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2023 NYC Halloween events: Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest (Updated)

Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest Halloween events in NYC.

It’s that time of year when NYC gets their haunted freak on.

Village Halloween Parade

Village Halloween Parade

1. The Village Halloween Parade

The Village Halloween Parade is NYC’s creative and spooky march in Greenwich Village and it’s coming back this year on Halloween, Tuesday, October 31.

Thousands of monsters, zombies, ghouls, witches take over the streets.  Whether you march or watch from the sidelines, don’t miss this iconic Halloween event, which is celebrating 50 years in 2023!

The Halloween Parade is a 0% tolerance for alcohol event.

2. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

Since 2005, more than 2 million visitors have been delighting in this walk-through experience, where thousands of hand-carved pumpkins in elaborate displays light up the night. Now in two New York locations, in Westchester at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson and in Nassau County at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, this fun fall festival features larger-than-life installations, along with synchronized lighting, and an all-original soundtrack. It’s a magical, family-friendly experience for all ages.

Blaze is uniquely located at two National Historic Landmarks, providing hundreds of thousands of visitors the opportunity to experience these treasured sites and learn about the culture of the region.

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

3. Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Now in their 25th year in Fort Greene Park, and sponsored by Fort Greene PUPS, the Great PUPkin is Brooklyn’s largest and most outrageous dog costume contest. 

Scads of dogs enter and ruthlessly compete for the coveted Great PUPkin rosettes for the top pups!

And remember, your entry fee is a tax-deductible donation to Fort Greene PUPS, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization! Your receipt will serve for tax purposes. Thank you for your support!

After preregistering, you will receive a receipt, which you should print or bring on your phone to check in starting at 11:00 a.m. on the day of event.

IMPORTANT: If you do not check in at the registration table located at Monument Plaza (top of stairs) by 11:45 a.m., your entry will be forfeited. Judging of all entrants begins at the bottom of the monument stairs at 12pm sharp!

The PUPkin is FREE to attend – registration is ONLY required if your dog is competing in the contest!

Special Thanks to All Ears Veterinary and support from Bond Vet

Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

4. Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

Each year, Central Park hosts a Halloween celebration on the Harlem Meer that’s perfect for the entire family.

There are a  variety of children’s activities, including crafting, storytelling, scavenger hunts, and a spirited Halloween parade.

At twilight, a procession of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns is guided across the Harlem Meer by a whimsical witch or mischievous goblin.

Celebrate Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 26th by watching the Harlem Meer light up with floating pumpkins. Feel free to dress for the occasion! 

If you would like to see your own jack-o’-lantern floating in the parade, improve your chances by entering a pumpkin that is approximately 8 lbs. after its been carved up (include the lid – think the size of a soccer ball) and make sure you don’t use any decorations that are unnatural such as paint, glitter, marker, food dye, paper, or plastic. You don’t want to pollute the Harlem Meer or harm the wildlife. Candles and lights to illuminate the pumpkins will be provided. 

Stop by the information table between 4:00 and 5:30 at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Plaza with your masterpiece and they will let you know where to drop it off. Space on the float is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

You can reclaim your pumpkin at the conclusion of the flotilla at 7:00 PM. Pick-up is at the Harlem Meer Beach near Fifth Ave and E. 108th Street.

This event is FREE and weather permitting.

Halloween House at The Oculus

Halloween House at The Oculus

5. Halloween House at The Oculus

Halloween House is a completely immersive, one of a kind Halloween experience where you are transported to an all Halloween world.  Every one of our impeccably detailed, fully realized rooms is a different Halloween theme designed to make every Halloween lover’s experience unforgettable.

Visit the #1 ranked Halloween attraction for all ages!  If you love the decor of a haunted house, but don’t want the stress of being touched and scared, Halloween House is for you.  And if you do love haunted houses, you’ll love Halloween House too!

Halloween lovers unite! Our uniquely themed, fully immersive rooms include the one of a kind “Trick or Treat” Room, the “Glow in the Dark” Room, the Horror Movie Graveyard, our Vampires’ Lair, and more!

THE OCULUS 

185 Greenwich St, New York, NY 11006

(Main Level – in the corridor near Sephora)

You can get tickets at the Halloween House website; adult entry costs $40, while tickets for kids and under are set at $35. 

Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

6. Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

Step into the Dracula universe retold as an immersive vampire theatrical play. Walk through the darkness of Castle Dracula, meet The Virgin and the Vampire.

