USA - The Creative Adventurer https://thecreativeadventurer.com A Travel Guide for Exploring the World Tue, 04 Jul 2023 17:01:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/thecreativeadventurer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-NewCreativeAdventurerLogo_250x250_v1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 USA - The Creative Adventurer https://thecreativeadventurer.com 32 32 171399271 Discover the 10 Best Photo Hotspots in Mesa, Arizona https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-incredible-instagram-worthy-spots-you-must-to-visit-when-driving-thru-mesa-arizona/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-incredible-instagram-worthy-spots-you-must-to-visit-when-driving-thru-mesa-arizona https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-incredible-instagram-worthy-spots-you-must-to-visit-when-driving-thru-mesa-arizona/#comments Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:58:04 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com//10-incredible-instagram-worthy-spots-you-must-to-visit-when-driving-thru-mesa-arizona/ Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, and while it might not be as popular or well-known...

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]]> Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, and while it might not be as popular or well-known as Phoenix or Tuscon, it is jam-packed with incredibly picturesque hidden gems! There is an endless amount of surprises in this vibrant community. Even if you live in Arizona, you might be surprised by these fantastic photography spots you can discover via a scenic back road, hidden alleyway, new restaurant or quick detour. So jump in your car, and head out on this wonderful road trip to find the best Instagram-worthy spots in Mesa, Arizona!

Table Of Contents
  1. 1. The Superstition Mountains
  2. 2. Orange Patch
  3. 3. Usery Mountain Regional Park
  4. 4. Mesa Community College Rose Garden
  5. 5. Starlite Motel
  6. 6. Goldfield Ghost Town
  7. 7. Paddle along the Saguaro Lake
  8. 8. Park of the Canals
  9. 9. Downtown Mesa Street Art
  10. 10. Jarrod's Coffee Tea and Gallery

1. The Superstition Mountains

The Apache Trail in the Superstition Mountains just outside Mesa is one of the most majestic deserts in the world. The volcanic Superstition cliffs rise 2,000 feet above the ground like a ghost crawling out of the earth. At dusk or dawn, the sunlight shining across the valley is breathtaking and casts a golden glow over everything it touches.

2. Orange Patch

The Orange Patch is a great spot to take a beautiful picture as well as gulp down a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice! The Orange Patch is a family-run Citrus farm where you can come and pick your own oranges as well as marvel at the bright-coloured fruits hanging off their trees!

3. Usery Mountain Regional Park

Usery Mountain Regional Park is THE place to go if you’re looking to spot saguaros. There are over 29 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in this area and most of them are relatively easy and short hikes bring you to incredible vistas. A favourite of locals and visitors alike is the Wind Cave Trail, which looks out onto the adjacent Tonto National Forest.

4. Mesa Community College Rose Garden

Take some time to stop and smell the roses…no, literally stop and smell the roses. The Mesa Community College Rose Garden is one of the most colourful places to visit in Mesa. Over 400 volunteers tend to over 9,000 rose bushes all year round to ensure that no matter the time of year, there is always something extraordinary to see here.

5. Starlite Motel

Along the famed Route 60, there is plenty to see, but while passing through Mesa, stop outside the famous Starlite Motel. What makes this such a popular spot is their ‘Diving Lady’ sign on East Main Street. Neon signs were once all the rage in America but have become somewhat of a relic today. This classic sign was preserved by the Mesa Preservation Foundation at $120,000 and can now be seen by passers-by for years to come!

6. Goldfield Ghost Town

Goldfield Ghost Town offers a wealth of interesting and beautiful photo opportunities with its preserved historic buildings, old-fashioned saloons, and vintage western decorations. The surrounding desert landscape with its rugged mountains, cacti, and scenic vistas adds to the town’s charm and makes for an excellent backdrop for photographs. Visitors can capture the essence of the Wild West by taking pictures with the costumed performers, the old steam engine, and the antique mining equipment. The ghost town also offers a range of activities and events throughout the year, including gunfight reenactments and live music performances, which provide additional photographic opportunities.

7. Paddle along the Saguaro Lake

Believe it or not, some genuinely breathtaking lakes are found in Arizona, and one of my favourites is the scenic Saguaro Lake in Mesa. This lake was formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam and stands in one of the most majestic desert landscapes. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard at the Saguaro Lake Marina to explore the area and get fantastic pictures of this incredible slice of nature.

8. Park of the Canals

Park of the Canals is an ancient Indian canal system used to grow corn, beans and squash in approximately 300 B.C. The Park of the Canals preserves about 4,500 feet of ancient canals. Along these canals, you can admire the amazing technology employed by these ancient cultures and look at some of the most gorgeous desert flora in all of Mesa.

9. Downtown Mesa Street Art

Along West Main Street, from South Country Club Drive to Centre Street, you can wander along looking at a series of some of Arizona’s most colourful and creative street art! A new mural by a local artist is always being painted, and the sculpture walk is one of the best in town. No matter how often you visit there is always something new to see!

10. Jarrod’s Coffee Tea and Gallery

After all this driving, it’s time to sit back and relax! And there is no better place than Jarrod’s Coffee Tea and Gallery (and not just because it has the most amazing rhyming names!) Jarrods is located right off the main street in Mesa, and just upon stepping in the door, you are overwhelmed by not only the sumptuous smells of roasting coffee but by an onslaught of incredible artworks spirling around you! All the art covering the walls is from local artists, and it is one of the coolest (basically free) community art galleries you can visit in Mesa.

Throughout the year, Jarrod’s hosts live performances from poetry nights to live music, improv shows and more. Stopping in here to participate in one of their lively events is a fantastic way to get insight into a slice of the community life and have a wonderful end to your day in Mesa!

The best way to explore Mesa and its wondrous attractions is by vehicle! To find out more about riding with USA Auto in Mesa, Arizona, check out their website!

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]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-incredible-instagram-worthy-spots-you-must-to-visit-when-driving-thru-mesa-arizona/feed/ 2 628 10 Best New York City Cafe Bookshops to Cozy Up Inside this Winter https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-best-new-york-city-cafe-bookshops-to-cozy-up-inside-this-winter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-best-new-york-city-cafe-bookshops-to-cozy-up-inside-this-winter https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-best-new-york-city-cafe-bookshops-to-cozy-up-inside-this-winter/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:53:51 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=33944 Cold winter days in New York City can be pretty chilly even for the most prepared...

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]]> Cold winter days in New York City can be pretty chilly even for the most prepared traveller. And there is no better way to escape the cold than to duck into a charming bookstore, especially those serving a hot cup of coffee! Coffeeshop bookstores have become one of the trendiest little treasures in a bustling city like New York. These little reading nooks are the best place to get warmed up and relax inside, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Grab a cup of your favourite warm beverage, snuggle up into a well-worn leather armchair with a new book, and the cold will simply melt away. So come with me as I bring you on a guided tour of the Best Cafe Bookshops in New York City! 

Whether you love science fiction, mystery novels or just chilling with the classics (or anything in between), these 10 bookshops in NYC will have something unique to offer everyone who loves a good read. I’ve been sure throughout this guide to include only cafe bookshops with space to sit and read. While some popular bookstores in New York have their own coffee counters, many only offer them to go, and we are looking for spots on this tour where you can really hunker down for the afternoon.

Table Of Contents
  1. Cafe con Libros
  2. McNally Jackson Books
  3. The Center for Fiction
  4. The Drama Book Shop
  5. Molasses Books
  6. New York Public Library Cafe
  7. Shakespeare & Co
  8. Barnes & Noble
  9. Housing Works Bookstore
  10. Book Club

Cafe con Libros

Cafe con Libros is literally translated into “coffee with books,” so you know you’ve come to the right place. This cozy little bookshop is hidden in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighbourhood. The bookshop is best known for being a black-owned feminist store featuring healing, empowering and enriching books. What could sound more comforting than that?

Their little window seats are the perfect place to get cozy and watch the world go by. The coffee is rich and delicious, and their freshly made pastries are the ideal accompaniment to nosh on while you read. Every Sunday, there is a book club meet-up, and the sense of community in this space is unrivalled.

McNally Jackson Books

Nolita is New York’s “North of Little Italy” neighbourhood best known for its charming buildings, upscale designers and trendy boutiques. Prince Street is known for its popup jewelry and artwork vendors that swarm the street on weekends. Also along Prince Street is the McNally Jackson Books. McNally Jackson Books is a New York independent bookseller with four locations across the city. And while their location on Prince Street is far from the largest, it is indeed the most adorable.

This shop is known for its unique curated collection of recommended books. Its “New York Reads” section is incredible for tourists. You can pick up a book that is set or inspired by the city that never sleeps. Be sure to look up when visiting! Books hung from the ceiling, like paper airplanes flying across the store.

The cafe towards the back of the shop is serving up some incredible brews and delicious baked goods. The french toast bagel is just one example of their amazing creations! This place always has me coming back to see what’s new. Park yourself in the cafe seating area to savour the smells and sounds of this endearing bookshop.

The Center for Fiction

In the centre of Brooklyn, you’ll find this monolith of literature; the Center for Fiction! The walls are toweringly high, with a huge ladder required to access the books on the tallest shelves. Like a modern-day version of Beauty and the Beast’s baroque library. The Center for Fiction opened its brick-and-mortar bookshop in 2019. The shop features floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing light to stream inside in the most heavenly way. Compared to some of the other bookstores on this list which are more dark academia, this place is contemporary chic!

In addition to their incredible selection of books, they also frequently hold panels, lectures, seminars, reading groups, and conversations. Often led by some of the nation’s most beloved writers. Their cozy cafe and bar is a fantastic spot to come and grab a bite to eat while enjoying your newest book purchase. There are so many people here writing away on notepads and computer screens. Like you can feel the next big novel written right in the room! The vibes here are unrivalled, and it is one of the most peaceful places in the city to come, shop and relax with a cup of coffee.

The Drama Book Shop

As New York City is home to Broadway and one of, if not the BEST, places to see live theatre! And visiting the Drama Book Shop feels like a truly New Yorkian outing! Open since 1917, the Drama Book Shop has been a mainstay of the New York theatre scene and a cultural institution. One of my favourite parts of going inside is admiring the decor. They always go all out with the store’s styling, and I’m sure they get some set decorators to help them create these fantastical displays. The most impressive is the “book tornado” that spirals throughout the store. Whirling you into a dizzying book-buying frenzy!

Historic posters from Broadway’s past line the walls. If you are a thespian book lover, you’ll be in heaven. But it’s not just playbooks and musical scores that you’ll find here. There are many books about acting, non-fiction about theatre and history books all about Broadway past and present. There is also a fantastic collection of biographies from renowned actors and writers. If you ever wanted to know the secrets of the stage, you’ll find them in the books here.

Although the shop has been open for over 100 years, it only recently moved to this new location. The new shop was designed by Hamilton set designer David Korins. It was created to pay homage to twentieth-century European reading room cafes. So, in addition to all 8,000 playbooks, they also have a full-service cafe! I love sitting in here, because as a musical lover, they really do have the BEST playlist!

Molasses Books

If you’re looking for a cute used bookstore in the middle of the trendy Bushwick neighbourhood, look no further than Molasses Books. Molasses Books is a small, independent publishing house focusing on poetry, contemporary writers, and out-of-print or public domain works. Their brick-and-mortar shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn, is home to a varied collection of used books. You’ll never know what you’ll find here, but you can always expect it to be good.

The great thing about Molasses Books is that they are open from 11 am to midnight. If you’re a night owl, this is the spot for you to come to get some late-night reading done. In addition to coffee and tea, they are a fully licensed bar. So if you’re craving something a little stronger than cold brew.

New York Public Library Cafe

One of the most incredible interiors in all of New York City has got to the awe-inspiring New York Public Library. Inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The NYC Public Library’s main branch was built in the late 1890s. The interiors were constructed in the Beaux-Arts style and featured one of the most beautiful reading rooms in the entire world. The reading room was meant to improve the morale of readers during the Great Depression. The room was meant to imbue visitors with a sense of wonder as they walked in. And even a hundred years later, I always get goosebumps walking inside.

Whether you’re a visitor or a local, you can enter this pantheon of reading and browse their collection. Tourists can’t check out books, but you’re welcome to explore. And if you’re looking to sit and enjoy a warm cup of coffee, then Amy’s Bread has you covered. Recently, Amy’s Bread opened a new location inside the Library Shop. Here, all visitors can come and grab an espresso and one of their incredible handmade pastries. Amy’s has been open in New York for over thirty years in Hell’s Kitchen. And now they have seven different shops open across the city! 

The best part of a visit to the library is that entrance to the building is free. So other than your coffee and sweet treat, the experience won’t cost you a dime! No need to buy any books. You can simply browse the shelves, find something that perks your interest and sit down to enjoy.

Shakespeare & Co

Shakespeare & Co is a well-known name in the literary game, opening their flagship store in Paris (of all places for a shop named after the English playwright.) But in 1983, they opened their New York City location along Lexington Avenue, on the Upper East Side.

Recently, the bookshop introduced a small but top-notch cafe among the hundreds of books inside. The baristas here are friendly, and the quaint little area where you can sit and enjoy your coffee while reading is the perfect size to feel nice and cozy. The cafe also features a daily selection of Dough donuts. If you know Dough, you’ll learn how delicious these sweet pastries really are! And what’s better than doughnuts and coffee…and books?! 

Barnes & Noble

Although visiting a Barnes & Noble might sound like a boring and basic thing to do when visiting the Big Apple, the Barnes & Noble on Union Square is actually the biggest bookstore in Manhattan! This Barnes & Noble is also located inside the old headquarters of the Century Publishing Company. And the building it now resides in was built in 1881. The stunning brick and copper engravings are still the beacon of literacy that draw many into it today. Walking inside, look at the old iron columns, wooden bookshelves and library ladders. It always makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time. And I love the store’s effort to preserve this slice of New York architectural history.

On the 3rd floor, you’ll find their coffee shop. Their cafe is vast, and there is lots and lots of space to spread out! The windows that face south also feature a gorgeous view across Union Square park, the Flatiron building and the south Manhattan skyline! Sure the coffee might be Starbucks, but the environment is so friendly and open, and you can almost always find a spot to sit! Plus, public bathrooms are a key essential any visitor knows comes in clutch. One of the other advantages of visiting such a big brand in this iconic location is often it is where authors come to have signing events. So check their schedule to see who’s in town. But hundreds of signed books are also spread out throughout the store, like hidden treasure waiting to be found.

Housing Works Bookstore

People celebrated on the streets across the city when it was announced that the Housing Works Bookstore cafe had reopened after the pandemic. Ok, well, not literally, but when this literary touchstone was finally reopened, it was definitely a cause for celebration. The Housing Works Bookstore is another historic building transformed into a chic bookshop. It is so popular that it is often booked out on the weekends as a fashionable venue for weddings. It was even featured in Taylor Swift’s music video for her smash hit All Too Well.

The Housing Works Bookstore has been open downtown in New York for over a decade. Unlike any other shop on this list, 100% of the profits from the book sales go to fund Housing Works’ lifesaving services. Their cafe is the perfect place to immerse yourself in their cozy atmosphere. In addition to beverages and food, you can also pick up a cocktail at the bar.

Book Club

Located in the heart of the East Village is the aptly named Book Club, one of the best independent bookstores and bars in town. Whether it’s coffee, NY state craft beer, wine, romance novels, mystery books or autobiographies that you’re looking for, you’re bound to find that here! The owners who started the Book Club wanted to create a space in the city’s centre where you could feel nice and cozy while surrounded by the most lovingly curated collection of books.

One of the shop’s most exciting aspects is that it is open till midnight but is laptop free after 7pm! This is meant to encourage people to chat with each other, make friends and take book recommendations in the evening when the wine is flowing. This a great reminder to turn off the computer or put down your phone and enjoy a bit of screen-free time with new friends. Plus, this place has some great music too! The vibes here are immaculate.

I hope you enjoyed this little literary jaunt around the city and found spots along the way to snuggle up inside on a cold winter’s day. Let me know your favourite bookshops in the comments where you love to sit and drink a cup of coffee in your hometown! Maybe I’ll be visiting there next!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

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]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/10-best-new-york-city-cafe-bookshops-to-cozy-up-inside-this-winter/feed/ 0 33944 Ultimate New York Walking Tour, Ghost of the Bowery https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-new-york-walking-tour-ghost-of-the-bowery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ultimate-new-york-walking-tour-ghost-of-the-bowery https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-new-york-walking-tour-ghost-of-the-bowery/#respond Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:10:47 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=33673 Hidden away in the Lower East side of New York City is a mile-long street infamously...

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]]> Hidden away in the Lower East side of New York City is a mile-long street infamously known as the Bowery. The Bowery is one of the oldest streets in New York, with a history dating back long before colonization. But the Bowery is not just a street or a neighbourhood but a slice of New York’s historical essence. Back then, the Bowery was the epicentre of crime and debauchery. The streets were ripe with old-time salons, run-down theatres, ghastly dime museums, raucous billiard parlours, lascivious dance halls, and bawdy brothels. It was such a frenzied place that Bowery Street was nicknamed Satan’s Highway. While many of these historic places have been abandoned or shuttered for years, the intriguing stories from the ol’ Bowery remain. Stories we will discover along this Walking Tour of the Bowery.

Because of its age and relatively slow progress towards revitalization, the Bowery is home to the city’s most diverse collection of architectural streetscapes. You can see building styles from Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Victorian, Neo Grec, Queen Anne, Beaux Arts, and Art Deco all in one place! So if you’re a history, crime or architecture buff, this Walking Tour of the Bowery is just for you! The ghosts we will discuss along the way are not just paranormal but also the memories of the rich past found along Satan’s Highway. So come with us as we discover the secrets hidden along the Bowery.

Guided Tour of the Bowery
  1. About the Tour
  2. Map of the Walking Tour
  3. History of the Bowery
  4. St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
  5. Cooper Union
  6. McSorley's Old Ale House
  7. Columbia Hall
  8. Merchant's House Museum
  9. Germania Fire Insurance Building
  10. Tenement Housing
  11. The Bowery Hotel
  12. Bouwerie Lane Theatre
  13. il Buco Restaurant
  14. #31 Bond Street
  15. #21 Bleecker Street
  16. Bleecker Street & Bowery
  17. CBGB
  18. McGurk's Salon
  19. The Houston Bowery Mural
  20. Sammy's Bowery Follies
  21. #222 Bowery
  22. The Bowery Mission
  23. The Bowery House Hotel
  24. Alabama Flophouse
  25. #210 Bowery
  26. Germania Bank Building
  27. The Bowery Ballroom
  28. Sohotel
  29. Bowery Savings Bank
  30. #139 Hester Street
  31. #129 Mulberry Street
  32. Citizens Savings Bank
  33. Bull's Head Tavern
  34. Bowery Theatre
  35. #40-42 Bowery
  36. #18 Bowery
  37. Doyers Street
  38. Five Points

About the Tour

This Walking Tour of the Bowery will take about two hours to walk at a leisurely pace. We will be covering just over 1.6 miles throughout the tour. Be sure to wear really comfortable walking shoes. Throughout the tour we will talk about the history of the neighbourhood, the ghosts which haunt the streets and the many stories that make this district a rich tapestry of cultures and curiosities. The ghoulish nature of the tour makes it a great one to take during the spooky Halloween season!

Although the Bowery has changed a lot over the past 20 years, the area is still one I would advise avoiding late at night. The best time to do this tour is in the late afternoon and early evening before everything gets too dark.

Map of the Walking Tour

History of the Bowery

One thing that makes the Bowery such a captivating place to visit is that this one long stretch of roadway seems to encapsulate everything that is so iconic about New York City. The Bowery boasts historic architecture, fierce stories of the criminal underbelly, upscale hotels, and tales of the ghosts that haunt part of town. While the Bowery was once Hell’s Highway, today is a sophisticated neighbourhood popular with hipsters. But it hasn’t yet lost all of its gritty charm and historical destinations.

Boundaries of the Bowery

The boundaries of the Bowery start at Astor Place and extend south to Chatham Square. The road stretches across the Lower East Side, through Chinatown, the East Village and Little Italy. But long before European colonizers arrived on these shores, the Bowery was a simple dirt pathway. The lane was created by the indigenous Lenape people who initially settled here. The Lenape carved out the road to better provide access for their people to the fishing posts along the East River.

After the Dutch invaded, they stole the land from the Lenape people but kept the roadway as it proved extremely useful. The Dutch renamed the street; Bowery Lane. The word “Bowery“ comes from the Dutch word bouwerie, which meant “farm.” In the neighbourhood’s early days of Dutch colonization, they plotted farmland adjacent to Bowery Lane. This allowed farmers to transport their goods easily out of town as well as bring in much-needed supplies.

The Oldest African-American Neighbourhood in America

When the Dutch arrived, they came with kidnapped and enslaved men and women from Africa. The Dutch West India Company was, in fact, the first country to start the African slave trade. But in 1645, the same company that tore Africans from their homeland granted them parcels of land in the Bowery. They also named them “freed enslaved peoples.”

But it wasn’t out of guilt or a sense of morality that they did this. The Dutch hoped that the freed enslaved people would help tame the wilderness around Bowery Lane. Not only this, but they hoped they would build houses that would act as a barrier along the East River. The Dutch were afraid of an uprising from the Indigenous people or an invasion from the British and were using these homes as their first line of defence. But, no matter the reasoning, this move resulted in the Bowery becoming home to the first African-American neighbourhood in America.

Bowery Slaughterhouses

As the population grew around the Bowery, the rural farmland transformed into the beginnings of a small urban village. Public slaughterhouses were the first major businesses to call the neighbourhood home. The land towards the southern tip of the Bowery held the Collect Pond. This huge water source spread across 48 acres and was the primary source of fresh water for this part of the city. The slaughterhouses took advantage of this access as a means to drain off their stinking waste. Slowly poisoning the water for the residents. It was only a matter of time before what was once a charming water feature became a foul-smelling pit. With no choice but to drain the pond, the slaughterhouses and butchers had to move further west into what is now the Meat Packing District. 

With the pond drained, and the land on which it once stood filled, the Bowery’s population was not only expanding but changing. The northern parts of the district began to change. What was once primarily a lower-class neighbourhood became land for the aristocracy. The elite of New York were after large plots of land where they could build expansive mansions and lavish apartments. The narrow Bowery lane was widened into a broad avenue to service these new upper-class establishments. Elegant buildings started to pop up on either side of the street. Many thought this was the Bowery’s boom era and the street would go onto rival Fifth Avenue. Alas, this was not to be the path forward for the Bowery.

The El Train

The fate of the Bowery changed with the construction of the El Train or the Elevated Railway. With a city like New York facing such rapid expansion, transit became one of the most important pieces of infrastructure to tackle. Immigrants lived in the city’s outer edges, like the Bowery. But, for work, they needed to travel far to the centre of Manhattan. Horse-drawn rail cars could only carry so many people. And the new invention of the omnibus was taking up precious space on what were now crowded roadways. So the idea was to take transit off the streets and raise it above. Onto elevated rails.

In collection Dolph Kohnstamm

Railroad tracks were built above the streets, and one of the first lines to be built was the Third Avenue Elevated Rail in 1878. This rail line ran almost the entire length of the Bowery. And while access to transit sounds like a good idea for an up-and-coming neighbourhood, it became the catalyst for the Bowery’s descent into debauchery.

The dark iron rails that held the tracks essentially cut out the sun. Making the underbelly of the El tracks a good spot for shadowy deeds to take place. The middle-class businesses starting to populate the streets suddenly found themselves under a constant barrage of soot and grease from the trains above. No woman on her way to the dressmaker wanted to find herself covered in grease upon exiting the building. Not to mention the noise. All the upper-class customers fled, forcing the only decent businesses left on the Bowery to close. 

Into the Hell’s Gate

Property values were in the toilet! But with so many vacant buildings, low-class establishments took this as their opportunity to move in. Brothels, gambling halls, theatres, wild concert venues, beer gardens, pawn shops, and flophouses all started to call the Bowery home. No longer was the character of the street that of a district on the rise. Instead, gangs ruled the streets and the slums crept into the once well-to-do buildings. Prostitution, alcoholism and homelessness were rampant problems across the Bowery. And the streets were undoubtedly one of the most dangerous places to find yourself in New York City in the 19th century.

Theodore Roosevelt visited the area in 1913. After his visit, he stated; “The Bowery is one of the great highways of humanity, a highway of seething life, of varied interest, of fun, of work, of sordid and terrible tragedy; and it is haunted by demons as evil as any that stalk through the pages of the “Inferno.” This quote would lend itself to Bowery getting the nickname “Hell’s Gate.“

David Shapinsky

Transformation of Skid Row

The Bowery remained New York City’s “Skid Row” until the 1970s. But in the 70s, New York City displaced the multitudes of homeless people who had found themselves clustered in this neighbourhood. This, along with demolishing the El train elevated railway, would bring about a new era for the Bowery. The 1990s would see gentrification begin to creep in. Today, the historic buildings are surrounded by high-rise condos, luxury apartment complexes and even a Whole Foods grocery store. Proof that as quickly as a neighbourhood can change for the worse, it can change for the better.

St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

The first stop on our Walking Tour of the Bowery is at the old St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. It is on this spot that the development of the neighbourhood truly began. At the intersection of 2nd and 10th Street, walk north until you see the giant silhouette of a church in the distance. As you approach, keep your ears peeled for the sounds of an old church bell ringing in the distance.

Petrus Stuyvesant

The church marks the site where Petrus (Peter) Stuyvesant first built his home when he landed on the shores of what was then a new colony in 1652. Stuyvesant was the first governor of the then-named New Amsterdam. Stuyvesant has been a great Dutch soldier. But during a battle against the Spanish, he was badly wounded and lost his leg. It was amputated and replaced with a wooden prosthetic, giving him the nickname “Peg Leg Pete.” Because he could no longer fight, he was selected by the Dutch West India Company to go to New York. There he would serve as governor over one of their new colonies.

After his accident, Stuyvesant was a melancholy man and being sent away surely didn’t help things. But he was also a religious man. Even away from home he wanted to create a place where he felt a connection to his homeland. And he did this through the construction of a church, a place that brought him much peace. Stuyvesant had purchased this specific property for his dwelling because it was located far away from the hustle and bustle of the “big city.” Back then remember, the Bowery was a small parcel of farmland. But throughout his time as governor, Stuyvesant watched the area grow. And transform. Much to his dismay, his once peaceful neighbourhood would soon be riddled with townhouses and noisy pedestrians.

Despite all this, Stuyvesant stayed put in his new home. When he died, he was buried beneath his chapel. In 1793 the original chapel was sold off but the community built an even more impressive Episcopal church in its place in 1795. The same one which stands here today.

The Ghost of St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

But soon after building the new and improved church, people started noticing strange occurrences happening inside. One day, the villagers were awoken by the tolling of the church bell. This would usually not be a strange noise, but this bell was ringing in the middle of the night. And it wouldn’t stop!

Everyone raced to the church to see what was the matter. But when they arrived, they found the door to the bell tower locked shut from the inside. When they finally broke down the door, the noise stopped. But the room was empty. And they looked up to find the bell’s rope had been cut. The only reachable part of the rope was way too far above the ground for anyone human to reach. Everyone was perplexed as to how the bell had been rung at all, let alone for hours.

The townsfolk searched the church for clues. Finally, they found the torn part of the rope lying atop Peter Stuyvesant‘s crypt. And as they were all standing around the crypt in silent horror, they heard the sound of Stuyvesant’s wooden leg echoing throughout the halls of the church. Today many people report still hearing the ghostly footsteps of Stuyvesant’s wooden leg throughout the church. Still watching over his new colony.

The Body Snatchers

Another interesting story from the churchyard was that of the theft of Alexander Turney Stewart body! When he died in April 1876, Alexander Turney Stewart was America’s third-richest man. Stewart made his fortune as a retailer. He was a hugely popular figure in the city, and his funeral was packed with the cream of the crop. Writers, politicians, lawyers and more all came out to St. Mark’s Church on the Bowery to pay their respects.

In October, six months after Stewart’s burial, the church sexton noticed that stone doors to the Stewart family vault had been disturbed. When he looked inside, he noticed several vault slabs moved, but the tombs were still in place. The sexton was immediately suspicious, with fears of so-called “resurrection men” on the rise who were known to steal corpses. The sexton made sure to hire a night watchmen just in case the people who broke in tried to do it again.

Resurrection Men

In the 1780s, grave robbing was on the rise. Originally grave robbing was mainly done for doctors to get their hands on “fresh” dead bodies. They used these to practice their trade and other medical experiments. But in the 1870s, the sensation of grave robbing was often done in search of ransom. Even Abraham Lincoln’s body was the victim of an attempted robbery! Although thankfully, that was thwarted. But it was not uncommon for the bodies of wealthy men to fetch a handsome price. Once the ransom was paid, the bodies would be returned.

The Theft of A. T. Stewart’s Body

Unfortunately, the night watchmen the sexton had hired failed at his one duty. And on the morning of November 7th, the sexton discovered the body of A. T. Stewart had been removed from his vault. Police arrived on the scene and were horrified by the brown blotches they found around the area. These were immediately identified as “pieces” of Stewart himself. Stewart had been dead for more than eight months and would have been in a terrible state of decomposition. So when the criminals left with the body, they left bits of the body trailing behind… But the trail went cold, and the police had no leads.

Media Sensation

The newspapers ate up this media sensation. A reward of $25,000 was offered to the public for any information leading to the thief’s capture. Hundreds of letters poured in with theories, but none proved to provide any actual leads. In 1879 the attorneys for Stewart received a letter from Canada claiming to be the robbers. When the lawyers asked for proof, they provided several silver pieces of Stewart’s missing nameplate, also taken during the robbery. The lawyers tried negotiating with the thieves, but something must have scared them off. Perhaps it was all the talk of the robbery is all the papers. Either way, they never wrote to the family again.

Walling’s Confession

A very contested private memoir by the residing police chief Walling claimed that he was in communication with the real thieves. And he claimed to have negotiated with the criminals. With the help of Stewart’s wife, they met up at midnight on an abandoned pathway outside the Hudson Valley. The masked men arrived on horseback with a velvet coffin cloth taken from the tomb. And a bag of bones they claimed were Stewart’s.

The masked men handed them over in exchange for the money and rode off into the night. Walling claims the bones were taken back by Stewart’s wife. In 1885, they were laid in the Cathedral of the Incarnation, where Stewart’s wife was also buried. But many have refuted this claim as gossip and a way for Walling to make a few bucks on his memoir.

No one will ever know the truth, but many people have claimed that the cemetery is haunted by the ghost of Stewart himself. Stewart is known to roam angrily around the church, furious about being torn from his grave. Many say if you smell something awful, like the piece of his body that was trailed behind, that is a sign Stewart is just around the corner. Whatever the case, stories like this prove there is something truly cursed about the Bowery.

Library of Congress

Cooper Union

Head west along the aptly named Stuyvesant Street towards Astor Place. On Astor Place and Cooper Square you’ll find a gorgeous Italiane brownstone that stands out amongst the glass towers surrounding it. This is the old Cooper Union Foundation Building. The Cooper Union Foundation Building was named after American Industrialist Peter Cooper. Cooper invented rolled-iron beams which provided a dramatically more powerful support system in engineering buildings. And these new beams were first implemented inside the Cooper Union Foundation Building.

The Cooper Union Foundation Building was also revolutionary as it featured the world’s first elevator shaft. The shaft itself was built into the design of the building despite the actual elevator not even yet being invented! It was Cooper’s dream for the building to house an educational institute, open and accessible to all. Regardless of their financial situation or social status. Cooper was a workingman’s son who had less than a year of formal schooling and yet he wnt on to become a famous industrialist and inventor. And he wanted these same opportunities to be open to young people across the country. To discover and develope their talents. And the Bowery was filled with such people!

When the institute was opened, it held night classes for adult education in applied sciences and architectural drawing. During the day, the school was open for women. They could attend classes on such subjects as photography, telegraphy, typewriting and shorthand.

Abraham Lincoln at the Cooper Union

On February 27th, 1860, Abraham Lincoln came to the Cooper Union’s Great Hall to deliver a speech that would cement itself in the history books. And propel him toward the presidency. A New York writer said of the address, “No man ever before made such an impression on his first appeal to a New York audience.” Abolitionists had been centralized in this part of the Bowery for years. This was the perfect spot for Lincoln to find like-minded people to speak to. Since then, the Great Hall has served as a platform for historic addresses by American Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Bill Clinton. Today it remains an architectural gem and historic artifact.

