Say hello to new columnist Ol' Scratch, who is posting on all things retro in Boston. Here's how he describes "Retroville" to us: "Amongst Boston's many underground scenes and small, quirky social groups, a segment who are passionate about the 'classic' lifestyle has arisen. Whether it's the greasers who love rockabilly, the classy cabaret kids, the swing dancers, or the bodacious burlesquers, they've all got one thing in common: They all live in Retroville." With......

--Hug a social worker today. If you've ever wondered why the Department of Social Services couldn't stop an act of violence from happening, read this eye-opening article on just how hard it is to be a social worker. According to the piece, "between one-third and three-quarters of all social workers nationwide have been threatened, physically assaulted, or had their property damaged." [Boston Globe] --A Bridgewater State College student and his girlfriend, a student at......

Never has a matchup between the best team in football and the worst team in football had this much riding on it. The Patriots, as we all know, have clinched the division, home-field advantage, and everything that matters in a typical season. The Miami Dolphins are God-awful, zooming towards the #1 draft pick, and would be in line for a season of historic ineptitude except that the stupid Ravens were worse last week. Should be......

--A second MBTA-related noose incident: A black conductor found a noose on the floor of a Red Line cab before Halloween. [Boston Herald] --Roberto Pulido, crooked cop extraordinaire who inspired one of the Herald's most salacious covers, is now blaming steroids for his behavior. [Boston Globe] --A bus driver from Martha's Vineyard won $10 million smackers in the Massachusetts State Lottery. [Boston Herald] --Some UMass-Amherst students are attempting a boycott. [Boston Herald] --Elsewhere in......

--We're sure you've seen pictures of the dum-dum intern who told his boss he had a family emergency and then got busted going to a Halloween party instead. Unfortunately, he's local. Kevin Colvin, the dum-dum intern in a Tinkerbell costume, was working in Boston, and he wore his pretty costume in Worcester. As one Valleywag commenter put it, "He went out in Worcester wearing a fairy costume. Kid's lucky to be alive, never mind losing......

MBTA employees are not endearing themselves to the public this week. First there was the driver on the C Line who injured a passenger by hitting the brakes at a bad time. She expressed her concern by going out for a smoke. Then there's the creep who made fake passes for the blind, which he sold to people who could see. Now there's the bonehead who wore a noose to the MBTA office for Halloween.......

Londonist got the big scoop of the week with what may be the first images of notorious street artist Banksy in action. They also got on a runaway train without an operator provoking a response from the transport authorities. Elsewhere, London's answer to Central Station is about to open for business, and Londonist got a sneak preview. Meanwhile, spooky goings-on beneath London Bridge, where a cache of skeletons provided an apt story for Hallowe'en.......

We're on the verge of Red Sox Burnout and looking forward to the Pats-Colts game (live blog Sunday!), but the Red Sox keep on impressing us with their victory laps. We are loving captain and catcher Jason Varitek right now. Varitek appeals to the angel side of Bostonist's personality. He wears Cosby sweaters and hands out Halloween candy. What's not to love about that? According to the Globe, Varitek gave the kiddies--and their parents--a treat......

Halloween's over, Thanksgiving's not for a few weeks, and you don't even want to think about Christmas shopping yet (even though the store displays are already urging you to). So what's a Bostonian to do for the first 2/3rds of November? Easy: grow a moustache. For those not in the know, November is now officially Movember, a time for shaving one's face clean on the first of the month and growing the most glorious moustache......

Flickr user sissnitz caught this creepy Halloween shot among his neighbor's decorations. The lighting and great depth of focus make for an interesting and omnious photo.......

--Some local gangs have taken time out from their busy schedules of mayhem to post YouTube videos celebrating the aforementioned mayhem. Maria Cramer at the Globe reports that the gangs involved include Castlegate and Morse Street. Needless to say, police are thrilled at their good fortune that the gang members are taping themselves for posterity, but those who work with gang members are worried that innocent people might get in trouble just because they appear......

Paul Keleher wishes us a Happy Halloween!! Check out his awesome Red Sox Rolling Rally set while you're at it. Thanks for all the great snaps Paul!......

All of us here at Bostonist have started to worry (perhaps a bit belatedly) about our skimpy Halloween costumes. How will our derrieres look in that tight spandex? A wee bit saggy, we fear. Fortunately, the good girls of Diet.com have come to the rescue with a Halloween workout video inspired by Tom Brady. Put on your #12 jersey and start toning that tush for tonight! We're not sure why this is designated specifically as......

The United States has a lot to be afraid of: the war in Iraq, the mortgage crisis, wildfires, the gulf between the haves and have nots, and Dick Cheney. But former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney thinks that the nation should really be afraid of Hillary Clinton. In an attempt to celebrate Halloween and trash an opponent at the same time, Mitt Romney told an audience in Iowa, "What do you think about Hillary's House of......

We love Dots and Butterfinger minis, but lately Bostonist has been wondering what kind of higher-end Halloween candies you can get around town. Some of our spooky finds included “eyeballs” at Gourmet Boutique, … A white-chocolate shell painted to look like a blood-shot eye gives way to a grossly gooey lemon crème filling. A little too gross for us: We preferred their mint-chocolate leaves with chocolate filling. The incomparable L.A. Burdick has adorable white......

--Maggie's got a great Halloween costume idea. Yes, it involves monkeys and Boston, but it is so cool you must read it to believe it. Hint: "Rock me, Joe!" --Chris Klein, the HubTrotter, scored some sweet photos of the Red Sox players showing up at Fenway before Game 2. Papelbon's got a powerful head of hair. --H2oTown posts a photo of a leaf-peeping Barbie. We're not sure if she's on sale yet, but we hope......