Two floors and four rooms of the 25,000 square foot venue offer a choose-your-own adventure style journey through the intricate details of Bram Stoker’s original classic vampire novel.

You may engage with Dark Romantics, Lord Byron, John William Polidori, and Mary Shelley. Exchange a bon mot with Oscar Wilde in their famous salon, or step into the Alchemical Study of Sigmund Freud.

Be warned! Hypnosis, tarot readings, scary tales, darkness, flashing lights, thunder, and lightning will all be a part of this experience. You may be touched by our performers.

Attire Note: Your version of black tie is highly suggested on Friday and Saturday nights, but basic black will always get you in the door. For all other shows, all black attire is required for entrance.

Written and Directed by Jonathan Albert and Nicole Coady. Choreography by Arianne Meneses. Music composed by Dian Shuai.

Please find the digital program here.

The production opens on October 4 and runs through November 11 at Musica NYC in Hell’s Kitchen; previews begin September 22. Gothic and Victorian costumes are “very much encouraged,” event organizers say. 

Tickets start at $69 and are available for purchase here.

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

7. Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights, an ALL NEW nighttime family Halloween event, will take place on select evenings this fall! Follow an animal-themed illuminated jack o’lantern trail and learn about animal behavior after dark, plus enjoy games and treats.

Pumpkin Nights will feature gorgeous scenes of more than 5,000 illuminated pumpkins, together with atmospheric sounds and colored lights, to provide a festive family atmosphere as you follow a half-mile trail to holiday excitement right here in NYC.

Pumpkin Nights will debut on Thursday, September 28 and run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, October 29 from 6pm to 10pm.

Tickets for Pumpkin Nights range from $26.95-$36.95 for adults; kids’ tickets range from $24.95-$26.95 for kids. 

In addition to the new Pumpkin Nights, the Bronx Zoo will continue the tradition of Boo at the Zoo, which will return on Saturdays and Sundays, September 30 through October 29, plus Monday, October 9. 

Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

8. Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

The Cathedral’s beloved annual Halloween celebration returns for 2023! 

Following the film screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with live organ accompaniment, ghouls and goblins from the Mettawee River Theater Company emerge to scare and delight audiences. 

Mark your calendar for an evening of classic thrills, spooky chills, and autumnal spells!

Tickets are now available! 

Two viewings will be offered at 7 and 10 pm for the Halloween Extravaganza, with $40 tickets available on the cathedral’s website

Also on October 27 and 28, the cathedral’s famous Crypt Crawls will make their grand return from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, guiding visitors down into the rarely-seen depths of the Gothic building. You will hear stories of the entombed and learn the origins of Halloween as a Celtic New Year celebration and later transformation into All Hallows Eve. Grab tickets for the guided tour here.  

NYBG's Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

NYBG’s Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

9. NYBG’s Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

Make NYBG your pumpkin headquarters this fall! The tricks and treats of the season come to life with plentiful pumpkins, gourds, and ghouls—and all sorts of fun-filled activities to celebrate this season of frights and foliage! Day or night, there’s something for everyone as we offer special weekends of pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving face-offs, as well as the return of our popular beer sampling weekend, Bales & Ales! Evening events give kids (and adults!) the chance to show off their Halloween costumes in New York City’s most beautiful landscape, while you can savor the flavors of the season with artisan demos, food and drink talks, and so much more as autumn in the Bronx brings vibrant color to your backyard.

While you’re here, don’t miss your opportunity to capture picture-perfect fall photos at the Reflecting Pool and on the adjacent lawn, where you’ll find hundreds of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, sizes, and colors!

Tix and more info here – https://www.nybg.org/event/fall-o-ween/

"Hocus Pocus" at Rooftop Cinema Club

“Hocus Pocus” at Rooftop Cinema Club

10. Rooftop Cinema Club Halloween movies

Rooftop Cinema Club is screening rooftop movies this fall with a packed slate of films running all the way through October 31. 

Sip wine and eat vegan popcorn while watching classics like When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Hocus Pocus and lots more this autumn. Tickets are on sale here.

October’s lineup include scary screenings such as Rosemary’s Baby, Paranormal, The Exorcist, The Shining, American Psycho and other cult classics as well as family favorites like Coco and Monsters, Inc. That all leads up to All Hallow’s Eve’s screenings of Hocus Pocus and Halloween.

For info and tix Rooftop Cinema Club

 

The Haunted Laboratory

The Haunted Laboratory

11. The Haunted Laboratory

Get in on the fun at The Drunken Laboratory, a bar in Brooklyn where you’ll wear lab coats and goggles for a night of sipping drinks and doing science. 

