<a rel="attachment wp-att-3243" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1612/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3243" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1612.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Did you know that you don't have to go to those generic, pop-up clearinghouses for a killer Halloween costume?

<!--more-->

<p style="text-align: center;">[adrotate group="2" banner="8"]</p>

It's true.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3244" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1641-3/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3244" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16412-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

One option is to head to <a href="http://www.tophatmagic.com/">Top Hat Magic &amp; Costumes</a>, on the northwest corner of the 41st and Yale intersection.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3245" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1642/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3245" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1642-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

Where you can be anything from a flapper girl to a medieval knight to an Indian princess to a zoot suit pimp daddy G to a wookie. 

The selection, even this close to Halloween, is remarkable.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3246" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1616-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3246" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16161.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

I have fond memories of my dad taking me to Top Hat so that we could check out all the weird and gross stuff that's available there. My dad and I share a sense of humor that's appreciative of such things.

Last week, I got to pay that favor forward by taking my son for the same reason.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3247" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1622/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3247" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1622.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

His first words as we walked through the door? "Oh my gosh - look at <em>this</em>!"

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3248" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1626-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3248" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16261-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

And by <em>this</em> he meant, <em>everything in this entire store</em>, which I will now proceed to attempt to drag off the shelves and touch with my always-sticky toddler hands.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3249" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1624-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3249" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16241-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

I think all the squealing and grabbing made the staff a little nervous, but they still found it in their hearts to be hospitable.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3250" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1636/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3250" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1636.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

That they managed it even after the squealing and grabbing still hadn't stopped after five minutes or so speaks volumes of these people. 

And perhaps of their long track record of experience in owning a magic and costume shop.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3251" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1635/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3251" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1635.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

That object that my son is, uh, investigating is a chicken hat. In case you were wondering what the poor, molested thing was.

Don't worry. We bought it. I mean, it was the only proper, polite thing to do after treating a thing like we'd bought it too many drinks and asked it back to our place, only to get as far as the dark alley outside. 

Hey, son? You didn't hear any of that. And if you did, Mommy has no idea what she's even talking about, so just click ignore and try to think of a fancy name for your new chicken hat.

Ahem. 

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3252" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1629-3/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3252" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16292.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3253" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1620-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3253" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16201-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

For those of you still searching for a costume for Halloween, have no fear.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3254" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1623-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3254" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16231-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

If you can dream it up, Top Hat probably has it. Whether it's these '80s earrings...

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3255" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1643-3/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3255" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16432.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Or this spare leg...

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3256" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1644/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3256" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1644.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Or one of those long cigarette-smoker thingies (which I just adore, by the way, even though smoking is terrible and you should never, ever try it, even on a recreational basis because <em>just say no</em>)...

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3257" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1646-3/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3257" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16462-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

Or these spare, glue-on body parts...

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3260" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1660/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3260" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1660-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

Or a mood ring...

I've gotta stop just a second here. Mood rings, people! MOOD RINGS!

Sorry. I'm a child of the '80s. Thus, I get all wistful when I see mood rings.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3258" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1653/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3258" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1653.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Even if what you need is a date to one of Tulsa's rockin' Halloween parties, Steve Lancaster, Tulsa's own homegrown magician and illusionist, has it in his shop, which has had open doors to the community for more than 30 years.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3259" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1649-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3259" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16491.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Steve is a sweet man. But don't go walking around his store snapping your iPhone camera or you'll get a piece of his mind.

Unless you put the photos on Facebook and tell all your friends that they can find the stuff in your photos at Top Hat. Then he's pretty much cool with that.

Did you know that you can hire him to teach you magic tricks, one-on-one? And that you can hire him for your kid's birthday party? And that you can see him perform these amazing magic shows at the PAC downtown from time to time? It's all true.

I love living in a town that has its own magician. It makes me feel very...magical.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3261" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1639-2/"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3261" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16391.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="425" height="640" /></a>

Though there's still a lot to choose from in terms of costumes and props at Top Hat, I wouldn't delay if you're still looking for those things. When we stopped in to check the place out, it was super busy - at least a couple dozen folks came through and headed to the costume room during just our short, half-hour visit - and that was last week.

Things are different this week. People are desperate. Searching for a costume could get ugly.

But Steve and his staff have been doing this for a long time. They have the experience and the know-how to keep things at or below a fever pitch. And they probably could help you in the event that you and another customer reach for the last zombie costume and grab it at the same time and commence grabbing and shoving and stabbing each other in the eyes with the hangers in an effort to wrest the costume from one another.

But I bet you'd get a time-out. So I wouldn't do that if I were you.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3262" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1645/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3262" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_1645-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

Speaking of zombie costumes, Steve mentioned while we were in that the most popular costumes this year are the classic ones - vampires, ghosts, Elvira, zombies, what have you - thanks to there not being a major, costume-influencing movie out in time for Halloween this year. He said that '80s costumes are really popular, too.

<a rel="attachment wp-att-3263" href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/top-hat-magic-costumes-halloween/dsc_1623-3/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3263" title="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC_16232-500x332.jpg" alt="Top Hat Magic and Costumes" width="500" height="332" /></a>

That's where these babies could come in handy.

And if you wanted to wear them again, I totally wouldn't blame you. In fact, I might be willing to stab you in the eye with a hanger for them. I'd probably be pretty nice about it, though. It'd be the most amiable eye stabbing ever.

<strong>Top Hat Magic &amp; Costumes</strong>
Where: 4016 S. Yale Ave.
When: Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-5:30pm; Sunday, 1-5pm (Halloween holiday hours)
Call: (918) 663-5550
Web: <a href="http://www.tophatmagic.com/">TopHatMagic.com</a>