Homemade Pirate Costume

Superheroes, celebrity lookalikes swarm Vegas Strip

Nevada's woeful economy has inspired dozens of jobless and under-employed men and women to dress up like celebrities, movie characters and cartoon heroes in pursuit of a buck. In the past year, fat and fit Elvises, as well as would-be Homer Simpsons, Mad Hatters, and Batmen, have set up shop on bustling sidewalks across this city of vice and excess, offering tourists the chance to pose for a snapshot with someone who kind of looks famous.

The gratuity-driven performances have created tension between Las Vegas ' mighty gambling industry and free-speech advocates who defend the constitutional rights of adults in spandex pants, rainbow wigs and foam muscles.

Casino titans, and government officials who understand where their tax revenue comes from, have eyed the street performers with alarm and, at times, called in police intervention. The Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip allegedly detained a man dressed like Zorro last year after he posed for a tourist's camera on a public sidewalk bordering the hotel-casino. More recently, the city council relaxed its restrictions on street performers because of legal threats.

"Sometimes the mentality is what's good for the casinos is what's good for Las Vegas, and there is a tendency to forget we are in the United States," said Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada. "The Constitution protects expressive activity."

Lichtenstein is representing Zorro, legally known as Jason Perez-Morciglio, in a lawsuit against the Venetian. The lawsuit contends Perez-Morciglio was walking in his Zorro garb across Las Vegas Boulevard last year when a passer-by asked for a picture with him and to hold his sword.

Venetian security guards allegedly responded by detaining the Zorro lookalike and having him arrested for trespassing. The Venetian's legal team claims the Zorro was trying to sell knives without a vendor license.

Sidewalk performers are not unique to Las Vegas. Creative and enterprising panhandlers are as common as hot-dog stands in urban centers across the nation.

What makes the ubiquitous players along the Las Vegas Strip noteworthy is how swiftly their numbers have grown. In a city where celebrity impersonators have long enjoyed headliner status, sidewalk showmen were mostly unheard of before Nevada's epic economic fall. The Silver State has led the nation in unemployment for months and, for some, street performance is a final attempt to fend off financial disaster.

Your Questions About Pirate Costume Ideas | Quality Halloween Costumes

Pirate costume ideas for a 13 year old girl?

My 13 year old daughter is going to be a pirate for halloween. She has an eye patch, bandana, and a cute little parrot for her shoulder already. She is either curling or straightening her hair (not sure which yet) and is wearing gold hoop earings.

The only thing she is not sure about is her clothes themselves. It’s going to be very cold and she’s no very girls so no suggestions for skirts and such. She’s wearing some kind of pants.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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