A far cry from trick-or-treaters who roam the streets dressed as monsters and princesses (or more likely, the latest pop sensations), Halloween for adults means costumes of the hilarious, political, absurd, and the increasingly skin-baringly sexy. It's a chance, I suppose, to be someone else for an evening. So throw on a mask or stitch together some elaborate throwback costume, and get ready to act up and out at one of the many local nightlife spots hosting Halloween-themed parties. And if you wouldn't be caught dead wearing a costume, well, just sit back and laugh at the rest of us.
Abilene Bar & Lounge (153 Liberty Pole Way, 232-3230, abilenebarandlounge.com) Fri Oct 31. Halloween Bash w/Park Ave Band. 8 p.m. Free.
The Bay Bar & Grill (372 Manitou Rd, Hilton, 392-7700) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Bash w/Taran; costume contest, reservations recommended. 10 p.m. Free.
Blackfriars Theatre (28 Lawn St, blackfriars.org) Oct 31: Halloween performance of thriller "The Pillowman." 10 p.m. $8.
Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave, 454-2966, bugjar.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween show w/40 Rod Lightning, The Lobster Quadrille, Stone Believer. 9 p.m. $6. | Sat Nov 1: Yip-Yip, Big Digits, Bob E. Kocktapus and DJ Kribs. 10 p.m. $6-$8.
California Brew Haus (402 W Ridge Rd, 621-1480) Fri Oct 31: Halloween show w/3D Electric Blues Band and Wizeass. 10 p.m. $5-$7; Sat Nov 1: Halloween Party w/Absolution Project, Setiva, and friends. 9:30 p.m. $5-$7.
Clarissa's (293 Clarissa St, 232-3430, clarissasjazz.com) Fri Oct 31: Costume party w/Inikori Dance and Orquesta Antoinetti. 9:30 p.m. $5.
Coach Sports Forum (19 W Main St, Webster, 872-2910) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/Guy Smiley. 10 p.m. $5.
Cottage Hotel (1390 Pittsford-Mendon Rd, 624-1390, myspace.com/cottagehotel) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Bash w/Hollywood-themed costume party. Hayrides from the Cottage Hotel to Mendon Tavern, Mendon House, and back, every half hour. 10 p.m. Free.
Crescent Beach Restaurant (1372 Edgemere Dr, 227-3600, crescentbeachinn.com) Fri Oct 31: Costume and karaoke contests. 8 p.m.
Dinosaur BBQ (99 Court St., 325-7090, dinosaurbarbque.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween w/Redline Zydeco. 10 p.m. Free.
Dryden Theatre (900 East Ave, 271-3361, dryden.eastmanhouse.org) Thu Oct 30: "Halloween," 8 p.m., $5-$7. | Fri Oct 31: "Land of the Dead," 8 p.m., $5-$7.
Elixir (938 S. Clinton Ave., 244-5350) Fri Oct 31: Halloween party w/Froth. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $5.
Georgia's (240 South Ave, 232-3960) Fri Oct 31: Costume party w/tricks, treats, and prizes. 8 p.m. Free.
German House (315 Gregory St., 442-6880, thegermanhouse.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween w/John Brown's Body, Mishka, Roots Collider. 6:30 p.m. $17.50.
Geva Theatre (75 Woodbury Blvd., 232-GEVA, gevatheatre.org) Fri Oct 31-Sat Nov 1: Halloween Weekend w/Geva Comedy Improv. Fri 7:30 & 10:30 p.m., Sat 10:30 p.m. $7.
High Fidelity (170 East Ave, 325-6490, highfidelityrochester.com) Fri Oct 31: Mulletude Halloween Party. 10 p.m. $5.
Hot Shots Volleyball Club (1046 University Ave, 461-1220, hotshotsvball.com) Fri Oct 31: Ultimate volleyball challenge, costume contest, prize giveaways, Guitar Hero contest. 7 p.m. Free.
Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., 224-0990, johnnysirishpub.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/Dave McGrath (5 p.m.) and The Regulars (9 p.m.) Free.
Jukebox (5435 W. Ridge Rd., 352-4505) Sat Nov 1: Halloween Havoc with Steel Kingdom, Kages, Jane Evil, Mutter, and the High Octane Band. 8 p.m.
Knuckles Knockout Grill (25 Old Chili-Scottsville Rd, 889-4920) Costume party, free treats, drink specials. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Free.
Look Ah Hookah (4139 W. Henrietta Rd., 334-8340, lookahhookah.com): Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/Rich the Magic Man and Riley the Sword Swallower, free food, music, costume contests. All you can smoke.10 p.m. $12.
Lovin' Cup (300 Park Point Dr, 292-9940, lovincup.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Naughty and Nice Bash w/Night Gallery and Revision, costume contest. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $10.
Lux Lounge (666 South Ave, 232-9030, lux666.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween party w/costumes, prizes, drink specials. 9 p.m. Free.
Main Street Armory (900 E. Main St., 232-3221, Rochestermainstreetarmory.com) Fri Oct 31: Monster's Ball w/Fabolous; costume contest. 9 p.m. $36.
