This Halloween the Knockturnal went to the McKitrick Hotel’s Halloween Ball. It was a spooky affair.
This year’s theme was lost gardens. Our night began at Gallow Green, the rooftop bar, where we strolled under a vine-clad bower and sat on a swinging bench enjoying the night air. Vines crept and crawled up the walls. There was a table laid with fruit and cheeses, strange delicacies. From there we began our descent.
We roamed the old hotel, exploring many odd and enchanted scenes. Each floor had a different appellation. Cursive neon signs read “The Garden of Otherworldly Delights,” “The Garden of Temptation,” and “The Garden of Fate.” There was a lounge with a DJ overlooked on a television screen by an enormous electronic eye. In a ruined garden songs moaned in slow motion and the spirits danced for us. Another floor had a haunted forest that had a hut deep in it. A witch’s, perhaps?
Downstairs in the lobby a swing band played Halloween standards. They were raucous and jazzy. A mad scientist came out to sing a number or two. As Oz’s guests, we had access to the Manderlay Bar. Throughout the hotel there were also other drinks and tinctures on offer. All the way in the basement guests caroused in a big ballroom. The atmosphere all around was eerie and fantastical, and everyone’s costumes were fitting and stylish. Performers in every setting lent the party a spirit of spooky fun.
We had an exquisite time and look forward to next year’s Halloween party at the McKittrick!
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In other McKittrick news, The Hideout at Gallow Green (a cozy Alpine escape tucked in a wooded mountaintop on the roof of The McKittrick Hotel) will reopen on November 16. Natural wood and pine elements bring the great outdoors inside, where blankets and plush sheepskin accents create a warm and welcoming respite from the cold. Small groups can reserve private yurts and gooey Raclette served tableside. Perfect before or after one of the hotel’s award-winning theatrical experiences. The new French Alps-inspired menu includes piping hot French Onion Soup, fresh savory Crêpes, traditional Trout Farcies, Grilled Salmon over lentils, Chicken Schnitzel with mashed potatoes and rich mushroom gravy, Goulash topped with crème fraîche, Steak Frites with silky pink peppercorn sauce, and signature Chalet Cheeseburger, made with a blend of DeBragga hanger steak & brisket, organic cheese, homemade bacon jam, fresh pickles, and French fries.
