Tag Archives: halloween

I CAN’T SEE

i cant see

133 Greenwich St.
Tuesday – Sunday through November 3, $45-$50
nightmarenyc.com

I loved the grand finale of I Can’t See, the latest immersive frightfest from Timothy Haskell and Paul Smithyman of Psycho Clan, the masterminds behind such other surreal events as Full Bunny Contact, Santastical, and This Is Real. Unfortunately, much of what came before left me uncomfortable and unimpressed. I Can’t See is a forty-five-minute guided journey in complete darkness; after signing in, visitors are double-blindfolded and given headphones through which they receive instructions and follow the narrative, which is based on “The Toll-House,” the classic 1909 British ghost story by W. W. Jacobs about a group of friends who decide to spend the night in a possibly haunted mansion. The setup is that you, identified as Sam, are taking part in an experiment by Optecs Corp about fear. “You’ve often mocked the poor decisions of others who are in situations of peril. Confident that you would do better,” a voice says. “Now you have that chance. You will be in peril. You will make decisions. Decisions that will reflect your character. . . . It is better that you know that you are not a hero than to think you could be one if only you had the chance. That is also freeing. Free to be the coward you have been too afraid to admit you are.”

But those instructions, which conclude with a demonic voice threatening, “You’re going to die,” are disingenuous. For most of the presentation, you are led around by hands and bodies that push, prod, jostle, and shift you as you make your way through various scenarios. You must follow the unseen path by holding on to “umbilicals,” either rope, a banister, or another material, to help position you. I found myself regularly bumping into what I believed to be one of the other two people I was going through with, detracting from my experience while, I hoped, not negatively affecting theirs. These regular occurrences also took me out of the story, which I was fully prepared to invest myself in.

(photo by twi-ny/mdr)

I Can’t See offers a double-blindfolded trip through a classic ghost story (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

You might not be able to see, but you will get to use your senses of touch, smell, taste, and hearing, some of which is fun and some of which is not. There are also several mentions of a bright blue light, which made me think of the Tribute in Light that is projected every year on 9/11 where the Twin Towers once stood; I Can’t See takes place in a space on Greenwich St. in the shadows of the former World Trade Center.

But then comes the exciting ending, in which you are by yourself. (I would have much preferred to go through the whole thing alone.) At last, you get to make your own decisions, and in my case, I survived. The two people who were with me, alas, suffered a far worse fate. Early on in I Can’t See, after an escape artist has serious difficulties, the MC announces, “Terribly sorry, folks. That did not go as planned. We will work out the kinks and bring you another show tomorrow.” The same might be said for I Can’t See itself.

JOHN CARPENTER: LOST THEMES

The career of iconoclastic auteur John Carpenter is the focus of a talk and film series at BAM

The career of iconoclastic auteur John Carpenter is the focus of a talk and film series at BAM

Who: John Carpenter
What: John Carpenter in conversation with NPR host Brooke Gladstone
Where: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 230 Lafayette Ave., 718-636-4100
When: Thursday, February 5, $25-$50, 8:00
Why: Writer, director, and composer John Carpenter discusses his career in film and music, in conjunction with the release of his album John Carpenter’s Lost Themes (Sacred Bones, February 3, 2015) and the BAMcinématek series “John Carpenter: Master of Fear,” which runs February 5-22 and consists of eighteen of Carpenter’s films, including Halloween, The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13, Escape from New York, They Live, and Starman in addition to three films specially selected by Carpenter: Straw Dogs, Sorcerer, and Forbidden Planet.

BLOOD MANOR

Chelsea haunted house offers a bloody good time

542 West 27th St. between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.
Tuesday – Sunday through November 6, $25-$50
212-290-2825
www.bloodmanor.com

Blood Manor’s annual Chelsea haunted house promises “slutty stewardesses, slutty nurses, and creepy debauchery,” so you’d better leave the kids at home for this one. New this year are the Wolves Den, Zombie Attack, It’s Alive!, Serial Killer’s Thriller, Electrocution, the Vampire’s Lair, and the 3D Circus of Horrors.

