Looking for a last-minute costume for Halloween?
This week includes the one day of the year adults can dress up in weird costumes, and it's not considered weird (for the most part).
While there are plenty of costume choices to choose from around the world, if you're looking for something only locals would get, here are some options.
1. A sea otter pup
Luna and Tofino have become internet sensations since being rescued over this summer.
The two young otters are now living at the Vancouver Aquarium, where they can be visited by adoring fans whenever.
For those wanting to dress as an otter does, it could be done in a manner similar to a cat costume, but there are a couple of key differences.
The fur has to be brown, but sea otters have light-coloured fur around their faces, so this could be great for anyone with a blonde beard.
Also, their ears are about the size and shape of coffee beans.
Finally, their hind feet are almost flippers, so something floppy, like loose socks (or, you know, flippers), would be a good addition.
2. A hero bus driver saving a cheese shop
If some TransLink gear is available, then Brian Donovan would be a good option.
His name might not be familiar, but his actions probably are. He was the bus driver who spotted a fire at a local cheese shop while driving his East Vancouver route one night.
While a security guard called the fire in, Donovan stopped his bus, grabbed a fire extinguisher from the vehicle, and quickly put the fire out.
3. Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson may not be the first celebrity you think of when talking about Vancouver, but this year he seemed to be popping up everywhere, from multiple Canucks games, to local restaurants, to the set of the show he was working on, to a golf course.
So in honour of his time here, it might be time to break out some sensible slacks and a button-up shirt...OK, to be fair, this one might be a good idea because of how easy it is.
You just have to work on your "wow" and "ka-chow."
4. A Last of Us extra
The Last of Us production team spent a lot of time in Vancouver this spring and summer.
It's unclear how many locals might make it on screen, but there are likely quite a few who filled in as extras at times.
And given the post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland it takes place in, it's another costume that might not take a lot of effort.
Have some old gardening clothes that haven't made it into the laundry yet? You're not lazy; you're bringing a level of authenticity to your office Halloween party with a head-to-toe zombie survivor costume.
5. A Granville Island hawk
For several years, Granville Island has had hawks patrolling the popular market, and it's time they were honoured in a way that will impact them in no way.
The hawks on patrol are mostly Harris's Hawks, a large brown bird of prey. If you're looking to replicate their look, they're all brown with lighter-coloured legs.
This could probably be pulled off with a brown shirt and khakis, so long as you have their two most notable features: a beak and talons. Wings would be a good touch, too.
Bonus:
Michelin Star
Vancouver is now firmly entrenched in the Michelin Star world, with the city celebrating the third list of recommended restaurants earlier this fall.
To that end, a Michelin Star might be a fun way to go. The star logo used by Michelin is actually more similar to a flower (like a daisy) than the stars on the American flag. To that end, if there's a former flower costume lying around, you're 90 per cent of the way there.
Northern Lights
More than any other year in recent memory, the northern lights have been active.
In Vancouver, which often sits on the edge of where they're visible, that meant the lights went from dim phenomena visible in areas away from the city to a massive communal event all over the city.
They were visible from apartments in the city, Stanley Park, and local beaches.
To replicate this without solar flares and polarized particles, dressing in all black and then using some coloured tissue paper or cellophane would probably get you close enough. Getting them to glow with glow sticks or little lights might be fun, too.
