This Saturday was the annual Zombie Walk, an event that originated in Vancouver a few years ago, and is now mimicked in many other cities across the globe. Organized almost entirely through Facebook and word of mouth, the instructions were for the undead (“the bloodier the better”) to arrive on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery at three o’clock for a procession through the West End. The purpose? Who cares. Hundreds of participants showed up.

Often bringing traffic to a halt, it made me giddy to watch the hordes pound on public buses and shop windows, intent on leaving fake gore and bloody hand-streaks behind. Most bystanders got a kick out of it, but my favourite were those cantankerous few who were clearly *not* amused (excluding worried shop owners-- I couldn't help but sympathize with them). Especially memorable was an elderly lady at the bus stop protesting loudly, "GREAT! That's ALL we need, MORE IDIOTS." Priceless.