Mathew Benjamin Brady

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Walk south along 3rd Avenue until you reach East 7th Street. Walk west along east 7th Street until you come to #15, where you’ll find the historic McSorley’s Old Ale House. McSorley’s is Manhattan’s oldest continuously run tavern! You definitely need to make a point to stop here. McSorley’s Old Ale House was opened in 1854 by Irish immigrant John McSorley. And one of the most unique aspects of the tavern is that they still to this day only sell two traditional drinks; a light ale and a dark ale. But at only $5.50-per-drink you won’t mind the lack of choice.

The bar is also of important historic significance as it was here, that President Abraham Lincoln came for drink after speaking at the Cooper Union. The chair hanging above the bar was the one that Abraham Lincoln himself sat in when he came in for a drink. 

Ghosts of McSorely’s

Walking inside is like stepping back in time. The dark wooden interior is plastered with paintings and photographs from the past. When John McSorely opened the pub, he also kept his horses in the back. Today remnants of those stables are also hung all over the walls. See if you can count all the horseshoes. As the bar was famed for Lincoln’s attendance, they also have several pieces of ephemera from his presidency, including a framed newspaper announcing his death and the wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth. Another famous person who visited the bar was Harry Houdini. And the handcuffs he once used in his show are hung up here on the wall!

But lurking in the shadows, amongst the displays, are the ghosts of the tavern’s past. One of their frequent ghosts seems to have an affinity with the bar cats that lounge around. Bar staff have frequently seen their cats arching their backs and nuzzling into invisible hands. They are also reports of disembodied noises late at night. Perhaps some of their patrons have simply never left.

Columbia Hall

Walking back to 3rd Avenue/Cooper Square, make your way to #32 Cooper Square, where you’d once have found the old Columbia Hall. In the 1890s, the Bowery was known as the center of queer nightlife in New York City. People of different races, social statuses, and backgrounds all congregated in the Bowery, resulting in a more tolerant attitude towards a variety of then-named “social outcasts.”

Columbia Hall was opened in 1890 by James or Biff Ellison. Ellison was a well-known gangster within the Five Points (more on that later) and opened this establishment as a brothel for gay men. There was a large bar and beer garden on the first floor, and the upper levels served as bedrooms and apartments.

A Vibrant Gay Community in the Bowery

Brothels were rampant in the Bowery. And this one was no different than all the other salons, save for the fact the prostitutes were men. But not all men who came to this part of the Bowery were there to purchase sex; some simply felt this part of town was a safe space for them. Columbia Hall acted as a community centre for gay men in the 1890s. Many men came here to drink and gamble and never bothered to solicit. They simply enjoyed the familiar company.

The first club for transgender people opened here on the floor above the bar. Inside, transwomen could come and dress as themselves without fear of what anyone else would think. They were among friends. Columbia Hall was also home to some of the first drag acts in the city. “The Bowery Queen,” was one such drag performer who made a name for herself and opened the door for many others to follow.

Paresis Hall

Despite many in the Bowery looking the other way, there were many a religious protest against the tavern’s operation. Homophobic groups called the building “Paresis Hall.” Paresis was a condition which caused brain inflammation and sometimes insanity, usually brought on by syphilis. Syphilis was a disease many incorrectly thought only gay men carried. And nicknaming the building after the disease was another way the religious zealots could attack the character of those who would visit. “Paresis Hall” couldn’t escape public condemnation forever. And after only nine years of operation, it closed down in 1899. Today, the building remains a memory to one of the first gay communities in New York City.

Merchant’s House Museum

Walk north one block and turn west down East 4th street. At #29 East 4th Street stands an old brick mansion which was once home to wealthy merchant Seabury Tredwell. Tredwell built his home here in 1832. The regal manor starkly contrasts with the Bowery’s gritty nature. But a great example of the kinds of houses that were being built in the area before the El Train drove the neighbourhood into a downward spiral. Despite its age, if you walked inside, you’d find almost the entire house unchanged. This is because the house is now a city-owned museum, the Merchant’s House Museum.

The Merchant’s House Museum‘s aim is to present to the public the personal lives of an upper-class family living in New York in the 19th century. The house preserves incredible examples of surviving architecture from the period as well as hundreds of personal objects, furniture and photographs from the Tredwell family. If you have an opportunity to visit the museum, it is a real contrast to the lives of the

Gertrude Tredwell

Supposedly, one descendant, in particular, doesn’t like when you touch her things. This would be the Tredwell’s youngest daughter, Gertrude. Gertrude was a spinster who lived out her entire Iife inside the house. She was born in 1840 and died in 1933. Gertrude had seven siblings, two brothers and five sisters. While the rest of her family grew up and had families of their own, Gertrude remained alone. Gertrude had one real chance at love, but sadly, the affair was broken up by her Episcopalian father. He refused to let Gertrude marry a poor Irishman. Gertrude’s sad fate supposedly inspired Henry James‘ novel Washington Square Park. The book is about a woman whose father attempts to thwart her romance with another man.

In her lonely spinsterhood, she developed an angry and eccentric personality. She seemed to care only for the house, with nothing else left in her own life to care for. She was constantly obsessing with ensuring the house maintained its elegance, despite falling into financial ruin.

The Ghost of Tredwell Manor

After Gertrude’s death, the house was passed down to her cousin. The house was set to be foreclosed, and all the contents sold off to pay their debts. But Gertrude’s intrepid cousin had another idea. She was able to sell the house and all its contents to the city. The city was amazed by the preservation of the house and all its memorabilia inside. All they had to do was slap a few plaques on the walls and charge admission, and the museum was up and running.

Since becoming a museum, the staff have seen the ghostly figure of Gertrude herself roaming the halls. She loves nothing more than making loud, irritating noises whenever “her” objects are moved. See if you can spot her in the window, peering down on the street. She is often seen looking out, watching over her beloved home.

Germania Fire Insurance Building

Head back to Cooper street, where Cooper streets officially become the Bowery at the intersection of East 4th Street. At #357 Bowery, we can find the exterior facade of the old Germania Fire Insurance Building. One of the most iconic aspects of this building is the haphazard-looking stacks of iron staircases piled up on the facade of the brick building. The Germania Fire Insurance Building was built in 1870 by prominent German-American architect Carl Pfeiffer. In the 1870s, fires were one of the most common causes of destruction in New York City. The dense urban environment meant that if one house caught fire, it would quickly spread throughout the block. So ensuring your properties against fire was BIG business.

Little Germany

The Germania Fire Insurance Company represented the growing number of German immigrants who came to New York in the 19th century. Back then, Division Street, east of the Bowery, was called “Little Germany” or Kleindeutschland. By 1840, over 20,000 German immigrants were living in this part of town.

When the Germania Fire Insurance company was building their new corporate office, they wanted to make it in the centre of Little Germany. And while all the official architectural plans stated the building was for business use only, they had always secretly planned to use the building for some tenement housing.

Germania Fire Insurance Building Architecture

One of the aspects of the building that makes it so ingenious is the mansard roof and dormer windows. In the 19th century, New York companies were taxed for every additional floor added to a building. But a clever loophole was invented by architects in the creation of the mansard roof. The mansard roof is characterized by two slopes on every side of the roof. The lower slope being considerably steeper than the upper. When you add dormer windows, the mansard roof provides a spacious and economical attic storey. Essentially a livable space, but listed as an attic, that wouldn’t fall under taxable laws.

Tenement Housing

In 1870, the city census found seven families living inside the building. Each of these families would typically be made up of at least ten people. Tenement flats were also called “railroad flats” because the long, narrow apartments were linked together like the cars of a train. This resulted in windowless apartments. Without windows, the apartments were also without access to fresh air. This, combined with the cramped spaces, led them to become wrought with diseases.

Eventually, things got so bad that the Tenement House Act of 1901 was passed. It mandated strict enforcement inside buildings like these to ensure tenants had air and light and access to running water.

PS General Slocum

As we walk down the block toward our next stop, let’s take a moment to consider why, despite the growing German immigrant population in the 19th century, this part of town now lacks almost any memory of their presence. What caused this exodus of German immigrants from the Bowery? The answer might surprise you. And it surrounds the story of the city’s worst maritime disaster: the PS General Slocum Fire.

The PS General Slocum was a sidewheel passenger steamboat built in 1891. Over the years, it took passengers to and from Manhattan, across the East River, towards Brooklyn and Long Island. But the owners were reckless and didn’t keep up with its maintenance or address rising safety concerns. On June 15, 1904, the boat was carrying 1,342 members of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. The members took a yearly excursion to a park on Long Island, where they hosted a celebratory church picnic. Almost all of the church members were German American immigrants from Little Germany. And most were women and children. The men unable to attend as they had to stay behind to work.

The Fire Breaks Out

Shortly after departure, a fire started in the Lamp Room. Perhaps caused by a dropped match. The moment the fire broke out, the boat was cruising through the hauntingly named “Hell’s Gate” along the East River. Coincidence or curse? You decide.

The lamp room was filled with straw, oily rags, and lamp oil. A perfect environment for a fire to be fueled and grow out of control in mere minutes. A 12-year-old boy spotted the fire, and tried to warn the captain. But the captain tossed him aside, not believing the boy and not wanting to cause a delay. It took staff just over ten minutes to realize the full extent of the fire. And by then, it was too late.

Beaching on North Brother Island

The boat was sinking quickly and the captain tried steering it towards North Brother Island. In the hopes people could jump off and swim to shore. But safety standards hadn’t been met for some time on the old paddlewheel. Women who grabbed nearby life preservers found that they fell apart in their hands. Having rotted away with neglect. Mothers took any lifejackets still intact and strapped them to their children. But when they tossed their children into the water to escape the inferno, they watched in horror as they sunk like rocks. The lifejackets proving completely useless.

Most of these immigrants didn’t know how to swim. This, combined with their heavy wool clothing that absorbed water like mad, made it almost impossible for anyone to escape. Even if they were only a few meters from shore. Twenty minutes after the fire had first broken out, the flames had engulfed the vessel. As the fire burned, it weakened the overloaded starboard section of the hurricane deck. The deck collapsed, killing the 100-500 people who were still stuck on the deck.

Victims of the PC Slocum Fire

1,021 people either burned to death or drowned in the disaster. When survivors returned to their homes in Little Germany, the street was deadly silent. Entire families had died, leaving the streets a ghost town. Some men who had lost their entire families wandered aimlessly around the empty streets of Kleindeutschland. The survivors couldn’t handle the trauma left by this silence, and most moved uptown to escape the memories left there.

The Bowery Hotel

Our next stop is past East 3rd Street at the fanciful Bowery Hotel. The Bowery Hotel is today one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. It’s often the top choice for visiting celebrities of all sorts. But back in 1875, the building was originaly designed for the Dry Dock Savings Bank. Back then, the Bowery was still in its period of middle-class growth. And with that speculation that the area would rival 5th Avenue, wealthy enterprises were scooping up real estate all over the Bowery.

The building’s design plans were stunningly impressive. And the bank looked more like a regal castle looming over the rest of the street. The Dry Dock Savings Bank was open here until 1992, when the bank went bust. The building was sold off in 2000, and the new owners went about transforming it into the modern-day Bowery Hotel.

Ghosts of the Bowery Hotel

Back when the building was a bank, no one stayed overnight. But once it was converted into a hotel, nightly sightings of ghosts were commonplace here. Accounts of strange occurrences from almost day one of its inceptions as a hotel was reported. The most common sighting is located inside the elevator. Around 1 am, the elevator is known to erratically move up and down, despite no buttons being pressed.

Guests have also seen a ghostly woman sitting inside their hotel room when they enter late at night. Only to disappear moments later. Then there are the bar ghosts, who angrily knock drinks out of people’s hands. But not all are as vengeful, some spirits love nothing more than chatting up the customers. Perhaps just looking for someone to talk to.

New York Marble Cemetery

But why would this hotel be home to so many spirits? The reason lies behind where the building was constructed. Long before the bank was built, this land was used to house the New York Marble Cemetery. The cemetery was built in 1830 as the first non-sectarian cemetery in New York. The cemetery was unlike many others being built at the time, as there were no gravestones, only marble vaults. Bodies were being buried deep underground. The reason for this was the horrible outbreak of yellow fever. It was thought that by burying bodies deep underground and sealing the tombs, would help prevent the spread of the disease. Over 2000 bodies were buried in the Marble Cemetery. While the eastern parts of the New York Marble Cemetery can still be visited today, the graves on the western end were lost below the newly constructed Dry Dock Savings Bank.

Bouwerie Lane Theatre

A few doors down, at #330 Bowery, standing tall and elegant on the corner, we find the old Bouwerie Lane Theatre. The building was initially constructed in 1879 as the Atlantic Savings Bank. It was designed in a French Second Empire style by Henry Engelbert. And despite looking like it has been carved out of stone, the building is a rare example of cast iron employed to appear as raw material.

When the Atlantic Savings Bank collapsed, the burgeoning German community purchased the building and opened the German Exchange Bank. With the downfall of the Bowery, the German bank closed its doors as well. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the building was converted into an off-Broadway theatre named the Bouwerie Lane Theatre. The theatre remained open for 30 years but closed in 2006. Today it is a memory of the past. The upper floors have been turned into a private mansion-apartment, and the ground levels are used for retail.

il Buco Restaurant

Let’s make a quick detour east along Bond Street to #47 Bond which still houses il Buco Restaurant to this day. This part of New York in the 1840s was better known as the Red Light District. And like any good Red Light District, it was frequented by many lonely writers. And among them was none other than famed horror writer Edgar Allan Poe. Poe had first discovered the restaurant because his good friend Marie lived in the apartments above #47 Bond Street. Poe would frequently come by to visit Marie when his wife was sick. Searching for solace and comfort in the arms of another woman. But he also found comfort in the tavern below.

Down in the basement cellar was hidden away popular speakeasy. This dark and eerie 200-year-old cellar went on to inspire the setting for Poe’s novel, The Cask of Amontillado. His novel wasn’t set in New York but rather in an unnamed city in Italy. The story of the Cask of Amontillado is all about a man taking revenge. The “hero” of the story believes one of his best friends had wronged him. So, to take his revenge, he entombs the ex-friend in a basement cellar, just like the one inside il Buco.

In real life, Poe was constantly fighting with his literary rivals. And perhaps The Cask of Amontillado was a way for Poe to release some pent-up anger. Owners of the current restaurant claim that the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe still comes back to the cellar from time to time. Staff often find half-empty yet sealed bottles of wine in the basement cellar. As if a ghostly apparition came back to have another glass for the road.

#31 Bond Street

A few doors down, at #31 Bond Street, is an old brick apartment complex. The building is stunning, with gorgeous multicoloured brickwork, various arched and square windows and, the best part, a series of detailed stone friezes decorating the facade. In the 1850s, the building was owned by a wealthy dentist named Harvey Burdell. Burnell was murdered right here, in this very building. But long after his death, his name would still be plastered on the cover of newspapers due to the torrid nature of the crime.

Harvey Burdell & Emma Cunningham

Burnell owned the entire building. He used the lower levels as his office space and primary residence, and the rest he rented out. Unfortunately for him, in the summer of 1855, a woman named Emma Cunningham moved into #31 Bond Street as one of his tenants. Burnell fell quickly for the widowed Cunningham. All those who witnessed the goings on inside the townhouse said that Cunningham acted like she was already Burnell’s wife. Despite the two only dating for a short period of time. She hired his maids, ordered around the workers, made him meals and brought them down to his suite. She would even dine with him on certain occasions.

The Murder of Dr. Burnell

But this was not a happy relationship as the neighbours frequently reported hearing shouting matches between the go. The arguments seemed to constantly surround the marriage proposal that Cunningham was expecting from Burnell. One which he never “officially” would give. The rumours surrounding their relationship were lush. Some claimed that she had fallen pregnant with his baby, but he forced her to have an abortion. Others argued that Burnell himself performed the abortion right here in his office.

Whatever the clashes between the two, it all came to a head on January 31st, 1857. Burnell’s body was discovered in his home office. He had been strangled and brutally stabbed 15 times. Almost as soon as his body arrived at the coroner’s office, Emma Cunningham arrived, claiming that she was his wife. And the sole inheritor of his $100,000 fortune and the new owner of #31 Bond Street.

Murder by Gaslight

The Trial of Emma Cunningham

Emma was not at the crime scene, and police had yet to inform her of her death. But she seemed to already know what happened. Raising immediate suspicions. Police arrested her, but it was her trial that would spin the media into a frenzy. So many allegations about her were almost too juicy not to have been an invention of the newspapers themselves. Neighbours claimed she was sleeping with her fellow border John J. Eckel. They even reported that Cunningham was forcing her daughter into sleeping with other men in the building.

During the trial, Cunningham claimed to be pregnant with Burnell’s baby, but many suspected she was stuffing her dresses. After nine months, she showed up at trial with a baby in tow. But it was later revealed to have been another woman’s baby, and Cunningham was never pregnant. Instead, she had purchased the child for $1,000. Bought from a poor woman she found living in squalor in the Bowery.

Emma Goes Free

Despite revealing these fictions, Burnell’s attorney Mr. Clinton, couldn’t convince a jury of Cunningham’s guilt. There was no physical evidence linking her to the crime. Cunningham was acquitted after only two hours of jury deliberation. But she was guilty to the public, who had been following along with all the details of the crime and case in the newspaper. And the public had just seen this woman get away with murder.

Cunningham was left penniless after Burnell’s death. But instead of receiving his fortunes, she was forced by public pressure to flee the city. The case of Harvey Burdell’s murder remains officially “unsolved,” and it is perhaps for this reason that the ghost of Burdell is thought to still haunt this building today.

#21 Bleecker Street

Walk one block south along Lafayette Street, then west on Bleeker to make your way back to Bowery Street. If you’re hungry, be sure to stop at Levain Bakery along Lafayette Street, as they sell some of the best baked goods in town! This little stretch of the Bowery is home to some beautiful examples of Federal-style row houses. They are virtually untouched by the ages and are a gorgeous example of what these side streets would have looked like in the heyday of the Bowery. 

Bleecker Street & Bowery

Make a stop at the corner of Bleecker Street and Bowery. It was here, in 1905, on these darkened streets, that Thomas “Eat ‘Em Up Jack” McManus, the toughest man in New York, was murdered. McManus had a burgeoning career as a boxer. This prizefighting drew the eye of Paul Kelly, leader of the notorious Five Point Gang. Kelly employed McManus as a bouncer for his various criminal establishments. This included our next stop, McGurk’s Suicide Hall.

McManus earned the name “Eat ‘Em Up Jack” by using those fisticuffs to almost literally “eat through” any rowdy customers that came through the doors. His face was reportedly a thing to see as it was covered in welts and scars, and almost all his front teeth were missing. But every new wound only seemed to make him grow stronger.

Eat ‘Em Up Jack

One night, while working inside Kelly’s Little Naples Café, a rival gang member named Chic Tricker entered the club. Chic Tricker was a member of the Monk Eastman gang. After one too many drinks, he started violently insulting one of the showgirls. McManus threw him out of the bar and even had to draw his pistol after a fight ensued. McManus fired a few shots, but Tricker got away with only a bruised ego. But Tricker wasn’t one to hold grudges lightly. And he swore to get his revenge.

A few days later, Trick’s fellow gang member Sardinia Frank attacked McManus right here on the corner of Bleeker and Bowery. Frank hid a gas pipe wrapped in newspaper and dealt a lethal blow to the top of McManus’ head. The entire ordeal started a colossal battle between the two gangs, each one trying to get revenge other the other. Resulting in blood being spread all across the Bowery. So if you see a big burly spectre of a man lurking in the shadows, you might have spotted the ghost of Eat ‘Em Up Jack himself.

CBGB

At #315 Bowery you’ll find a small memory dedicated to the famous CBGB club which once stood here. CBGB was a legendary punk rock club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal. It made the history book as the birthplace of punk rock. Bands like the Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, AC/DC, Green Day, Guns’ n Roses and Pearl Jam all graced the stage. You weren’t truly punk rock until you’d played at CBGB.

Sadly, the club closed in 2006 after Hilly lost his battle with cancer. Patti Smith closed the club with its penultimate concert on October 15, 2006. Funnily enough, for a punk rock club that was repulsed by the mainstream, its doors now house (of all things) a John Varvatos clothing store. But if you walk right up to the front windows and look down at the cement below, you can still make out the words “CGBG ’73” etched into the ground. A lasting memory of the music made within these walls.

McGurk’s Salon

In the 1970s, a highly controversial effort was made to “disperse” the homeless population in the Bowery. Afterwards, the neighbourhood found itself slowly going through a process of revitalization and gentrification. And while many of the historic buildings along the Bowery were preserved, others met the eventual fate of demolition. And it is at one of these new developments, we find ourselves today searching for a ghost from the Bowery’s past.

#295 Bowery

The rather dull glass condominium at #295 Bowery street stands atop the remains of the once-infamous McGurk’s Salon. Back in the 1900s, McGurk’s Salon was a tavern more aptly known by the public as McGurk’s “Suicide Hall.” The building was originaly built in 1863 and originally served as housing for soldiers returning from the Civil War. Most of these men suffered greatly in the war and returned horribly changed men. The salon on the first floor served the seedy clientele the neighbourhood was starting to fill with. But as seedy as the clients were, the staff were no better. Bartenders frequently filled drinks with chloral hydrate. This would cause patrons to pass out, so the staff could easily steal whatever money was left in their wallets. Further taking advance of these poor men.

Library of Congress‘s Prints and Photographs division

Suicide Hall

With so many veterans in this part of town, there was also a high demand for prostitution. The owner of McGruk’s saw this as an opportunity for money-making and opened a large brothel above the salon. Life was rough for the women who worked at McGurk’s Salon. In 1899 alone, there were six suicides in the building and seven failed attempts. Most of these were by women jumping from the upper floors of the building. Others took carbolic acid, a popular elixir of death during the Victorian era. All these deaths lead to the public nicknaming the salon the “Suicide Hall.”

McGurk’s Saloon Ghosts

While the salon itself may have disappeared, replaced by newer, flashier modern buildings, the ghosts of the salon remain. Look up as you pass by, as you might see the jumping ghosts that haunt the building. There is also the ghost of Annie Moore, a local prostitute that worked inside Suicide Hall. Annie was brutally murdered in a way newspapers referred to as a “Ripper Style” murder. Her throat was slashed, and her body was mutilated.

Police did little to find her killer. But there was one man that locals thought had to be her killer. He was known as “Old Scratch” and was a frequent customer at McGurk’s. He would sit at the bar and chat with anyone who would give him the time of day about the details of Annie’s murder. Details so specific, not mentioned in the paper, that everyone had to assume he was her killer. But no one ever followed up on the rumours, and her death remained “unsolved.” To this day, her ghost has been known to roam the streets outside McGurk’s. Perhaps waiting for Old Scratch to return and seek her revenge.

The Houston Bowery Mural

Just around the corner, down Houston Street, is an artistic landmark of the neighbourhood; the Houston Bowery Mural. In 2006, real estate developer Tony Goldman invited contemporary artists from around the world to put their artwork on display outside his building. Over the years, the street art on the wall changes with the seasons. With something new gracing the wall every few months. Adding a vibrant new work of art for locals and tourists alike to admire as they pass by.

Sammy’s Bowery Follies

Passed Houston Street, along the Bowery, beside the awning of what is now a swanky plant-based restaurant is where, in the 1930s, you’d have found a dingy dive bar named Sammy’s Bowery Follies. The legendary club was named after the owner Sammy Fuchs. Fuchs opened the bar on the Bowery to serve the thirsty vagrants that frequented the many missions and flophouses along this stretch of slums. Generally, his clientele was down on their luck, homeless, broke and often running from the law. Characters aplenty!

But in the 1940s, Sammy’s became somewhat of a tourist destination. A shock to hear, I know. What on earth would a tourist want to come here for? To the epicentre of the so-called “Bowery Bums”? Well, it was for those very characters that frequented the tavern. The upper classes of New York City were tired of their dreary, squeaky-clean, and personality-less neighbourhood cocktail bars. So they would come down to the Bowery to gawk at the lower classes. Like they were watching a play, live theatre on the streets.

The Gay 90s Cabaret

While the idea of the rich getting pleasure and entertainment from others’ misfortune is beyond offensive, Fuchs saw it as an opportunity. He transformed his club into somewhat of a cabaret. Sammy built a literal stage inside and hired vaudeville preforms to further exaggerate the rampant rumours about the dangerous ol’ Bowery. He themed the restaurants after the “Gay 90s” (that’s 1890s for you young people).

Busloads of tourists would arrive from New York, Britain and beyond to watch the singers belt out show tunes and act out comedic skits. You could have a drink with a “sailor” in a damp leather saloon booth and hear all about his torrid stories. Most of which were clearly fabricated for the entertainment of the visitors. When Sammy died in 1969, the bar closed its doors, and it remains empty to this day. A black iron gate is the only thing making this historic destination along the Bowery.

#222 Bowery

At #222 Bowery is the last remaining YMCA branch that dates back to the 1880s. The Young Men’s Institute (as it was called back then) was a community space where young men of the Bowery could come to seek physical, intellectual, and spiritual health. The building was designed by Bradford L. Gilbert in high Queen Ann style. The iconic recessed metal-enframed windows, painted a stunning dark green, have beautiful wreath boughs hanging from below as decorations. The windows are separated by giant pilasters with ornate cornices on top. At the top of the singular dormer window, you can see the old terra-cotta carving with the date “1884” engraved on the building.

A fantastical building that was meant to draw in curious young men from the Bowery. Inside, they would find a gymnasium, bowling alley, library, entertainment hall, and even rooftop garden! The idea being if these men were inside having fun, they were off the streets, not causing trouble.

William S. Burroughs Bunker

In 1932 the YMCA moved out of the neighbourhood, and the building became a residential space for artists. The converted open-plan apartments attracted artists from all over the city. Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Allan Ginsberg and Roy Lichtenstein were all frequent guests and visitors to the old YMCA. But it was in 1974 that famed writer William S. Burroughs moved in. He lived here for almost ten years and called the space his “bunker.” No doubt his time spent in the Bowery during those vice-ridden days influenced his works and his formation of the Beat Generation.

The Bowery Mission

Across the street from the old YMCA is another gorgeous architectural wonder, the Bowery Mission. You can spot the building from a mile away by its iconic red entry doors. As the Bowery was becoming more and more of a health hazard for the city, it was essential to set up assistance for those living in these terrible conditions. Gangs, so-called “degraded women,” and drunkards roamed the street with abundance. With nowhere to go, they often got into fights, and violence ran rampant across the bloody mile. Back then, the Bowery was commonly referred to as “Skid Row” or “Street of No Return.”

Formation of the Mission

In 1876, the Bowery Mission was built at #227 Bowery Street by architect William Jose. The building was designed in an English-inspired Tudor-Revival style. Built to resemble a traditional British Inn. Perhaps harkening back to memories of the heyday of the British Empire for many immigrants. The gorgeous curved keystones above the green-painted windows are my favourite part of the building’s facade. Inside, there is even a medieval English-inspired chapel with a beautiful two-storey organ. This church was of particular importance. You might have noticed that aside from the church at the start of this tour, not a single religious institute can be found along the Bowery. This was because most people thought the community was lost and beyond redemption. But the people at the Bowery Mission thought otherwise.

But the most impressive part of the building, which still stands today, iare the stained glass windows above the first-floor entrance. The windows depict the parabole of the prodigal son. The inscription below reads: “When he came to himself, he said I will arrive and go to my father. He saw him and had compassion. My son was dead and is alive again.” The windows were meant to be so beautiful that they would attract the eyes of those outsiders and make them curious enough to want to come inside to see what the Mission was all about. To encourage these unfortunates to get off the street and seek help.

The Mission’s Mission

The Mission has provided food, shelter, clothing, job opportunities, medical assistance and rehabilitation for millions of men for over 140 years. It had to expand into the next-door Federal-style townhouse in 1830 as the need was assistance was so great. The Mission’s breadline was one of the most famous images of the Bowery after the great depression. 2,000 breakfasts were served every morning. A Bowery Mission breakfast consisted of a large bread roll and a cup of coffee. Despite the fortunes of the Bowery changing drastically over the last 100 years, the Mission continues to service the unhoused people in the Lower East Side to this day.

The Bowery House Hotel

At #220 Bowery are the now-shuttered windows of the Bowery House Hotel. But long before it was the Bowery House Hotel, it was better known as the Prince Hotel, built in 1927. The Prince Hotel was originally created as temporary lodging for embattled soldiers returning from World War II. The rooms here were tiny, bunks stacked together to fit as many as 12 men into one room.

This was originaly thought not to be an issue, as it was, after all, only meant to be a temporary stopping point for these men before they got their lives together and moved out. But for many men who returned from war, shattered and shaken, they would never leave. They were seduced by the Bowery and its den of sin. They could drown their sorrows in the taverns and get their needs met by the working girls in the brothels. Skid Row was the last stop on the road for many of these poor soldiers, and today, there are reports that their heartbroken ghosts remain. Haunted by the memories, still trying to rid themselves of their past along the streets of the Bowery.

Alabama Flophouse

One of the iconic establishments across the Bowery in the late 19th century were the so-called “flophouses.” A flophouse was a place that offered very low-cost lodging and provided simply a space to sleep and minimal amenities. By 1890, there were approximately 9,000 homeless men, and some women, living in the Bowery. Most were alcoholics and gambling addicts who could easily find their vices met on the Bowery. With the expansion of the El Train, the light was further blocked out above the Bowery. Therefore, any business trying to work in the literal darkness could get away with murder. Or, at the very least, with other sinful immoralities.

One of the longest-run flophouses in the Bowery was the Alabama House. The flophouse was opened in 1889 and was amazingly designed by architect James E. Ware. Even today, you can appreciate the unbelievable architecture incorporated into the multi-purpose five-story building. Romanesque and Queen Anne elements like terra cotta friezes, ornamental cornices, rounded bullnose brick corners and unique pilaster capitals all decorate the exterior of the building. The facade’s beauty a harsh contrast to the awful living conditions inside.

Flophouses

“Flophouses” were named as such because accommodation was little more than a person-sized piece of wood on the ground where someone could literally “flop” down for the night. Usually, these “beds” cost about five cents but were little more than a wooden stand above the ground. You were lucky to get a dirty piece of cloth to use as your blanket. The five-cent cost of your stay is also why this kind of establishment was called “a dime house.”

Crime in the Flophouse

But the clientele at these places left much to be desired. Over the years, the Alabama Flophouse would see police raids repeatedly, with many of their patrons being tramped off to jail. A meagre house painter was murdered by fellow lodgers Emma and William Wilson. The pair tricked him into following Emma down a dark alley thinking she was a woman of the night. Instead, they stabbed and robbed him for the little he had, which was probably little more than the five cents he carried to pay for his bed. Lodgers Carl Williams, Herman Kas and David Weinberg were all arrested for burglary. And during prohibition, Fred Anderson was caught bootlegging gallons of coloured alcohol he made inside the Alabama Flophouse bathroom. No doubt, if this building could talk, the stories it would tell.

By 1967, the owners of Alabama converted the old flophouse into rental spaces for artists. Today the apartments are still for rent, and while they have been upgraded with modern-day conveniences, they still feature some of the iconic original architecture inside. One can only imagine how expensive these apartments now cost to rent. A shocking transformation from their previous life as dime house ruins.

#210 Bowery

On our way to the next location, make a quick stop outside #210 Bowery Street. Amazingly, the building has been transformed into a sleek, black-painted high-end condominium. But in the 19th century, this house served as one of the many Dime Museums in New York.

Dime Museums were designed as centers for entertainment for the working class. Unlike the upper classes museums filled with fine art, these “museums” exhibited sensational freak shows. But dime museums were often just a front, and deep within the bowels of the building, you’d find hidden brothels and gambling dens. Here at #210 Bowery, police performed a historic raid in 1883. Inside, they found a gambling den with girls as young as 12 working in the back. An example of the rabid evil that occurred here every day, hidden away behind beautiful facades.

