Skip to main content

Support WBUR

Last-minute Boston-themed Halloween costumes

12:45

If you don't have a Halloween costume yet, have no fear. Radio Boston's Darryl C. Murphy swaps ideas for Boston-themed costumes with WBUR newsletter writer Hanna Ali, Boston Globe reporter Diti Kohli and comedian Ken Reid. Here were some of their suggestions.

This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. 

Solo costume ideas

The Silhouette Lounge sign missing the man on the left side. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
The Silhouette Lounge sign missing the man on the left side. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Left Guy at the Silhouette Lounge

Murphy: "Left Guy on the Silhouette Lounge sign. Left Guy is much more recognized 'cause he went missing in August. And it's still missing. I went and checked this morning. I was like, 'Did he come back?' Still not there. And I'm pretty sure all you've gotta do is wear all black."

A large moving truck is stuck under an overpass on Storrow Drive. (Courtesy Massachusetts State Police)
A large moving truck is stuck under an overpass on Storrow Drive. (Courtesy Massachusetts State Police)

A Storrowed truck 

Ali: "You're going to get any can, okay? Empty it out. Put it on your head. Storrowed truck right there."

Robert Mitchum in the film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle." (Courtesy Criterion Collection)
Robert Mitchum in the film "The Friends of Eddie Coyle." (Courtesy Criterion Collection)

Robert Mitchum in "The Friends of Eddie Coyle"

Reid: "Another one that becomes easier for me every year as I get older — with not having to purchase anything additional — is Robert Mitchum in 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle.' Best Boston movie ever." 

A milk crate was used to save a space on West Concord Street in the South End in January. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
A milk crate was used to save a space on West Concord Street in the South End in January. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Space saver in a snowstorm

Ali: "You're gonna get yourself a white t-shirt. After you get your white t-shirt, you get yourself some [white] jeans and a random item. Tape the item onto your body. Space saver in a snowstorm."

The Kowloon restaurant on Rt. 1 in Saugus in 2017. (John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Kowloon restaurant on Rt. 1 in Saugus in 2017. (John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Kowloon Tiki

Reid: "Since the Kowloon on Rte. 1 in Saugus is constantly threatening that this is the last year they'll be open, you could go as the giant tiki idol on the A-frame Kowloon building."

New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds his daughter, Vivian, after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. The Patriots won 13-3. (Mark Humphrey/AP)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds his daughter, Vivian, after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. The Patriots won 13-3. (Mark Humphrey/AP)

The Ghost of the Patriots' past success

Ali: "Get a jersey. It's gonna be a Brady jersey, Gronk jersey, whoever your Pats hero is. Paint your face all white and go around. It's the ghost of the Patriots' past success."

Peter Franklin, who invented the Cool Dog, has saved one box of the prepackaged treat — from around 2009 — in his freezer. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Peter Franklin, who invented the Cool Dog, has saved one box of the prepackaged treat — from around 2009 — in his freezer. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

A Cool Dog

Murphy: [Ayo] Edebiri is a Dorchester native, and you know, she's like, all about New England. And she was on Seth Meyers talking about one of her favorite [ice cream] treats. And we actually taste tested it here at WBUR. Find a hot dog costume or something."

Reid: [And] paint it white!

The National Grid gas tank in Dorchester. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
The National Grid gas tank in Dorchester. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

The National Grid "Rainbow Swash" tank

Ali: "I know all of my ideas involve just getting a t-shirt, but again, a white t-shirt. Spray some colors on it, then you're the National Grid power thing that you can see from the highway."


Costumes for groups and couples

An employee from store 10 in Methuen holding a protest sign during the rally. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
An employee from store 10 in Methuen holding a protest sign during the rally. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Arthur S. Demoulas and Arthur T. Demoulas 

Reid: "To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Demoulas/Market Basket feud, you could have one go as Arthur S. Demoulas, one go as Arthur T. Demoulas."

From left, Mike Faist, Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in director Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)
From left, Mike Faist, Zendaya and Josh O'Connor in director Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers." (Courtesy Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist in 'Challengers'

Kohli: "The 'Challengers' trio. That's technically a Massachusetts costume this year because it was filmed all over the state."

Members with the group "Googly Eyes on the MBTA" rallied on Boston Common near the Park Street station Monday. (Meghan B. Kelly/WBUR)
Members with the group "Googly Eyes on the MBTA" rallied on Boston Common near the Park Street station Monday. (Meghan B. Kelly/WBUR)

The MBTA train system

Kohli: "T-inspired costumes! You can never go wrong with getting a group of friends and being the whole system, which I did a couple years ago."

Reid: "One of your friends has to not show up, though."

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend an NBA game. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend an NBA game. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez

Kohli: "Ben and J-Lo, but you should specifically be them in the documentary about the movie, 'The Greatest Love Story Never Told.' "


Other ideas

This segment aired on October 23, 2024.

Related:

Headshot of Darryl C. Murphy
Darryl C. Murphy Host

Darryl C. Murphy was the host of WBUR's news and culture podcast, "The Common."

More…
Headshot of Rob Lane
Rob Lane Producer

Rob Lane is a producer for WBUR's Morning Edition.

More…

Support WBUR

Support WBUR

Listen Live