Take it from a reporter who’s dressed like a cat (OK, a cat lady) right now and on her ninth piece of candy: We’re taking Halloween seriously this year at People Newspapers.

Anyway, associate editor Joanna England and photographer Christina Barany just rigged up this photo booth for coworkers’ kids, who’ll arrive in costume this afternoon. I had to share.

Recognized as one of the finest antique shows in the world, the Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will return to Texas at its new location- the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas November 2-6, 2011.  The show will feature an extraordinary variety of items available for purchase, including fine art, antique and estate jewelry, rare books, furniture, porcelain, Asian art, American and European silver, glass, textiles, American folk art and more, ranging from the antiquities to the 20^th century.  Show hours will be 11am to 7pm Thursday – Saturday, and 11am to 5pm Sunday.  Tickets range from $15- $25.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Those hoping to escape the monotony of yet another Saturday should head to Nicholson-Hardie for its 4th-annual fall festival this Saturday. Nevermind that the high today is 87, it’s fall!

Quick schedule of events:

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.- Free face painting. (If you don’t bathe your child for two days, it doubles as a Halloween costume!)

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Pumpkin carving, including demonstrations by professional pumpkin carver Bill Bush, because apparently professional pumpkin carver is a profession.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Chili cook-off. Bring your Crockpot full of goodness.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Fall harvest bake-off. Winner takes home a $250 N-H gift card, and year’s worth of bragging rights over Linda Cashman, who didn’t even THINK to toast her pecans before putting them in her pumpkin bread. Amateur.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Dog costume contest. Dress your dog like Mike Napoli and you’ll probably win.

Just after the Park Cities People‘s special section on the Cattle Baron’s Ball hit homes today, it was learned that members of the new “Dallas” show would be at the gala this Saturday at Southfork.

I’ve heard Highland Park ISD teachers say they feel pressured by their students to dress to the nines. And I know from my cafeteria-volunteering stints that many of these teachers respond to said pressure extremely well. To assist these elegant educators in their efforts, I must pass on the tidbit that it is Teacher Appreciation Week at Ann Taylor Loft. With locations at NorthPark, Mockingbird Station, and the West Village, the chain pretty much has the Park Cities triangulated.

Girls who dare to be different, may I have your attention, please? A store called LF asked me to tell you that its new West Village location opens its doors at 9 this morning. Now that you’ve been told, don’t you dare wear something less than cute the next time I see you.

If you’re into fashion – even vicariously – you may want to drop by Highland Park Village tonight.

The shopping center is one of many across the U.S. to pull out the stops for Fashion’s Night Out, with high-end runway shows starting at 7 p.m. near the Marquis Grill & Bar. Labels include recent arrival Stella McCartney, Carolina Herrera, Escada, and Beretta Gallery (which does offer hunting couture in addition to great big guns).

Enjoy.

The Highland Belles’ annual spaghetti supper/auction is tomorrow, and it’s one of a whole heap of traditions covered  in our Aug. 26 story about the drill team.

The fundraiser includes a raffle, too (scroll down for a second after you click the link).

I’ll be a scholarly blogger, here, and tell you I want that jewelry. Or the bikes. Or the ‘lectronics.

As if you needed another reason to go the grand opening of H&M at NorthPark Center today, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will be there. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the ladies will hand out gift bags filled with untold treasures to the first 500 fans, says the team’s Facebook page.

Or if you don’t like crowds, I guess you could just order this uniform and entertain yourself.

Let’s face it, back-to-school shopping is meant for girls because, for the most part, boys really don’t care what they’re wearing. I asked my 8-year-old son what he’d like for school clothes this year. After a long blank stare, he mumbled, “I guess I’ll take a few Burger House and Kuby’s T-shirts if I have to get something new.”

And then the thing took on a life of its own. Now he has declared he’ll wear a shirt advertising something every day for the whole school year. We’ve got Burger House, Kuby’s, Highland Park Pharmacy, Wild About Harry’s, and JD’s Chippery. But if this is going to be an everyday deal, we’ll need some suggestions to increase the wardrobe.

Fuqua, the kid wants to know why Plaza Health Foods doesn’t have tees.