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John Carney, going with the Flo.
John Carney, going with the Flo.
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Peppered Tuna Tostadas, from chef Brian Hale of Jax Cafe, one of the culinary standouts at last year's Spooktacular.
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The Halloween Spooktacular is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Carney's Kids Foundation.
He kills it on The Carney Show.
His collection of Hawaiian shirts is horrifying.
His wit is wickedly sharp.
His knowledge of food is eerie.
His ability to round up restaurants for a worthy cause is shocking.
What’s hanging in his costume closet is downright disturbing.
And his heart is so big, it’s scary.
Who better, then, to head up the 15th Annual Halloween Spooktacular than John Carney? Plus, the event benefits Carney’s Kids Foundation, a charity the radio talk show host founded in 2004.
Carney’s Kids Foundation raises awareness and thousands of dollars each year for several children's charities in St. Louis, including The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, Litzsinger School, Delta Gamma Center, Rainbows for Kids, Ranken Jordan, and Gateway Hemophilia Foundation’s “Camp Notaclotamongus.” And since the staff at Carney’s Kids Foundation is 100% volunteer, all money raised goes directly to the charities.
The Halloween Spooktacular is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. This year it’s being held in the Atrium at Lumière inside HotelLumière in downtown St. Louis on Friday, October 24th.
There are auction items, a raffle, and a "spirit grab" (which, considering Carney, either involves bottles of wine or something more...indelicate).
Tickets are $75 and include an open bar and a buffet provided by several top area restaurants, all of whom have graced the airwaves of “Taste of Restaurant Tuesday,” Carney’s long-running, weekly shout-out to local chefs and the St. Louis food scene.
Having attended past Spooktaculars, we are amazed at how the respective chefs not just show up, but bring their A-game. Some (like Rex Hale, at right) even dress in their A-game.
This year is “the best line-up ever,” according to Carney, and we do not disagree. The restaurants participating this year are:
- Cleveland-Heath
- Element
- Highway 61 Roadhouse
- Iron Barley
- Jax Cafe
- LoRusso's Cucina
- Maggiano's Little Italy
- Mai Lee
- Mission Taco Joint
- Ozzie Smith’s Sports Bar & Grill
- Pappy's Smokehouse
- The Pasta House Co.
- Sugarfire Smokehouse
- Three Flags Tavern
The evening’s festivities also include sets from three stand-up comedians: Joe Marlotti, Andi Smith, and Mark Sweeney.
Costumes are encouraged. Many of the guests show up in costume. John Carney most certainly will be in costume. And while those of us who saw him flouncing about in that white Marilyn Monroe number a few years ago still can’t shake the troublesome sight from our heads, we show up anyway, year after year after year.
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15th Annual Carney’s Kids Foundation Halloween Spooktacular
Friday, October 24
6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
The Atrium at HotelLumière
901 N. First
314-881-7777
Buy tickets here
