Sharp-Looking Skeleton Crew

The Ghost of Halloween Present, left, floats above the skele-dog; the dog bowls are set out just in case he gets peckish. / Johnny B. Ghoul. / MyLittleBird photos.

Skeletons seem to have come into their own this Halloween, with even doggie dogs displaying their bones. The butler here in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is happy to serve his master pup. / MyLittleBird photo.

A Georgetown student rental house put its ground floor to use, projecting skulls, even waltzing skeletons (next picture, barely), on interior walls. / MyLittleBird photo.

Kitted-out ghost-ship captain. / MyLittleBird photo.

Only two things are certain: Death and having to walk the dog. / There’s someone for everyone: The ghostly apparition on the right has a mate. / MyLittleBird photos.

Better than spinning in your grave: taking a twirl, like these couples impressively valse-ing macabre. / MyLittleBird photo.

HALLOWEEN DECORATION inflation has already taken us leagues past gap-toothed jack o’ lanterns and cheesy cobwebs (Americans will spend $2.4 billion on decorations alone in 2016). Trending waves of tree-flattened witches, tombstones, inflatable spooks and laser-sculpted pumpkins have been raising the bar for a decade or two. This year seems to be skeletons’ (and their pets’) turn in the spotlight, and hanging up some cardboard cutout or even a 3-D one, unadorned, feels a little . . . well . . . bare bones. At MLB, we’ve noticed a new vitality, if you will, to the various Bony Maronies inhabiting our neighborhoods. Here, a collection of favorites, each with its own ghoulish flourish.