Germania Bank Building

At #190 Bowery stands the unique chamfered corner of the Germania Bank Building. An icon of the neighbourhood. The old bank was built here in 1898, the third location for the Germania Bank, established in 1869 by a group of local German businessmen. As a growing institution, they employed famed German-born architect Marc Eidlitz to build this monument to Beaux-Arts architecture. The granite and brick facade feature rough stonework, an arched entry flanked by Tuscan columns and elaborate copper decorative eaves. While the building remains pretty much as it stood a hundred years ago, sadly, it has remained derelict, covered in graffiti. Awaiting its next life, most likely a condominium space.

The Bowery Ballroom

Just off of the Bowery, east along Delancey Street, you’ll find one of the city’s most historic music venues: the Bowery Ballroom. Despite not being the most modern venue in the city, it certainly had a cult status and playing here adds a certain cache to your repertoire!

Long before the Bowery Ballroom was a glint in the eye of the musicians, the original building was created in 1929 to house a high-end shoe store and haberdashery. But when the great depression hit and Wall Street crashed, the store quickly went out of business and shuttered its doors. With no one clamouring to renovate the space, now located in the slums of the Bowery, the building was left vacant until 1998.

The Transformation of the Bowery Ballroom

Michael Swier, the co-founder of the famous newspaper the Village Voice and LA Weekly, bought up the property with an ingenious vision for it. He wanted to create a new music venue that didn’t just sound great but looked great as well. They spent a fortune to ensure the sound quality was perfect. And the new owners went to great lengths to preserve the historic parts of the building. Including the 84-year-old bronze rails. Once used by factory workers, the rails now served as the balcony on the second floor. With a capacity of 575 people, shows here are an intimate affair. If you have the chance to see a concert here when you’re in town, you certainly won’t be disappointed!

Sohotel

Located on the corner of Bowery and Broome Street, you can spot the neon lights of the Sohotel. This hotel is the oldest hotel on the entire strip, opened in 1805! And throughout the over 200 years of its operation, it has had almost as many names. It was first the Military and Civic Hotel, then the Westchester. Then it became the Occidental, going on to be called the Pioneer. Now, it is known only as the Sohotel. Despite all the different names, the hotel itself hasn’t changed much in appearance over the years.

Hauntings inside the Sohotel

And any building with such a long life along the Bowery comes with its fair share of ghosts. The first occurrence that many believe started the slew of hauntings was the rash suicide of John P. Mount. Mount was a dry goods buyer for the Crawford & Simpson company. He had been a loyal employee for 20 years, so it was the shock of his life when he was unexpectantly fired. Mount was reportedly a very impulsive person and must have been thoroughly distraught after losing his job.

He checked into the hotel, and only a few minutes after leaving the front desk, the sound of a pistol firing was heard from his room in #103. People who stay on that floor report feeling cold even when the heat is on. And the lights are known to go on and off by themselves late at night. Perhaps the ghost of poor John Mount is visiting the hotel once more.

Bowery Savings Bank

Continuing along, be sure to take a moment to study the grand exterior of the old Bowery Savings Bank at #130 Bowery Street. The Bowery Savings Bank opened its headquarters here in 1834. It chose this spot as its new command post back when the Bowery was considered one of the most illustrious new neighbourhoods in town. It was on the cusp of middle-class status, just as the El train was being built. Before they knew the grim reality that the El train would carry along its tracks.

Stanford White, a notable architect who also designed the famous Washington Square Park arch, built the Bowery Savings Bank. Although the idea of using classical Roman-style Corinthian columns for the bank’s exterior seems commonplace now, this initial design would set the trend for banks to use this style for years to come!

#139 Hester Street

One block south, make a quick stop east along Hester Street. At #139 Hester Street was where the beginnings of one of New York’s most elaborate jailbreak stories would occur. On September 29, 1892, carpenter Frank G. Paulsen was visited late at night by a familiar face. Frank W. Roehl had met Paulsen a few times in the local salons. And as German immigrants, they got along swiftly. But Paulsen was confused by the late-night visit, as the two weren’t that close. Soon after arriving, neighbours reported hearing screams. When next-door neighbour William Burns arrived on the scene, he was horrified to find the mutilated body of Paulsen lying on the floor. He appeared to have been hatched up with an axe.

When the police arrived, they found that Paulsen was missing his two gold watches that all his neighbours knew he never took off. Soon after, there were reports of a very drunk German man causing a scene in one of the local bars, who was also trying to peddle a few gold watches. When the police found Roehl, he was drunk out of his mind. And when they searched his body, they found a bloody axe in his coat pocket. 

Escape from Sing Sing

Roehl was tried for the murder, and when he was promptly found guilty, he was sent off to Sing Sing Prison, better known as the “House of Death.” Roehl was a marble worker and had been previously sent to Sing Sing, but not as a prisoner. But as an employee. He was sent to work on various stonework inside the prison. As such, he knew the prison’s layout well.

With the help of his new roommate, a notorious murderer, the two plotted their escape. Roehl knew of an escape hatch on the roof, and thanks to some hurricane-like weather conditions, the two managed to escape into the night, as they could not be seen by the tower’s watchmen.

The Discovery of Roehl’s Body

A warrant for their arrest was put out along with a hefty finder’s fee. One morning, while bringing in his lines on the Hudson river, fisherman Frederick Cronk noticed a body floating in his net, wearing Sing Sing’s iconic prisoner’s uniforms. Knowing about the reward, he immediately called the police. When they brought the body out of the water, they found it was none other than Frank Roehl. But he hadn’t drowned. Instead, he was found with a bullet hole in his head.

Days later, his roommate’s body also washed up on shore with a similar bullet wound in the head. Police could only determine it must have been a murder-suicide that brought about the untimely end of these two murderers. Despite being convicted of Paulsen’s murder, Roehl never completed his sentence, and it is perhaps for this reason that the tortured ghost of Paulsen is known to haunt the streets of Hester Street today.

#129 Mulberry Street

From here, let’s walk west along Hester Street towards Mulberry Street. In the 18th century, Mulberry Street was called “Mulberry Bend” as the road bent to veer around the Collect Pond’s wetlands. The name came from the fact that the area was once home to a large patch of mulberry trees that lined the land. But don’t let the idea of a tree-lined street confuse you, this part of town epitomized the worst of the city’s slums. The little lane also went by the name “Slaughterhouse Street,” as it was here where the slaughterhouse of Nicholas Bayard was located. 

Rent here was cheap, and slumlords leased out overcrowded tenement houses to the vulnerable new immigrants who arrived in the city. Throngs of people lined the roads, and vendors crowded the narrow streets. Many of these new immigrants were of Italian heritage. In the 19th century, the area quickly became the heart of Manhattan’s Little Italy. And later in the 20th century, this area of town was one of the best places to run into members of New York’s Italian Mafia.

Mulberry’s Mafia

The mafia was obsessed with preserving family and history, so it seems fitting that they would make their home along Mulberry streets. Some prominent mafia families have lived in homes here since the 1890s. And many of the businesses that line the streets were mafia owned. And the ones that weren’t were definitely under their thumb. Some were even required to pay a monthly stipend to get protection from the mob.

“Crazy Joe” Gallo 

In 1972, the notorious mob boss “Crazy Joe” Gallo was gunned down inside Umberto’s Clam House. Gallo was here with his family, celebrating his 43rd birthday. And it would surely be a birthday to remember. Four gunmen entered the dining room during the seafood course and shot twenty rounds into Gallo. To protect his family, Gallo stumbled after the gunmen, mortally wounded into the street and collapsed. And it was right here, beneath our feet, outside the restaurant, that he died. His ghost is still known to haunt the restaurant, perhaps upset he never got to finish that birthday dinner.

Citizens Savings Bank

Heading back to the Bowery, make your way to the old Citizens Savings Bank on the corner of Canal Street and the Bowery. From here, you can look across Canal Street towards the grand arched entrance to the Manhattan street bridge. The best view of the Beaux-Arts style Citizens Savings Bank is along the Bowery. From here, you can best appreciate the giant arched windows that were once on either side of the bank. Back in the day, these would have let a tremendous amount of light into the building and stepping inside would have been a heavenly experience.

The stonework was carved in a classic style with Doric columns and pilasters. This classical design was meant to give investors a sense of stability. On the top of the facade is a large, wreathed clock. Sitting atop the clock is a great eagle, flanked on either side by two seated figures. The one on the left is a Native American, and on the right, we see a sailor. Today, in keeping with its heritage, the building is occupied by a new branch of HSBC.

Bull’s Head Tavern

At #50 Bowery Street, we can find the swanky Hotel 50 Bowery, but if we take ourselves back to 1750, it was here that we would have found the old Bull’s Head Tavern. The tavern had long been nothing more than a barn for the cattle market, a literal stock market for local slaughterhouses. There was also a dog and bear fighting pit out back. And the smoky, dimly lit tavern grew around these seedy dens as a place for men to drink and gamble.

But, in November 1783, the Bull’s Head Tavern would enter the history books as it was here that General George Washington established his temporary headquarters on Evacuation Day. After the war, the tavern was converted into a butcher shop for Henry Astor to sell meat from the many slaughterhouses in the area. But when the slaughterhouses closed down, so did Astor’s shop, and the original building was lost to time. But history remembers its importance.

Bowery Theatre

At #46 Bowery Street, you can now find Joe’s Shanghai restaurant. But for over 80 years, this was the spot where you could have found the old Bowery Theatre. The original building was named New York Theatre and was designed in an opulent Neoclassical design. The theatre seated over 3,500 people making it the biggest theatre in the United States. It was a superior beauty and home to ballets, operas, and high dramas. Sadly, just two years after opening, the theatre burnt down in 1828. 

When it reopened, it was no longer home to the European types of theatre that the middle and upper classes demanded. Instead, to match the changing nature of the Bowery, it was the place to go and see American nativist productions. These populist plays featured blood and guts melodramas which were popular with the rowdy masses. This also included the first production of racist blackface minstrel shows like the debut of “Jumping Jim Crow.” But it wasn’t just modern-day viewers that looked down on these types of productions; the ghosts of the theatre were clearly in opposition to the new productions. The theatre burned down four times in 17 years. Fires were a massive problem in New York, but four fires in a relatively short time was unheard of. Almost as if the building was cursed.

#40-42 Bowery

Just a few doors down, hidden behind the yellow and white restaurant awnings, are the old brick buildings, which once held the gang headquarters of the Bowery Boys. In the 1850s, these two buildings were the most feared place in town as they served as the rebellious clubhouse for the local gang members.

The Bowery Boys

The Bowery Boys were a nativist, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish criminal gang. The gang was initially formed as a group of volunteer firemen. These men led relative law-abiding lives serving as tradesmen, mechanics and butchers. Back then, firefighting was a great way to make some money on the side. There were no central city-wide firefighters. Instead, local communities had rogue groups of firefighters. And it was the first group on the scene to put out the fire that got paid. So often, there was fierce competition to be the first on the scene. And with so many fires in the city, this was big money. This was when the firefighters turned gang members, as violence would often break out and deep-rooted rivalries were formed.

Bowery Boys Theatre

The location of their clubhouse next door to the Bowery Theatre was not happenstance. The Bowery Boys loved the theatre and spent almost all their free time inside. They were such famous attendees that often, plays put on inside the theatre were shows about Bowery Boys themselves. Which always got a massive reaction from the audience. Being working men, the Bowery Boys led a slightly more affluent lifestyle, indulging in entertainment. Despite still being defined as lower-class, the Bowery Boys thought their social status in the city was far and away above those of Irish immigrants who lived in the slum of the Five Points. To them, the slums of the Bowery were almost high living.

Dead Rabbits Riot

The Dead Rabbits were their biggest rival, an Irish Gang living inside the notorious Five Points slums. On July 4th, 1857, the Dead Rabbits attacked Bowery Boys Clubhouse. There were more than 1,000 men fought who fought in the riot that broke out. Firearms, clubs, bricks, bats, and stones were used in the attacks. The battle lasted for two days. And the police could do nothing to stop it. The rest of the city took advantage of the police being otherwise occupied, and looting took place across the Bowery.

The official reports claim only eight people were killed, but many think that fellow gang members were carried off by their friends before police arrived and buried in secret. So that the rival gangs would never know how many on the other side were lost. The Bowery Boys kept their clubhouse until the late 19th century when social reform tore apart the Bowery and the Five Points. With the removal and dismantling of the slums, the gang battles of the Five Points armies disappeared.

#18 Bowery

At the corner of Bowery and Pell Street, you can see the fabulous red brick exterior of #18 Bowery. Also called the Edward Mooney House. This is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, row houses in New York, dating back to 1785. Edward Mooney was a wealthy butcher who died in the house in 1800. After his death, the house passed hands many times, serving as a brothel, tavern, general store, restaurant and pool hall. The house still goes by his name despite Mooney not residing here for over 200 years. But perhaps he still remains, his ghost watching over the house in his name to this day.

Doyers Street

Just down one block is the entrance to Doyers Street. Doyers Street is this seemingly charming winding pedestrian street home to Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the oldest dim sum restaurant in the city! And definitely worth checking out if you’re hungry!

But in the 19th and 20th centuries, Doyer’s Street had a much different atmosphere. The dark, almost hidden away lane was called the “Bloody Angle” and “Murder Alley” by the police officers who patrolled the streets. It was a favoured spot for gang violence, as underground tunnels could be used to escape after any altercations on the street above. 

The Bloody Angle

During the 19th century, this part of Chinatown was ruled by two rival gangs. And their clashes would often prove to have deadly results. #5 Doyers Street was the original site of the first Chinese language theatre in New York City. In 1905 a fight broke out between members of the Hip Sing Tong gang and the On Leong Tong gang. The shootout inside the theatre resulted in the deaths of three people. According to police, more people have died violently along the Bloody Angle than at any other intersection in America! But don’t let that worry you; the area is much safer after police crackdowns in the 1990s and today’s gentrification of Chinatown.

But it was not just gang violence that haunted these streets. The old tenement houses on Doyers Street were subjected to multiple fires over the years. In 1910, four tenants died, and five were injured when fire swept through the buildings at #15 and #17 Doyers. Years later, in 1939, another fire broke out in the same building, killing seven people. So many deaths in such a small part of town have resulted in this being reported as one of the most haunted streets in the Bowery.

Five Points

Perhaps the most famous area of the Bowery is located just at the bottom tip, where you find the old stomping ground once known only as; the Five Points. The Five Points neighbourhood was originally located at the Orange, Anthony and Cross street intersection. The spot at which they met created five “points,” hence the name. Today you can find Columbus Park standing at the place where you’d have once found the old Five Points slums. Back in the 1800s, this place would have been the roughest area of New York City. Police only dared to venture into this part of town in large groups, as they feared the gangs which ran rampant throughout the small enclave.

Collect Pond Townhouses

The area had previously been home to the large Collect Pond. But due to the slaughterhouses that would pour their discarded filth into the pond, the wastewater quickly became contaminated and was a severe pollution problem and environmental health hazard. The pond was filled in to quickly solve the problem. But the job was done poorly. The land quickly became unstable and released methane gas from the buried contamination below. Mosquitoes bred in the contaminated standing water, and diseases spread like wildfire.

Despite all this, there was a growing need for housing, so rickety brick and wood houses were built atop the uneven ground. The houses were unstable and would start to lean and sag at all angles. The only people who could imagine wanting to live here were people that could afford nothing else. Immigrants and the poor were preyed upon by greedy landowners to lease these truly uninhabitable houses. Unemployment, prostitution and violent crimes were the highest in this part of town than anywhere else along the Bowery.

Coulthard’s Brewery

For residents, the only way to deal with these horrible living conditions was to drink their days away. Hence the centre point of the neighbourhood became Coulthard’s Brewery, built on Cross Street in 1792. In the early 19th century, the old Brewery was converted into a tenement and boarding house. Originally, 221 people lived in just 35 tiny apartments. Even the cellars of the old Brewery were used to house tenants. But as more people poured into the Five Points, desperate for inexpensive housing, the landowners simply crowded more and more people inside. At one point, there were over 1,000 men, women and children living inside.

According to historian Herbert Asbury, demolition crews found human bones in the cellars and within the walls. In these cramped rooms, infectious diseases, such as cholera, tuberculosis, typhus, malaria and yellow fever, plagued the residents. Many of New York City’s worst epidemics originated in Five Points. Landlords often tried to hide these dead bodies to not be prosecuted by police due to their gross negligence inside and the overcrowding.

Murder Alley

Across the street from the brewery, homes was an aptly named, “Murder Alley.” In the 1850s, there was at least one murder a day here, for over 15 years! Famously, Charles Dickens visited the Five Points on a trip to New York and was horrified by what he saw.

“This is the place: these narrow ways, diverging to the right and left, and reeking everywhere of dirt and filth. . . . Debauchery has made the very houses prematurely old. See how the rotting beams are tumbling down, and how the patched and broken windows seem to scowl dimly, like eyes that have been hurt in drunken frays.”

Charles Dickens
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper

Five Point Gangs

To make matters worse, the area was also home to many of New York’s most violent gangs. They went by names such as the Plug Uglies, Mulberry Men, Kerryonians, the Forty Thieves, the Shirt Tails, and the Chichester’s. In addition to the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, we heard about before. Joining a gang was a good way to seek protection while also putting yourself in harm’s way.

It’s important to note that originally the idea behind these gangs was not a violent one. Instead, it was a way in which people sought out a community. Irish, Germany, American and Scots wanted to preserve their culture amongst like-minded people. They also found this communal group a means of discussing the crime, poverty and exploitation they often faced. But these gangs hated each other, and large groups of men, incensed by their poor lot in life, can only sit at a boiling point for so long before it all boils over.

Social Reform

After the riots of 1857, the city knew something had to be done about the Five Points slum. So in 1887, the large portion of old tenements at the heart of the Five Points were destroyed. In their place, Columbus Park was built. Today, many people come to the old site of the Five Points after its history came back into the media landscape with Martin Scorsese‘s film Gangs of New York. But the real history of this place is far more interesting and truly an example of the kind of place the Bowery once was. The pretty green trees and playful basketball courts inside Columbus Park are a far cry from the once terrible slums that made this part of town so notorious.

The Five Points is the last stop on our Walking Tour of the Bowery. I hope you’ve enjoyed this thorough guide to one of the most interesting parts of New York City that so many people leave undiscovered. Let me know in the comments what your favourite part of the tour was or what new finds you uncovered along the way!

Happy Travels, Adventurers.

References:
buff, Michael is a New York City history, Amateur Genealogist, a member of the New York law enforcement community His NYC roots go back to 1820 on Water Street, and the Vinegar Hill section in Brooklyn. “1892 Hester Street Homicide.” Lower East Side History Project, December 27, 2017. https://www.leshp.org/blog/hester-street-homicide/. “Daytonian in Manhattan.” Accessed October 24, 2022. https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/. Atlas Obscura. “Edward Mooney House.” Accessed September 27, 2022. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/edward-mooney-house. “Ephemeral New York | Chronicling an Ever-Changing City through Faded and Forgotten Artifacts.” Accessed October 24, 2022. https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/. “Hauntings at The Bowery Hotel – NY Ghosts,” January 3, 2016. https://nyghosts.com/the-bowery-hotel/. Inside Edition. “Is the ‘Most Violent Street in America’ Haunted?,” October 26, 2019. https://www.insideedition.com/is-the-most-violent-street-in-america-haunted-56716. The New York Times. “JOHN P. MOUNT A SUICIDE; He Shoots Himself in a Bowery Hotel, Leaving a Note for His Wife. WORRIED BY BUSINESS AFFAIRS For Twenty Years Connected With the Dry Goods House of Simpson, Crawford & Simpson — The Act Attributed to a Sudden Impulse.,” September 23, 1897, sec. Archives. https://www.nytimes.com/1897/09/23/archives/john-p-mount-a-suicide-he-shoots-himself-in-a-bowery-hotel-leaving.html. Lii, Jane H. “NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: CHINATOWN; On Pell Street, Only Memories Of a Violent Past.” The New York Times, June 12, 1994, sec. New York. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/12/nyregion/neighborhood-report-chinatown-on-pell-street-only-memories-of-a-violent-past.html. Magazine, Smithsonian, and Angela Serratore. “The Desperate Would-Be Housewife of New York.” Smithsonian Magazine. Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-desperate-would-be-housewife-of-new-york-140748/. onno. “Did You Know This About the Bowery?” Bowery Alliance of Neighbors (blog), June 12, 2016. https://www.boweryalliance.org/did-you-know-this-about-the-bowery/. Sachs, Andrea. “A Cheap Stay, with a Bit of History, in Manhattan.” The Seattle Times, January 21, 2012. https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/a-cheap-stay-with-a-bit-of-history-in-manhattan/. The Bowery Boys: New York City History. “The Bowery Boys: New York City History -.” Accessed October 24, 2022. https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/. Infamous New York. “The Death of Eat Em Up Jack McManus,” December 29, 2013. https://infamousnewyork.com/2013/12/28/the-death-of-eat-em-up-jack-mcmanus/. The Bowery Boys: New York City History. “The Murder on Bond Street: Who Killed Dr. Burdell?,” November 16, 2018. https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2018/11/the-murder-on-bond-street-who-killed-dr-burdell.html. N.d.

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]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-new-york-walking-tour-ghost-of-the-bowery/feed/ 0 33673 Ultimate Self-Guided Greenwich Village Ghost Tour, New York City https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-self-guided-greenwich-village-ghost-tour-new-york-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ultimate-self-guided-greenwich-village-ghost-tour-new-york-city https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-self-guided-greenwich-village-ghost-tour-new-york-city/#respond Wed, 21 Sep 2022 15:02:24 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=33481 If you’re visiting New York City and looking for something a little different to do, then...

The post Ultimate Self-Guided Greenwich Village Ghost Tour, New York City first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> If you’re visiting New York City and looking for something a little different to do, then this self-guided ghost tour is for you! Even if you’ve been to the city multiple times, taking a tour like this opens up interesting secrets you may never have uncovered before. And one of the city’s best areas to seek out historic hauntings is Greenwich Village! The historic neighbourhood nestled along the Hudson River is home to many iconic slices of New York and an abundance of historic buildings. But it’s also the setting for some of the city’s most famous ghost stories. Hidden between row-upon-row of brownstones, behind iron gates and ivy-covered walls are some of the city’s most ghastly stories, ripe for discovery. Come with us on this Greenwich Village Ghost Tour and discover those tales for yourself!

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the true stories behind the legends are a great way to learn more about this incredible city. Whether you’re an avid urban explorer or just someone looking for something unique to do during your stay in New York, this Greenwich Village Ghost Tour will help you discover all of the best haunts. And best of all, you get to go at your own pace. There are so many places along the way to rest your feet, so don’t be scared to take a break, or grab a drink at one of the many bars and cafes along the way!

Table Of Contents
  1. About the Tour
  2. Map of Greenwich Village Ghost Tour
  3. When To Do the Tour
  4. Quick History of Greenwich Village
  5. St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
  6. McSorley's Old Ale House
  7. Merchant's House Museum
  8. Furman Hall
  9. #84 West 3rd Street
  10. Washington Square Park
  11. Hanging Tree
  12. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
  13. #18 W 11th St
  14. Church of the Ascension
  15. The House Of Death
  16. Emma Lazarus House
  17. 43 W 10th St
  18. The Jefferson Market Library
  19. Gay Street
  20. 12 Gay Street, Manhattan
  21. Marie's Crisis Café
  22. One if by Land, Two if by Sea
  23. Chumley's
  24. The Church of St. Luke in the Fields
  25. White Horse Tavern
  26. Waverly Inn

About the Tour

This tour starts off in the eastern outskirts of Greenwich Village and ends aptly on the north tip of the neighbourhood, just off of Greenwich Avenue. The google map below will show you all the stops along the way! The walk will take around two hours, taken at a leisurely pace. Stop in a restaurant, grab a beer in a pub or even just sit and admire the architecture. Plus, you want all the chances you can get to see if you can spot a spectre!

There are plenty of spooky and scary stories along the way, so if you’re taking this tour with little kids you might want to pre-read through some of the stories. That way, you can decide for yourself if they are appropriate for your kids.

Map of Greenwich Village Ghost Tour

When To Do the Tour

The best time to do the tour is before dusk. Remember: New York is a big city. And like any big city, you need to keep your wits about you when walking around at night. But the tour is designed around popular locations in busy parts of the city. That way, you’re not somewhere totally out of the way late at night. You don’t want to start your walk too late at night. That way, you might miss out on being able to stop in for drinks along the way.

Obviously, “spooky season” (aka September and October) are the most atmospheric times to do the tour. The leaves change and cast a gorgeous yellow and orange hue across the brick brownstones. And the crisp Autumnal air sets the scene for ghostly apparitions. But if you don’t care about the time of year, you can absolutely take this Greenwich Village Ghost Tour whenever you are in town.

Quick History of Greenwich Village

The original marshland that now makes up Greenwich Village was called Sapokanikan by the indigenous people who were the first inhabitants of New York. Sapokanikan means “tobacco field” since the indigenous people used this rich land, close to the water, for their fields and crops. Greenwich Village was also a popular spot for fisherpeople as it was located next to a populated trout stream.

When the Dutch colonized the land, they renamed it New Amsterdam, after the original capital city in the Netherlands. At the time, this little hamlet was far from the dense city centre. When the English arrived, they battled for land and won it from the Dutch in 1664. But it wasn’t until 1713 that the colony was officially designated as “Grin’wich” in the public records. It was named after a popular neighbourhood in London.

Project Gutenberg

Exodus to Greenwich

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, people were trying to escape the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged the centre of New York. So they fled to areas outside the epicentre, into rural communities like Greenwich. New blocks of rowhouses began to pop along previously uninhabited farmland. These new streets were designed in the popular Federal style. Houses were simple square or rectangular boxes, only two or three stories tall. Most New York Federal-style buildings were made of brick with cast or wrought iron handrails. The brick buildings that make up this part of the city are one of the most iconic features of the area. These houses were occupied mostly by middle-class merchants and tradespeople.

In 1833 the New York City University moved its campus to Greenwich. With all these academics in one central area grew a bohemian environment. Art galleries, literary salons, and libraries swept through to match demand. This beatnik enclave was marked by cheap rent, drawing more and more artists and immigrants to the area. And drove out the upper classes.

Bohemian Greenwich

In the late 19th century, Greenwich Village saw another huge growth spurt. This was with the influx of French, Irish, and Italian immigrants fleeing Europe during World War II. Factories began to pop up around the area where large expanses of land were still available. And these factories could easily be filled with immigrant workers living in the newly created tenements housing.

This free spirit and rowdy community were rich with speakeasies in the prohibition era of the 1920s. Which ironically attracted uptown patrons who couldn’t find anywhere to drink in their upper-crust neighbourhoods. Throughout the years, the neighbourhood became known for its counterculture attitudes and was a hub for political and cultural movements. In fact, it was here that the Stonewall riots were first started. Sadly, rising housing costs in the district drove out the artists that originally made it what it was. Today the neighbourhood remains one of the most architecturally and historically rich areas of New York City.

St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

The first stop on our tour is notoriously one of the most haunted. At the intersection of 2nd and 10th Street, walk north until you see the giant silhouette of a church in the distance. This is the old St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery. As you approach, keep your ears peeled for the sounds of an old church bell ringing in the distance.

Petrus Stuyvesant

The site for this first church in the area was purchased in 1652 by Petrus (Peter) Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant was the first of the colony of New Amsterdam. Stuyvesant was originally a great Dutch soldier. But during a battle against the Spanish, he was badly wounded and lost his leg. It was amputated and replaced with a wooden leg, giving him the nickname “Peg Leg Pete.” Because he could no longer fight, he was selected by the Dutch West India Company to go to New York. There he would serve as governor of one of their new colonies.

Stuyvesant built a small church on the site for himself and his family. After his accident, Stuyvesant was a melancholy man. He was also a religious man, and the church brought him much peace. Stuyvesant had purchased this specific property for his dwelling because it was located far away from the hustle and bustle of the “big city.” So it was much to his dismay, as the city continued to grow, that his once peaceful neighbourhood would soon be riddled with townhouses and noisy pedestrians.

Despite all this, Stuyvesant stayed put in his home, and when he died, he was buried beneath his chapel. In 1793 the original chapel was sold off to the village. But the community built an even more impressive Episcopal church in its place in 1795.

The Ghost of St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery

But soon after building the new and improved church, people started noticing strange occurrences happening inside. One day, the villagers were awoken by the tolling of the church bell. This would usually not be a strange noise, but this bell was ringing in the middle of the night. And it wouldn’t stop!

Everyone raced to the church to see what was the matter. But when they arrived, they found the door to the bell tower locked shut from the inside. When they finally broke down the door, the noise stopped. But the room was empty. And they looked up to find the bell’s rope had been cut. The only reachable part of the rope was way too far above the ground for anyone human to reach. Everyone was perplexed as to how the bell had been rung at all, let alone for hours.

The townsfolk searched the church for clues. Finally, they found the torn part of the rope lying atop Peter Stuyvesant‘s crypt. And as they were all standing around the crypt in silent horror, they heard the sound of Stuyvesant’s wooden leg echoing throughout the halls of the church. Today many people report still hearing the ghostly footsteps of Stuyvesant’s wooden leg throughout the church. See if you can hear it for yourself.

The Body Snatchers

Another interesting story from the churchyard revolves around the stone burial vault of Alexander Turney Stewart. When he died in April 1876, Alexander Turney Stewart was America’s third-richest man. Stewart made his fortune as a retailer. He was a hugely popular figure in the city, and his funeral was packed with the city’s cream of the crop. Writers, politicians, lawyers and more all came out to St. Mark’s Church on the Bowrey to pay their respects.

In October, six months after Stewart’s burial, the church sexton noticed that doors to the vault had been disbursed. When he looked inside, he noticed several vault slabs moved, but the tombs were still in place. The sexton was immediately suspicious, with fears of so-called “resurrection men.” He made sure to a night watchmen just in case the people who broke in tried to do it again.

Resurrection Men

In the 1780s, grave robbing was on the rise. Originally grave robbing was mainly done for doctors to get their hands on “fresh” dead bodies. They used these to practice their trade and other medical experiments. But in 1870, the sensation of grave robbing was often done in search of ransom. Even Abraham Lincoln’s body was victim to an attempted robbery. Although thankfully, that was thwarted. But it was not uncommon for the bodies of wealthy men to fetch an acceptable price. Once the ransom was paid, the bodies would be returned.

The Theft of A. T. Stewart’s Body

Unfortunately, the watchmen the section hired failed at his one duty. And on the morning of November 7th, the sexton discovered the body of A. T. Stewart had been removed from his vault. Police arrived on the scene and were horrified by the brown blotches they found around the area. These were immediately identified as “pieces” of Stewart. Stewart had been dead for more than eight months and would have been in a terrible state of decomposition. So when the criminals left with the body, they left bits of the body trailing behind them as they fled. But the trail went cold, and the police had no leads.

Media Sensation

The newspapers ate up this media sensation. A reward of $25,000 was offered to the public for any information leading to the thief’s capture. Hundreds of letters poured in with theories, but none proved to provide any actual leads. In 1879 the attorneys for Stewart received a letter from Canada claiming to be the robbers. When the lawyers asked for proof, they provided several silver pieces of Stewart’s missing nameplate, also taken during the robbery. The lawyers tried negotiating with the thieves, but the trail eventually went cold. As perhaps the thieves were getting scared off, with talk of the robbery is all the papers.

Walling’s Confession

A very contested private memoir from the police chief Walling in 1878 claimed that he was in communication with the real thieves. And he claimed to have negotiated with the criminals. With the help of Stewart’s wife, they met up at midnight on an abandoned pathway outside the Hudson Valley. The masked men arrived on horseback with a velvet coffin cloth from the tomb. And a bag of bones they claimed was Stewart’s.

The masked men handed them over in exchange for the money and rode off into the night. Walling claims the bones were taken by Stewart’s wife. In 1885, they were laid in the Cathedral of the Incarnation, where Stewart’s wife was buried. But many have refuted this claim as gossip and a way for Walling to make a few bucks on his memoir. No one will ever know the truth, but many people have claimed that the cemetery is haunted by the ghost of Stewart. Stewart is known to roam angrily around the church, furious about being torn from his grave. Many say if you smell something awful, like the piece of his body that was trailed behind, that is a sign Stewart is just around the corner.

