Madcap recap

So what does it take to turn a park entrance into party central on a chilly weekend in Pittsburgh?

A little creative tenting, some cool lighting, heaters, and 450+ people dressed as everyone from Sarah Palin to Predator to a pink gorilla.  We had our fourth annual Madcap Masquerade last Saturday, and Schenley Plaza certainly rose to the occasion.  I think anyone who had any doubts about having an “outdoor” Halloween party was quickly charmed by the ambiance inside the tents.

Most of us in the office have spent the week being blown away by George Mendel’s photos of the event taken from the roof of the Cathedral of Learning.  (“It looks like Disney World!  Or Paris!”)  The tent wasn’t the only star of the show, though–seeing the completed Mary Schenley Fountain lit up so dramatically was really cool.  Over the past several weeks, countless people have mentioned to us that they never even noticed this fountain existed before, even though it’s been there since 1918.  Now people are coming by with their cameras just to get a shot of the illuminated sculpture.  It’s amazing what a little light can do.

Madcap from above (photo by George Mendel).

Among the other highlights of Madcap:
- The costume contest, which was won by “the Pittsburgh skyline,” sporting PPG Place and US Steel Tower-shaped hats
- The party-goers who came in a Ghostbusters-style ambulance as Amy Winehouse and a paramedic
- The Pitt drumline, which is always incredible
- Douglas Education Center’s Halloween makeup demonstrations, during which the two models went from beautiful to completely grotesque over the course of a few hours
- Riding the PNC Carousel with our Management and Maintenance Director, who spent most of the evening in a very creepy mask and lumberjack outfit, anonymously terrifying everyone in his path
- The “Carousel Couture” fashion show, which featured a skirt adorned with a string of LED lights, lots of ostrich-inspired feathers, and a very elegant interpretation of the carousel with a decorated umbrella
- Looking up at the lit-up Cathedral of Learning at one point and realizing, “Wow, we’re in Schenley Plaza!”  It was easy to forget that it was the same space where you go to catch a lunchtime concert or watch a kids’ magic show or shop at a flea market.  As I mentioned back when the WYEP concert was here earlier in the summer, our little Plaza is really growing up.

Really, if you missed it this year, there’s no excuse to miss it next year!  If you need any more proof, just check out the photos.