by Teresa Bigelow
Samhain is upon us, witches. In the City that Never Sleeps, that typically means several days and nights of ritual and debauchery.
And — for those of us who have yet to master the art of astral travel — it means tough decisions.
Our beloved city is not lacking for events and gatherings during this magical time of year. Of course, a good witch knows a journey into the darkness deserves exquisite care and a feminine touch from the Goddess, herself. Belligerent bros and drug store costumes won’t do the trick…or treat.
Luckily, WITCH is here to make sure you’re fully prepared to play in the corners of Gotham.
Let us celebrate life with the dead and merge heart-mind-soul in a collective migration through the darkest part of the night.
Here are 5 New York parties worthy of your magic touch:
1. Caravan Gitane’s “Move All Hell”
Make your way to a refreshingly feminine journey into NYC’s underground. Founded and curated by women, Caravan Gitane combines elements of ritual and sacred theater with world-class DJs and electronic music acts. For their Halloween gathering at the new Williamsburg Hotel, guests can expect an extravagant — but tasteful and sophisticated — journey through mystical Egypt with a sci-fi ambience.
October 27th at 10 PM
Williamsburg Hotel, Brooklyn
Tickets & Lineup here.
2. Kostume Kult’s “To Hell and Bosch”
And while Caravan Gitane is relocating all of hell, Halloween veterans Kostume Kult will be descending into it. This New York staple and costume-focused community (what gave it away?) will be channeling the fantastical hellscapes of Hieronymus Bosch.
October 28th at 9 PM
SPiN NYC, Manhattan
Tickets & Lineup here.
3. The Poetry Brothel: 10th-Annual Masquerade
A book of poems is spellbinding, after all. The Poetry Brothel is an interactive poetry experience set up as a decadent fin de siècle brothel. Poets performing under pseudonyms offer private, one-on-one readings of their original work in candlelit back rooms…for money. The main room presents an immersive literary cabaret that fuses poetry, burlesque, live music, vaudeville, aerials, performance art, visual art, magic, and mysticism.
October 29th, Doors 8pm, Show 9pm-12am
House of Yes, Brooklyn
Tickets here.
4. FINE & RAW’s Sweet Sweet Horror Halloween
If a shamless indulging of the senses is your path to spirit, you’ll find this intimate gathering worth considering. FINE & RAW chocolate will be offering bon bons, beats and bands, while El Tinieblo Mezcal provides the Elixir of the Goddesses.
October 28th at 9 PM
288 Seigel Street, Brooklyn
Tickets & Lineup here.
5. DKMS “Blood Ball”
Blood rituals run deep and powerful. And the black magic-themed Blood Ball benefit promises to be just that — and more. Aerialists, tarot readers, and Broadway star Norm Lewis will be out to celebrate in more ways than one. And for the money witches in the house, all proceeds will go towards DKMS and the organization’s mission to rid the world of blood cancer forever-and-ever.
October 26th at 8 PM
50 Varick Street, Tribeca
Tickets here.
About the Author:
Based between New York and The Rest of the World, Teresa Bigelow is an international public relations consultant, strategist, copy writer, event planner and digital media entrepreneur. She is the founder of Spiral5, an all-women PR collective of media and communication experts at the center of impact tech, music, and art + culture. She is also a freelance writer with a focus on women, entrepreneurship, sexuality and the convergence of all three. You’ll probably find her on a dance floor or yoga mat in NYC. You can also find her on Instagram.
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