Library of Congress

McSorley’s Old Ale House

Head south along 2nd Avenue, turning west onto East 7th Street. Walk west along east 7th Street until you reach #15 where you’ll find the historic McSorley’s Old Ale House. McSorley’s is Manhattan’s oldest continuously run tavern! You definitely need to make a point to stop here inside to rest your legs and admire the decor and atmosphere, and get a drink! The darkened wood of the walls is almost stained with history. Along the interior, you’ll see an authentic old wanted poster for John Wilkes Booth. The chair hanging above the bar was the one that Abraham Lincoln himself sat in when he came in for a drink. And the handcuffs on the wall were apparently worn by Harry Houdini.

But what might lurk in the shadows among the displays are the ghosts of the tavern’s past. Bar staff have frequently seen their cats arching their backs and nuzzling into invisible hands. As if the ghost that comes every night is only there to give the cats a pet. So see if you can spot any cats who look particularly happy with no living soul around to be entertaining them.

Merchant’s House Museum

Walk south down 3rd Avenue, and turn west down 4th street. At #29 stands an old brick mansion, sitting in between two large empty lots, ripe for new constructions. But the old mansion remains, sticking out like a sore thumb. The house was once owned by wealthy merchant Seabury Tredwell. It was built in 1832, and despite its age, if you walked inside, you’d find almost the entire house unchanged.

In the 250 years since its construction, the house appears as if no time has passed. This is because the house is now a city-owned museum. It aimed at presenting to the public the personal lives of upper-class families living in New York in the 19th century. Throughout the museum are hundreds of personal objects from the Treadwell family. And supposedly, one descendant, in particular, doesn’t like when you touch her things. This would be their youngest daughter, Gertrude Tredwell.

Gertrude’s Ghost

Gertrude was a spinster who lived out her entire Iife inside the house. She was born here in 1840 and died in 1933. Gertrude had seven siblings, two brothers and five sisters. While the rest of her family grew up and got their own families, Gertrude remained alone. Gertrude had one real chance at love, but sadly, the affair was broken up by her Episcopalian father, who refused to let Gertrude marry a poor Irishman. As she grew older and became a spinsterhood, she became more and more eccentric. She seemed to care only for the house, with nothing left in her own life to care for. She was constantly obsessing with ensuring the house maintained its elegance. Even as she herself fell into financial ruin.

Her sad fate supposedly inspired Henry James‘ novel Washington Square Park, about a woman whose father attempts to thwart her romance with another man. After Gertrude’s death, the house was passed down to her cousin. But, knowing how much Gertrude protected the history of the house, the cousin was able to sell the house and all its contents to the city. Who saved it from foreclosure by turning it into a museum.

Since becoming a museum, the staff have seen the ghostly figure of Gertrude roaming the halls. She loved nothing more than to make loud noises whenever “her” objects were being moved. See if you can spot her in the window, peering down on the street. She is often seen looking out the window, always watching out for her beloved home.

Furman Hall

Leaving 4th Street behind, we’ll head down to 3rd Street. Walk west down the street and continue walking until you reach the corner of #85 West 3rd Street. This building is the residence for NYU students, Furman Hall. Unfortunately for the students, we find ourselves at another haunted residence. But this building is a real literary treasure of the city. It was here where Edgar Allen Poe lived when he wrote his infamous poem, The Raven.

Preserving Poe’s House

Back then, the buildings along West 3rd Street were made up of a series of brick rowhouses. During Poe’s time in his rowhouse, he lived with his beloved wife (and cousin) Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe. Virginia suffered from Tuberculosis, but this, combined with the stress from Poe’s scandalous activities, caused her untimely death. After her death, Poe moved out of the house and to his cottage in the Bronx. Partly to escape the madness he began to suffer after her death. When the house was set to be demolished in 2001, 70 scholars from NYU fought to preserve it. They wanted to keep Poe’s legacy within New York alive for future literary fans to appreciate for years to come.

But the building was simply in too bad of a state to be restored, and even renovation would be near impossible. As a compromise, the entire front facade of the house was cut out and preserved. It was then integrated into the new building at #85 West 3rd Street. Standing opposite the new building, even those who might not know the whole story can clearly notice the rather strange-looking addition to the facade. You can really see the difference between the salmon-coloured bricks from the original facade and the deeper red-coloured bricks from the new building surrounding it. But both brick patterns were laid out in the rinning-bond pattern to create unity between the two structures. If you walk up to the small front door on the outside of the building, you can see a plaque dedicated to the famous writer explaining the whole story.

Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe

Another architectural element preserved from the original building was a wooden banister. Today, it stands in the entryway to Furman Hall. Many students have reported seeing the ghost of Edgar Allen Poe walking up and down the staircase, holding onto the railing. Often, the students report seeing him one minute and yet gone the next. Edgar Allan Poe was a deeply troubled soul, and the death of his beloved wife marred him perhaps more than all the other events in his life. So it is without a doubt that this place would be an important spot where his spectre would return. Wandering up the stairs, holding onto the railings, and looking out the windows, for that raven, nevermore.

#84 West 3rd Street

Right across the street, at #84 West 3rd Street, you can see the gorgeous facade of an old Fire House. The house has since been transformed into a grand private residence for none other than news anchor Anderson Cooper! But Anderson must be a pretty brave owner as this building is known to be haunted by the ghost of Firefighter Schwartz.

During its time as a firehouse, firefighters would constantly report seeing a man’s ghostly figure hanging from the attic rafters. The story goes that this was the ghost of a firefighter who once worked here in the 1930s. After discovering that his wife was having an affair, he hung himself from the rafters, unable to cope with the betrayal. Ever since, workers reported hearing noises and creaking coming from that attic. As if his body was still swinging from those rafters. The large windows frame the upper-level beam with light at night so keep an eye out to see if you can see the ghost still hanging from above.

Washington Square Park

Walking north, you only have to go so far before you hit Washington Square Park. This site is perhaps one of the most popular destinations for tourists coming to New York City. It’s known for its communal atmosphere, with musicians and artists surrounding the fountain at all times of the day. Entertaining the masses that collect here to sit around the fountain or relax on the benches that surround it.

Potter’s Field

But few tourists, and many locals, might not know when they are walking onto the square because below them lies over 20,000 bodies. Buried right under their feet. In the 1780s, the city purchased a parcel of eight acres of land to be converted into a large potter’s field. A potter’s field was the old term for a common grave site. The bodies buried in these types of graveyards were often those of criminals, the destitute, or even those who could not be buried in a church cemetery for religious reasons.

Yellow Fever Epidemic

But in the late 18th century, the epidemic of yellow fever hit New York City. The spread of the virus was most prevalent in the centre of Manhattan, and it claimed thousands of lives. But what to do with so many bodies? And bodies that were thought to still be infected. The answer was to bury them in graves far outside the city centre in the hopes of preventing further spread. So the potter’s field out in what is now Washinton Square Park was selected as the prime location.

Transformation into Washington Square Park

The cemetery was closed in 1825, and the ground was quickly paved to create the Washington Military Parade Ground. Seemingly overnight, the area was transformed from a haunting burial ground to a fashionable residential area. Fountains, pathways and gardens were added to the beautification of the park. And in 1889, to celebrate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration, an enormous stone Memorial Arch was built in his memory. Modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Ghosts of Washington Square Park

But despite the visual changes to the area over the years, there is no use in ignoring the fact that this beautiful parks stands atop a mass grave. And ghosts have certainly not forgotten. People have reported feeling a freezing cold chill run down their spine even on hot summer days. And if you spot a woman dressed in 18th clothes walking by, only to disappear a moment later, you surely have spotted one of the “local” residents.

Another rumour tells the story of a local store owner who would see a woman in dishevelled clothing coming into his shop, begging for milk for her child. After taking the milk, she would quickly run outside. One day, the store owner followed her out. She ran into the park, and the horrified store owner watched as she disappeared into the dirt ground below.

New York Public Library

Hanging Tree

But it is not just the bodies of those taken by the virus that haunts the ground here. The park was also home to a great Hangman’s Elm. The old tree still stands on the northwest corner of the park. The elm tree dates back more than 300 years and is considered one of the oldest surviving trees in Manhattan. There are tales that the tree may have been used for public executions, but there is no truth to this rumour. Its spooky appearance perhaps gives it a bad reputation. Only one public execution was ever known to have taken place here in Washington Square park. And it occurred with the use of a gallows, not by the tree.

Rose Butler

The victim of this sole execution was a young woman named Rose Butler. Rose was executed in 1820 for the shockingly benign crime of arson. Rose was only 19 years old and an enslaved woman living in the household of a nearby family. Her only crime was setting fire to the wooden steps of her owner’s house.

Police claimed she had “confessed” to setting the fire in the hopes that she could trap her enslavers inside the house. And burn them alive. But many doubt the truth of this story. Rose was sentenced to death for a minor crime where no one was injured, and the damage to the stairs was barely even noticeable. The fire put out with a small bucket of water. Her unjust death, is a clear marker of the racism that black people were subjected to. And still are to this day. In 1827, slavery in New York was abolished, just seven years after Rose’s execution.

The Ghost of Rose Butler

Rose was buried in the same spot where she was executed, the last person buried in this potter’s field. Rose’s ghost is known to haunt the park. Some claim to see her swinging from the hangman’s elm. Others have been known to see her apparition walking through the park. Often lingering under the shadow of the elm tree. If you do come across her ghost, be sure to pay her some respect. As the last person buried here she is often thought of as the proprietor of the burial grounds. And so perhaps she is still walking about, monitoring and looking after her fellow departed.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Walk through the park, east along Washington Place, to #23 where we find the Brown Building and the sight of the old Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. In this very building, the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city and one of the deadliest in U.S. history occurred.

As it was originally named, the Asch Building was constructed here in 1900 in a fabulous neo-Renaissance style. It was made in the most popular material of the time, iron and steel. These newly manufactured materials were all the rage as they were meant to be “fireproof.” Unlike the brick and wooden buildings of years past that would instantly be destroyed in a large fire, these iron buildings were thought to be able to withstand even the strongest blaze.

Triangle Shirtwaist Company

These so-called “fireproof” buildings were very attractive to factory owners, especially those in the textile industry. Fires weren’t uncommon at the time, and the price to either rebuild or renovate after a fire was sometimes enough to bankrupt a company. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company manufactured women’s blouses and occupied the top three floors of the Asch Building. Most employees who worked here were young, Jewish, Italian, Russian, and German female immigrants. And although they came to the United States in search of a better life, they were almost immediately taken advantage of upon arrival. Even today, the garment industry’s underpaid labour is a huge ethical issue. And sadly, in the past, things were even worse.

The Life of a Factory Workers in 1911

Workers here were unpaid, overworked, and often as young as 14 years-old. But worst of all, they were subjected to awful working environments. The upper floors of the building had almost no ventilation, and the heat would have been unbearable in the summers. But worse, freezing cold in the winter. Being a textile factory, the rooms were filled with the most flammable objects you could bring together. Tissue paper, linen, cloth, and cotton cuttings were strung all over the floor and even hung from the ceiling above.

March 25th, 1911

On March 25th, 1911, someone dropped a single match in the northeast corner of the 8th floor. No doubt, the poor freezing soul was just trying to keep warm on a cold winter’s day or perhaps lighting a cigarette as their only means of relaxation. In seconds the floor was aflame. And spread in an instant throughout the entire factory floor, igniting all the scraps that were strewn across the ground. There could be no better environment for fire to spread.

Women on the 8th floor rushed towards the exit doors. Although there were technically two exit stairwells, one was locked shut as a means to prevent theft by the workers. So only one stairwell was able to be used for escape. The remaining stairwell inside was a death trap. Since the building was always overcrowded, well past legal capacity, the escape became a log jam as people scrambled to get out. Many women were crushed to death in the stairwells, long before the fire even reached them.

Kheel Center

Falling to their Deaths

It only took a few minutes before the fire spread to the 9th floor. But with the chaos ensuing below, no one could warn those above. When the fire erupted above, some women were able to escape using the freight elevators. But eventually, these elevators became overcrowded and the elevators unusable. When the women on the 9th and 10th floors went to use the stairwells to escape, they found them consumed with fire. The last option for survival was the fire escape on the outside of the building. But unfortunately, the outer stairs were flimsy and poorly anchored to the iron structure. So when these hoards of women tried to scramble down, the heat and extra weight caused the stairs to collapse, and about 20 women fell to their deaths onto the concrete, exactly where you’re standing below.

The women left upstairs who witnessed this horrifying scene could do nothing but wait. They saw the firefighters arrive on the scene, but their ladders could only reach the 6th floor. While they tried to use their hoses to put out the blaze, the flames were too strong to be so easily snuffed out. Many trapped women standing on the edge of the windows were forced to jump. Killed by the nine-storey fall. Many died from smoke inhalation as they could not escape from the fire.

When the fire was finally put out, there were nothing left inside but ashes. But the building’s structure was undamaged. The iron and steel were indeed “fireproof,” but sadly for the victims, this didn’t apply to them. Over 123 women and young girls died in the blaze, along with 23 men.

The Aftermath

The owners of the factory, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, managed to escape the fire. But they were not able to escape prosecution for their negligence. After the traumatic deaths of all these women, a rush of protests occurred throughout the city. These resulted in a huge change in legalization and for better safety standards for workers. It even was the catalyst for the creation of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.

Ghosts of the Fire

Today, students report seeing countless ghosts throughout the building. The ninth floor of the building is where the most people died and is, therefore, the most haunted. The phantom screams of women echo from the top three floors late at night. A famous ghostly couple is often seen in a final embrace beside the window. They are seen standing together before jumping to their deaths, hand in hand. There have been ghostly apparations seen fleeing down the corridors, still trying to outrun the fire.

In the stairwells where so many women were met with a locked door, the door handles still seem to shake and jiggle, as if a phantom hand is still trying to get them open. And in another stairwell, the sound of running footsteps is often heard.

Above the elevator, on the 9th floor, there is a mirror that student says reflects the living and the dead. People have reported seeing a woman dressed in Victorian garb staring back at them in the mirror. But when they turn around, there is no one there. Listen carefully as you stand outside in the dark. People say that you can still hear the ghostly crackle of the fire that burns in the memory of this place forever.

Kheel Center

#18 W 11th St

Walk north, turning onto 5th Avenue. Continue until you reach 11th Street. Before heading to the stops on 10th Street, we’re going to make a quick stop at #18 West 11th Street. The building stands out amongst the other classical buildings due to its unique appearance. You might not notice it from far away, but as you get closer, you’ll see how the facade of the house is diagonally indented. But it’s not its architectural uniqueness that brings us here today, but the incredible events which took place in 1970.

The Weather Underground

Back then, the house was owned by James Wilkerson. But at the time, he was letting his daughter, Cathy Wilkerson, stay at the property while he was away. Little did he know that his daughter was a prominent member of the Weather Underground group. The Weather Underground was a radical left-wing militant organization. So prolific at the time, it was named as a domestic terrorist group by the FBI. They originally started as a group of students from the Democratic Society. Their goal was to create a revolutionary party to overthrow American imperialism.

But their intentions turned violent in the 70s, and the group started a targeted bombing campaign. It aimed to destroy government buildings and large banks. It was in this house that several group members were set up, building bombs in the basement. No one could have suspected such activity was going on behind an otherwise innocent-looking middle-class brownstone.

Bomb Explosion

While assembling the bomb, it was accidentally set off, causing an enormous explosion. Two members in the basement were killed instantly, and another outside the room would die from his wounds later that evening. Cathy had just been returning home and, once witnessing the explosion, fled the scene. She avoided capture for more than a decade but eventually surrendered in 1980.

A fascinating twist to the story was that actor Dustin Hoffman lived just next door! When the explosion happened, Hoffman was captured by the newspaper, fleeing his home. Since his house was one of the adjoining houses, it also caught fire. So Hoffman was caught running in and out of his house, carrying large pieces of precious artwork in the hope of saving them from the flames.

Restoration of the House

The house was left vacant for years, the scars of the deaths that occurred here too fresh for anyone to want to move right in. Architects went about trying to restore the damage to the home. The heritage department prevented any kind of visual renovations to all the other houses on this street as they pre-date 1845. But since this home has been so badly damaged, there was a dire need for repair. The architects didn’t want to simply restore it back to the exact design of the original home. They felt they needed to honour what happened here not just hide it all away.

So they came up with the idea to create these angular and modernist bay windows that seems to cut into the fabric of the building. Almost exploding out of the frame. It was a pretty hotly contested design, but eventually, after time passed, the house was repurchased. And people began to forget the event ever happened. But the angry ghosts of those radical victims who never got to carry out their horrible deeds are known to still wander the streets. The ghostly echoes of the explosion still reverberate in the glass. So listen closely on hauntingly dark and quiet evenings to the sounds of the house that still cries out.

Church of the Ascension

Head back to 5th Avenue and walk down to the intersection of 5th and 10th, where you’ll find the gothic revival-style Church of the Ascension. One of the church’s unique aspects is that even at night, the stained-glass windows are illuminated. Giving the building a haunting effect, glowing brightly in the darkness. But the windows are not just a beautiful aspect of the church, but the spectral reason that brings us here today.

John La Farge

The windows were designed by artists John La Farge. La Farge was an innovative American painter, muralist, and writer, but most famous for his imaginative stained glass windows. After completing the window design, the church Parish was so impressive that they commissioned him to paint an enormous arched mural. This mural would be the central focus of the entire nave. The canvas he used was enormous, almost as wide as the church itself. When he completed the painting, hanging it up inside proved to be a big challenge. According to the legend, when the installers came to hang the mural, it fell off the wall, crashing down to the floor. It’s said that the same moment the mural crashed to the ground, La Farge passed away. As if the two incidents were eerily linked.

La Farge’s Ghost

La Farge lived just down the street at Tenth Street Studio Building. Ever since his death, multiple residents have seen La Farge’s ghost wandering the down the street and into his beloved church. Lights have been turned on, and doors unlocked. Many people have seen his ghostly figure, and he even appeared to people during seances when called upon. Keep an eye out for his shadow in the illuminated stained glass windows as he is frequently seen floating past.

The House Of Death

Across the street from the church is perhaps one of the most haunted buildings in all of New York. You’d never known it from the classical brownstone’s appearance, looking just the picture of regal New York architecture. The house was built just before the civil war in the 1850s and has barely changed since. But since it is so old, it has seen its fair share of deaths over the years. There are reports of over 22 different ghosts who are said to appear to the residents of the building. All of these chilling happenings lend to the house’s nickname, The House of Death.

Many people believe that traumatic circumstances are the cause of ghostly appearances. But sometimes, even the presence of ghosts can cause these incidents, causing a knock-on effect. Various paranormal investigators who have visited the building have seen the ghost of a young child, an aborted fetus, a gray cat and a lady dressed in white. But the most famous ghost residing here is that of famous write, Mark Twain. A small bronze plaque is located on the outside of the building to mark Twain’s official stay.

Twain’s Ghost

Mark Twain lived here for only a year in 1900. But even in that short amount of time, he claimed to have experienced some supernatural occurrences. But Twain was a skeptic, but one night, while sitting near the fire, he saw a piece of wood kindling moving all by itself. Floating in the air. He thought it was caused by a rodent and even shot at the wooden log. Blood appeared from the bullet hole, but no rodent was ever found. Despite being a skeptic, the strange occurrences were enough to cause his quick exodus from the building. Twain died ten years later at age 74 in Connecticut.

In 1930, a mother and daughter moved into the house. They almost immediately experienced the first sighting of Twain’s ghost, sitting near the window. He turned to them and said, “My name is Clemens, and I have a problem here. I gotta settle.” Clearly, despite dying in Connecticut, something was bringing Twain back to this site. Something left unfinished.

Library of Congress‘s Prints and Photographs division

Jan Bryant Bartell

Years after Twain’s death, the house became home to actress and writer Jan Bryant Bartell. As soon as she moved in, Bartell began to experience paranormal sightings. This includes noises in the walls, and visions of a ghostly woman in white woman seen in the windows. She also would increasingly smell putrid aromas throughout the house. And could never find the source. But worse than anything else, was this constant feeling of a presence nearby. Even when she was alone in the house, she felt like someone was watching. One day, while searching for this presence, she saw the ghostly figure of Twain himself. He was standing on the stairs, dressed in his white suit. Staring straight thru her.

The Steinberg Case

But the most horrible event inside the House of Death was the murder of a helpless 6-year-old girl. In 1987 former attorney Joel Steinberg beat his adopted six-year-old daughter Elizabeth “Lisa” so badly that she fell into a coma. Unfortunately, little Lisa died in hospital a few days later from her injuries. Despite being convicted of manslaughter, at the time in New York State, first-degree murder applied only to those who killed police officers. Or had committed murder while already serving a sentence for a previous murder. So the jury could only convict Steinberg to the maximum penalty of 8 to 25 years in prison.

Despite NEVER claiming any remorse for the murder, Steinberg was released on parole in 2004 and is still living in Harlem. The relatively short stay in prison is an unjust reality compared to the cruelty of his actions. Today, the young girl’s ghost is known to cause the lights on the floor where she was killed to go on and off at various times when no one is home. A sign that the girl is still there, waiting for real justice to be served.

Emma Lazarus House

Just two doors down, at #18, is the Emma Lazarus House. Emma Lazarus is perhaps best known for her poem, The New Colossus. The poem is emblazoned on a pedestal beneath the Statue of Liberty. The poem goes, “Give me you’re tired, your poor/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Emma was a talented child right from the jump. Her father, a Jewish immigrant and wealthy sugar merchant, moved into the Italianate-style residence in 1883. Emma couldn’t attend school as a girl, but she was well taught by many private tutors. And when she was just 20 years old, she began writing poems. Some of which were actually published in newspapers all around New York.

Emma was also very outspoken about the rights and struggles of Jewish immigrants. She aimed to help new immigrants when they moved to the city and immersed herself in helping others. Emma never married; perhaps she already felt like she was a mother to many other families. Sadly, she fell ill at only 38 from what we now suspect to be lymphoma. She died shortly after returning home to New York from a European trip. But she never could find a way to leave her beloved home. And her ghost is known to roam the house halls even today. Her figure is often seen walking past the windows at night, looking out at the street below.

43 W 10th St

Continue walking east along 10th street until you reach #43. This building was the original location of the old Tenth Street Studio. The Tenth Street Studio was La Farge’s original residence. And the place from which his ghost is often thought to emerge at night. Wandering down the street, heading towards the church. So be sure to keep an eye out for him as you pass by.

The Jefferson Market Library

Stepping out from 10th Street onto 6th Avenue, you are immediately overwhelmed by the sight of the most unbelievable architectural wonders of New York City; the Jefferson Market Library. Although it might look like a church, the building was originally designed in 1870 as a Victorian Gothic courthouse. Unlike today, most courthouses of the time housed their prisons inside the same building. The basements of courthouses were where prisoners awaiting trial would be locked away.

By the 1940s, the courthouse was closed, and the building was saved from demolition by being transformed into a public library. But ever since it became a public space, people have seen the ghost of a woman roaming the library halls. Particularly, she loves to lurk around the fire watcher’s balcony windows and wave to people below. If you spot her, try waving back. Perhaps she is just lonely and yearning for someone to give her back some affection. Many people speculate that she is the ghost of a wrongly accused prisoner who may have died in prison. And who today continues to wander the building, yearning for justice.

Gay Street

Turn down 6th Avenue, and walk south for one block until you reach Christopher Street. Head east down Christopher Street until you reach the tiny, tucked away lane marked “Gay Street.” Gay Street is one of the most iconic streets in Greenwich Village. But despite what you might immediately think when looking at a street called “gay” at the time when the street was named, the word had nothing to do with homosexuality. It was actually named after the land owner, R. Gay, who was given ownership of the land in 1775. The narrow lane was originally used as a stable alley for horses. But in 1833, the lane was widened, and houses began to be built up around it. Only by coincidence was Gay Street, located in the heart of the Gay and Lesbian neighbourhood that grew in the 1970s and 80s.

Ghosts of Gay Street

But the haunted nature of the street dates back even before the street had a proper name. Back when the area was still a part of the Dutch Colony, it was owned by Wouter Van Twiller. Twiller built a morgue and brewery in this very spot. As it was then on the city’s outskirts, these two smelly establishments were perfectly suited to be on the fringes. But from day one, death seemed to hang heavy in the streets. With local residents claiming to see the ghosts of the corpses fresh from the morgue still wandering the streets.

The Gay Street Phantom

In the early 20th century, Gay Street became a popular spot for the city’s black residents, many of whom were musicians. And with great music came great parties! During prohibition, Gay Street was a popular spot for speakeasies, as the street was not only off the beaten path but also quite tucked away from the main roads. The parties of the 1920s roared down the narrow lane. And one of the partygoers seems to have never left. They call him the Gay Street Phantom. The Phantom is frequently seen walking down the street dressed in his dapper black cloak and large top hat.

12 Gay Street, Manhattan

The quaint brick townhouse with pale blue shutters at #12 Gay Street was once home to one of the most famous speakeasies; the Pirate’s Den. The Pirate’s Den was opened during prohibition as a theatrical buccaneer-themed establishment and a popular hang-out for then-local Mayor Jimmy Walker. Before he was a mayor, Walker actually wrote the music for broadway shows and his love for the theatre never waned. And neither did his love for chorus girls. Despite being a married man, he became so obsessed with one particular Ziegfeld showgirl, Betty Compton. He was so enamoured with her that he set her up with a small apartment inside #12 where she could live as his mistress and eventually be his wife.

Today, the house is rumoured to be home to Walker’s ghost. The ghost is known to still walks about the house, the upper levels’ floorboards creaking at night when no known is at home on those levels. His spirit must have clung to these streets, wishing to return to a better time when life was all about fun and frivolity. Walker’s time as mayor was marred with scandals and corruption. Life was easier when he was just a broadway tunes writer.

Marie’s Crisis Café

Walking west, turn down Grove Street to #59, where we find Marie’s Crisis Café. Marie’s Crisis Cafe is a lively piano bar built atop the site of Thomas Paine’s home. Thomas Paine was an English-born political activist. Despite his English origins, he was one of the most influential writers who drove the ideals of the American Revolution into the hearts of the people of New York City. One of his most famous pieces of writing was called the “Crisis Papers,” hence the bar’s name. Shortly after the American Revolution in 1809, Paine died inside his beloved home. Despite all his work to fight for the revolution, his oppositional opinions on institutionalized religion drove him to be ostracized by his peers. And sadly, only six people attended his funeral.

After Paine’s death, the area around the house fell into disrepute, and the home was transformed into a popular brothel. It wasn’t until the late 1850s, during prohibition, that the building served as a speakeasy. After prohibitions were dismantled, the bar continued its operations, this time more public-facing. It continues to be one of the most entertaining places in town. With hundreds of people gathering nightly to sing Broadway tunes around a grand piano. Paine’s ghost is known to still haunt the building. But happily, unlike at the end of his life when he drove everyone away, today he is surrounded by dozens of friendly faces inside Marie’s Crisis Café.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

Walk across 7th Street, which cuts diagonally across the village. Take a turn east down Barrow street towards the restaurant named One if by Land, Two if by Sea. The building now houses one of New York’s most illustrious and elegant restaurants, but when it was first built in 1790, it was used as a horse stable. But not just any stable; it was the stable house for none other than now star of the Broadway stage, Aaron Burr. The current restaurant owners pay tribute to the American politician by hanging horseshoes, hitching posts and other antiques they found within the house on the restaurant’s walls.

Aaron Burr’s Home in New York

Aaron Burr owned a swath of land just a few streets west at #17 Commerce Street, but while that home was being built, he moved into the carriage house with his daughter after his wife died. His daughter, Theodosia, was the apple of his eye. And the two spent many good years together inside this quaint home. But sadly, after that fateful dual against Alexander Hamilton, which ended in Hamilton’s untimely death, Burr fell sharply out of the popular political circles in New York. Burr was forced to sell off much of his property, including the carriage house.

After its sale, the house was converted into an engine house for the next-door firehouse. And like many of the buildings we’ve been to throughout our Greenwich Village ghost tour, in the 1890s, the house was (you guessed it) transformed into a brothel and speakeasy. This building was especially useful as a speakeasy because it housed an underground passageway. The passage provided access to the shores of the Hudson River. This meant it was easy to sneak in and out of illegal goods. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the home was purchased as a restaurant and opened back up to the public.

The Ghosts of Aaron and Theodosia Burr

But even after all this passage of time and changing faces of the building, Aaron Burr and his beloved daughter are known to meet here in the afterlife. It was here that they both shared so many warm memories, and it is no surprise that they would want to return. Theodosia also suffered a terrible fate. On her way home to New York, the ship she sailed home in disappeared. Many people think pirates kidnapped the girl; others believe the ship sank in a terrible storm. Whatever the case, her body was never recovered, which drove Burr into a despair from which he could never rebound.

Theodosia’s ghost is known to wear a long black gown and stand at the top of the stair, looking down at the guests below. She is also known to go up to some women inside and pull at their beautiful earrings. Perhaps trying to acquire them for herself.

Burr, on the other hand, is perhaps slightly more angry at all these people seemingly taking up residence inside “his” house. Waiters have been known to be shoved down the stairs late at night or see plates flying across the walls as if thrown by spectral hands. Lights are known to flicker on and off after the restaurant has closed. Picture frames are often found off kilter in the morning when the manager opens the restaurants despite no one being inside.

Chumley’s

Continue walking west along Barrow Street, turning north on Bedford Street to #86 Bedford Street. Here we find ourselves outside the blank stone facade of what was once of the most popular bars in the city; Chumley’s. Long before it hosted such notable figures as Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald, the building served as the community’s blacksmith back in 1831. It wasn’t until 1922 that Leland Stanford Chumley converted the building into his covert speakeasy.

86’ed

There isn’t even a remnant of any old signage indicating where the old bar once was because the original speakeasy had to be as low profile as possible. Even after prohibition was abolished, they kept up the tradition, and only those “in the know” could find the bar. It is rumoured that the term “86’ed” actually comes from life at Chumley’s. During prohibition, the speakeasies paid off police certain officers to ensure they would be informed about any raids in the areas. The officers would call the bartender and tell them to “86 your customers” as a code word to get them to evacuate the customer before police arrived. They used the word “86” since back then, the address of #86 Bedford was actually the back door to the bar. The primary entrance was located on the other side, in the Pamela Courtyard.

The Ghosts of Chumley’s

The first person known to die inside the fabled bar was writer Clinton Curtis. He was involved in a bar brawl that resulted in his throat being cut by an angry seaman. The cause of the brawl? A rather intense game of chess, of all things! Curtis’ ghost frequents the bar, still looking for chess partners to play with.

After Leland Chumley’s death, the bar was inherited by his wife, Henrietta. But Henrietta fell victim to the call of the alcohol that flowed so freely inside the bar. She died in 1960, sitting inside her favourite booth. Her ghost is still said to haunt that very same booth today. Still drunk as a skunk, her spirit is often heard knocking over shelves, smashing glasses and even drinking up half-empty beers left on the tables.

Chumley’s was forced to close in 2007 after a load-bearing wall collapsed inside. After extensive renovations, it reopened shortly in 2016. But was forced to close its doors once more during the Covid pandemic. The thirsty ghosts still reside inside, awaiting Chumley’s triumphant return, when they can dine with the living once more!

The Church of St. Luke in the Fields

Crossing over Grove Street towards Hudson Street, you find yourself face to face with the rather quaint exterior of the Church of St. Luke in the Fields. The church dates back to 1820, when it was built in the image of an old English village church by the local community around here. The church was named after Saint Luke, the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. 

Saint Luke

As mentioned when visiting Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village was a safe refuge from yellow fever that plagued the inner city. So the church was built in St. Luke’s name in the hopes he would protect this new community. Later, in the 1980s, at the height of the AIDS crisis, the church once more did right by its namesake. They created the AIDS Project, which provided Saturday dinners and weekend teas to tens of thousands of people afflicted by the disease.

