A Scary Good Time
The best Halloween adventures in New York
October is hands down my favorite time of the year.
From burning a pumpkin spice-scented candle to throwing on a jacket to go leaf peeping, I’m a basic bitch with autumnal adoration. This means I have left no festive stone unturned when it comes to seasonal entertainment. Jack o’lantern displays? Costume contests? Haunted cocktail soiree? I’ve done it all and then some during my decade in the city. Somehow, it never gets old.
To celebrate Halloween this week, I’m sharing some of my top spooky season recommendations in and around the city. You know, outside of your friend’s costume party. Now, who’s ready to Monster Mash?
If you’re in the market for tasty treats…
I’ve written about Oscar Wilde and their seasonal decor before in this newsletter, but the eclectic Victorian bar truly outdoes itself at Halloween. The restaurant transforms into a haunted circus tent, complete with creepy clowns, gruesome skeletons, and delicious cocktails set on fire (the “Bathilda Bagshot,” in case you’re curious). The food here wouldn’t have to be tasty to encourage a crowd, however everything I’ve ever eaten from the Irish-inspired menu has been delicious. Their busiest night is the Saturday before Halloween when they throw a party and costume contest.
Loreley Beer Garden also changes its theme throughout the year and goes hard in the fall. They offer a selection of frighteningly festive specialty cocktails, plus offer a full Oktoberfest celebration starting in mid-September. This includes the iconic pumpkin keg, which comes with free refills. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for their annual party on October 31.
Every day is terrifying at Beetle House, the Beetlejuice-themed restaurant in the East Village. This restaurant is always dolled up in terrifying style celebrating the work of Tim Burton, 90s goth bands, and other haunting cosplay. The food here is very basic and mid—burgers, mac and cheese, buttered pasta—but the drinks are intense. The Big Fish Bowl literally comes in a perfect home for a goldfish, and is made with gummy fish, coconut rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and nerds candies.
If you’re looking to spend some time outdoors…
Tricks and treats can be found in equal measure at Fall-o-ween at New York Botanical Garden. It’s the home of everything pumpkin, from conversations with giant gourd growers to live carving demonstrations. There’s plenty of ale, flowers, and scarecrows to take in, too. Visit at night to experience The Nightmare Before Christmas light trail for an eerie yet romantic stroll through the grounds.
If that’s not enough gourd goodness for you, then head over to Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo. The event runs late September to late October and features over 5,000 animal-themed jack o’lanterns and displays. There are lights to be seen and lessons to be learned about animal ecosystems. It’s the ideal place to meet up with your friends who have kids, as they have food trucks, photo opportunities, and lots of outdoor games. It’s only been running for two years yet demand is already high; tickets go on sale starting in July!
If you’re up for a spooktacular activity…
For the folks still sad over never receiving their Hogwarts acceptance letter, The Cauldron offers the ideal bar to drown your woes. This wizard-themed spot concocts magical afternoon teas and beverages year-round, but at Halloween offers a special edition of their potion-making class. Think mixology but enchanted. Your ticket includes two brewing opportunities plus two welcome drinks. Non-alcoholic potions are also available.
Madame Morbid’s Trolley Tours is consistently rated one of the best ghost tours in New York, and with good reason. Jump aboard this historic trolley and trek the streets of Brooklyn to enlighten passengers on over 400 years of gruesome tales of horror and true-crime. Year-round their team engages riders in stories of hidden cemeteries and frightful habits, including more than you ever wanted to know about the Gowanus Canal. You’ll get prizes, too, for answering trivia questions correctly. Who doesn’t want a rubber finger for their desk?
Scary film fanatics out there won’t want to miss Rooftop Cinema Club where every October classic horror films are shown daily. Enjoy these flicks outside above the streets of Midtown Manhattan (five floors up, for anyone wary of heights) and let your shrieks of fear ring out across the city. Tickets are a bit costlier than a regular film, but are well worth it.
If you’re keen to travel outside the five boroughs…
No Hudson Valley Halloween activity is more iconic than The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. Offered in both Croton-on-Hudson and Long Island, this outdoor display features gourd-eous displays of hand carved pumpkins that light up the grounds of historical sites. Think a windmill constructed of jack o’lanterns, or a field of gorgeous sunflowers. It’s beautiful and beyond what a picture can tell you. Cider donuts and other fall snacks are for sale at both locations.
For Headless Horseman fans, a trip to Sleepy Hollow will fulfil your wildest nightmares. Take a tour through the legendary 90-acre cemetery to hear years of historical frights. Live performances of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow can be experienced. The biggest delight is the haunted hayride—for which tickets sell out almost immediately upon release—where you ride a hay-covered wagon through Ichabod Crane’s journey. Cross over the wooden bridge and see what horrors await you. It’s genuinely pretty scary, but a street fest full of delights is your survival reward.
Rachel’s Weekly Recs…
In my ongoing efforts of trying stuff to help me sleep, I’ve started a nighttime herbal tea ritual (very different from my highly caffeinated morning tea routine). One variety I’ve liked is Bird & Blend’s Dozy Girl, which pairs lavender, chamomile, and rose in a cozy combination. Pair with a digestive biscuit for extra indulgence.
Rounding out a month of witchy reading recommendations is This Spells Love by Kate Robb. Following a bad break-up, Gemma with the help of her sister, aunt, and best friend Dax casts a spell, hoping to erase the bad relationship from her life. Imagine her surprise when in her new reality, she’s no longer friends with Dax, and he suddenly looks very cute…
I’d be remiss not to remind you that election season is upon us, with huge races nationally and locally. I know the world often feels like a hopeless place, but your voice does matter, so be sure to get out and vote. Find your local polling place (plus early voting locations) here.
All SO interesting and helpful when wondering how to best celebrate the Fall season!!