No city gets into the Halloween spirit more than New York, and here's where to dig in for some spooky fun.
Costume Contests
SushiSamba Park and SushiSamba 7 are celebrating the tradition of playing dress-up, Japanese-style, by hosting cosplay contests complete with DJ, candy, drink specials and prizes. The best costume wins a $200 dining certificate at SushiSamba Park and $1,000 cash at SushiSamba 7 (Park: 212-475-9377; 7: 212-691-7885). Los Dados will have a costume contest and an open bar from 8–9 PM with a specialty drink: Tanteo’s Bloody Bite, a potent potion of tequila, lime, orange liqueur, simple syrup and blood orange purée spiced with smoked sea salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and sugar (646-810-7290). If you come through the door in dress at East Villager Esperanto, you’ll get a free cocktail; best costume gets a free meal (212-505-6559). Finally, at Dylan Prime, partyers can carve a pumpkin and walk away with $100 for best get-up (212-334-4783).
Prix Fixe
Emporio will offer a special three-course $40 prix fixe menu, with dishes such as risotto with squash, fontina and sage; flash-fried baby eels; and pumpkin, ricotta and spelt tart. A spiced pumpkin and shoju cocktail comes along with the feast (212-966-1234). Bar Blanc Bistro will serve three courses for $28 prix fixe, including choices like spiced pumpkin soup, pappardelle with braised pork and yogurt panna cotta (212-255-2330).
Other Ghoulish Get-Togethers
230 Fifth will be transformed by pumpkins, corn stalks and bales of hay for their indoor/outdoor bash. Thermally hot cocktails, like the Flaming 230 Fifth – a bourbon-based brew that erupts into flames when poured into the glass – will be served along with Malaysian bites, and space heaters will keep the penthouse terrace toasty for revelers. No cover, but costumes required (9 PM–4 AM; call 212-725-4300 to reserve).
Marfa will host a Halloween art show with specialty drinks like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (a shot of blood orange–infused tequila; $5 or two for $8) and dishes such as a pumpkin-stuffed pork loin for $15 (212-673-8908).
Imbibe a Witches' Brew, made with three kinds of rum, pineapple, lime juice, grenadine and Halloween candy garnishes, at Gerber Group Bars (UnderBar, Whiskey Blue, Oasis, Living Room and Stone Rose). The 60-oz. cocktail is served in a goblet, ready for sharing with other ghouls ($35).
Don’t Forget: Day of the Dead
Those who want to continue the party can celebrate the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos on November 1 and 2. Mercadito restaurants will make special corn tamales ($11), lamb tacos ($14) and a “La Muerte” cocktail ($12) – a prickly pear margarita with ancho chile salt (Avenue B: 212-529-6490; Cantina: 212-388-17509; Grove: 212-647-0830). All of the Rosa Mexicanos will also offer a special menu featuring pumpkin tamales ($11), pan-roasted halibut with traditional Mexican “dry soup” ($26) and a pumpkin rum-spiced cocktail ($12) from October 28 through November 22 (Union Square: 212-533-3350; Lincoln Center: 212-977-7700; First Avenue; 212-753-7407).
– Kathleen Squires