Method Lab (650 South Ave, myspace.com/methodmachine) Fri Oct 31: Election-ween featuring bobbing for votes, the McMonster Mash, political look-alike contest. 6 p.m. Free.
The Mez (289 Gregory St., 281-7367, houseofhamez.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween show w/Shawnee Fool, Hotel Reverie, Harlow. 8-11 p.m. Free.
MontageLiveMusic Hall (50 Chestnut St., 232-1520) Thu Oct 30: Halloween Freak Show Tour w/Green Jelly, Rosemary's Billy Goat, Radioactive Chickenheads. 7:30 p.m. | Fri Oct 31: Halloween Horror Show w/Burn Unit, Petra, Aggressive Betty, and Class of '95. 8 p.m. $5-$8.
Muther's (40 S Union St, clubmuthers.com) Fri Oct 31: "Nightmare on South Union Street," drag shows at 11 p.m. & 1 a.m. Costume contest. 18+
Nasty D's (140 Alexander St, 256-1000, nasty-ds.com) Fri Oct 31: Heaven and Hell Party; "Heaven" upstairs w/DJ Lenn; "Hell" downstairs. Free.
NOLA's BBQ (4775 Lake Ave, 663-3375, nolasweb.com) Halloween Weekend Bash. Fri Oct 31: East Coast Connection. 10 p.m. Free | Sat Nov 1: Victim of Changes. 10 p.m. Free.
One (1 Ryan Alley, 546-1010, oneryan.com) Fri Oct 31: Release Halloween party with Jon Herbert. Costume contest, tarot readings, prizes, giveaways. 10 p.m. $3.
Pane Vino (175 N Water St, 232-6090, panevinoristorante.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween party w/live jazz music. 8 p.m. Free.
Panorama Sports Bar (730 Elmgrove Rd., 247-2190) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/Boys Lie. 10 p.m. Free.
Pearl (349 East Ave, 325-5660) Thu Oct 30: Monster Mash-up Halloween Costume Party. 7 p.m.-2 a.m. $10.
Penny Arcade (4785 Lake Ave, 267-5576) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Bash. 8 p.m.
Plymouth Spiritualist Church (29 Vick Park A, 271-1470) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Séance. 7-9 p.m. $30.
Reunion Inn (4565 Culver Rd.323-9899) Thurs Oct 30: Ghost dinner. Listen to ghost stories during dinner by candlelight. Reservations required. 7 p.m. $10. (Dinner and drinks not included).
Rochester Rocky Horror (Webb Auditorium, RIT, rochesterrockyhorror.com): Fri Oct 31-Sat Nov 1: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"; costume contest during preshow. 8:30 p.m. $4.
Slammers (4650 Dewey Ave, 663-4455) Fri Oct 31 and Sat Nov 1: Halloween Bash w/7th Heaven. 9 p.m. $2.
Tango Cafe (389 Gregory St., 271-4930) Fri Oct 31: Orange and Black Salsaween Halloween Bash. Photos, games, dancing. Wear orange and black and a mask. 8 p.m.-midnight. $5.
Tanq's Bar and Grill (2246 E River Rd., 427-2130, tanqsbarandgrill.com) Fri Oct 31: "Night of the Living Dead" Halloween Party, costume contest, "Thriller" dance off, prizes and giveaways. 9 p.m. Free.
Tapas 177 (177 St. Paul St., 262-2090, tapas177.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party, retro dance DJ party, costume prizes. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free.
Taylor's (3300 Monroe Ave, 381-3000) Fri Oct 31: Costume party; diamond earring giveaway. 8 p.m. $2.
TC Hooligans (Greece Ridge Mall, 225-7180; 809 Ridge Rd., Webster, 671-7180) Fri Oct 31: KISS FM Monster Jam at both locations. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Go to 1067kissfm.com for tickets.
Temple Bar & Grille (109 East Ave, 232-6000, templebarrochester.com) Fri Oct 31: Costume contest, surprise guests. 9:30 p.m. Free.
Tilt Nightclub & Ultra Lounge (444 Central Ave, 232-8440) Fri Oct 31: Halloween ball with over $2000 in cash and prizes.
Tipsy McStaggers (3685 W. Henrietta Rd, 334-8970, tipsy-mcstaggers.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/costume contest. 8 p.m. Free.
Two89 (289 Alexander St, two89.com) Wed Oct 29: Boys Night Out Halloween Party w/DJ Jon Herbert. Costume contest, drink specials. 10 p.m.
Venu Resto-Lounge (151 St. Paul St., 232-5650, venurochester.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween costume party; ROC music showcase, DJs. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Free.
Virtu (284 Exchange Blvd, 454-6050, virturestaurant.com) Fri Oct 31: Halloween Party w/costume contest. 9 p.m.
WaterStreetMusic Hall (204 N. Water St., 546-3887, waterstreetmusic.com) Fri Oct 31: "5 Minutes of Horror" Halloween video contest at 6 p.m.; after party w/Last Amada, Flux, Red Letter Statement at 10 p.m. 16+. $6.
Writers & Books (740 University Ave, 473-2590, wab.org) Fri Oct 31: Literary Costume Party; Halloween open mic. Come dressed as a character from literature. Costumes required, snacks provided. 7 p.m. $3.