f*** off with the "stay in your own neighborhood" comments. You honestly think people that visit other neighborhoods do so to scam the candy in a better neighborhood?
The simple fact is that not all of us live in a friendly neighborhood. Not all of us live in a neighborhood that participates in Halloween. Not all of us live in a neighborhood that even has houses close enough to walk to.
What we do have in common is that we both want our kids to have a great Halloween night, interact with other kids, and us adults interact with other adults. Community can be a lot more encompassing than just the people who live in the same 5 blocks.
... said trick or treater on Nov 1, 2017 at 5:21 PM | link