Ghost of Clement Clarke Moore

The most famous ghostly resident whose grave can be found in the cemetery is of Clement Clarke Moore. You might not immediately recognize the name, but you will know the story he penned, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Moore even first read the poem to the congregation here at the church. Moore loved his church. He was the only child of a wealthy family, so he spent much of his fortune funding the church. He even used the wood from his orchard to help rebuild the church after a fire.

After his death, many claimed to see his spirit inside the church every Sunday. But Moore is the definition of a “friendly ghost.” Many liken his personality to that of Santa Claus himself. Many have seen his spectre singing here at Christmas along with the carolers, as the festive season was always his favourite time of year. People have also reportedly heard the organ being played late into the night. Moore banging out Christmas tunes which echo throughout the empty nave. So listen closely as you pass by to see if you can hear him at play.

White Horse Tavern

Continue north along Hudson Street towards the old White Horse Tavern. The White Horse Tavern touts itself as the second oldest bar in New York, opening in 1880 under the name Longshoremen’s Bar. But the tavern wouldn’t fall into the history books until the 1950s and 60s, when it became a popular hangout for New York City’s most prolific writers and musicians. Being frequented by Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison.

The Ghost of Dylan Thomas

But most notably for our purposes, the White Horse Tavern is where people often see the ghost of poet Dylan Thomas. When Thomas was visiting New York, he came to this tavern and drank over 18 shots of whiskey. It was a triumphant record for him. He later that night returned to the Chelsea Hotel, bragging about his accomplishment at the famed White Horse Tavern.

But that would be one of the last happy memories for Thomas, as he was suffering from a severe lung infection. Only days after visiting the White Horse Tavern, he died at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Thomas’ ghost is known to return to the tavern, sitting at the bar, sneaking shots of whiskey. Perhaps trying his best to beat his own record. He even has a favourite corner table where guests have most frequently seen his spirit. This is a great place to stop in for a drink to see if you can spot him for yourself.

Waverly Inn

The last stop on our tour can be found after a short walk east along West 11th Street. At #16 Bank St., we see the picturesque brick exterior housing the old Waverly Inn. The house was initially built in 1884 and served as a tavern and a bordello. Surprise, surprise. After the original tavern closed, the building was converted into a carriage house for the wealthy owners of the homes nearby.

But, the 1920s prohibition era brought the saloon back to life, reopening as a “teahouse.” Teahouses were the nickname many people gave to keep speakeasies a secret. It was one of the most upscale speakeasies of the time. It was even frequented by American poets Robert Frost and Edna St. Vincent May. In 2006, the restaurant was purchased by Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter. Carter would transform the restaurant from a classic tavern to full-on 5-star dining with a wait list full of celebrity names!

The Firebug Ghost

But the most frequent guest at the Waverly Inn is their seasoned spectre. Many reports see the apparition of a man dressed in a 1920s-style waistcoat and black top hat. He is often seen lurking in the shadows around the inn’s many old fireplaces. But he doesn’t just like to look; many people have nicknamed the spectre the “firebug” ghost as he is known to light the tinders left in the fireplaces when no one is looking. The fire pokers are seen moving as if by phantom hands as he tends to his beloved fires around the building.

Unfortunately, he is not always so careful with the fires he lights. In 1997, a fire broke out in the middle of the night inside the restaurant. After firefighters arrived and put out the blaze, they could find no sign of accelerants to have started the fire. No electrical outlet had sparked, and there were no combustibles on the scene that could have started the fire. They were left totally perplexed, and yet to everyone who had seen the firebug ghost before, they knew it must have been him! Since 1997, more fire alarms and sprinkler systems have been installed to ensure that whatever he gets up to in the middle of the night doesn’t cause an end to this historical establishment.

This brings us to the end of our Greenwich Village Ghost Tour. I really hope you learned something new along the way, and the stories we told sent a shiver down your spine. Please let me know in the comments if you were lucky enough to see one of the resident hauntings on your city tour. Or any other spectres you came across on your trip to the Big Apple.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post Ultimate Self-Guided Greenwich Village Ghost Tour, New York City first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/ultimate-self-guided-greenwich-village-ghost-tour-new-york-city/feed/ 0 33481 ‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED] https://thecreativeadventurer.com/a-complete-guide-to-sleep-no-mores-story-characters-and-plotlines/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-complete-guide-to-sleep-no-mores-story-characters-and-plotlines https://thecreativeadventurer.com/a-complete-guide-to-sleep-no-mores-story-characters-and-plotlines/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:05:01 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=20292 If you are here because you are looking for additional information on the goings-on behind the...

The post ‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> If you are here because you are looking for additional information on the goings-on behind the doors of the McKittrick Hotel during ‘Sleep No More,‘ you’ve come to the right place. I wanted to write this post to give those curious minds a little more insight into the plot and storylines throughout the show and a detailed account of my experiences. It really is best to go into the show without too many spoilers, so if you’re planning on attending, I will stick with my spoiler-free guide. But if you are looking for insights into what others saw or won’t be able to attend and are interested in learning more about the experience then read on!

Sleep No More Guide
  1. Character Inspirations
  2. Scene-by-Scene Guide
  3. The Elusive 6th Floor
  4. Gallows Green Rooftop Bar
  5. TIPS:

Character Inspirations

In the show program, it lists a relationship diagram between each of the characters. They are separated into various categories; the Court (which includes all the Macbeth characters), the King James Sanitorium (which are Nurse Shaw, Matron Long, and the Orderly), the Townspeople of Gallows Green (which include Mr. Bargarran and Mr. Futon) and finally the members of the McKittrick Hotel (Catherine Campbell, The Porter and the Bell Hop)

Macbeth Characters

All the Macbeth characters are a little easier to put together. If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

Malcome and Lady Macbeth

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

Banquo & MacDuff

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

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Rebecca Characters

When the show first started, there were various characters named after characters from the Hitchcock film ‘Rebecca‘. Perhaps for legal reasons, these names had to be changed when the show moved to New York. The second Mrs. De Winter is now Agnes Naismith, and her storyline is a bit different. Mrs. Danvers is now called Catherine Campbell. These names were chosen from the real people who were accused of being witches in the Paisley Witch trials of 1697. Nurse Christian Shaw shares the same name as the eleven-year-old Christian Shaw, the daughter of the Laird of Bargarran, who was the accuser and responsible for seven people’s deaths during the trials.

Mr. Bargarran can also be found in the show, he works as the taxidermist in Gallow Green. We also meet Mr. Fulton. Margaret Fulton was one of the accused and murdered women from the Paisley witch trials and Mr. Fulton is her husband. In the Show, Mr. Fulton is the resident tailor and the cunning man of Gallow Green. A cunning man was a traditional name for the original practitioners of folk medicine. They were thought to be good witches, and Mr. Fulton is working actively against the evil witch Hecate.

Scene-by-Scene Guide

I had done my best to list the scenes in chronological order, although some of them happen at the same time, although on different levels of the building. Seeing the entire show in order is practically impossible without visiting multiple times so reading this little play-by-play is a great way to put together anything you missed. Remember, even if you saw it all, the show isn’t meant to be a linear narrative with a perfectly easy to comprehend plot. It’s more like art, open for interpretation and personal reflection. That being said, a little context never hurt anything!

Banquo Praying

To being the show, Banquo can be found praying at the chapel on the 1st floor, where he sits near a large statue of the Madonna. Banquo, along with Macbeth, have just returned from a successful war for King Duncan. Banquo is thanking the gods for his safe return as he is a pious man. Eventually, Macbeth comes to greet Banquo inside the chapel. The two embrace as best friends (which makes Macbeth’s eventual betrayal and murder of Banquo all the more powerful). The two leave together for the lobby, where they enjoy a few drinks. 

The Three Witches

The three witches enter the lobby to give Macbeth the all-powerful prophecy. The three witches go by the names; the sexy witch, the boy witch and the bald witch. The sexy witch wears a low-cut, teal dress. The boy witch can be found wearing a smart-fitting 1930s-style suit and heavy eyeliner—finally, the bald witch actually won’t appear bald until later in the show, she is pretty clearly wearing a wig. The “bald witch” is another reference to the 1697 Paisley witch trials. One accused witch, Agnes Sampson, was brought before the King for her supposed crimes. He had her entire body shaved as punishment before she was tortured and finally burned at the stake.

The three witches have to chase Macbeth around the lobby for a bit until he finally resigns to reading the prophecy. Banquo sees this all occur, and when Macbeth is finished reading the prophecy, Macbeth runs upstairs to find his wife. Banquo on the other hand seems a bit disturbed by what he saw and hides away inside a luggage storage room where he performs a dance across the scaffolding.

Lady and Lord Macbeth Discuss the Prophecy

At the start of the show, you can find Lady Macbeth up in her bedroom, undressed, sitting on the rim of the bathtub. All over the floor are scattered notes from Macbeth. Feel free to go and pick them up to read. The letters detail the witches’ prophecy. As Lady Macbeth sits on the tub, she seems to contemplate the idea that the prophecy details. The idea of Macbeth killing King Duncan to become King himself.

One of the most beautiful parts of this scene is when Lady Macbeth climbs into the nearby dresser, where she disappears and then reappears inside a glass box on the other side. In there, she performs a hauntingly beautiful dance for the onlookers outside. Eventually, Lady Macbeth gets out of the glass box, now dressed in a silk black nightgown. She dances furiously across the room, on top of the furniture, throwing herself around as if possessed. It is impressive to watch as it feels as dangerous as it is sensual. 

Macbeth’s Dance

Macbeth eventually enters as well as the two dance together. As they dance, she begins to press him on Duncan’s murder, and the once romantic dance becomes an aggressive battle. By the end of the dance, it seems as if Lady Macbeth has convinced Macbeth to do the deed, and he walks out of the room in a daze.

Agnes Naismith Checks into the Hotel Lobby

The second-floor lobby is occupied by Agnes Naismith (previously the Mrs. De Winters) and Catherine Campbell (previously Mrs. Danvers) at the beginning of the show. The two of them don’t get along, so lookout for a confrontation. Agnes Naismith will sign into the hotel’s registry with her full name so keep an eye out for that to recognize her. She has come to town in search of her missing sister. Although she might have been named Mrs. De Winters from the film ‘Rebecca‘ her storyline is much more similar to that of Lila in the film ‘Psycho‘ who is also on a search for her sister. The Porter will reveal a secret key to Agnes Naismith. This key opens a locked door on the 4th floor of Gallow Green. Follow her to see what she finds up there. 

Malcolm’s Detective Office

Malcolm, who is King Duncan‘s son, is mainly held up in his Detective’s office on the 4th floor in Gallow Green. The office is called “Mac Crinain & Reid Agency.” Mac Crinain was the King of Scotland in 1034 and was the King who served as the inspiration for Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The name “Reid” comes from the Paisley witch trials as John Reid was one of the accused.

Malcolm’s Detective agency office is a frenzied room covered floor to ceiling in papers and evidence. There are filing cabinets on every wall, piled up with documents as well as an abundance of stuffed birds. Malcolm is seemingly obsessed with studying dead birds. In the play Macbeth, Macbeth is compared to the “evil bird, the owl, the creepy evil animal that always stares at you”. Perhaps Malcolm’s obsession with birds is his desire to discover the true nature of Macbeth. 

Agnes Naismith

In the back of the agency is a dark room filled with photographs of murder victims hanging on a line. Malcolm is not only trying to solve the plot of who murdered his father but he is also obsessed with the mystery of Agnes Naismith‘s missing sister Grace. Being located on the 4th floor, Malcolm is in the presence of the sorceress Hecate. Throughout the performance he is manically trying to solve the question of why these mysterious things are happening in Gallow Green.

Hecate’s Spell

Hecate is the all-powerful witch who manipulates Macbeth into his crimes and is perhaps the catalyst for the show’s entire events. She is one of the only characters to wear a bright piece of clothing, a long blood-red silk dress sometimes covered in feathers (another nod to the birds’ theme). Her only goal is to see that Macbeth fulfills his destiny and kills King Duncan. But she also responsible for the darkness which haunts the 4th floor and the town of Gallow Green. At the start of the loop, Hecate struts through the streets of Gallow Green, seemingly resetting each of the characters to the beginning of their loop, under her complete control.

The Jealousy Dance

Before the ball, Lord and Lady Macduff return to their apartments. Their velvet-laced apartments on the 3rd floor are covered in talismans, charms and objects of devotion. Lady Macduff is an extremely superstitious person and is fearful of impending doom to her family. It seems to prevent her greatest fears from coming true she has placed these objects all over, almost in an obsessive fashion.

Lady Macduff’s Jealousy

Lady Macduff is furious with her husband for his wandering eye and feels less than wanted in her pregnant state. The two of them dance on top of the stacked shelves and dressers inside their room. They dance all over the rooms, jumping over couches and tumbling on the ground. Fighting, making up, arguing and in the end, proving how much they adore each other (although Macduff continues to love others just the same.)

The Ballroom Banquet

Lady Macbeth decides to host a ball in honour of King Duncan’s success war. Almost the entire cast gathers in the basement ballroom for this event. Lady Macbeth steps out onto the dance floor, where she is greeted by three menacing-looking people. These are the three witches. Macbeth, dressed in a smart-looking suit, stands on the mezzanine above the dancefloor, looking down at the guests below. The guests dance and mingle with each other. Jazz music from the 1930s plays throughout the room, featuring songs like ‘Tuxedo Junction‘ by Glenn Miller and ‘Sandman‘ by Benny Goodman. 

Catherine Campbell

If you find Lord Macduff, you may notice him flirting with various women on the dance floor, save for his heavily pregnant wife, Lady Macduff, who looks on in abject dishonour. His favourite dalliance is surely the sexy witch. Lady Macduff watches from the sidelines and is served a glass of milk by one of the attendants. This is Catherine Campbell, the cruel head housekeeper at McKittrick Hotel. Unbeknownst to Lady Macduff, the drink was poisoned, but she pushes it away. Catherine Campbell is under the thrall of Hecate, and she does her bidding. Tampering with milk was a common practice that many people thought witches would undertake to poison the faithful. So it is not surprising to hear how much-poisoned milk is used by Catherine throughout the show considering her name is taken from an accused witch in the Paisley witch trials.

The Bald Witch Transformation

After the banquet is over and the dancers begin to retire and leave the room, but one person stays behind – the bald witch. Although right now, she still has her wig on. During this hauntingly beautiful scene, the witch dances alone in the spotlight, almost as if by the light of the moon. She is one of the show’s best dancers, doing a plier and dancing almost on point. At the end of the dance, she reveals her bald head. She tosses the wig off to the side, perhaps as a gesture to indicate the beginning of the real evil of the show about to begin. True selves will be revealed…

Graveyard

After Macbeth returns from the ball, he heads to his room to change his clothes and then heads to the nearby graveyard. There, he prays in front of a large statue, resembling the Virgin Mary. He seems to plead with it as if trying to make up his mind whether to kill Duncan or not.

Hecate’s Cabaret

If you are standing in the street in Gallow’s Green, you might catch Hecate running full tilt around the corner. If you follow Hecate from the road, she will lead you to the ruins of the Manderley bar, her personal cabaret. When she arrives, she sits down at the small table off to the side of the room. In the film Rebecca, the Manderley mansion’s first appearance is in its current, burned formed. Only when we flash to the past do we see it as it once was, in its full glory. In the McKittrick hotel, Hecate’s ruined Manderley Bar is perhaps a foreshadowing of her impending doom that she will bring to the Manderley, the McKittrick and all those within should her plan of murder come to fruition.

Is that all there is

Sitting on the table is a large silver dinner tray, which she opens to reveal what appears to be a raw human heart inside. She begins to eat the pieces of the heart as uneasy music plays throughout the room. As she puts the last piece in her mouth, she chews it and spits out a plain gold wedding band hidden inside the heart. She will gesture toward someone from the audience and put the ring in their hands. Then she proceeds to walk onto the stage.

The music changes, and the song “Is that all there is” plays on the loudspeaker. A male’s voice half recites, half sings the song as Hecate mouths along to the words. When she steps off the stage, tears are flowing down her cheeks. She slowly walks towards the door where we entered but stops and turns just before leaving. This is when she will reach out to an audience member and take their hand.

Hecate’s 1:1

I was lucky enough to be blessed with this 1:1 experience. As quickly as I touched her hand, she whisked me off into the darkness, spinning around from corner to corner until we reached a locked door. It was honestly a full-speed sprint! Before entering, she whispered to me, “Do you trust me?” I nodded, and we were thrust inside. She drew a key from her pocket and locked the door behind us, away from the rest of the audience and suddenly it was just her and me. And then, most unexpectedly, she tore off my mask! 

The room we were now sitting in was dimly light with candles, but I could still make up most of what was around me. It looked like a fortune teller’s den. The ceiling was covered in antique umbrellas, teacups and ancient herbs. She came towards me and whispered in my ear: “I’ve been waiting for you to come. I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to get here.” She led me over to a plush velvet couch and sat me down. She sat down opposite me in a large armchair, which felt more than just lived in. Like she had been sitting in the same spot for hundreds of years.

The Storm…

On the table between us was a tea set and with two china cups. She grabbed my hands in her and began tracing her fingers over my palms like she would read my fortune. Then she started recounting to me a story of a couple who took a voyage across the sea. As she spoke, she took the teacup from the table and placed it in my hands. She began to pour the water into my cup.

It was a terrible storm,” she said. “They say that devils were seen swarming on the mast, and that’s why the ship sank.” As she spoke she dropped a little paper boat into the water. She spoke of demons that dragged the ship down to the depth. As soon as the boat touched the liquid, the water turned red. She began shaking my hands with the cup still clutched around my fingers. The water spilled all over me. The music was swelling all around the room to match the urgency and danger of the story. “But we know that’s not what happened.” And then, all of a sudden, the room went pitch black.

The Rain

She pulled me from my seat and, even in the utter darkness, lead me over to another part of the room, she was yelling something, but I couldn’t hear her as wind and rain were pouring down on me. REAL RAIN! She whispered one last thing in my ear, although I could not make it out, and placed my mask back on my face. Then, in a second, she pushed me out a door into another room and slammed the door behind me. In my hand, I was still holding the soggy boat. I tried to reopen the door I had just come through, but it was locked.

Hecate’s Apothecary

I was standing in what appeared to be an apothecary with hundreds of dried herbs hanging from the ceiling and little vials all over the room. There was a couple of audience members in the room already staring at me in utter disbelief as they had no idea where I had come from. Once I left the show and took off my mask, I noticed a kiss mark on my mask, which she had left me with, perhaps marking me for the rest of the evening.

In case you’re curious, the story of the shipwreck is a historical one that left a dark mark on the world and inspired parts of Shakespear’s work. King James VI was engaged to Anne of Denmark, and when he sailed to bring her back home with him, their royal fleet was battered by storms, almost causing the couple to be lost at sea. And one of their vessels was lost to the great seas. It was most likely the impatient newlyweds who were responsible for sailing during such turbulent seas but King James laid all the blame of this storm on witches. His accusations lead to the beginning of the first Scottish witch trials, and over the years the different witch trials in Scotland lead to the deaths of over 400 people.

The Witch Rave

One of the most talked-about scenes from the production has got to be the Witches Rave. If you are on the 4th floor and hear techno music, head towards it as you won’t want to miss it. I was off doing something else while this was going on, so sadly, I missed it, but my friend’s account definitely was so entertaining to listen to even after the fact. That’s part of the fun of Sleep No More, piecing together the story.

In the same run-down Manderley Bar on the 4th floor, Hecate walks in and begins to laugh as coloured lights and deep bass music begin to erupt throughout the room. The other witches join her in the room, and they all start to dance with abandon. The two female witches tear the clothes of the one male witch and he retreats behind the bar as strobe lights flash above. Suddenly a demon with a goat head and a human body emerge from behind the bar. He is completely naked and covered in blood.

The Sacrifice

Macbeth suddenly walks in and begins to kiss the demon. The demon brings forth a baby (a toy baby, don’t worry) covered in blood and brings it towards Macbeth. This is a reference to the line in the play, where a bloody child appears to Macbeth and says, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth.” Overcome with emotion, Macbeth flees the room while the deranged orgy continues without him.

The witch who had placed the goat head on their face removes it and flees from the room shortly after Macbeth. He will lead you throughout the halls into the bathroom, where the shower runs if you follow him. There he changes out of his clothes and collapses in the shower in a fit of tears as he tries to scrub the blood from himself. He will look to you, if you have followed, for help. Those kind enough to offer him some sympathy will get to help him on his continued journey to the final banquet scene.

Lady Macduff’s Warning

Back downstairs in the Macduff apartments, Lady Macduff is becoming more and more afraid. She is panicking for the life of her unborn child as if this dark omen is about to come true. Lady Macduff climbs up a tall bookshelf onto an altar near the ceiling. She walks into her child’s bedroom to comfort herself with a small teddy bear. Inside it, she finds a bone that has been sewn into the fabric. She looks horrified to find this. She grabs her suitcase and runs up to the 4th floor to find Mr. Bargarran, the taxidermist. As he is one who studies bones, perhaps he has a clue into what this means? He gives her a note, indicating that she is in danger. At this moment, a bell sounds; elsewhere in the hotel, King Duncan has been murdered.

Poisoned Milk

Lady Macduff heads downstairs with her suitcase and pleads with the Porter. Perhaps she trying to escape Macbeth, but the Porter cannot help her. Distraught, she sits down in the hotel dining room. The tables are flanked by a wall covered in piled salt with a fork and knife crossed floating above them. At the back of the room is one of Mr. Barragan’s taxidermied goats standing on top of an additional pile of salt. Salt is known to be a protective device against evil so perhaps Lady Macduff feels safe here.

Lady Macduff sits at a table as Catherine Campbell approaches and pours her a glass of her poisoned milk. Just as Macduff brings the glass to her mouth Campbell grabs it from her. The two begin to dance to ‘Temptation‘ from the ‘Psycho‘ soundtrack. At the song’s finale, Mrs. Campbell finally gives the milk to Lady Macduff by letting it drip down her arm into her mouth. As Lady Macduff writhes in pain, Mrs. Campbell goes up to their apartment and dances around gleefully at their impending misfortune.

The Murder of King Duncan

Banquo heads to King Duncan‘s bedroom to find Duncan murdered hidden under a pile of ripped pillows. Banquo screams and picks up a nearby bell to ring to call people to arms. Malcolm and Lord Macduff come to the sound of his screams, and they all grieve at the sight of his body. They each help pick up Duncan’s body and carry him through the crowd and over to Duncan’s chapel. They lay him to rest and wrap in him a funeral cloth. After laying King Duncan to rest, Banquo, Malcolm and MacDuff begin to argue, accusing each other of killing Duncan. Malcolm flees the scene, and Banquo and Macduff head upstairs to the Speakeasy.

Speakeasy Card Game

Following the boys upstairs to the 4th floor we find them heading inside a cardboard-covered speakeasy. A card game is in progress with Malcolm, Banquo and Macduff all playing against each other. They continue to play the strange game on a loop until Macbeth enters. After Malcolm leaves the card game, he heads back to his Detective agency.

Malcolm and MacDuff flee at the sight of the blood-soaked Macbeth. Banquo stands to face his once loyal friend. The two begin a great physical fight and interpretive dance along the walls and onto the nearby pool table. Finally, Macbeth tosses Banquo over the bar where he is out of sight and picks up a brick. Macbeth proceeds to bludgeon him to death behind the bar, the horrific sounds of the murder being pipped through the room. If you go to find Banquo’s body, you will find he has disappeared. Banquo’s ghost can be found walking out in the street of Gallow’s Green and, for the first time, he will recognize the audience members, as Banquo is now a ghost, just like us.

Grace’s Room

With her newly discovered key, Agnes Naismith heads upstairs and opens a locked bedroom in Gallow Green. Inside are various things monogrammed with the letter “G” as this is her sister Grace’s old room. Agnes Naismith will mourn inside this room as well as search it for clues. If you find her in here, she might take you for a one-on-one through the Narnia-like closet in the bedroom, which leads you into a secret passageway.

Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking Dance

When Macbeth leaves the apartment to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth appears to go into a fit. She dances like a spider up and over the bedroom furniture like she is possessed by some supernatural being. ‘The Window‘ and ‘The Package‘ from ‘Psycho’ play in the background all throughout the scene.

Macbeth returns from killing Duncan covered in blood. Lady Macbeth baths him like a child in the bathtub in the center of the room. Once he is clean, they head to the bed together and cuddle like children until Macbeth rises once more. Almost robotically, he gets up and walks into the garden. Lady Macbeth is left alone and tries manically to wash the blood from her hands. This is their interpretation of the famous sleepwalking scene where she cries, “Out, damned spot! out, I say!” But instead of words, modern interpretive dance conveys the sheer terror she feels as the waves of guilt crash over her for what they have done.

The Chase in Gallows Green

She then leaves the room and wanders the 4th floor, ranting and raving as she slowly goes mad. Macbeth exits the Speakeasy as she walks the street, after murdering Banquo. He sees his wife in the street. He kisses her passionately, and they take turns laughing and crying in a deranged fashion.

The two retreat back to their bedroom where Macbeth helps Lady Macbeth into her ballgown and the two of them head downstairs to the Ballroom for the finale scene.

The Last Banquet

This final visit to the Ballroom features most of the characters from the ball at the start of the show but everyone seems decidedly changed. Instead of the joyous dancing, we saw earlier, the atmosphere is a hauntingly bleak affair. A long banqueting table sits on the raised platform and each of the characters enters to sit in their designated seat. As they gather, they moved in slow motions, gesturing to each other in a vignette that resembles the last supper.

Birnam Woods

The dance floor across from the table, which was previous filled with people, is now filled with trees. Each of the trees seem to move on their own, almost dancing. In the play, Macbeth sees Malcolm’s soldiers approaching through Birnam Woods. Each soldier holds a branch in front of their body, which makes it appear to Macbeth as though the forest is moving, as if possessed. This drives him even further into his madness.

The murdered Banquo enters the room, covered in blood and points accusingly towards Macbeth. Lady and Macbeth sit on either end of the table. They blow, what feels like one final kiss to one and the other. Suddenly the blue lights in the room turns green, and all eyes turn accusatorily towards Macbeth. 

The banquet ends with each of the guests dispersing in different directions on the first and second loop. But in the finale, we see a very different ending. More on that later…

The Murder of Lady Macduff

After the final banquet, Lady Macduff retreats in fear to the hotel’s lobby, pleading with the Porter, arms full of suitcases and belongings. This is the moment when she is set to flee in fear of Macbeth. The Porter one last time refuses her. She slinks away to the corner of the room near the telephones where she rifles through some drawers until Lady Macduff finds a baby blanket that she cradles in her arms, almost as if she knows Macbeth has already reached her family and killed them.

When she looks in the mirror, see for the first time see the reflection of the masked audience reflected back at her. She acknowledges our presence and in this moment goes into a fit of madness. As she scream, she doesn’t notice Macbeth entering the room. He comes up behind her, and proceeds to beat her to death in front of us. She cries out for help, but the dead is done, and her body is left lifeless in the lobby.

Death Rattle

Many people at this point chased after Macbeth but I stayed with her. Her death scene was so shockingly brutal that I was left in total horror, even if a part of me knew what I had seen wasn’t real. I didn’t even know what I was doing when I knelt down beside her to see if there were any signs of life. I had followed her throughout many points of the show and really grown fond of her. At this point, her husband, Lord Macduff, ran in to find his dead wife on the ground. He screamed and knelt down to cradle her body in his arm and sobbed without abandon.

After a moment, he turned to look at me, and the two of us helped move her to the couch. He placed her head on my lap as he wept on the floor. This was the most intimate and moving moment of the show, and I’m not ashamed to say I shed a few tears myself.

St. James Sanitorium

After the banquet (on the 1st and 2nd loop) Nurse Shaw will lead the now almost catatonic Lady Macbeth to the 5th floor and place her back inside St. James Sanitorium. She brings her into the rooms with all the tubs and removes Lady Macbeth’s blood-soaked ball gown. Nurse Shaw tries to wash off all the blood in the bath but Lady Macbeth still seems horrified to see the blood still on her hands. She thrashes around in the tub, splashing water all over the place, onto your feet if you are too close and all over the floor. If you want to console her, Lady Macbeth will take your hand as a gesture of kindness. After calming down, Lady Macbeth gets up to wander back down to her bedroom on the third floor, where her loop will begin once more.

The Finale

Macbeth stands on the table as a noose is lowered down and placed on his head, almost like a crown. Macbeth seems to have one moment of clarity as the noose is tightened around his neck and cries out “No!” before Malcolm pushes the chair out from beneath him. The lights go dark, and the only sound is the deafening crack of the noose crushing his neck. When the lights return, Macbeth’s lifeless body is seen hanging from the rafters, unmoving, bringing an end to his terror.

The Elusive 6th Floor

I was fortunate during my performance to visit the elusive 6th floor. I didn’t know until after the show what an amazingly lucky experience this was. Wandering around the 5th floor during the show’s final half-hour (although I didn’t know that at the time) I noticed one of the nurses sitting on the floor, beside a suitcase, close to the corner of the staircase. She looked like she had been crying, so I went right up to her and knelt down to look at her right at eye level as if to get a hint to what was making her so sad.

As soon as she noticed me, we locked eyes, and it was the most intense eye contact. In a flash, she grabbed my hand and started to run towards the stairs. A few other people saw what was going on and began to run with us. When we got to the stairs to the 6th floor, the black mask (one of the show’s ushers) who had been blocking the entrance the entire time moved aside and let us by. When the group of audience members running behind us tried to get by as well, he stopped them. So it was just the nurse and myself walking up the stairs. We got up to the top floor, and she closed the door behind us. And in a moment my heart just stopped.

I dreamt I went to Manderley again

We were standing in this HUGE empty room. She took off my mask and got so close to my face. I thought she might kiss me. She whispered gently in my ear, “I can’t believe you’re here. You look like you always did.” The lights all went out, and when they came back on, the nurse was standing on the very opposite end of the room in a different outfit, standing in front of an antique wicker wheelchair. She pushed it towards me and gestured to me to sit down. I was literally shaking but didn’t want to disobey. I sat down in the chair, and she began to push me into another room. Suddenly I heard a loud voice above me, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”

The Wheelchair Diorama

The thin hallway she was pushing me through was illuminated with red lights. I thought I felt funny, but then I realized that the wheelchair was lowering down into a flatbed. Just as soon as I was being pushed in a wheelchair I was being pushed in a rolling bed! My eyes were now staring right up at the ceiling. I started to panic a bit, but the nurse gently put her arm on my shoulder to tell me I would be ok. Instinctively I trusted her and didn’t fight anymore. I honestly thought I was on drugs. It was so surreal.

The ceiling was covered in an upside-down diorama. The first part was a thicket of trees, and then we approached this gorgeous mansion on fire. I would smell and hear the crackle of the fire. As we approached the end of the hallways, the nurse whispered in my ear, “You can never return to Manderley again, but sometimes, in my dreams, I return to those strange days.” And then the lights went black.

The Slow Decent back to Reality

When the lights came back on I was alone in a small room, with an open door. When it went through and closed it behind me, it was locked, and I had no other choice but to walk back down the stairs where a black mask ushered me back onto the 5th floor. I was utterly shocked. It honestly took me a minute to stop feeling lightheaded. The 5th floor was empty, so I wandered back downstairs to see everyone gathered in the Ballroom for what was the very last scene (which again, I had no idea was the final scene).

Instead of watching from the balcony, I took a seat in the hotel lobby to catch my breath. I listened to the music playing in the other room. When the crescendo finished, the entire group of audience members filtered out and were lead back into the Manderley Bar by a few of the actors. It was only then that the realization that the show was done washed over me. And I had missed the finale! But I had gained such a fantastic and unique experience. I found my friend who I had attended the show with and she was shocked and in disbelief of what had happened. We glamoured to get out and grab a drink so we could discuss everything that had just happened to each other.

Gallows Green Rooftop Bar

We headed up to the Gallows Green rooftop bar for a few drinks. She told me all about the final preformance in the Ballroom and regaled me with stories of what she had experienced (which I had never even caught a glimpse of!) It was honestly just as a fun talking to each other about our experiences as it was to have really experienced them! I think that is one of the real joys of the show. We honestly wanted to go back right away, but alas, that will have to wait for another trip. Until we can one day return to Manderley, it will live in my dreams, like a haunted memory that floats to the surface. I feel so lucky to have experienced it and cannot wait to return.

