There are two people for whom October needs no introduction:

1. Women named Ashleigh who have a small puppy and love brown boots that stop at the knee

2. Men in the friend zone whose interest in ‘slasher films’ make everyone kind of uncomfortable

For everyone else, this is OCTOBER! The month where HALLOWEEN HAPPENS! And what have YOU done about it, HMM? I’ll tell you what…NOTHING! Or at least, not enough! In which case, check out these spooky things to do in New York City:

Ride the Subway:

This one is for all you true crime fans! You’ve been listening to the podcasts about random assault, verbal harassment, and stalking — by riding the subway, you can now live out the experience yourself! No, really. What can possibly be more frightening?

Catch ‘Beetlejuice’ on Broadway and Visit the Beetle House Bar:

Pay homage to the cult classic and all of Tim Burton’s Halloween favorites by visiting the bar for drinks and catching a performance of the show afterward! The bar features spooky neon colored decor, black lights, and skeletons everywhere, as well as a food and drink menu that boast items like, the ‘Coco Skellington’ and ‘Frites and Frights.’ As far as the hit musical goes, be sure to check the latest on COVID protocols.

See DJ Tiesto at the New York Expo:

Well, apparently DJ Tiesto is still around. I just checked out his photo and to be honest…it doesn’t look like he’s aged. The fact that he might *actually* be a vampire is what makes this so spooky. Well, that plus the fact that you’ll have to stand face to face with the memories of who you were when his music was popular.

Catch the Halloween Parade:

Stand on the sidelines of the annual West Village parade, or join in on the fun and participate! For close to fifty years this event brings together top NYC artists, 50+ bands, and way too many giant puppets for a memorable evening of fun. This year, children in particular will be celebrated for putting up with a ‘non normal’ Halloween the past two years.

Go on a Tawk of New Yawk Spooky Tour:

Is this a shameless self promotion? Absolutely. But, will you LOVE the tour? Also, absolutely. Tour the charming West Village while also hearing about the haunted buildings in the area, frequented by the ghosts of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Edna St Vincent Millay, and more!

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade:

On Halloween, humans shed their clothes in favor of looking nearly naked. Dogs in Tompkins Square do the opposite. Join thousands of spectators (and that’s just the living ones) in cheering on our city’s ‘goodest’ boys and girls as they sport cute little costumes that they undoubtedly hate with every bone in their little bodies. A much beloved 30+ year tradition that is enjoyed by all [except, I assume, the actual participants.]

House of Spirits:

We’re pretty big fans of mansions that manage to blend the sexy, the macabre, and the magical.

Enjoy live music, engage in a seance, get a tarot reading, play with a Ouija board, and encounter ghosts as you roam around a mega home sipping on cocktails. Oh, and did we mention that elegant, period clothes are encouraged? Count us in.

Visit The Cauldron:

Sitting at a regular old bar in October? BORING.

Instead, visit The Cauldron where in addition to getting sloshed, you can carve pumpkins this month, brew potions, and receive a magical wand upon arrival!

Pix on the Plaza: Spooky Season Edition:

The prices of nearly everything at The Standard Hotel are terrifying on any given day. But, why stop there?

The trendy hotel will be showing fan favorite Halloween flicks ranging from the benevolent Halloween Town and Hocus Pocus to the traumatizing Carrie and Rosemary’s Baby. Expect cocktails, candy, and even free popcorn.

Forego Travel Insurance on Your Hotel: 

‘Staycations’ are all the rage right now as COVID continues to be a thing. In my opinion, there’s no greater place to assume a new life, even for a weekend, than New York City. But like…imagine paying a hundred plus bucks and forgetting to get travel insurance? Oh well, at least you have a home like down the block where you can crash.