Papercut Zine Library 45 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, MA http://www.papercutzinelibrary.org Sunday, October 28, 2007 See schedule below In addition to the many movie marathons to keep you from watching Rocky Horror 5 times on VH1 and eating all of your Halloween candy before Wednesday, the Papercut Zine Library is having a movie marathon from 10am until midnight for a measely $5. These films are unavailable in the US on DVD or VHS. Not only......

Boston Babydolls Creepshow Peepshow Sunday, October 28, 8:00 pm The Paradise Lounge 969 Commonwealth Ave, Boston $10, but $8 in costume More info Boston Babydolls Official Site Cirkestra Official Site If you're sick of pickle-dispenser costumes and tired old "naughty nurse" getups at the Halloween party, the Boston Babydolls are celebrating in a grown-up, clever, and sophisticated fashion with a Creepshow Peepshow. Scratch, the Boston Babydolls' businessman/director/all-around-person, described a few of the treats and tricks......

Monster Mash Halloween Benefit PA's Lounge, Union Square (356 Somerville Ave) October 29, 2007, 8:00 pm, 21+ $10 suggested donation Somerville's got good claim to the "Monster Mash" label. Bobby Pickett, responsible for penning the perennial Halloween hit (which is one of only three records to hit the Billboard Top 100 three separate times), was a Somerville native. Pickett passed away in April of this year, so this will be the world's first Halloween without......

Halloween Horror Movie Marathon Midnight, Saturday October 27-noon, Sunday, October 28 Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, $20 Bostonist has never understood how The Monster Squad (1987) gained its cult following, but we know better than to argue with its partisans, who will likely be out in force Saturday night. The film kicks off The Coolidge Corner Theatre's 5th Annual 12 Hour Halloween Movie Marathon, which begins at midnight, Saturday and lasts until noon, Sunday. The Monster......

Halloween weekend is upon us, and much like last year's festivities there are far too many options to choose from. In addition to that, Boston has gone completely bonkers over the Red Sox kicking ass in the World Series, so you can be sure to find extra excitement in every neighborhood you party in over the next few days. (pssst! click image for larger flier) THUNDERDOME VIII Friday, October 26th Greek American Political Club 288......

Attempt at Largest Gathering of Halloween Witches (Reciting Poetry) With Lesley Bannatyne Saturday, October 27 Book signing at 7:00 pm McIntyre & Moore Booksellers, Davis Square, Somerville Record-breaking at 7:30 pm Davis Square, Somerville Do the past few Halloweens seem to go by, leaving nothing more than a little tummyache after eating too much candy corn? Well, Somerville author and Halloween expert Lesley Bannatyne is aims to leave a mark this Halloween by attempting to......

Horrorville Haunted House 300 Somerville Ave, Union Square 6-10 p.m. on October 26, 27, and 28 (This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) $8 kids / $10 adults Whether you're a little kid trying to hang with the big kids, a big kid acting tough to hide your tears, or an adult who just loves to get freaked out, haunted houses are an essential part of the Halloween experience. Haunted house enthusiast Matthew Martino was disappointed that......

Gothamist learned about the craziest urban nightmare come true: A huge python found in the bathroom pipes. It was also a nightmare for some Yankees fans, as manger Joe Torre declined to come back and manage the Bronx Bombers. At least the city's attempt to give some direction to subway riders was interesting, pranksters went shirtless at the Fifth Avenue Abercrombie & Fitch and the I Heart Brooklyn Girls calendars came out. And just......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Wicked, playing a limited engagement in Boston through November 11th. Rogue Wave, playing the Paradise Rock Club on October 30th. Busted Tees, where they're in Halloween mode! If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

As it gets closer to Halloween for LAist, a contributer recollects her tale of staring down the serial killer, Richard Ramirez, otherwise known as the Night Stalker. Must think happy thoughts -- okay, free organic chocolate chip cookies for Los Angeles -- now that's a happy thought. Other happy Los Angeles thoughts include an interview with Jack Kehler of The Big Lebowski (he was the Dude's landlord), a beautiful and magical photographic moment in Venice......

First, the really great news: Josh Beckett managed to make C.C. Sabathia look like a Little League pitcher (no offense to some of those who are the future of America's pastime) on Friday night at Fenway Park, ably leading the Red Sox defense in what turned into a 10-3 routing in Game 1 of the ALCS. Seriously, we were a little worried about what hinted at a pitching fan's dream matchup - two great aces......

Bhob Rainey Official Site MySpace Greg Kelley Official Site MySpace Bryan Day (Shelf Life, Platform) MySpace Howard Stelzer Official Site The first band features a mummified man with beaded hair and an earnest young aspiring (noise) rock star with a too-perfect goatee. They both hold, of all things, guitars, though the use of these guitars is unexpected. The old man sits and wails into a microphone, telling stories as incomprehensible as your war hero grandpa’s,......

J. Cannibal's Feast of Flesh With a screening of The Evil Dead, Black Cat Burlesque, and music by Bad Ash Saturday, September 29, midnight, $10 Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline It's never too early to start thinking about Halloween. This weekend, undertaker and impresario J. Cannibal - also known as local poet Janaka Stucky - is presiding over some midnight macabre mayhem at the Coolidge Corner Theatre with his "Feast of Flesh." Feast of Flesh has......

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,......