TIPS:

Who to Follow?

Many people might think they want to follow Macbeth the entire time for their first visit. I would actually argue he is one of the least exciting storylines. If you follow any of the other Macbeth characters, you will run into him from time to time anyway.

If you don’t feel like running after any actors and prefer to explore the different levels but still want to see the show, stick to floors two (the Hotel Lobby) and 4 (Gallow’s Green), so much action happens there.

How do you get a 1:1

Don’t be pushy and crowd the actor’s space. This will come off as super obvious. The goal of the show shouldn’t be to get a 1:1. The goal should be to be so invested in what is happening and connected to the characters, you earn the 1:1. People who just seek the 1:1 but don’t care about the story won’t get as much from the experience as they won’t have as much context as to the meaning behind it. Wear something bright or easily identifiable even in the dark. This will help the actors pick you out of the crowd if you have been following them for a few scenes. I wore some really shining and eye-catching makeup as well which I think really helped convey my emotions through my eyes to the actors.

I hope this guide helps you make the most of your trip to the McKittrick Hotel! Please share your experiences or other tips in the comments to help the next set of adventurers follow the breadcrumbs toward Manderley.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ Explained: A Complete Guide to the Story, Characters & Plotlines [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/a-complete-guide-to-sleep-no-mores-story-characters-and-plotlines/feed/ 32 20292 ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] https://thecreativeadventurer.com/sleep-no-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about-visting-the-mckittrick-hotel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sleep-no-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about-visting-the-mckittrick-hotel https://thecreativeadventurer.com/sleep-no-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about-visting-the-mckittrick-hotel/#respond Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:29:11 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=20171 Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” – the innocent...

The post ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

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Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” – the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast. – Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Sitting here in the dead of winter, during the pandemic, I have time and time again closed my eyes and “dreamt I went to Manderley again…” I am dreaming of the time when I can return to New York and see ‘Sleep No More‘ again.

I had heard about ‘Sleep No More’ from various friends who had gone to see it and just raved about it. But the price tag always made me hesitate. Anyone who has gone to see it is oddly secretive about the experience. Therefore, I found it hard to validate spending $100+ per ticket when no one would tell me anything about it! But finally, after much back and forth and some encouragement from my friend, we bought our tickets. And I can safely say it was the best money I ever spent!

While I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone, there are a few things I wish I’d known before walking into the doors. So if you’re curious and want a few clues as to how to make the most of your experience, then read on. This post is spoiler-free but I do have an additional guide with some spoilers. This is for those who want a more in-depth review of my experience.

Guide to Sleep no More
  1. What is 'Sleep No More'?
  2. Buying Tickets & When to Arrive
  3. About the McKittrick Hotel
  4. What's with the Masks?
  5. What to Wear
  6. Accessibility
  7. Be Warned…
  8. Strategies for 'Sleep No More'
  9. More Tips
  10. Arriving at the Hotel
  11. A Brief Summary of the Story

What is ‘Sleep No More’?

‘Sleep No More’ is an interactive and immersive stage production. It is loosely based on William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth but set in a 1930’s film noir aesthetic. The show contains almost no dialogue but is filled with interpretive dancing to convey the scenes or stories. Unlike typical theatre, where you sit in one seat for the entire show and watch the plot unfold in front of you, ‘Sleep No More’ acts more like a choose your own adventure. The show takes place in the fictional “McKittrick Hotel,” which has many different levels to explore. There are over 100 rooms where you can follow the action and discover hidden secrets.

The three-hour performance is actually a one-hour loop performed three times. This way you can study the entire show from multiple angles, sometimes literally. You can see what might have been going on in a different part of the hotel while something else totally different is taking place down below.

The entire show doesn’t unfold in a perfectly linear fashion. While some storylines have a beginning, middle and end, others are tougher to put together. It is more like a piece of artwork to be interpreted and discussed. All that being said, it is absolutely one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. All the guests have the option to do whatever they want while they are inside the hotel. You can follow one actor/character throughout the entire hotel discovering their plotline or simple study and interact with the props found throughout the hotel. 

Buying Tickets & When to Arrive

Sleep No More is back in 2022 after being shut down for more than two years due to the global pandemic. There are different options when it comes to buying a ticket; Maximilian’s Guest, Oz’s Guest or a Standard Ticket. All tickets are cheaper during the week rather than on the weekend so if you’re looking to save money definitely go for the weekday tickets. I also find weekdays to have a less boisterous crowd and the space is generally less crowded.

Ticket Options

Maximilian’s Guest tickets cost $314-360 per person! Your ticket includes a glass of fine champagne, a complimentary coat check and a reserved seat inside the Manderley Bar. Oz’s Guest tickets are $160-195 per person and include everything except for the champagne. I don’t know about you but I don’t think any champagne is worth that price! The last option is the standard ticket which costs $114-149 per person. There is nothing included in this ticket except for the entry. But since coat check only costs $4 there really is no reason not to get the cheapest ticket. The reserved table is only a benefit for those who don’t wanna go right into the hotel upon entering. Save your money and opt to go to a bar after the fact.

When to Arrive

Choose the earliest admission when booking your ticket. This means you’ll have the longest amount of time inside the hotel. Even with the earliest admission, go to the hotel to line up 30 minutes before that time. We purchased the standard tickets, arrived about 20 mins early and still got to spend around two and a half hours inside.

Covid Protocols

After booking your tickets, guests will receive an advisement email 24 -48 hours prior to their visit with the latest guidelines and requirements. As of March 7th, 2022, all guests must present a valid photo ID along with proof of full vaccination in the form of a physical or digital COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Guests are required to have received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least fourteen days prior to their reservation.

All guests will be provided with a KN95 mask upon entry which is required to be worn the entire time inside. This is worn under your Sleep No More theatrical mask that has been modified to fit on top of the KN95 masks. The sought-after 1-1’s have been altered to follow covid more strict protocols and generally, guests are asked to give each other some space. But since everyone often crowds into certain small areas this often is something that isn’t strictly followed.

Coat Check

You cannot bring anything inside the hotel with you—no phones allowed, no bags, and no coats. Everything MUST be left at the coat check, which is compulsory. If you didn’t get the coat check included in your ticket it costs $4.00 per person. Remember to bring some cash for the coat check as it speeds the check-in process along.

About the McKittrick Hotel

The location of ‘Sleep No More’ takes place inside the doors of the old McKittrick Hotel. The McKittrick Hotel was built in 1939 and was intended to be one of New York’s finest luxury hotels. But before it could open the hotel’s investors lost their capital to the war efforts. The hotel was left abandoned and condemned for over 50 years….or at least that’s the fictional story of the hotel. Ok, in reality, the buildings which are now used for the production were various old warehouses in Chelsea combined and converted just for the show. Over 100,000-square-feet (9,300 m2) were transformed by the Punchdown theatre company to create the great McKittrick Hotel. You can explore five floors throughout the show and a secret sixth floor, which only a few lucky visitors will experience.

How to get there

The hotel is located at 530 West 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenue. The nearest subway stop on the C or E train is either 23rd Street or 34th Street. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the hotel. If you are trying to get there by taxi or uber, be aware that 27th street is not a thru-street, so it’s best to get picked up or dropped off a few streets over.

What’s with the Masks?

All guests are required to wear a mask throughout the entire experience. One of the reasons for this is that all the guests wear masks, but the actors do not. Therefore you can tell who is a guest and who is an actor. This design is a replica of the old Venetian Bauta masks, which were designed to hide the wearer’s identity. In ancient Venice, this allowed rich aristocrats to partake in some otherwise frowned-upon activities. While wearing a mask might seem odd, the show aims to make you feel like a voyeur peeking in on the actors. Sporting a disguise allows you to feel braver and perhaps let your guard down. You might feel less inhibited and even step out of your comfort zone.

If you wear glasses, the mask will not fit over the top of them. If you can get contacts, this might be the only way to enjoy the experience (which admittedly feels a little ableist). We’ve tried to figure out how to fit glasses over top of the mask, and it’s virtually impossible or at the very least uncomfortable.

What to Wear

What you wear to see the show is super important. The most critical of which is your choice of footwear! Since the night can be as long as three hours, you want to wear comfortable shoes. I saw so many people there wearing high heels, and by the end of the evening, they were leaning on walls and looked more exhausted than excited. If you are interested in following one character’s storyline, sometimes this requires you literally run after them to ensure they don’t get away and you miss their next scene. Without good shoes, you can’t chase after them.

I also think wearing something breathable and not too warm is helpful. It can get hot inside, and if you’re running around, you don’t want to be wearing a wool cardigan. Since you have to coat check anyways, you can always wear something warmer there and leave those extra layers at the coat check.

Another thing which is a strange one but is a MUST is a wristwatch! Since you won’t have your phone to tell the time, a watch will help you gauge how long you have been inside. Or when the first or second loop of the show might end. While getting lost is part of the experience, if you’re someone who wants to get the most out of it, having a watch to tell the time might help you out.

Accessibility

Sadly, while you ride an elevator up when entering the hotel for the first time, the experience is not wheelchair or walking aid friendly as the elevator is not for public use after that point. So much of the show involves moving around dark, narrow passageways, sometimes very quickly. Accessing the various floors is done by using the steep wrought-iron staircases. If you have a hard time standing for an extended period or need a mobility aid, this might be a challenging outing for you. I really hope they change it over time to make it more accessible, but it seems unlikely since the show has been running for so long. The entire production is also very, very dark, so if you have low vision or claustrophobia, you might also want to give it a miss.

Be Warned…

The show is not just an immersive experience. It is an interactive experience. Actors approach you very closely and may even touch you. They might even pull you with them to another room for the elusive 1:1s. If you don’t want to interact that closely with them the actors are very good at respecting if you pull away. But if you are super shy, just stay in the back or in a group of people. If you are interested in a more intimate experience, go to the front and don’t be afraid of getting close to the actors. But please respect everyone’s boundaries and only touch the actors if they interact with you first and of course don’t be a creep.

There are various employees who wear black masks located throughout the show, these are essentially security guards there to protect the actors and keep the audience from entering any off-limit areas. If you are using your phone or talking too loudly they will step in to warn or remove you from the show. They are also there to give you directions if you to find a washroom.

Strategies for ‘Sleep No More’

Follow an Actor

Personally, I think there are two main strategies you can use to experience the show. The first is to follow one character as soon as you get inside. This allows you to see their storyline from start to finish. This definitely is an excellent choice for first-timers, as it feels like you are following a more linear storyline.

If you are the first to get inside the hotel, all the main characters will be gathered in the basement where King Duncan is hosting a ball. There you can choose an actor who piques your interest and follow them from there. But remember, they move quickly, so be ready to run. If you don’t arrive right at the start of the first loop, make it a point once you enter to find a scene or group of actors and follow whoever interests you. If you don’t see anyone right away, just keep moving, and you will find them soon enough.

Search and Explore

The second way is to investigate. This means more or less ignoring the actors but going off on your own and exploring the entirety of the building. You are allowed to look inside drawers, pull books off shelves and read them. Open doors, find keys to locked rooms. Even crawl through hidden access points. There is so much to explore in the hotel. Every little thing is a clue to the story you are literally living in. It’s not very often you are given carte blanche to be a voyeur, to go through other people’s belongings or snoop inside medical records. So use this change to your advantage. And of course, you can blend a little bit of either strategy together to experience everything the hotel has to offer.

More Tips

Leave Your Friends Behind

While you might feel like you want to stay close with the group you came with, the experience is intended to be your own. Everyone finds their own interests in the show. It’s essential to allow yourself to explore what you are drawn to and your own personal desires. Talking is absolutely banned, so it’s not like you can chat with your friends anyway. If you feel really scared and apprehensive make a plan with whoever you’re with to head inside the first few rooms together and then break away separately for the rest of the evening. This allows you to slowly get used to the atmosphere but then break out on your own.

Follow the Music

Music is a vital part of the show. In fact, it is the only way in which the actors are given any cues. There is no central control room. At only three points in the show, the same music plays in all the different parts of the building. If you feel lost or like you might want to rejoin a large scene, keep an ear to the ground for loud music, and you will surely be lead towards the actors. On the other hand, if you want to get away from the crowds, stick to the more quiet parts of the building.

It’s 18+ for a Reason

All guests attending Sleep No More must be over the age of 18 years with valid ID. Any guest under the age of 18 years old must be accompanied at all times by a ticketed parent or legal guardian. A signed Under-18 waiver must be submitted by the ticketed guardian at time of entry to the house manager on duty. This is because not only does the show depict violence and has a lot of blood and gore there is full frontal-nudity in various portions of the show so you might want to re-thinking bringing the whole family.

Arriving at the Hotel

After arriving at the hotel, your name will be on the guest list. Present your ID and give all your worldly possessions over to the coat check. You will then proceed over to the reception desk, where you’ll receive a playing card. You have no printed tickets. This playing card is the only “ticket” you’ll receive. Depending on your arrival time will determine the number on your card. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be let inside, so try to arrive as early as you can. This is as far as I will go in terms of discussing what happens when you enter as this is a spoiler-free post. But if you are interested in reading about the stories which influenced the plot of “Sleep No More’ read on!

A Brief Summary of the Story

I know EVERYONE seems to say its best not to know anything about the show before you go, but I really disagree. While having your own experience and interpretation of what happened is great, just like in appreciating art, sometimes a bit of context goes a long way to helping you on your journey.

About Macbeth 

If you’ve never seen or read Macbeth, this little synopsis will help you out in understanding the scenes you might glimpse in on throughout the show. Macbeth is a general in the army of King Duncan, the King of Scotland. One night he is visited by three witches who prophesize that he will become King of Scotland.

King Duncan announces that his elder son Malcolm will become the new King after his death. Until that time he instructs Macbeth to care and guide him. When King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth’s manors, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the prophecy and kill Duncan. Macbeth carries out the deed even though he is pained to do so. Malcolm flees in fear of his own life, only to be suspected of the killing, therefore allowing Macbeth to inherit the throne.

Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend and a general in King’s army, was privy to the meeting with the witches and suspects Macbeth. Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but his sons escape. Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, who haunts him. He meets with the witches once more who warn him that MacDuff, another nobleman in the army, is a danger to Macbeth. And he is convinced he must kill MacDuff. Macbeth has MacDuff’s family murdered and his property sized, but MacDuff himself escapes. The heir to the throne, Malcolm, returns to take back the kingdom against the murderer Macbeth.

Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane, haunted by the ghosts of her actions. The doctors tell Macbeth she cannot be cured. MacDuff confronts Macbeth and kills him, bringing his head to Malcolm, who hails himself King of Scotland.

About Rebecca

Woven into the Skaespearan plot are elements of Hitchcock‘s haunting gothic romance film ‘Rebecca‘ (which was just made into a modern Netflix film!). The plot of Rebecca concerns a young woman who marries a widow, Maxim de Winter. They return to live at Maxim de Winter‘s mansion called “Manderley“. There she meets the unkind Mrs. Danvers, who dislikes the new bride as Mrs. Danvers she was so close to his previous wife, Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter discovers that the previous marriage had been a shame. During a confrontation between the couple, Rebecca fell and struck her head. It might have looked like Mr. De Winters had killed her, so he took the body out in a boat and capsized it to make it look like she drowned. Mrs. Danvers, enraged by the discovery, sets Manderley on fire and kills herself in the blaze.

The story’s central theme is all about guilt and anxiety, as well as love, obsession and power. Throughout the show, keep an eye out for these themes and characters as they appear throughout. The Hitchcockian influences can be seen not only in the plot but in the set decorations and also the music that plays throughout the building. You will hear from time to timepieces from Bernard Herrmann‘s score from the movie ‘Vertigo’. Even the name, the McKittrick Hotel, comes from Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’.

Selznick International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

About the Paisley Witch Trials

The third and final reference woven into the fabric of the show is the Paisley Witch Trials. These were the last European witch trials, which took place in Scotland in 1697. The witch trials involved accusations from an eleven-year-old aristocratic girl, Christian Shaw, who accused several of her family’s servants of being witches. In the end, seven people were found guilty of witchcraft and condemned to death by her words. The five who were hung were executed in Gallow Green. The town of Gallow Green can be found on the 4th floor of the hotel. Several of the accused men and women who died in the trails can be found wandering those streets. It is rumoured that before Agnes Naismith (one of the accused witches) died, she cursed everyone present at her trial and their descendants. Perhaps that curse still infects the grounds of Gallow Green today…

After the show, you can head up to the Gallow Green rooftop bar to enjoy a few themed drinks. Or you can also choose to stay in the Manderley Bar to enjoy some evening entertainment.

Click here to see more about the experience as a whole and my personal account of the evening!

The post ‘Sleep No More’ – Everything you Need to Know About Visting the McKittrick Hotel [2022 UPDATED] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/sleep-no-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about-visting-the-mckittrick-hotel/feed/ 0 20171 Discover the Amazing White Tank Mountains Waterfall Trail, the Best Beginner Hike in Phoenix https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-white-tank-mountains-waterfall-trail-best-beginner-hike-in-phoenix/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-white-tank-mountains-waterfall-trail-best-beginner-hike-in-phoenix https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-white-tank-mountains-waterfall-trail-best-beginner-hike-in-phoenix/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2020 08:09:00 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com//hiking-the-white-tank-mountains/ The White Tank Mountains are my absolute favourite hiking range in Arizona. Climbing the Waterfall Trail is a...

The post Discover the Amazing White Tank Mountains Waterfall Trail, the Best Beginner Hike in Phoenix first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> The White Tank Mountains are my absolute favourite hiking range in Arizona. Climbing the Waterfall Trail is a tradition for my family and me whenever we’re back in Phoenix. It’s been a trail I’ve trekked ever since I was a baby, hiking with my grandparents. Every stone and cacti here brings back good memories. But it’s not just my own nostalgia which makes this trail such a good beginner trek for new hikers. It really is a wonderful hike which provides a great introduction to the Sonoran desert flora and fauna at an easy and enjoyable pace.

Table Of Contents
  1. History & Information
  2. When to Go
  3. Hours, Fees & Parking 
  4. What to Pack
  5. Accessibility
  6. Pets
  7. The Trail
  8. Staghorns
  9. Barrel Cactus
  10. The Great Saguaro
  11. Teddy Bear Cacti
  12. Wildlife
  13. Petroglyph Plaza 
  14. Waterfall

History & Information

The White Tank Mountains are a fascinating range of carved stone. The mountains were created by the huge flash floods that sent rainwater pouring down the canyon year after year, creating depressions in the white granite rocks. In 1893, gold was starting to be discovered in central Arizona. Because of the water that past through the rocks, a natural basin was formed. Having access to water on the long road through the mountains to central Arizona was so important for the gold miners. The water basin was named “the White Tank” as the water was surrounded by bright white granite cliffs. Between 1898 and 1902 the natural basin which held the water collapsed due to a heavy rainstorm. But the name remained.

The mountain range takes up about 30,000 acres and the highest part is over 4,000 feet. As early as 500 BC, the Hohokam native people began to build villages throughout this area. Evidence of these sites has been discovered in archaeological excavations.

When to Go

The summer is HOT in Phoenix! Even before the sun comes up it can be over 100 degrees in the sun. So I would always advise against going out hiking in the middle of the summer in Phoenix unless you’re a huge fan of the heat. Otherwise, as long as you stick to the beginning of the day, you can usually avoid the heat pretty well. Early in the morning will also mean you will have the desert to yourself! This trail is often busier during the afternoon so if you want a peaceful walk to yourself, come early in the morning. 

My favourite time to go hiking in Phoenix is during the springtime when the desert flowers are blooming! Yes, there really are flowers in the desert. Wildflowers generally bloom in the Sonoran desert from mid-March to late April. And if there has been a lot of rain that year expect a huge burst of colour! This trail is the perfect way to get away from a busy week in the city. It’s a welcome quiet interlude.

Hours, Fees & Parking 

The park entrance fee is $7 USD. If you enter the park on foot, bike or horseback, the fee is only $2. After you pass through the park entrance, continue driving for another 3.5 miles. Drive until you reach the Waterfall Canyon parking lots. In addition to parking, you’ll also find picnic benches and washrooms.

The Park is open: Sun-Thurs: 6 am – 8 pm; Fri-Sat: 6 am – 10 pm.

After paying your entry fee, you can make a stop off at the nature center and library which is located just to the right of the park entrance. Here you can learn more about the mountains or ask the rangers any pressing questions. It’s also a great place to find maps of the trails.

What to Pack

  • Water. Always be sure to pack lots of water! Even if you don’t think it’s going to be that hot, it’s always hotter than you expect. And even a short hike will get you dehydrated, especially when you start working up a sweat.
  • Good walking shoes! Even though this is a beginner trail it’s still important to wear good footwear. I’ve seen people try to make this hike in sandals and once they get to the top of the waterfalls, the path is much rockier and it’s very easy to lose your footing.
  • A hat. Always be sure to wear a large brimmed hat to keep the sun off your head. This helps prevent any chance of heatstroke if its a particularly hot day.
  • Sunscreen. Sunscreen is a necessity even on cooler days because the sun is still out. And in Phoenix, we tend to get really cloudless skies. Sunscreen of at least SPF 30 depending on your skin type is best for hikers.
  • Sunglasses. A good pair of sunglasses are also important to wear as they can make a big difference in protecting your eyes from the bright sun.
  • A picnic! Although the hike isn’t very long, it’s a beautiful place to have a little picnic snack. When you reach the top of the mountain the views across Phoenix are stunning and it’s nice to sit and enjoy.

Accessibility

While the last portion of the path has a set of stones and stairs to climb, the majority of the trail actually has been made to be wheelchair accessible! The first portion of the Waterfall Trail is paved, allowing mobility aids to be used. This route also has a series of benches along the way to ensure those with mobility issues have places to stop and rest. I love that this makes it so accessible for so many people! As all easy trails should attempt to be where possible.

Pets

Dogs are allowed on the trail so long as they are leashed. Since the first mile is very flat animals will find this trail easy to walk on but older or less nimble dogs might find the last mile, with all the rocks and steps, more difficult.

The Trail

The Waterfall Trail is a fantastic beginner hike. It’s only 1.8 miles long and could easily be done in about an hour if you didn’t stop along the way. But definitely stop and look around! That’s half the fun! The trail takes you through all the beautifully weird flora and fauna that Arizona has to offer. Cacti are abundant on the trail. If you’ve never seen the desert before this is an amazing introduction to all the cool varieties of cacti that grow in the Sonoran Desert!

Staghorns

Old staghorns slump on the sidelines as you walk through the trail. The Staghorn cholla (Opuntia versicolor) are one of those cacti that looks like it’s from an alien planet. They have thin branches where crawl up from the ground covered in thin spikes. The name versicolor comes from the fact that their long-lasting flowers come in a range of colours; from ed, yellow, purple or intermediate shades.

Barrel Cactus

Barrel cacti poke their heads out of the rocks as you walk along the path. The Ferocactus, or more colloquially Barrel cactus is one of the most commonly seen cacti in the Sonoran desert. The word Fero means “fierce or wild” as these cacti are some of the most ominous looking plants growing in the desert. In some species of the barrel cactus, the spikes which protrude from the cactus are curved, like a fishhooks. Which are pretty painful if you get stuck. Barrell cacti are one of my favourites when they bloom. Their yellow and red flowers bloom on top, look like a little crown on their head.

The Great Saguaro

The Saguaro cactus (or Carnegiea gigantea) is often referred to as the king of cacti! It has become the symbol of the Sonoran Desert and of Phoenix itself. The cactus grows up out of the earth like a column and develops braches, often referred to as arms. Some saguaros have been known to grow up to 25 different arms throughout their life! Saguaros are covered in large spines that protect the plant from animals. But even still, owls are often seen roasting in the trunks. In the late spring, saguaros bloom and grow beautiful white flowers which are said to smell like overripe melons. After they flower they will produce large red fruit, which is eaten by animals like finches, woodpeckers, doves, bats, tortoise, javelina and coyotes.

Teddy Bear Cacti

The “Teddy Bear” cactus is one of the most interesting cacti found along the edge of the trail. But don’t let that cute name fool you! These cacti are very dangerous! The cactus is officially called the Cylindropuntia bigelovii and is best known for its furry appearance. The furry texture is actually just a solid mass of thick spines that completely cover the stems. The form of the cacti looks almost like an animal and led to the name “teddy bear”. But it’s also known as the “jumping teddy bear”. The jumping part is due to the fact that if you even brush past the cactus, the cholla’s spines will grab onto the fibres of your clothes and dig their way into your skin. Ouch! Not quite the cuddly plant it seems to be….but they are still so interesting to look at from afar.

Wildlife

While most of the animals which live in these mountains are nocturnal there are some bits of wildlife you should keep an eye out for! The most commonly seen birds are cactus wrens and if you’re lucky you might spot a roadrunner! My favourite things to spot are the multitudes of lizards and reptiles which crawl along the rocks and poke their heads out to warm themselves in the sun. Mule deer, coyotes, mountain lions and javelinas have all been spotted by visitors but are extremely RARE!

Petroglyph Plaza 

As you continue along the path, you’ll soon come upon one of the most interesting parts of the trail; the Petroglyphs. The Petroglyph Plaza is where you can find a grouping of these ancient images. Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by carving into the stone. These are the earliest form of art. Ancient tribes would have used symbols to tell stories more than pictorial drawings. The Hohokam tribes which lived here from 100 BC to 1200 AD would have been the ones creating these works of art. Their style was very circular and curvy when compared to the art of other tribes.

Also located inside the Petroglyph plaza is a large rain barrel that has now been riddled with bullet holes and punctures.

Waterfall

After hiking for some time you’ll reach the pinnacle of the trail, the waterfall! Now, truthfully most of the time when you get here there will be little more than a puddle of water inside the basic. But, usually in the spring, when there’s been a significant amount of rainfall, a temporary waterfall appears seemingly from out of nowhere – falling from the sky.

From the top of the mountain, you’ll get one of the most lovely Sonoran deserts views looking across the city. This is a wonderful place to stop and sit. Depending on the time of year, the valley below could be bursting with green or keeping its cool with golden and brown colours.

As you make your way back down, look at the sprawling desert, slowly disappearing as the city pops up in the distance. From above, the rugged mountains that surround the valley seem to tightly cradle that precious little city in their palms, keeping it safe from the world outside.

But all good things must come to an end. As you drive back to city life, enjoy the view of the saguaros spread out across the valley, as if popping up to say goodbye!

The post Discover the Amazing White Tank Mountains Waterfall Trail, the Best Beginner Hike in Phoenix first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-white-tank-mountains-waterfall-trail-best-beginner-hike-in-phoenix/feed/ 0 10 The Best Souvenirs at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Where to Find Them! [UPDATED 2023] https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-best-souvenirs-at-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-and-where-to-find-them/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-best-souvenirs-at-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-and-where-to-find-them https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-best-souvenirs-at-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-and-where-to-find-them/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2020 17:35:12 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=15209 Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is an awe-inducing experience for any...

The post The Best Souvenirs at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Where to Find Them! [UPDATED 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is an awe-inducing experience for any Harry Potter fan. It truly feels like you’re finally being allowed into a universe you’ve only dreamed of. Each of these shops you’ll find on the streets of Hogsmeade is pulled straight from the books and feels so authentic! No details are left out, and if it weren’t for the hoards of muggles surrounding you, you’d swear you were really in Hogsmeade. But there is soooo much to see here. It was almost overwhelming. So after my return, I wanted to document the very best Harry Potter souvenirs and where you can find them inside the park. Plus, what’s really worth your money and what’s not!

The Best Souvenirs Inside Harry Potter World
  1. TIPS
  2. Zonkos
  3. Honeydukes
  4. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
  5. Ollivander's Wands
  6. Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
  7. Gladrags Wizardwear
  8. Dervish & Banges
  9. House Sweatshirts
  10. Owl Post
  11. Hogsmeade Station
  12. Additional Shopping Locations

About the Stores inside Hogsmead

The shops inside the Wizarding World were designed to be the same size and scale as the movie versions. While having huge stores might be more conducive to selling merchandise, the park knew this wouldn’t be how these tiny, ancient shops would have looked in the real Wizarding world. They wanted to make it feel as close to the real thing as possible. I’m sure this meant fewer sales for the park, but it’s nice to know they made this sacrifice for the sake of authenticity.

Budget

Unless you have a limitless budget, it’s a good idea to make a game plan. Think about what you MUST buy or what is most important to you so you stick to that budget and aren’t just overcome by all there is to get here. I’ve done some of the work for you! Here is a list of all the best items I found in the park which I think every Harry Potter fan will enjoy. I’ve also made sure to note down where to find them! This will make sure you don’t waste too much time in the park looking for these items. Instead, spend that saved time drinking Butterbeer and riding broomsticks on the Forbidden Journey! For a complete guide to the park, check out my post here!

TIPS

  • If you’re going to buy a wand and robe, get these as early in the day as possible. This means you can use your wand throughout the interactive parts of the Wizarding World ASAP. And your beautiful robe will make any picture you take in the park that much more magical.
  • Shop for most of your other souvenirs in the afternoon. This is when most people have chosen to go on more rides throughout the rest of the park. Shopping during the lunch or dinner hour is also a good time since the shops will be less busy.
  • Buy any food items you plan on taking home at the end of the day. Not only does this mean you won’t need to lug them around all day, but chocolates and some other candies tend to melt in the heat.

Zonkos

Zonkos Joke Shop is one of the first shops you’ll see upon entering the park. This joke shop was a favourite of pranksters Fred and George’s and their first stop while in Hogsmead. In the books, it was known to sells everything a wizard needs to play pranks and make people laugh. It carried such things as, “Dungbombs, Hiccough Sweets, Stink Pellets, Frog Spawn Soap, Sugar Quills, and Nose-Biting Teacups“. In Hollywood’s own Hogsmeade, you can still buy some really interesting items in the shop to take home with you.

Pygmy Puffs

One of the most iconic creatures from the Harry Potter books has got to be Pygmy Puffs! A Pygmy Puff is a miniature Puffskein, bred by Fred and George Weasley and originally sold at their shop Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley. It was one of their most popular products in the WonderWitch range. Now you can have one for yourself, although since you’re a muggle you’ll have to settle for the stuffed variety. Choose either a bright purple and pink little fluff ball. These are great souvenirs for the kids.

Cost: $20.00

Love Potion

Another Harry Potter artifact that will make a great addition to your shelf is the Love Potion bottle. Fans will remember how the love potion played a large role in the books when Romilda Vane tried to give one of the Weasleys’ love potions to Harry Potter. These Love Potions come in the same bottles which were designed for the movies making them extra special. The potion itself is made of a sweet lychee gel. Although the price might seem steep for a drink, what you’re really getting is a pretty movie and book replica. These make a great addition to a nightstand!

Cost: $9.96

Felix Felicis or ‘Liquid Luck’

The same sort of things goes for the Felix Felicis, better know as Liquid Luck! This teardrop-shaped glass bottle is filled with a sweet, sparkling syrup. The potion is thought to, “imbue the drinker with good luck for a period of time, during which everything they attempt will be successful”. This muggle-friendly version, however, is just made from ginger and lemon syrup, but is no less beautiful to admire.

Cost: $9.95

Sneakoscope

A sneakoscope is a type of Dark Detector from the Harry Potter books. It looks like a glass spinning top that lights up, spins, and whistles if someone is doing something untrustworthy nearby. Ron brought one back for Harry from Hogsmead the first time he and Hermione visited. Production designers for the movie created the most amazing Sneakoscope design but the scene was cut from the film. Luckily, their loss is their own gain, as they recreated it for any Muggle to buy in Zonkos.

Cost: $14.95

Exploding Bon Bons

Zonkos joke shop also features some delicious, and playful, sweet treats. These are GREAT to bring home to Harry Potter fans as it really feels like something pulled right from the book. While the glass jar of U-No-Poo is pretty funny and the Shock-o-choc has some great packaging, my favourite of all their “trick” candy is the Exploding Bon Bons. These little white chocolate bonbons are flavoured with orange and pineapples and filled with “exploding” pop rocks in the center! They are so fun to eat and a super delicate, delicious and unique flavour too! These were really one of the best tasting candies I’ve ever had.