HALLOWEEN 2009

Coney Island is freakier than usual come Halloween

Coney Island is freakier than usual come Halloween

CREEPSHOW AT THE FREAKSHOW
Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore
3006 West 12th St. at Surf Ave.
Admission: $8 adults, $5 kids under twelve
718-372-5159
http://www.coneyisland.com

Through Saturday, October 31   Adult-oriented spookhouse, including creepy tour of building, lots of freaks, and live entertainment as Scarry Rotter and Dummydorf battle the Dark Lord to save the quaint and quiet carny village of Coney Island from being turned into a theme park

HALLOWEEN IN THE PARKS
Multiple Locations
Admission: free
http://www.nycgovparks.org

Through Sunday, November 1 Halloween celebrations will be taking place in parks all over the city, with different events at each location, from haunted houses and pumpking carving and chucking to costume workshops and haunted tours, including Owl’s Head Park, Fort Greene Park, Marine Park, Inwood Hill Park, Fort Totten Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Morningside Park, Conference House Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Riverside Park, Fort Greene Park, and others

bloodmanor2008
BLOOD MANOR
542 West 27th St. between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.
Tickets: $25-$30
877-340-3002
http://www.bloodmanor.com

Through Saturday, November 7   Haunted house features special guest Disgraceland

NIGHTMARE: VAMPIRES
SoHo Event Center
623 Broadway at Houston & Mercer Sts.
Tickets: $30-$60
212-929-2963
http://www.hauntedhousenyc.com

Through Saturday, November 7    Get right in the middle of a classic horror story set in the Museum of Vampyric Artifacts

SPIRITED EVENTS
Merchant’s House Museum
29 East Fourth St. between Lafayette St. and the Bowery
212-777-1089
http://www.merchantshouse.com

Thursday, October 29
and
Friday, October 30        Candlelight Ghost Tour, featuring re-created scenes relating true tales of “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House,” reservations required, $25, 6:00 – 10:00 pm

Saturday, October 31    Family Friendly Ghost Tours to Make Your Halloween a Scream, for children ages seven to twelve, $10, 12 noon – 5:00 pm

Saturday, October 31    Spine Tingling & True: Ghost Stories of the Merchant’s House Museum, with Anthony Bellov, $25, 7:00 & 9:00

HALLOWEEN IS HAPPENING
Trinity Church
Broadway at Wall St.
Admission: free
212-602-0800
http://www.trinitywallstreet.org

Friday, October 30    Family Fun, North Churchyard, 4:00 – 6:00

Friday, October 30     Haunted Hamilton Happy Hour, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks available, South Churchyard, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Friday, October 30     Screening of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Rupert Julian), accompanied by Robert Ridgell on the pipe organ, contributions welcome, Trinity Church, 8:00

HISTORIC HALLOWEEN
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden
421 East 61st St.
Tickets: $5-$15
212-838-6878
http://www.mvhm.or

Friday, October 30    Candlelight tour with spooky stories told by Gerald Fierst, family tour 6:00, adults only 7:15

thepartyshow
THE PARTY SHOW: HALLOWEEN
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St.
Tickets: $10-$15
718-222-8500
http://www.galapagosartspace.com

Friday, October 30    Trixie Little & the Evil Hate Monkey’s Party Show, with Albert Cadabra, Lil Miss Lixx, Mr. Gorgeous, and DJ Momo Taro, hosted by Miss Astric, 10:30

The Procession of Ghouls is an annual Halloween highlight at St. John the Divine

The Procession of Ghouls is an annual Halloween highlight at St. John the Divine

HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th St.
212-316-7540
http://www.stjohndivine.org

Friday, October 30    Screening of NOSFERATU (F. W. Murnau, 1922), with live organ accompaniment by Timothy Brumfield, followed by procession of puppets, creatures, and special effects, $20, 7:00 & 10:00

Saturday, October 31    Crypt Crawls, $10-$12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Saturday, October 31    Morning of the Gargoyles, $8 per child with accompanying adult, 10:00 am – 12 noon

CELEBRATE THE DAY OF THE DEAD!
Metropolitan Museum of Art Uris Center for Education
1000 Fifth Ave. at 82nd St.
Free with museum admission
212-650-2833
http://www.metmuseum.org

Saturday, October 31        Bilingual celebration for families, featuring gallery talks, live performances, films, and workshops, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN
World Financial Center Winter Garden
225 Vesey St.
Admission: free
212-945-2600
http://www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com

Saturday, October 31    Trick or treating at special spooky stations in the World Financial Center, 12 noon – 3:00 pm

HALLOWEEN KIDS KARNIVAL
Hudson River Park
Pier 46 at Charles St.
Admission: free (some activities cost $2)
212-627-2020
http://www.hudsonriverpark.org

Saturday, October 31    Spooktacular children’s activities, the Striking Viking Story Pirates, and more, 12 noon – 6:00 pm

EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS/DAY OF THE DEAD
National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution
George Gustav Heye Center
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
1 Bowling Green
Admission: free
212-514-3737
http://www.nmai.si.edu

