DRESS-UP DOGGIES, WITH A TWIST: It's a Fido-riffic fact that Halloween is one of the biggest holidays not just for kids and not just for college students and not just for adults but for the furry ones we call our closest cuddle companions, too. Halloween and dogdom, in fact, is now a billion-plus dollar business, with skeleton-shaped treats and elaborate four-legged costumes trotting off the shelves at a great pace. With all of this, of course, come the opportunities to show off your little one in her superhero or ladybug costume, and there are ample chances to do so around the Golden State in October. But while the parades and festivals are cute, few take place near the water, or next to the water, making the Bow Wow Brunch Cruise in San Diego one of California's quirkiest, Halloween-adjacent to-dos for humans and pups. Hornblower is a part of the shindig, so if you guess, knowing that, that you'll be out on the water with your woofer, you'd be right. If you also guess, from the date of Sunday, Oct. 17, that there are costumes involved, for the canines, at least, you'd be right again. And if you hoped there might be a beneficiary involved, one that helps dogs in need with food and care and blankets and toys and such, your hope is well-founded: The Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe will receive part of the day's proceeds. And the day starts at 11:30 in the morning, when...
"BOARDING BEGINS": Yep, you and your little four-paw'd superhero will board a Hornblower cruise for brunching, photos, and the enjoyment of fall breezes around San Diego Bay. There's a costume contest and a chance to meet Chopper the Biker Dog. There's a doggie bag for doggies, and their own "treat buffet," as well as a buffet for the humans (mimosas, sparkling wine, and the desserts are described as "free-flowing"). People prices are eighty five bucks for adults, a bit less for kids, and free for attendees under 3. For sure, your pet'll need to stay on leash, which makes sense, since you're on the ocean. And it is one dog per grown-up attendee, so if you have two cuties at home, make sure your partner or pal is going to join you. Halloween-plus-dog happenings don't typically head out to the open ocean, or at least San Diego Bay, and they don't always fundraise for other Fidos. This party is a stand-out on a few fronts, including the water-background woofer shots you'll take. Has your dog ever been on a boat before?
