NYC's 7 Best Halloween Parties & Events, 2013
Looking for the best party to show off your Miley Cyrus or Walter White costume? Grab your friends for a night of tricks and treats at these New York City bars and restaurants hosting events with Halloween-themed cocktails, festive menus and live DJs you can twerk all night to. By Sarah Shaker.
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The Lower East Side is always bustling around the week of Halloween. This year, Amuse Wine Bar is your neighborhood destination for two themed celebrations. On Friday, October 25, owners Rebecca Lemon and James Chiang are hosting a wonderland themed Mad Hatter Tea Party, swapping out tea for "adult grape juice," of course. The party will be held from 9 PM to 2 AM with creative costumes encouraged with tunes from Hot Club of Flatbush. On Saturday, October 26, Amuse is going back to the 20s with a Flapper Themed party. Come in your best Great Gatsby era costume to groove to their house gypsy jazz band, JAZZINGARO with Charlie Roman.
If you're looking for a real club experience this Halloween, put on your dancing shoes and head to Marquee on Friday, October 25 to party like you're in Ibiza with the legendary underground DJ, Marco Carola. Marquee and Music On, Ibiza's most sought after underground electronic party, will be partnering to present Marco's first US residency this Halloween.
The always hilariously charming ladies of the Haus of Mimosa, Auntie Anita and Auntie Gina Marie, along with KTCHN Restaurant, present their Brunch Spooktacular on Sunday, October 27th. Enjoy your favorite brunch plates along with spooky cocktails and side-splitting laughs for the whole family. Go ahead and make it a boozy afternoon for those over 21 with KTCHN's $25 bottomless mimosa offer. Costumes are strongly encouraged for both children and adults.
Check into W Hoboken for VIP access to their two Halloween parties hosted at Chandelier Room, the on-property lounge. Start the spooky holiday celebrations off with Zombie Attack on Saturday, October 26, a rocking costume party sponsored by ABSOLUT Vodka and Patron Tequila. On Thursday, October 31, party all night in the spirit of All Hallow's Eve with DJ Big Ben on the dance floor. As part of the party package, get ready with Urban Decay Mini Eye Shadow Primer Potion, Mini All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, 247 Glide-On Lip Pencil and Revolution Lipstick – everything you need to set your makeup look for the night then sip on two themed cocktails in The Living Room. Take advantage of a late check-out the morning after to recover from all of the night's scary antics.
"Let's do the time-warp again." Sing out the lyrics to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween with The Rocky Horror Experience at Monday Musicals on Monday, October 28th. XL will be hosting two showings of the cult movie musical at 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. Who can resist belting out the well-known show tunes, in a scantily clad Magenta costume, dancing next to a just as scandalously dressed Dr. Frank N. Furter?
Haven Rooftop at The Sanctuary Hotel will be celebrating this Halloween with its Annual Haunted Haven Soiree. For $20, enjoy a complimentary open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres from 6 - 7:00 p.m. to get this spooky night started. A DJ will spin all night, while guests party high above the city's dark and spooky night sky and sip on their Candy Corn Martini made with simple syrup, vanilla vodka, grapefruit juice, orange juice and bitters. Dress to impress in your Halloween best for a chance to win prizes valued over $500.
Katch has partnered with Growing up Astoria to throw a goulish gathering on Halloween night at 7:00 p.m. with a number of contests and giveaways. Masquerade around as your favorite characters for a prize. Enjoy drink specials from $4 including Katch House Brews, Katch Pumpkin Brew and Stella Artois, Figenza Vodka Cocktails and Pimms Cups. The Beers and Pimms will also be available in Pitchers for $15.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.