Saturday, October 31        Performances, storytelling, and workshops honoring the memory of the departed, featuring Danza Mexica Cetiliztli Nauhcampa, Elvira, Hortensia Colorado, Tlisza Jaurique , Marcus Xilliox, hands-on workshops, and the Dedication of the Altar, 1:00 – 5:00

Halloween at the American Museum of Natural History is always good for a scare

Halloween at the American Museum of Natural History is always good for a scare

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West & 79th St.
Admission: $10
212-769-5200
http://www.amnh.org

Saturday, October 31     Fourteenth annual spooktacular celebration featuring arts and crafts, cartoon characters, origami workshop, pumpkin carving, and live performances; come in costume and go trick-or-treating through the exhibits, 2:00 – 5:00

HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE
Queens Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Admission: $4 (hayrides additional $2)
718-347-3243
http://www.queensfarm.org

Saturday, October 31    Haunted house, hayrides, apple and pumpkin treats, mulled cider, and more, 4:00 – 7:00

BAM street festival has become a Brooklyn Halloween tradition

BAM street festival has become a Brooklyn Halloween tradition

BAMboo! BAM UNDER THE SEA
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Pl. & St. Felix St.
Admission: free
718-636-4100
http://www.bam.org

Saturday, October 31    Eighth annual street festival featuring free trick-or-treat bags, a haunted garden, children’s costume contest, and carnival performances, 4:00 – 7:00 pm

VILLAGE HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL
Theater for the New City
155 First Ave. at Tenth St.
Outdoor entertainment: free, 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Indoor tickets: $20, 8:00 pm to 1:00 am
212-254-1109
http://www.theaterforthenewcity.net

Saturday, October 31    Thirty-third annual event featuring free outdoor party from 5:00 to 8:00, with stilt walkers, jugglers, fire-eaters, vaudeville and burlesque entertainment, and the Red and Black Masque medieval ritual show, followed by ticketed indoor party featuring the Witches’ Cauldron grand buffet, Monsters and Miracles Costume Parade and contest at 11:30, and live music from the Great Paprika Band and the Hot Lavendar Swing Band

VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE
Sixth Ave. from Spring to 22nd Sts.
Marchers meet at 6:30, parade starts at 7:00
Admission: free
http://halloween-nyc.com

Saturday, October 31     Thirty-sixth annual parade, featuring more than fifty bands, dance groups, and more

The Misfits are back at B.B.'s for annual Halloween ritual

The Misfits are back at B.B.'s for annual Halloween ritual

HALLOWEEN WITH THE MISFITS
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd St. between Seventh & Eighth Aves.
Tickets: $26.50-$30
212-997-4144
http://www.bbkingblues.com

Saturday, October 31    Jerry Only, Dez, and Robo celebrate Halloween, with Stigma and the Zombie Mafia, 8:00

WITCHES MASQUERADE BALL
The Delancey
168 Delancey SDt.
Tickets: $25-$30
212-254-9920
http://charmedbystarr.com

Saturday, October 31        A Night for All Vamps, Pagans, Witches, Druids, Goths, Faerie Folk, Magickal Fold, Indigos, and Urbanites, featuring live music, theater, dance, and DJs, with costume contest, psychics, Gothic bellydancing class, the Lifting of the Veils, a midnight Samhain ritual, a raffle, and more, with proceeds benefiting the Make a Wish Foundation and the NYC Pagan Council, 8:00

HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE BALL
Grand Ballroom, downtown location
Tickets: $20-$2,500
917-721-1760
http://www.toshifilm.com

Saturday, October 31       Annual crazy party at a location to be announced to ticket holders, 9:00 pm – 3:00 am

SCARED SILLY!
Prospect Park
718-965-8999
http://www.prospectpark.org

Saturday, October 31        Annual Halloween Haunted Walk and Carnival, featuring monsters on Lookout Hill, carnival on the Nethermead, live music, hayrides, games, candy, and more, suggested donation $1, 12 noon – 3:00

Saturday, October 31
and
Sunday, November 1       Haunted Carousel ($1.50), 12 noon – 5:00

HALLOWEEN AT GREEN-WOOD
Green-Wood Cemetery Landmark Gothic Archway, Brooklyn
Fifth Ave. at 25th St. entrance
Tickets: $10-$20
718-768-7300
http://www.green-wood.com

Saturday, October 31
and
Sunday, November 1       Two Historic Fund Tours, with tales of murder, mayhem, spirits, and ghosts, 1:00