Some say every day is like Halloween in Belltown. Maybe it is. Things appear more haunted and spirited this year than ever. Plenty of bizarre-ites, absurdities and spirits will be hunting, haunting and happening around here. It starts with cult costumes and frightening fashions finds. Champion Party Supply (124 Denny Way) is Halloween costume central, if you get there on time. They stock everything from the standard pimp-and-ho garb and all the elaborate rentals to the Emily the Strange collection, the ninja collection, the slutty "Barista Babe" outfit, and all the decorations, accessories, implements, impalements, and notions to go with them. The best costumes are reserved and swallowed up in September-the serious costume capers are prepared and ready. Waiting until even the week before can be murder.

Max, Champion's manager for the past 15 years, is eager to help with advice and encourages her staff to dress up. Andy the make-up man offers guidance and will do inspired make-up on a first-come-first-serve basis. Word is the most popular costumes for this season are the Incredibles, Captain Jack Sparrow, Napoleon Dynamite, and a not-to-be-outdone $1000 Darth Vader suit. Rebla Salon (2508 5th Ave.; 448-4489) is taking reservations for "haunting hair and murderous make-up."

Champion Wine Cellars (108 Denny Way) offers Vampire brand wine direct from Transylvania. Owner Emile Ninaud says the Romanian company's been working on its novelty wine for a few years and that now it actually tastes good. Don't mix with garlic.

The Vespa Club of Seattle (vespaclubofseattle.com) will be on the street with its "Festering OktoberScoot XIV" that weekend, and might also hold a Dia de los Muertos event.

The Seattle Aquarium (Pier 59; 386-4300) and waterfront neighborhood merchants are again holding Trick or Treat on the Waterfront on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30. Regular aquarium admission includes a kids' party with appearances by J.P. Patches and the Seafair Pirates. Waterfront businesses between the ferry terminal and the Old Spaghetti Factory will have treats for the kiddies.

The Market Theater (1428 Post Alley) offers Campfire, an improv production in which cast members take spooky, strange, and unexplained phenomena from the audience and shape them into campfire stories, sometimes with terrifying and hilarious results. Topics can range from crazy clowns to disappearing car keys and the Market's resident ghost Princess Angeline. Shows are 8 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 1 through Nov. 5, with special shows on Fri., Oct. 28 and Mon., Oct. 31. Order tickets online at unexpectedproductions.org.

The Pike Place Market's Madame Lazonga will throw an old fashioned Halloween Party in her tattoo studio (1512 Western Ave.) the Saturday night before Halloween, Oct. 22. Look for elaborate outfits, dry ice and be careful what you let them do to your skin. "She said it was only henna... ha hahhah." The Rendezvous (2322 2nd Ave.) was rumored to be planning an expansive "haunted Halloween hootenanny," but the city wanted about $36,000 to permit it. And old Owen isn't there anymore to give his enigmatic signature readings. But I'm sure they'll concoct something dynamite in the Jewel Box Theatre; and one of the Rendezvous's actual ghosts (such as the projection-room ghost) may rear its paranormal head. The Lava Lounge (2226 2nd Ave.) will become a haunted rockabilly-land on Halloween night, with the usual spirits and shuffleboard all weekend. The closed-Mondays Crocodile (2200 2nd Ave.) hosts a "Spooky Saturday" on Oct. 29, featuring Maiden Seattle (Iron Maiden tribute), Problem Child (AC/DC tribute), Misfats (Misfits tribute), and Vital Idol (Billy Idol tribute). Costumes will earn you a discounted cover. For more spirits and paranormal preoccupation, check out A.G.H.O.S.T. (Amateur Ghost Hunters of Seattle and Tacoma). This ghosty group combines hi-tech equipment with qualified psychics, research and training for successful results. They gather evidence with cameras, recording devices, EMF detectors and computerized surveillance equipment. There are a plethora of registered haunted sites in our neighborhood, including the Rivoli Apartments, the Rendezvous, Kell's Irish pub, maybe even your house. Learn about them at axgxhxoxsxt.tripod.com. (A.G.H.O.S.T. is sometimes written with X's between the letters, so the ghosts can't read it.)

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