Halloween on Main Street

Downtown shops giving treats to little tricksters
This little airplane was puttering up and down Main Street, diving into stores to fuel up on candy.

This little airplane was puttering up and down Main Street, diving into stores to fuel up on candy.

If you happened to be in downtown Ann Arbor today, well, chances are you were either giving out candy, wearing a Halloween costume or walking past any of the dozens of trick-or-treaters who were exponentially increasing the Main Street area’s cuteness quotient.

The Chronicle was there too, capturing on camera a few of the spooks and spiders roaming the streets with their parents on a glorious autumn afternoon. We also stopped by Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pies, usually known as Arcade Barbers, to check out the amazing Sweeney Todd transformation that was previously noted by one of our Stopped.Watched. correspondents.

While there was less action further away from the Main Street corridor, including side streets like Liberty and Ashley, some other businesses were in the spirit. The Bank of Ann Arbor was giving out cider and donuts, and staffers were dressed in bathrobes and slippers (alluding to one of their slogans for online banking).

But most of the ghoulish fun was closer to Main Street. Here’s a sampling of what we saw:

Doug Price passes out candy to a BatGirl at the West Side Book Shop. Just out of frame is the store's proprietor, Jay Platt, and customer (and long-time local fundraising giant) Joe Fitzsimmons, who came by to drop off a book.

Doug Price passes out candy to Bat Girl at the West Side Book Shop. Just out of frame is the store's proprietor, Jay Platt. Price sells vintage photos in the back of the shop.

Nora Venturelli and Jean Lau, partners with WSG Gallery on Main Street, give out DumDums to a princess.

Nora Venturelli and Jean Lau, partners with WSG Gallery on Main Street, give out DumDums to a princess.

Peri Stone-Palmquist with her son, Soren the chef.

Peri Stone-Palmquist with her son, Soren the chef.

Skeletons made of milk cartons hung from light posts downtown, courtesy of the Main Street Area Association.

Skeletons made of milk cartons hung from light posts downtown, courtesy of the Main Street Area Association.

A transformed Arcade Barbers in Nichols Arcade, with a Sweeney Todd theme.

A transformed Arcade Barbers in Nichels Arcade, with a Sweeney Todd theme.

Constantine Ioannou, a UM student, puts his fears aside as he gets a shave from Sweeney Todd, otherwise known as James Burge.

Constantine Ioannou, a UM student, puts his fears aside as he gets a shave from Sweeney Todd, otherwise known as James Burge of Arcade Barbers.

Pumpkins on a Liberty Street porch, a bit ravaged by squirrels.

Pumpkins on a Liberty Street porch, a bit ravaged by squirrels.

Section: Business, Neighborhoods

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