Cost: $9.95 for 10 candies

Honeydukes

Honeydukes is visually one of the most amazing shops in Hogsmeade. Walking in the door you are overcome with fantastical scents and scenery all around you. There is just something about those mint green and pastel pink walls that makes you smile! One of my favourite quotes from the books about Honeydukes describes it perfectly, “…there were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable.” And they really are!

There are so many of those famous sweets from the books here that it’s almost impossible to narrow down your selection. But honestly, some of these treats are prettier than they are delicious. Here are my tops picks for those treats which are iconic to the books, but also delicious to eat!

Sherbert Lemon Candies

While everyone more than likely goes for the beans or the frogs first, I darted right for the Sherbert Lemon candies. Sherbert lemons were Dumbledore’s favourite candy in the books. So much so that at one point they were the password for his office door. Sherbert Lemon might be something you’ve seen before, but these ones are gourmet. They are melt in your mouth and just the right balance of sweet and sour. The best part is that once you’ve finished the tin, you can refill it as much as you want with your favourite candies. It makes for a gorgeous display piece year-round. I even put some loose leaf tea in it too! It’s super versatile.

Cost: $9.95

Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Bean

Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans are one, if not the most, iconic candy from the Harry Potter books and films. The Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans you can in Honeydukes are an absolute replica of the ones in the movies. They are packaged up in this darling, vintage-inspired striped box. The flavours included are everything from Tutti-Frutti, to cherry, earwax, black pepper, and even sausage! They’re really good fun to eat with friends and see everyone’s reaction. You can buy either the paper box or a fancier tin version. While the tin container is no doubt more sturdy, the paper box feels more like the original and you get the same amount of candy in both

Cost: Paper box $13 | Tin box $19

Candy Quill

One of the cheapest items in Honeydukes is the candy quills. These large lollipops are shaped into a beautiful feather quill. The tip, when wetted, actually writes too! They come in a multitude of different flavours so you can always find your favourite. Mine is ALWAYS blue raspberry!

Cost: $4.95

Butterbeer Fudge

Honeydukes also features a fudge counter where you can buy freshly made pastries and desserts. The BEST thing in this mouthwatering case is the Butterbeer fudge. The fudge replicates the drink almost exactly and even has that top layer of light, marshmallow foam. It’s SUPER sweet but that means you can easily share it among a bunch of people! The fudge is one of the only fresh items you can bring home with you and it will still be fresh for a couple of days.

Cost: $3.95

Honeydukes Latte Mug

One of the best non-food items sold at Honeydukes are these huge, Honeydukes branded latte mugs. These are complete with that iconic green and pink logo on the front. These are great for coffee or tea drinkers who want to feel like they are at Honeydukes every day! The mug is very large, and well made, with some real weight to it! This is something you can really use every day so it’s well worth the price.

Cost: $21.00

Chocolate Frogs, Don’t Buy?

Alright…Chocolate Frogs. I think most people will claim this to be the best thing to buy in Honeydukes. It’s no doubt iconic. It has a huge part to play in the first movie and throughout the books. And while the boxes are beautiful and the cards inside are super unique and well designed, the actual chocolate frog is honestly a bit disappointing.

The shape is pretty spot-on, but the chocolate tastes really cheap and even is a bit oily. For $13.99, I think there are so many better things you can buy that are just as iconic and with just as beautiful packaging. BUT if you really have your heart set on one, don’t let me stop you. One tip to keep in mind is if you open the frog in the shop and don’t like your card, you can ask to trade it in at the counter for a different one.

Cost: $13.99

Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment

Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment is my favourite shop to visit as it’s just so beautiful inside.  Walking inside, the Prussian blue walls covered in gold embellishment sparkle and shine, dazzling the eye of the beholder. The shop is made to look like an ancient astronomer’s tower with astrological constellations painted on the ceiling. Everything from crystal balls to telescopes, binoculars, armillary spheres, compasses, magnifying glasses and hourglasses are displayed inside the window cases.

Replica Wizarding Robes

While Gladrags might be where most people go to buy their robes, I’d advise you to buy one at Wisescares if you’re going to make the investment. You can try it on and look at yourself in one of their antique mirrors and there is just something really “magical” about this shop which makes the experience that much more special. Buying a robe is a real splurge but for a huge fan, there is just something monumental about getting to wear your own house robe. The robes are so well made, and super heavy. The fabric isn’t cheap at all, which I’ve definitely found with Halloween costume robes I’ve worn before.

The robes have great big pockets, perfect for keeping your phone handy for pictures. They even have a tiny pocket inside for your wand, which makes it feel so authentic! The weather was miserable when I was there, and my robe kept me nice and warm! While buying a robe might not be for everyone, for me, it was a right of passage I had dreamed of and didn’t disappoint.

Cost: $139

Pins

If you’re looking for something much much cheaper, Wiseacre’s has a huge selection of Harry Potter themed pins. There can be worn literally every day, on your clothes, bags or shoes so they really make for a versatile gift or souvenir. I love the Quibbler Spectrespecs Pin ($ 15) as well as the Mermaid Window Pin ($12). The Deathly Hallows pin is one of the cheapest ($9) and also one of the most iconic symbols from the Harry Potter series. They really have a pin for anything you can imagine so take some time to find one that really speaks to you.

Cost: Varies, around $9-$18

If you can’t make it to Harry Potter World, you should check out pins.us to make yourself a custom Harry Potter pin. It’s a great way to show off your favourite part of the fandom! And something no one else will have.

Ollivander’s Wands

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Ollivanders is the wand shop everyone goes to get their first wand. It’s been owned by the same family of wandmakers since 382 B.C.! When you enter inside, you can feel the “age” of the building. Dusty wand boxes are stacked right up to the ceiling. They seem to lean and sway with the sagging of the walls. While the Ollivanders Wand shop is also an interactive experience, you can enter the shop on its own, through the back of Wiseacres.

Replica Wands

There are replica wands of pretty much every character from the films. The replica wands were gorgeous, and I couldn’t believe how many characters they had. I expected just the most important ten characters or so would be featured, but they had everyone! I found Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, various Death Eater wands and even Nicolas Flamel! My heart had been set on buying Luna Lovegood‘s wand (she’s my favourite character).

“Unclaimed” Wands

“Unclaimed” wand designs are uniquely suited to your personality and your birthday. This is based on the fact that J.K. Rowling found out that her choice of holly for Harry’s wand coincidentally corresponded with his birthday on the Celtic tree calendar. The Celtic Tree Calendar has thirteen lunar divisions, each one of which has a corresponding tree. If you want to learn more about this, I found it really fascinating. It’s like finding a wand based on your Celtic zodiac sign.

To get a custom wand “evaluation“ the wand clerk will ask you a bunch of questions; your birth date, your name and then a lot of other personality qualifiers. From there, they will present one or two wands to you which reflect what they learned from your evaluation. When they present the wand, they go over all its properties and what kind of person would suit the wand. It was like listening to a bedtime story, there were so many interesting aspects to each one.

Interactive wands vs. Non-interactive wands

Whichever wand you purchase, there are two types identified by the labels on the wand boxes. The wands with a gold label are interactive wands that you can use through the Wizarding World. The wands with the matte labels are just ornamental. The interactive wands can be used in all Wizarding World parks to cast spells. These “spells” can be cast at different locations inside the Wizarding World. Inside your wand box, there is a map of all the interactive destinations. They also provide instructions on how to perform each spell. I got an interactive wand and loved performing the spells in the park. It definitely makes you feel like a real wizard. But even just the ornamental wands themselves make you feel like you’ve been to Hogwarts and back. They look gorgeous to display in your home and fun prop to use throughout your visit to Hogsmeade.

Cost: The non-interactive wands cost $55, and the interactive wands cost $59 and come with a map of the locations where you can cast spells.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods

Inside Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods shop, you’ll find lots of “confiscated items”. If you’re a collector, this is one of the best shops to buy your very own replica props. They even sell copies of the Harry Potter books here, as these are still on the list of banned books in various countries around the world and would, therefore, be “confiscated” items.

Marauder’s Map

Perhaps one of the most sought-after confiscated items is the Marauder’s Map. This wonderfully detailed fold-out map featured the entire layout of the castle, which is super cool to see! It has the names of almost all the book’s characters positioned throughout the castle. It’s an extremely accurate artifact from the movies and although the price tag is a bit steep, think of it as something you can frame and display forever in your home.

Cost: $49.95

Time-Turner Necklace

If you’re looking for a beautiful piece of jewellery which doesn’t feel cheap or cheesy I’d recommend the time-turner necklace! The quality is wonderful and the central hourglass has real sand that flows from one side to the other when it is turned upside down. For any Harry Potter fan, this replica piece is a real treasure but its also something which you can wear on a daily basis and won’t get called out for wearing “a costume”.

Cost: $50.00

Pumpkin Juice

The Magic Neep cart sells quick bites to eat and things to drink. The best drink to get here is the pumpkin juice. This tastes very similar to a cold apple cider and is so refreshing. But the best part is the souvenir bottle you get with it! This gorgeously designed bottle is perfect to put on your shelf as a piece of decor well after you’ve finished drinking it.

Cost: $4.99

Gladrags Wizardwear

Gladrags Wizardwear is a clothing shop was visited by the trio multiple times in the book and was where they went to buy a present for Dobby since the shop “had the best selection of socks in Hogsmead”. The shop was founded in 1750 and is full of incredible items to both buy and admire. On the second level, you can see hundreds of ribbons, rolls of fabric, piles of buttons and more ready to be whipped up into a brand new set of dress robes.

House Scarf

One of the most affordable and iconic pieces of clothing you can buy here is your very own wizarding scarf complete with your house colours. They have the authentic movie replica versions with the thin stripes, as well as the more bold, broad stipe versions. You can even get a scarf with your house slogan and crests emblazoned on them.

Cost: $40.00

R & H Sweaters

If you’re looking to splurge a little on something really special, then the replica Christmas sweaters that Mrs. Weasley knits for Harry and Ron at Christmas time are going to be for you. They are made of 100% wool and as such, are pretty pricey but feel absolutely amazing! I was too scared I would get it dirty or shrink it by accident in the wash, but if you’re much less of a klutz than me and you’d love a warm woolly sweater to remind you of your time in the park, this is for you!

Cost: $89.95

Yule Ball Dress Ornaments

While you might not be able to afford Hermione’s $375 replica Yule Ball Gown, Gladrags sells these ADORABLE minature yule ball dress ornaments! You can find the trio’s outfits as well as Fleur and Krum’s dashing outfits! They would make a wonderful addition to any Christmas tree. I honestly could write a whole post about all the different Christmas ornaments you can buy here, but these miniature outfits are by far the most unique and memorable.

Cost: $21.95

Dervish & Banges

Dervish & Banges is a shop that features a little more prominently in the books and is known to sell “magical instruments and stuff,” according to Ron Weasley. Inside Dervish & Banges, you can find various house-themed items and apparel. The shop is gorgeously designed. They really wanted it to feel like an old clothing store. Antique boxes and piles of merchandise are stacked up on the second floor. Different parts of the shop move like magic. There are flying broomsticks bobbing up and down above your head as well as the cage which holds the ‘The Monster Book of Monsters”. Be careful, it will snap at any little children who dare to put their fingers inside the cage!

House Sweatshirts

One of the newer items of clothing on sale here are these wonderfully soft house sweatshirts with the name of the different houses stitched onto the front. There is also a wonderfully detailed crest on the sleeve. These look almost like the university sweatshirts you might see on campuses across the states. The cost is high but the quality is very high too. These shirts feel a little bit more contemporary and could be worn a lot more frequently than some of the more movie replica pieces.

Cost: $43.99

Quidditch Captain T-shirt

If Quidditch is your thing, they sell these amazing Quidditch Captain T-shirts with the name of the various house captains stitched on the back. If you want something even more unique, you can get a custom version made with your own name emblazoned on the back!

Cost: $36.95, extra $20 to get your name custom made

Spectrespecs

If you’re a huge Luna Lovegood fan, like me, one of the best souvenirs is a pair of Spectrespecs. These are just like the ones she wore in the movie. The Spectrespecs in the movie were large, colourful spectacles that were given away free in an issue of The Quibbler. Luna used these to watch for Wrackspurts and described them as making the wearer look like a “demented multicoloured owl“. Personally, I think they look amazing. The spectrespecs you can buy in the Wizarding World come on a cardboard poster inspired by the Quibbler magazine from the film. You simply punch them out of the poster or keep the piece intact as it can make for an amazing work of art to frame!

Cost: $6.95

The Golden Snitch

One of the extremely well-priced items in the shop is the Golden Snitch! This piece of quidditch equipment, as we all know, is much more than that. It shows up throughout all the books and even plays a part in one of the most important scenes in the final book. The toy version they sell here comes with a little stand and even flaps its wings! Close up it might look like a toy but from afar this looks just as real as the real thing!

Cost: $18.95

Owl Post

The Owl Post Shop is the Wizarding World’s version of the regular post office, but instead of human mail carriers, they use owls! All along the timber tall walls are animatronic owls who move and howl at customers as they come inside. Brown paper parcels are stacked to the ceiling awaiting their recipients. If you purchase anything from this shop you can even pay to have it wrapped in the very same iconic brown paper wrapping. The Owl Post is the best place to buy various bits of stationery.

Ministry of Magic Interdepartmental Paper Aeroplane Memos

If you remember from the films, the scenes inside the Ministry of Magic, you might remember the office workers writing memos on pieces of paper. The papers would then magically fold up into paper airplanes and whiz about the office landing on the desk of that to which it was intended. You can now send your very own Ministry of Magic memos, although perhaps without the magically flying abilities. Inside this gorgeously packaged folder are 15 memo sheets, with golden Ministry of Magic seals. There are instructions on how to fold them into paper airplanes and even just one of the 15 included in the pack makes for a beautiful piece of decor on a shelf! So they’re great to share with friends.

Cost: $24 for 15 memos and seals

Notebooks

My favourite item in this shop were the notebooks. Each one of these was designed to look like the covers of various famous books from the movies. you have ones made to look like Tom Riddle’s diary, the ‘Advanced Potion Making‘ manuals from the Half-Blood Prince, the cover of the ‘History of Magic‘, ‘Dark Arts Defence‘ and even ‘Tales of Beetle the Bard‘.

Cost: $25

Hedwig

No wizard is complete with a familiar, and for Harry, this was his beloved owl, Hedwig. Throughout the Owl Post shop, you can find a variety of plush owls, but the most important of them all is Hedwig. There is even a Hedwig puppet version whose head and wings can move! This is great for kids, and it’s more fun to play with than just a standard stuffed animal.

Cost: Puppet $40.00 | Other standard plush owls cost between $21 and $24.

Howler Recordable Pop-Up Card

In the second book and film, Ron gets a Howler from his mother scolding him for using the flying the car to get into Hogwarts after they missed the train. These Howlers are magical letters, which come in bright red envelopes, and have enchanted with messages in the writer’s voice inside, usually at a very high volume. Here in the wizarding world you can buy your own Howler card. The cards pop-up after they’re opened into that iconic mouth shaped letter and you’re even able to record a 15-second clip to surprise the recipient. These make a great birthday gift for any Potter lover.

Cost: $18.95

Hogsmeade Station

Hogsmeade station is a small shop that looks like an old-fashioned train ticket booth. Inside you’ll find various apparel and souvenirs with Platform 9 ¾ on it, hidden among piles of antique luggage. If you’re a train buff, this is the place for you.

Hogwart Railways Iron-On Patch Set

A really great souvenir to grab here is a pack of iron-on patches that can add a bit of magic to any outfit or bag! They come in packs of two patches so you can keep one and give one away to a friend!

Cost: $8 for two

Hogwarts Express Replica Ticket

A replica of Harry’s Ticket on to the Hogwarts Express can be bought at Hogsmeade station. This was his way into the Wizarding world and no doubt a piece of ephemera he would have treasured himself. There are two tickets inside the package, one from London to Hogwarts and one for the return journey. Each of the tickets is printed on fabulous gold-colour foil paper with the iconic Hgswarts logos in the background.

Cost: $10

Grimmauld Place Metal Sign

Something interesting I found in this shop was a tin street sign for Grimmauld Place. Grimmauld Place is the street in London where the Black family residence is located at number twelve. After the Blacks abandoned it, it served as the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix between 1996-1997. The tin sign is an adorable piece of movie memorabilia, especially for any Sirius Black fan!

Cost: $13

Butterbeer | Try but don’t buy the souvenir mug!

No trip to Hogsmeade is complete without trying out the Wizarding World’s most iconic beverage, Butterbeer. Butterbear tastes like butterscotch soda topped with a marshmallow creamed foam. It’s rich, sweet and when served cold, surprisingly refreshing. But, while I do implore you to buy a glass of butterbeer, I think the souvenir mug is worth skipping. You don’t get a discount on any future refills (which is usually the incentive for these types of refillable mugs in theme parks). I found the souvenir stein to feel very cheap, and the “butterbeer” logo on the front is just a tacky sticker. For all the effort the park makes in their other packaging, I was surprised by the poor quality of this one.

While it’s not the most expensive thing in the world, I think you’re much better to just get a butterbeer is a disposable cup and save your money. You can put that money saved towards buying one of the fantastic ceramic steins they sell, which are really something you’ll be proud to display!

Additional Shopping Locations

There are two other places inside Universal Studios where you can find Harry Potter merchandise. The first is at the front entrance of the Universal Studio Store, and the second is inside the Feature Presentation store near the park’s entry plaza. These carry a variety of items which are also located inside the Wizarding World. So if you feel like you missed something and don’t wanna walk back (or if the shops are too crowded), you can always come here to see if they have it. While these shops don’t have any of the wonderful theming of the ones in the Wizarding world, they’ll do in a pinch.

Hopefully, this guide helps you plan your wish list for the Wizarding World, and you come away with some amazing souvenirs to help remember your trip! Let me know which of these items you’d most love to buy or anything else you spotted which ended up being your favourite purchase!

Happy Travels Adventurers

The post The Best Souvenirs at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Where to Find Them! [UPDATED 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-best-souvenirs-at-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-and-where-to-find-them/feed/ 17 15209 Experience the Magic: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood, California https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-visiting-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-hollywood/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-guide-to-visiting-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-hollywood https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-visiting-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-hollywood/#comments Mon, 25 May 2020 16:39:43 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=14396 The Harry Potter novels mean more to me than I can properly express in words. As...

The post Experience the Magic: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood, California first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> The Harry Potter novels mean more to me than I can properly express in words. As a kid who felt very different, these books brought me so much solace, comfort and companionship. When I heard they were building a theme park of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter I remember being so excited! But as life moved on and I grew up, finding the time to visit the park kept slipping by. Finally, on our last trip to California, in collaboration with Musement, I had the opportunity to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood! With my passes in hand, I felt Harry Potter being given his ticket onto the Hogwarts Express, bound for Hogsmeade!

After securing our tickets I immediately went online to research what to see and do in the park. I was sad to see that there wasn’t a ton of information out there for the Los Angeles Wizarding World. Everything seemed to focus on the Orlando parks. But that just meant I had my work cut out for me! My mission was to come back with a complete guide for Potter-heads, just like me. In the hopes that your first trip to Hogsmeade is as magical as you imagined it to be.

Table Of Contents
  1. Ticket Prices
  2. Expert Tips for Exploring the Park
  3. How to Get there
  4. Hogwarts Express
  5. Hogwarts Castle
  6. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  7. Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
  8. Three Broomsticks
  9. Hog’s Head Pub
  10. Ollivanders Wand Shop
  11. Flight of the Hippogriff
  12. Hogsmeade Station
  13. Magic Neep Cart
  14. Dervish & Banges
  15. Owl Post
  16. Gladrags Wizardwear
  17. Spintwitches and Tomes & Scrolls
  18. Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment
  19. Butterbeer Cart
  20. Honeydukes
  21. Zonko’s Joke Shop
  22. Guide to Casting Spells 
  23. Entertainment

Ticket Prices

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is where muggles can get a chance to visit the streets of Hogsmeade! Many people seem to overlook going to Universal Studios Hollywood over Orlando. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando has two different Harry Potter areas (both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley) whereas Universal Studios in Hollywood only has Hogsmeade.

While there only might be one Harry Potter area to visit the price of admission in California is much cheaper than in Orlando. A two-day park pass in California will only cost you $109 USD. Whereas in Orlando a one-day park-hopper (which will allow you to see both Hogsmead and Diagon Alley) will run you $174 USD. So if you’re looking for value for money then Universal Studios Hollywood is the place for you! I also found that by only having one park to visit, rather than two, you can really dedicate more time to exploring the world properly. Rather than rushing through, trying to see everything in too short of a time.

Expert Tips for Exploring the Park

Buy Tickets in Advance

The best way to have as close to perfect a day as possible is to buy your tickets in advance. Doing this means you won’t need to worry about anything upon arriving at the park and can simply head right inside!

Arrive Early

Also, be sure to arrive early! Early in the morning is when you’ll have the best chance of seeing the streets of Hogsmeade without throngs of people. Plus, early in the morning is the best time to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey with the shortest wait time. I would advise lining up about 30-45 minutes before the park opens. Sure this means getting up at the crack of dawn but trust me, the early bird really does catch the worm!

Download the Universal Studios app

On the Universal Studios app you have a handy dandy map that will help you find your way around the park. You can also check wait times and see when different shows are happening. The paper map makes for a great souvenir but there is nothing like the app’s convenience. If you aren’t travelling with a data roaming package, download the app before leaving your hotel. Then you can use the park’s wifi to navigate inside the app.

How to Get there

The traffic in L.A. is just as bad as its reputation. Study the options below to find the right plan for your arrival at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Downtown LA Metro

If you don’t already know, LA has its own metro system which actually runs right up to Universal City Walk. Just get off at North Hollywood Station. From there it’s about a 15-minute walk to the gates of Universal. So if you’re staying somewhere on or near the Metro line this is a great option for you. And with rides costing just $1.75 per trip, you can’t beat the price!

Uber

Another great option is to take an Uber or rideshare. Uber will take you to one of the two the rideshare drop off areas near Universal. There is one right near the entrance to the park and one inside Universal City Walk. If you want to grab a coffee and doughnut to enjoy while you wait in line, the rideshare drop off at Universal City walk is right near Voodoo Doughnuts! Personally, this is what I would choose, those doughnuts are outta this world. From there you can easily walk over to the entrance of the park, about a 5-minute walk. Ubers are fairly affordable but obviously that depends on where you’re coming from. Leaving and returning outside of rush hours will help keep those costs down. You can always check the fare calculator to give you a better idea of the exact cost.

Shuttle Bus

Many of the hotels downtown and around L.A. have shuttle services that run to Universal Studios. Check with the front desk to see if this is available at your hotel. Pick up a copy or note down their timetables for your return journey. The shuttle service is often free with your hotel stay so definitely worth looking into.

Driving

If you rented or have your own car you can park at the Universal Studios parking lot. Parking is by far the most expensive option so be sure to weigh all your choices. Parking rates are as follows:

General Parking $25 before 6pm – $10 after 6pm
Preferred Parking $40 before 6pm – $20 after 6pm
Front Gate Parking  $60 before 6pm – $30 after 6pm
Valet Parking $25 first 2 hours – $45 after 2 hours

Arriving at the Park

If you get there early enough, you’ll be let into the park’s upper lot before the official opening. From there you’ll be held in a small group in front of the Universal Studios box office building. When it nears official opening time, you listen to this cute recording which begins to play all around you. It sounds like a movie studio getting ready to start filming, lights turning on, extra getting into place and more. Upon hearing “action!” you are all allowed to enter the park. It was a really sweet touch I didn’t expect.

When they finally let you in, start walking straight and veer towards the right to find your way to Hogsmeade! You can even see the Hogwarts castle on your right above the other buildings. The journey to the Wizarding World from the entrance is a fairly short one and within moments you’ll be face to face with the gates of Hogsmeade. You’ll pass under a large archway with a hanging sign which pronounces “Please respect the Spell Limits”.

Arriving in Hogsmead

If you’re anything like me, you’ll need a minute to compose yourself. Laying your eyes on Hogsmeade for the first time is really a huge moment for any fan. In the book, Hogsmeade is described as follows,

“Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.“

The thin, snow-covered roofs are so tightly packed together, almost like they are huddling together for warmth. Chimneys lean to one side, almost falling over from old age. If you listening closely, beyond the murmur and footsteps of other muggles, you might be able to head the sound of a steam engine…

Hogwarts Express

Just beyond the gates to your right is the Hogwarts Express in all its glory! The ramp on the left side of the train is covered in wizarding luggage waiting to be piled onto the train. In front of the engine is the conductor himself greeting visitors to Hogsmeade! While you can’t get into the train itself, you can get a great snapshot with the friendly conductor.

I was amazed by the fact he, and all the other “wizards” in the park, really play the part! They each have a Wizarding name and stay in character the entire time. The conductor and I had a lovely chat. He asked if it was my first time in Hogsmeade, inquired what house I was in and, when he saw my Prefect badge, what I had done to be good enough to be a Prefect! It was such an adorable little interaction. Don’t miss out on your chance to meet the conductor! I felt like this was something people just skipped past and it’s definitely worth your time.

Hogwarts Castle

If you’ve arrived early in the morning, you’ll want to next head directly to Hogwarts Castle. This is where you can ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Walking up to the castle for the first time I had my breath taken away. The forced perspective the architects of the park used to create the castle make it seem enormous! I tried to see if I could spot any students peeking their heads out the window. The grandeur of the castle is a spectacle all to itself. Every detail from the books and movies were taken into consideration. It looked just like what I had imagined in my head! You really do feel like your standing at the gates of Hogwarts.

On either side of the gates which serve as the entry to the Forbidden Journey ride, you’ll see two winged hogs. These are meant to embody the old saying, “when pigs fly,” representing the fact that Hogwarts is a place where the impossible is made possible!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is one of the best rides in the park but not for the faint of heart. Personally, the ride seemed a little too intense for me but my husband LOVED it and couldn’t stop raving about all the different effects! But, even non-riders can experience the wonderfully immersive queue without having to get on the ride at the end.

There are three options for queues (lines) for the Forbidden Journey. You’ll see wait times posted for the ride on the sign at the entrance or on the app. The first is the regular line, the second is for single riders and the third is the Express Pass (which requires additional admission).

Unless you MUST ride with your group members, I would recommend getting in the single rider line. It’s much faster and once you’re on the ride it’s so dark and fast-paced you won’t be able to see each other anyways.

Rules & Lockers

You must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the Forbidden Journey. Be warned that if you have a bag you must either leave it with another group member who isn’t going on the ride or put it in a locker. These lockers can be found directly to your right as you enter Hogwarts castle. Once you find an empty locker, follow the directions on the screen. You’ll scan your fingerprint to lock your items inside and use this same finger to unlock it. This process can be a bit lengthy depending on crowd levels so be sure to consider leaving your bag with a friend if they’re not going on the ride as that will be much faster.  

Non-Riders

Even if you don’t want to ride the Forbidden Journey, I would implore you to walk through the ride queue! The line is designed to entertain visitors as they wait. Every inch of it is decorated with elements from the film and the books. Before entering the castle you’ll walk through a little version of the “forbidden forest”. Hiding within the trees is the iconic Flying Ford Anglia, still crashed amongst the rocks.

The Hogwarts Dungeons

The first part of the indoor queue you’ll walk through is the dungeons. Here you’ll find great Mirror of Erisded! Next, you’ll walk through the greenhouses of the Herbology department. The colouring of the decor in here felt like it was plucked right from the films. I swear I could even smell the dirt and plants growing throughout. 

Next, you’ll pass through the hallways of the castle. You’ll see the Hogwarts House Cup counters, Dumbledore’s golden Phoenix statue guarding his office, stained glass windows featuring mythical creatures, statues of great wizards and more!

One of my favourite rooms had to be the hallways of talking portraits. The people inside the portraits move and talk to one and another just like in the books. They were so entertaining and despite the fact that the line was moving so fast, I opted to stay here and listen to the chatter for a few more minutes.

Hogwarts Classrooms

You’ll turn a corner and come upon the Dark Arts classroom. On the teacher’s pulpit, there is a projection of Harry, Ron and Hermione from the film interacting with the objects in the room. This classroom was such an iconic spot for the trio so it was so neat to see it in person.

The next room you’ll approach is Dumbledore’s great office. Above his desk is another projection of Dumbledore from the film. Take a minute to look into all the different cabinets along the wall. Inside are various treasures, many of which are famous objects from the books. Be sure to find the Pensieve in the room before you leave, it was the most intricate prop and so cool to study up close and personal.

Just before entering the ride itself, you’ll find the sorting hat. It spouts off projections about future first years and banters with riders as they approach the candlelit ride. The queue is so immersive that even a long wait here is so entertaining. It really makes the time fly by.

The Ride

The ride itself features 4 side-by-side seats with harnesses that fix your body in place. You are made to feel like you’re riding a broomstick through the castle. You’ll fly across the Quidditch field and over the Whomping Willow. You’ll see Aragog and even the Basilisk. But the scariest part is when you have a ghastly encounter with an animatronic Dementor! Since the Dementors are real, and not 4k projections, they feel even more intense as they come towards you! The ride finishes with Harry in the Gryffindor common room hoisted high on the arms of his fellow students. It’s the closest thing any muggle will ever have to riding a broom throughout the Wizarding world.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods

As you leave the ride, you’ll pass through Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods shop. Inside this shop, you’ll find lots of “confiscated items”. These include; the Marauder’s Map, replicas of Death Eater masks, the time turner necklace and more. If you’re a collector, this is one of the best shops to buy your very own replica props. They even sell copies of the Harry Potter books here, as these are still on the list of banned books in various countries around the world and would, therefore, be “confiscated” items.

On top of the various display cases are replica props from the books and films. There are even boxes around the upper selves labelled with names of various students on them. These are thought to possess various items Filch had confiscated from them over the years. All the wizard employees in the shop are here serving their “detention”. Go up to any of the employees in the shop and ask them what they did to deserve “detention”. Each one has a funny little story of what they did. It’s a cute little easter egg and I loved hearing the different stories of devious things they did.

Three Broomsticks

If you’re a Harry Potter nerd like me, you’ll be over the moon to dine inside the Three Broomsticks. This pub features heavily in the books and isn’t to be missed. The best way to get a table at the Three Broomsticks is to eat early or late. 12 pm and 6 pm are the busiest times since they are the typical lunch and dinner hours for visitors. We opted to eat early (around 11 am) to give ourselves the afternoon to explore shops and go on other rides. Just outside the Three Broomsticks be sure to take a look at the wanted poster posted out front. The animated projection of Sirius Black is just like the wanted posters from the movies and adds to the realism that the park aims to create.

It’s interesting to note that the Three Broomsticks pub featured in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was modeled after the one in the theme park! And not vice versa. Stuart Craig, who was the production designer for the Harry Potter movies also worked for Universal Creative. He designed the theme parks and loved his design for the Three Broomsticks so much he used it in the movies. There are so many details I loved inside the restaurant which made you feel like you’re in another world. Everything from the ancient paintings on the wall, mounts of magical creatures, broomstick parking, to the ancient storage boxes piled high on the second floor made you feel like you were really in Hogsmeade.

The Food

To order your food, line up at the kiosks just inside the entrance. Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll grab your food from the counter to your left. Just wait for your name and number to be called. With your tray in hand, head over to the line to be seated. When we visited, we were there early enough that it was so empty we could just seat ourselves wherever we wanted! See, it pays to eat during off-hours. As the day wore on, you had to wait in line to be seated and therefore didn’t get to choose where you ate.

The food at the Three Broomsticks was incredible! Theme park food I think is getting better and better and we loved every bit of our meal. Most of the food is traditional British cusine with things like roast chicken, fish n’ chips, cornish pasties and more. You can also order desserts like trifle, butterbeer ice cream, butterbeer potted cream and apple pie. I highly recommend the butterbeer potted cream!

Drinks

If you haven’t tried a butterbeer yet than this is a great opportunity to get one! Dining inside the Three Broomsticks doesn’t have to consist of an entire meal. So if you’re looking to enjoy the atmosphere but don’t wanna spend a lot of money, ordering a drink is a great alternative. There are three versions of butterbeer you can order here; classic Butterbeer, frozen Butterbeer and hot Butterbeer.

