Chelsea Market Gets Spooky, Political

Posted in Own This City by Amy Plitt on October 30th, 2008

As if there weren?t enough ways to mix your love of politics with your Halloween celebration this year?and I?m not talking about sexy Sarah Palin costumes?Chelsea Market and artist Hugh McMahon give you another in the form of presidentially themed pumpkins (and they?re even bipartisan!). Check them out tomorrow during the market?s Halloween Jam-Boo-Ree, taking place from 2:30 to 5pm. The festivities include trick-of-treating in the market (mmm, Fat Witch brownies?), a costume contest and a performance by Brooklyn rockabilly collective the Defibulators. But the highlight is sure to be McMahon?s live pumpkin carving: His showpiece will be an enormous gourd with the faces of Barack Obama, John McCain and George W. Bush, as well as a ballot box, carved into it. Timely!

McMahon?s Obama and McCain likenesses (above) are on display now at the market, along with pumpkins carved in the image of various Food Network stars. (Can you think of anything scarier than a Paula Deen?face pumpkin? I can?t.)

Chelsea Market Halloween Jam-Boo-Ree, 75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts; Fri 31 2:30?5pm