We ordered the classic Butterbeer as it felt most authentic to the experience. How can I describe butterbeer for you if you’ve never had it before? The original is very sweet, like butterscotch, with a hint of cream soda flavoured fizz. On top, the “foam” is made from a froth that tastes like melted marshmallows. I think the foam was my favourite part! The drink is VERY sweet so I don’t think everyone needs their own. One or two are enough to share with the whole family. Then get some Gillywater to wash the rest down.

Hot Butterbeer

Later in the day I wanted to try the hot version. It was such a chilly day, and I needed something to warm up with. And this was honestly the PERFECT thing for it! The hot butterbeer I preferred over the cold. It was similar to a butterscotch latte and I felt like the sweetness worked better in the hot version, than in the cold.

Hog’s Head Pub

If you’re looking to order a real beer than you’ve come to the right place. The Hog’s Head Pub from the books is owned and operated by Aberforth Dumbledore, the younger brother of Albus Dumbledore. At this counter-service bar you can order a variety of the locally brewed beers. Try the Hog’s Head Brew red ale, a Dragon’s Scale lager, or the Wizard’s Brew porter. These come either in a plastic cup or souvenir stein.

In addition to beers, you can also order wine by the glass, fruit cider or fire whisky (another famous drink mentioned in the books). Obviously you must be over 21 to order any alcohol here as that is the legal drinking age in America.

Ollivanders Wand Shop

Next up, check the wait times for Ollivanders Wand Shop. Usually, by mid-afternoon (especially during lunch hour) the line isn’t too long. Don’t get in line unless the wait times are about 15 minutes or less. Even when it says “15 minutes” the wait is usually much longer. Throughout the day you’ll always be able to find a time to get in here relatively quickly so there’s no need to wait over half an hour. The line is outside so if you want to enjoy a Butterbeer while you wait this is a great opportunity to do so. Even if you don’t plan on purchasing a wand, this little interactive show is well worth experiencing.

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Ollivanders is the wand shop everyone goes to get their first wand. It’s been owned by the same family of wandmakers since 382 B.C.! When you enter inside you can feel the “age” of the building. Dusty wand boxes are stacked right up to the ceiling. They seem to lean and sway with the sagging of the walls. 

The Ollivanders Experience

An Ollivanders wand shop employee greets you in the first room. There, he explains the rules of the shop and ushers you in through a secret door. This is the private wand fitting room. You’ll be greeted by another clerk who will select one lucky person from the group to have their wand fitted.

This is a wonderful interactive experience and the actor we had playing the wand clerk was incredible and full of whimsy! Although I was disappointed not to be chosen, I loved seeing the look on the kid’s face who got picked. He got to try out various wands to see which wand was fit for him! He cast spells throughout the room and those “magical” interactive elements really made you feel that at any moment you could cast a spell yourself.

Buying a Wand

After the show is over, you are sent through another secret doorway into the main shop. This area sells wands for everyone to buy. There are replica wands of pretty much every character from the films. The replica wands were gorgeous and I couldn’t believe how many characters’ they had. I expected just the most important ten characters or so would be featured but they had everyone! I found Lavender Brown, Dean Thomas, various Death Eater wands and even Nicolas Flamel! My heart had been set on buying Luna Lovegood‘s wand (she’s my favourite character) but I was intrigued by the personality-based “unclaimed” wands…

Unclaimed Wands

These “unclaimed” wand designs are uniquely suited to your personality and your birthday. This is based on the fact that J.K. Rowling found out that her choice of holly for Harry’s wand coincidentally corresponded with his birthday on the Celtic tree calendar. The Celtic Tree Calendar has thirteen lunar divisions, each one of which has a corresponding tree. If you want to learn more about this I found it really fascinating. It’s like finding a wand based on your celtic zodiac sign.

Wand Evaluation

When I got there I saw another girl talking to one of the employees who offered to give her a custom wand “evaluation“. The wand clerk will ask you a bunch of questions; your birth date, your name and then a lot of other personality qualifiers. From there they will present one or two wands to you which reflect what they learned from your evaluation. When they present the wand, they go over all its properties and what kind of person would suit the wand. It was like listening to a bedtime story, there were so many interesting aspects to each one.

The wand she picked for me represented me perfectly! It was a long, Rowan wand, with a skull carved into the hilt. Although it might seem macabre, the skull in the wizarding world doesn’t always reflect evil or death. But rather refers to wizards who live well and fully. No dark witch or wizard has ever owned a rowan wand. I won’t spoil any more of their descriptions since I think getting this special wand analysis is so fun to do! Even if you don’t buy the wand in the end (they don’t mind), you should give it a try. Just ask any of the employees on the shop floor.

Interactive Wands

Whichever wand you purchase, there are two types, identified by the labels on the wand boxes. The wands with a gold label are the interactive wands that you can use through the Wizarding World. The wands with the matte labels are just ornamental. The interactive wands can be used in all Wizarding World parks to cast spells. These “spells” can be cast at different locations inside the Wizarding World. Inside your wand box, there is a map to all the interactive destinations. They also provide instructions on how to perform each spell. I got an interactive wand and loved preforming the spells in the park. It definitely makes you feel like a real wizard. But even just the ornamental wands themselves make you feel like you’ve been to Hogwarts and back. They look gorgeous to display in your home and a fun prop to use throughout your visit to Hogsmeade.

TIP

Ollivanders doesn’t have an apparent entrance door into the shop. But if you don’t want to wait in line for the Ollinvanders Experience to shop for your wand, you can enter Ollivanders through a back door inside Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. There is also a wand cart outside Hogwarts castle if Ollivanders is too busy and you really want to buy your wand ASAP. The wand cart is generally fairly empty and has a multitude of wands to choose from. But the experience inside Ollivanders is much more authentic.

Flight of the Hippogriff

If the wait time is less than 20 minutes, head on over to Flight of the Hippogriff. You need to be 39 inches or taller to ride this ride. It’s a short, family coaster that takes you on a journey around Hagrid’s hut. While in line, you’ll get to see Sirius Black’s motorcycle, Buckbeak and if you listen closely you might even be able to hear Fang bark! Don’t expect too much from the ride but if the queue is short its a fun way to see Hogsmeade from above, at the top of the coaster.

Shopping

The afternoon is a great time to spend exploring the shops. The crush and excitement of the morning shoppers will have died down slightly. Many people are also off riding rides throughout the rest of the park. Below are some of the must-visit places in Hogsmead.

I find it best to start on at Hogsmeade Station, making your way up towards the castle and finishing at Honeydukes. The most affordable and delicious treats are available at Honeydukes. This is where you might do the most shopping so it’s best to do it last. That way you won’t need to lug a heavy bag around the rest of the day and your treats won’t melt!

Hogsmeade Station

Hogsmeade station is a small shop made to look like an old fashioned train ticket booth. Inside you’ll find various apparel and souvenirs with Platform 9 ¾ on it, hidden among piles of old fashioned luggage. If you’re a train buff this is the place for you. You can find train tickets, model trains, conductor hats, images of the Hogwarts express printed on t-shirts and more!

The Back Alley

Continue along the south side of Hogsmeade and take a short little detour behind the first row of shops. This little alleyway features a few different shop front and windows which display various magical items. Although you can’t enter these shops there are some fantastic photo opportunities back here. This place is tucked away from the crowds and there are some interactive wand spots here too.

Brews and Stews is one of my favourite windows to peek into. The shop is a combination hostel for travelling wizards and seafood restaurants. Another food-related shop on this street is the Magical Neep shop. The Magic Neep is a magical greengrocer selling neep or “turnips” which are used in many different spells.

Magic Neep Cart

Right beside the Magic Neep shop, you’ll find a large, bright green cart called the Magic Neep Cart. This cart sells everything from fresh fruits, to pretzels as well as different drinks like Butterbeer, Pumpkin Juice, and Gilly Water. The Pumpkin juice is served in one of the most charming bottles and I think is even more delicious than butterbeer. Hot take! Gilly water is just plain water but branded in Harry Potter-themed bottles. A great little place to grab a snack if you’re getting hungry.

Dervish & Banges

From the back alley, there is a side door which leads you into Dervish & Banges. Dervish & Banges is a shop that features a little more prominently in the books and is known to sell “magical instruments and stuff,” according to Ron Weasley. Inside Dervish & Banges you can find various house themed items and apparel. The shop is gorgeously designed. They really wanted it to feel like an old, clothing store. Antique boxes and piles of merchandise are stacked up on the second floor. Different parts of the shop move like by magic. There are flying broomsticks bobbing up and down above your head as well as the cage which holds the ‘The Monster Book of Monsters”. Be careful, it will snap at any little children who dare to put their fingers inside the cage!

This is a great place to find your own pair of Luna Lovegood’s ‘Spectrespecs‘ or buy a plush version of the monster book.

Quidditch equipment

Dervish & Banges also sell all sorts of Quidditch equipement, from customizable Quidditch team shirts to replicas of the Quaffles and Golden Snitches. you can even find the Nimbus 2001 and the Firebolt brooms.

Owl Post

Connected to Dervish & Banges, make your way up to the Owl Post Shop. All along the timber tall walls are animatronic owls who move and howl at customers as they come inside. Brown paper parcels are stacked to the ceiling awaiting their recipients. If you purchase anything from this shop you can even pay to have it wrapped in the very same iconic brown paper wrapping.

Inside a little window hidden in the shop is 3D projection of howler which screeches at passersby. The shop even has its own real post office where you can send mail from Hogsmeade! If you buy a card to mail from here it will bear the postmark of Hogsmeade, a great surprise from the receiver. The Owl Post is the best place to buy a various bit of stationery from real quills with ink, notebooks, and even your very own owl (a plush one of course). My favourite item in this shop were the notebooks made to look like the covers of various books from the movies like Tom Riddle’s diary, the ‘Advanced Potion Making‘ manuals from The Half-Blood Prince, the cover of the ‘History of Magic‘ and even ‘Tales of Beetle the Bard‘.

Gladrags Wizardwear

The last shop in this large complex is Gladrags Wizardwear. This clothing shop was visited by the trio multiple times in the book and was where they went to buy a present for Dobby since the shop “had the best selection of socks in Hogsmead”. The shop was founded in 1750 and is full of incredible items to both buy and admire. On the second level, you can see hundreds of ribbons, rolls of fabric, piles of buttons and more ready to be whipped up into a brand new set of dress robes.

In a glass case inside the shop, you’ll also be able to admire Hermione’s enchanting Yule Ball gown up close! Here you can buy your very own Hogwarts robe along with a variety of house pins, prefect badges and other jewellery and appeal.

Spintwitches and Tomes & Scrolls

Heading out of the front door of Gladrags, make a quick stop just to your right. Here you’ll find two more shop fronts to peek inside as they are not accessible to visit into. These are Spintwitches and Tomes and Scrolls. Spintwitches specializes in sporting goods and sells all sorts of Quidditch supplies and fan apparel. Tomes and Scrolls, as the name implies, is a specialist bookshop established in 1768! I loved peering into their windows to spot all the different ancient books and volumes piled up inside.

Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment

Turn yourself now to the opposite side of the street and head inside Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. This was my favourite shop in Hogsmeade. Walking inside, the Prussian blue walls covered in gold embellishment sparkle and shine, dazzling the eye of the beholder. The shop is made to look like an ancient astronomers tower with astrological constellations painted on the ceiling. Everything from crystal balls, to telescopes, binoculars, armillary spheres, compasses, magnifying glasses and hourglasses are displayed inside the window cases.

I love the name of this shop since a “wiseacre” is a term for someone who claims to be knowledgeable about everything (but is not). One can definitely imagine that someone who buys all these sorts of props would be someone trying to put on airs to seem wiser than they really are. Wisescare’s is another great place to buy your house robes if Gladrags is too busy. 

Buying a Robe

I bought my robe here since I just loved the atmosphere inside this shop. You can try on the robes in front of their “ancient” mirrors. I really felt like I was getting ready for my first year at Hogwarts! The robes are not cheap but the quality is superb, much better than any of those I’ve worn from costume shops.

I had had my heart set on buying a robe and the experience didn’t disappoint. Not only did it keep me warm (since it was such a cold and rainy day) but it also did indeed make me feel more apart of the world. And whether you buy a robe here or bring one from home, dressing the part adds to your overall experience! You could even just wear some Harry Potter coloured or themed clothing to make your outfit feel more in line with the wizarding world! I highly recommend it.

Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop

Since we’ve already been inside Ollivanders, take a moment to study its windows display from the street. The inaccessible door between the two shop windows with the sign above the door is a wonderful photo opportunity! Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop is located right beside Ollivanders and Wiseacre’s. Although the shop window says “back soon” this is another shop that cannot be entered and is just viewable from outside. Scrivenshaft’s is visited by Hermione Granger on at least one occasion when she wants to purchase a new quill. The word ‘Scriven‘ is a play on the Welsh word ‘ysgrifenu‘, which means ‘writing‘.

Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop 

The last two storefronts to look into but not enter are Madam Puddifoot’s and Dogweed and Deathcap. Madam Puddifoot’s is located right beside the line into the Ollivander experience. This shop window is definitely one of the most delicious looking displays. It’s honestly a little heartbreaking since you can’t actually eat any of those delicious cakes in the window. The tea shop is described as being “a cramped, steamy little place where everything seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows.” In the Harry Potter books, this was where couples would gather in Hogsmeade over the weekends to have a romantic date. 

Public Conveniences (Bathrooms)

Even if you don’t need to use the “loo” (the British slang term for Bathroom) take a visit to the washrooms. Take a seat and see if you can hear something strange echoing throughout the room. Throughout the washrooms, you can hear the sound of Moaning Myrtle and hear her aggressively rattling the pipes. A small touch but one that brought a smile to my face.

Dogweed and Deathcap

Dogweed and Deathcap is a storefront in Hogsmeade which you can peer into. It is known to sell exotic plants and flowers and presumably the Death-Caps. The windows are piled high with various plants, both known and unknown, which bloom and whose vines crawl up the walls and windows.

Butterbeer Cart

Outside of Honeydukes is one of the iconic bright red, Butterbeer carts. If you haven’t’ tried butterbeer yet be sure you do before you leave. It’s easily one of the most memorable items from Harry Potter’s first visit to Hogsmeade and it would be a shame not to try the brew for yourself. Even if you don’t want to sample the drink, any of these carts are a great place for a photo opportunity!

Honeydukes

Honeydukes is visually one of the most amazing shops in Hogsmeade. Just walking in the door you are overcome with the smell and the scenery all around you. There is just something about mint green and pastel pink that makes you smile! One of my favourite quotes from the books about Honeydukes describes it perfectly, “…there were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-coloured toffees; hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows; there was a large barrel of Every Flavour Beans and another of Fizzing Whizzbees.”

Honeydukes was first established in 1641 and owned by Ambrosius Flume and his wife. Throughout the shelves you’ll find many of those iconic sweets from the book. Each one lovingly recreated here! The two most famous treats are Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

I picked up so many different items from the shop. Not only do they look delicious but the packaging of each of the treats is just as collectable as the treats themselves.

Be sure to visit the hidden back alley behind Honeydukes as it features one of the most beautiful window displays. In the front window, you’ll be able to see a collection of the various chocolate frogs and wizarding cards hidden within them.

Zonko’s Joke Shop

At the back of Honeydukes, you’ll also be able to visit Zonkos Joke Shop. Zonkos is one of Fred and George’s favourite places in Hogsmeade. It sells everything a wizard needs to play pranks and make people laugh. In the books it was known to carry such things as; Dungbombs, Hiccough Sweets, Stink Pellets, Frog Spawn Soap, Sugar Quills, and Nose-Biting Teacups. In the Wizarding World, you can still buy some really interesting items in the shop which have the most wonderful and playful packaging.

You can find Extendable Ears, Screaming Yo-yos, Pygmy Puffs and more. They also sell some “joke” candy-like Shock-o-choc, Exploding Bon-bons, and U-No-Poo. Most of this candy is pretty delicious but the hilarious boxes will make anyone smile so I think these make the best gifts! 

One of the most iconic things to be found here are the pygmy puffs. These were bred by Fred and Geroge Weasley and are usually sold at their shop in Diagon Alley. But thankfully, they have exported them to Zonkos as well. They are adorable round balls of fur which come in shades of bright pink and purple. They are some of the most popular gifts for children. Be sure to see the outside window of Zonkos where they have a mannequin hilariously puking up “puking pasties” up into a cauldron.

Guide to Casting Spells 

If you’ve purchased an interactive wand, the best time to walk around with your map to cast spells is in the afternoon. Around this time most people are lined up for rides or inside eating. The map you’re given with your wand will be able to guide you to all of the locations in the Wizarding World but there are also some secret ones to find for yourself. Ask any of the wizarding staff around the park for help if you find you can’t cast a spell. They are always happy to help you with your technique. This was one of the best parts since it felt like you were having your very own personal lesson! Once you’ve performed the proper wand movement watch closely as things inside shop windows will move, water will pour and you might even see an explosion of fire!

Entertainment

Throughout the day there are two different shows you can see on the stage, located just to the right up past Wiseacre’s, near the castle. The two performances you can see are the Triwizard Spirit Rally and the Frog Choir (my personal favourite). The Triwizard rally features different performers from the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang schools who each perform acrobatics on a stage, competing against each other. After the show, you can hang around and ask for a photo with the various characters.

The Frog Choir is something that the movies came up with but lasts in the minds of fans to this day. Seeing it in person was so special. Each of the Hogwarts students possesses their own singing frog and they all sing wizarding tunes for the gathered audience. There is something just so charming about those singing frogs…

There is so much more to see at Universal Studios Hollywood outside of the Wizarding World. If you’re a Harry Potter fan like me you’ll want a good solid portion of your day to explore the Wizarding World. A two-day park pass is a great option if you have the time since it will allow you more time to explore all the rest there is to see after you’ve fully immersed yourself in Hogsmeade.

I waited for way too long to come to the Wizarding World and am already planning my next trip to Orlando to see Diagon Alley ASAP! Let me know what you’re looking forward to seeing most at the Wizarding World or what stores you’d love to see open up if they ever do an expansion!

Happy Travels Adventurers!

The post Experience the Magic: Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood, California first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-visiting-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-hollywood/feed/ 1 14396 The Ultimate Guide to Cactus League Baseball Phoenix Spring Training [UPDATE 2023] https://thecreativeadventurer.com/visitors-guide-to-cactus-league-baseball-phoenix-spring-training-2020/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=visitors-guide-to-cactus-league-baseball-phoenix-spring-training-2020 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/visitors-guide-to-cactus-league-baseball-phoenix-spring-training-2020/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:03:41 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=13599 When visiting Phoenix, Arizona, we try to fit in at least one Spring Training Baseball game. Even...

The post The Ultimate Guide to Cactus League Baseball Phoenix Spring Training [UPDATE 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> When visiting Phoenix, Arizona, we try to fit in at least one Spring Training Baseball game. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, if you’re visiting Phoenix during the short Cactus League season, you should try to go! There are so many amazing training stadiums, and it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.

Although these games might not be high stakes regarding rankings in the regular season, they’re a great chance to see the teams before the roaster is set. If you are a huge baseball fan, these games are a superb way to get close to your favourite players without breaking the bank!

Table Of Contents
  1. About the Cactus League Phoenix Spring Training
  2. Tickets
  3. The Stadiums, Teams and the Food!
  4. Goodyear Ballpark
  5. Surprise Stadium
  6. Peoria Sports Complex
  7. Hohokam Stadium
  8. Tempe Diablo Stadium
  9. American Family Fields of Phoenix
  10. Scottsdale Stadium
  11. Camelback Ranch-Glendale
  12. Salt River Fields
  13. Sloan Park
  14. Events & Activities
  15. Where to Sit?
  16. Merchandise
  17. Tips

About the Cactus League Phoenix Spring Training

The first team to play an exhibition game in Arizona was the Chicago White Sox in 1909. It wasn’t until 1929 that the first teams held official training camps here in the desert. The warm, dry weather brought more and more teams to Phoenix to practice. And by the 1960s, the Cactus League had been established. The Phoenix Cactus League now features 15 major league teams. They play just over 200 games from February 22nd to March 22nd. See the Full schedule here.

Tickets

The best way to buy game tickets is online or from the stadium box office. Big-ticket games might sell out quickly, but if you’re not picky about where you want to sit, you can almost always find tickets on the day. Avoid buying from the scalpers right in front of the box office since you might actually pay more than face value. If you’re dead, set on seeing a certain team on a particular day with seats in the right spot to see your favourite player, buy tickets in advance to ensure you don’t miss out.

The Stadiums, Teams and the Food!

If you’re like me and don’t mind which team you go and see, you are more just going for the experience; you might want to choose your game based on the stadium itself. The stadiums themselves are some interesting places to see. While baseball is entertaining, for me, a baseball game is all about food and drinks. That’s what I really come for! Every stadium will have all the American baseball classics like corndogs, hot dogs, nachos and beer. But the different stadiums also feature unique items, making them more popular for certain visitors. Some of the ballparks ensure the vendors sell classic dishes from their team’s home state. So if you’re missing a little taste of home, coming to these ballparks might have just what you’re looking for!

Goodyear Ballpark

The Goodyear Ballpark is my home park so it has a soft spot in my heart. It’s the home to the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. Goodyear Park has a homely charm with beautiful views of the mountains from the berm seats. Their special right-field pavillions offer lounge furniture and nine big-screen TVs to watch the game from cool comfort. You can buy a bunch of seats here with the group ticket option, which includes access to their ballpark buffet! This is a great option for families or big groups.

The Food

Goodyear ballpark has lots of new food options this year. Try the loaded corn dog nuggets, the parmesan waffle fries, or their half-pound cheeseburger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also get nachos served inside a souvenir plastic helmet with your team’s logo! Great for the kids. My favourite thing to get is the taquito dog. It’s a foot-long hot dog wrapped in a flour tortilla loaded with cheese. It then gets deep-fried and topped with queso, guacamole and pico de gallo. You’ll be full long past the 7th inner stretch.

Surprise Stadium

The Surprise Stadium is home to the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. If it’s your first-time visit to the stadium, tell te upon entering with your ticket, and they’ll give you a complimentary “1st Visit” button! A great little free souvenir. The recently renovated stadium is sure to wow any visitor but seeing it at night makes it feel very professional. The stadium was designed to allow fans to move around and watch from not just their seats. There is even a special viewing area in the batting cages.

The Food

Surprise Stadium is a great place to come if you’re on a budget. Their value menu has food for just $3 which features all the staples like hot dogs, popcorn, soda, and nachos. One of their more unique options can be found at Saigon Kitchen. This Vietnamese restaurant features garlic noodles and lemongrass chicken. Who knew you could find this at a ballpark game?! If you’re looking to try something desert-inspired, get the AZ Dog. This ballpark dog is covered in chipotle mustard and topped with cactus pico da Gallo.

Peoria Sports Complex

The Peoria Sports Complex is home to the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres. The stadium is made with sandstone-shaded concrete and blue steel, matching the team’s colours. This stadium was the first to install an outfield spanning berm and 360-degree concourse. These features allow fans to see the game from all angles. Peoria is the best place to bring your kids! Peoria park has a mini baseball field made just for kids. Here, the little ones can play like they’re in the big leagues. The kid’s zone also features a pirate ship-themed playground!

The Food

Street tacos are all the rage this year, and there is even a taco cart which wheels around the stadium so you can grab them whenever you’re craving them. Spice is the game’s name here in Peoria Park, and one of their most popular items is the spicy Foot-Long hot dog wrapped in jalapeno bacon. This park also has many craft beer brands on draft from the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. So whatever team you’re cheering for, you can have a beer to go alongside.

Hohokam Stadium

Hohokam Stadium is home to the Oakland Athletics. This stadium is perhaps one of the more overlooked parks. But recent renovations have made it a great place to watch the games. Over half of the seats in the stadium are shaded, and there are also covered patios for picnics. The fan speed pitch contest is held daily, broken up into age groups. This means fans can compete against each other to see who has the best arm!

The Food

At Hohokam, vegetarians will be in heaven with the option to order the new Impossible Burger! You can also find Polish hotdogs and other Ohio-themed concessions in honour of their home team. But the most amusing item to get here has got to be the Mustache Pretzel! A delicious salty pretzel in the shape of, you guessed it, a moustache.

Tempe Diablo Stadium

Tempe Diablo Stadium is home to the Los Angeles Angels. I think the Tempe Diablo Stadium has the best views from the seats. Sitting there, you can enjoy the amazing landscape and look at the famed Twin Buttes. Especially if you’re not a local, this is a great way to admire the desert. In Tempe Stadium, there are lots of shaded seats available. You can also get a $25 all-you-can-eat food package which makes dining so much fun!

The Food

Tempe Stadium is home to Arizona’s best corndog! You also can find brisket sandwiches, jalapeno cheese sausages in hoagie buns and humongous cheesesteaks. But the best of all is the Baked Bear ice cream sandwiches! You can get your ice cream scooped between two warm cookies and covered in sprinkles! One of the most beautiful things you’ll find anywhere in the city.

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The choices are endless 🍪🍦🍪

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American Family Fields of Phoenix

American Family Fields of Phoenix is home to the Milwaukee Brewers. Renovations on this park finished in 2019, so the stadium feels brand new! It smells like a new car. As you walk through the parking lot to the stadium, you’ll see these huge marquees with the numbers of famous Brewers; these make for great photo-ops on your way in. There’s something about this park that feels so local and intimate. Like you’re just out watching your neighbourhood team play instead of a major league sports team.

The Food

The Wisconsin-inspired “bratchos” are kettle chips covered with bratwurst and nachos toppings! Their new item for this year is a Bernie Brat, a bratwurst dipped into a secret sauce and covered in bacon and onion straws! My favourite item has to be the fried cheese curds, which are very much Wisconsin themed! Pair that with a cold beer, and you’ve got yourself a real treat.

Scottsdale Stadium

The Scottsdale Stadium is home to the San Francisco Giants. Scottsdale is one of the fanciest neighbourhoods in Phoenix, and as such, they have quite an impressive stadium. This is the one place where tickets really do sell out, so don’t wait to buy your seats. The Scottsdale Stadium prides itself on blending old-school charm with modern amenities. Even parking is made surprisingly charming by the antique trollery, which brings guests from the parking complex across the street to the park.

The Food

The best item here by far is the smoked pulled pork brisket layered on top of garlic fries. Worth a trip just for that. There is also a large selection of specialty beers, including San Francisco’s own Anchor Steam. Since Mexican food is so popular in San Francisco, street tacos are also available at the park. They are available as one of the most delicious options.

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Not just hot dogs at spring training 🌮 these street tacos at Scottsdale Stadium are 🔥 . • .🌵. • This is how we do it here in AZ- local beer and good eats at all the spring training stadiums. Today was my first time going to the Scottsdale Stadium where they were grilling beef over a wood fired mesquite grill. The char on the meat with fresh pico de gallo went excellent with a cold @pacificobeer beer. Looking for local? @ohsobrewery serves up beers on the back lawn too. This is the perfect season for spring training- I even wore jeans to the game! • • • • • #ArizonaBites #scottsdalestadium @sfgiants #sfgiants #baseballgame #takemeouttotheballgame #scottsdaleaz #scottsdale #springtraining #springtraining2019 #springtrainingeats #azspringtraining #streettacos #mesquitetacos #beeftacos #stadiumfood #azlife #soscottsdale #sundayfunday #tacosandbeer #tacolife

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Camelback Ranch-Glendale

The Camelback Ranch-Glendale is home to the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. Camelback is such a great area of town, and this stadium is nestled away in the heart of the desert. It has gorgeous views of the mountain ranges from the seats, so if the game is slow, you can sit back and enjoy the view. An interesting fact about this stadium is that the field is sunk 12 feet below ground, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house to watch the game. The grounds also feature picturesque walking trails, citrus groves, and a fully stocked five-acre lake filled with swans, geese and other animals.

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St. Paddy’s Sellout #DodgersST

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The Food

Come hungry if you want to try their famous 18-inch slice of pizza! Whether you support it, you’ll have to choose between the Dodger Dogs or the Vienna Beef Chicago hotdogs to represent your team.

Salt River Fields

Salt River Fields is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. As the “hometown” team, the Diamondbacks draw a huge crowd. Salt River Fields was the first Major League Baseball property built on an Indian reservation. Tribal influences have been incorporated throughout the park to attempt to pay some respect to the original landowners. There are even placards around the stadium detailing the history of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. Most of the signage throughout the stadium is written in Maricopa, Pima and English. Just a little touch which makes this stadium unique. The views from here are the most impressive featuring Camelback Mountain, the McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Red Mountain, and the Superstition Mountains.

The Food

The Sonoran BBQ is one of the most popular items at Salt River Fields. This place is my first stop once I get inside to get my hands on their delicious shredded adobo pork. This then gets covered in lime cabbage and pickled red onions, the perfect balance to the fatty pork. 101 Cattle-Co is a new vendor this year with its half-pound grilled burger with peanut butter, cheddar cheese, bacon and sweet chilli jam. If, on the other hand, you aren’t a meat-eater, meatless options can be found here with the Beyond meat burger being sold at Home Plate Hot Dogs.

Sloan Park

Sloan Park is home to the Chicago Cubs. Since this stadium is home to the Wrigley Field players, aspects of that famous park are woven into the design of Sloan Park. You’ll see brick patterns, a cantilevered roof and even the scoreboard was designed to look like the one in Chicago. It’s like travelling across the USA in one place! The bleachers here are covered in a huge trellis, allowing shade in most of the seats. This park also features a 300-foot tall rock climbing wall for kids to enjoy.

The Food

The food at Sloan Park feels more gourmet than just a regular ol’ ballpark. Here you can sample their famous Street Corn, grilled corn off the cob covered in chipotle mayo, parmesan cheese, lime and Valentina sauce. You can also indulge in their Carved Pork sandwich, an herb-encrusted honey mustard glazed pork loin topped with horseradish aioli and pineapple coleslaw! For a twist on the tradition, try the hot Cheetos Cheesesteak, filled with Philly beef steak, sauteed peppers and onions and covered in hot cheese for an extra bite! For a traditional Chicago ballpark treat, you must head to A Taste of Chicago, which has all the traditional Chicago specialties.

Events & Activities

Spring Training games are almost always full of additional events. We were lucky enough to come to a game where we were greeted by the Budweiser Wagon and their line of Clydesdales. So neat! There are also special fan experiences you can buy. These include a meet & greet with the players on the field! Check the schedule for fan appreciation days when stadiums give out free memorabilia for attendees, such as player bobbleheads. You also should check the schedule at each stadium to see what time batting practice starts, as that is always a good opportunity for a potential autograph. Ask politely, and don’t expect them to sign, but you’ll have a truly amazing souvenir if they do.

Where to Sit?

Even though the games take place in February and March, they can still get hot. So if you’re sensitive to the heat, you should book a seat under the shaded area. If you’re worried about being too hot, try to find a night game. Since all the stadiums at Spring Training games are a fraction of the size of regular season stadiums, you’re hard-pressed to find a bad seat. They’re all pretty close to the action too. But the seats on the lawn are where the fun is at! People bring huge picnics, layout on the grass and treat the game as almost secondary to hanging out. Plus, they cost almost less than a fast-food combo meal for a whole afternoon of fun!

Merchandise

Spring Training is a great time to buy limited-edition merchandise from your favourite teams or exclusive to the Cactus League. If you’re a collector, a fan, or know someone who loves their team, this is a great place to buy some unique merch.

Tips

  • Hydration is key. Remember to offset it with lots of water if you’re drinking beer.
  •  Lawn or berm seats have no shade, so bring a large-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of your eyes and wear lightweight clothing.
  •  Bring lots of sunscreens and reapply every few hours.
  •  Book your tickets in advance if you are keen on seeing a particular team in good seats since the stadiums are much smaller than during the regular season.
  • Parking is not free at all stadiums, so check the prices before you leave if that’s important to your budget.

If you are in Phoenix over the Spring Training season, I encourage you to go and check out a game. Even if you’re not a huge baseball fan, many additional aspects to Cactus League games make a trip out to the ballpark the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Let me know which team you’re cheering for this season and your favourite park in Phoenix!

Happy Travels Adventurers.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Cactus League Baseball Phoenix Spring Training [UPDATE 2023] first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

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