The bar’s Haunted Laboratory experience includes a ghostly drink menu, haunted decor and scare actors for a truly immersive experience

Tickets are on sale now starting at $45; the experience begins on September 22 in Bed-Stuy with dates running through the finale on Halloween night. 

Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

12. Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

Experience Fall & Halloween themed activities during our 10th annual Halloween Harvest!  Halloween Harvest activities are FREE with your Wristband purchase, on our website or at our ticket booths, for park visits from September 22 through October 29.

The fun doesn’t stop there as we will be offering fall-flavored food items across popular dining options including Half Moon Food Court, Coney’s Cones and Salt & Sizzle. For all pumpkin-spice lovers, guests can indulge in Pumpkin Spiced Funnel Cake, Pumpkin Spiced Gelato,  Purple & Orange Halloween-themed Cotton Candy and more!

Halloween Harvest activities are FREE with Wristband purchases* valid for visits from September 22 through October 29.

The park’s Halloween celebrations kick off on September 22 and run through October 29 on weekday holidays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Coney Island.

Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

  1. Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

Pump­kin Point, Gov­er­nors Island’s annu­al free pump­kin patch and fall fes­ti­val, returns to Nolan Park for 2023! Vis­i­tors are invit­ed to pick out their own pump­kins (free with sug­gest­ed dona­tion) on the week­ends of Octo­ber 21 – 22 and Octo­ber 28 – 29, 2023, from 10am to 5pm. Come ear­ly in the day to make sure you have your pick of the pump­kin patch, and please lim­it pump­kins to one per per­son per household. 

Gov­er­nors Island food ven­dors will be on-site both week­ends with fall-themed food and drink avail­able for pur­chase, includ­ing Lit­tle Eva’s, Gov­er­nors Beer Co., Brigs Sweet Shop, El Toro Rojo, Deploy Cof­fee, Rosie’s Empanadas, and Fauzi­a’s Heav­en­ly Delights. 

Pump­kin Point is rain or shine. Please be advised, a large num­ber of vis­i­tors is expect­ed for Pump­kin Point, so leave extra time to board and ride the fer­ry. 

Click here for fer­ry sched­ules and tick­ets. 

Pump­kins left over from Pump­kin Point will be com­post­ed on Gov­er­nors Island by Earth Mat­ter, which runs a Com­post Learn­ing Cen­ter at the Urban Farm on Gov­er­nors Island.

14. Historical Hallowe’en Party

Happy Hallowe’en New York City! Get dressed in your Halloween best and come join us for our annual evening of hands-on games, spooky and silly stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts, and buckets of candy!

Have you ever heard of mourning jewelry? It was quite fashionable during the Victorian era. These sentimental keepsakes helped keep the memory of beloved family and friends close and included some unusual design elements, like real human hair! Learn more about this unique tradition and make a piece of mourning jewelry (with fake hair!) to take home. 

Discover the many ways clothing and accessories were used to show remembrance! Historical interpreters will share the meaning of their outfits, from widow’s caps and pins, to dress colors.

This is also the time of year Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Mexico and beyond by many families. Take part in this unique holiday by creating your own special offering to place on our communal ofrenda (altar). 

We’ll be playing Hallowe’en bingo, reading jack-o’-lantern stories, crafting costume accessories, and more!

For even more Halloween fun, expect hands-on games, Hallowe’en bingo, spooky stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts and buckets of candy.

This all-ages celebration at the Upper West Side museum runs from 4-6pm on Halloween night, Tuesday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged.

 

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Thanksgiving in NYC: the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s… [Recipe here]

This Thanksgiving in NYC, the perfect stuffing bread DOES exist – and it’s brioche.  As in St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing

No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a hearty stuffing. While add-ins are a matter of preference, choosing the right bread is crucial. One underrated choice is eggy, rich brioche – and with St Pierre Bakery, you don’t need to go to France to get it.

Thanks to its butter and egg content, St Pierre’s Brioche Loaf provides the perfect balance of crisp toastiness while remaining soft and creamy inside, while its lightly sweet flavor adds a decadent quality that can still lean savory. Attached below is an approachable recipe for stuffing allowing for all the craveable crunch for the whole family with minimal effort required.

St Pierre Brioche Thanksgiving Stuffing

By @BrandiMilloy

Ingredients

1 loaf St. Pierre Brioche Bread
1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 medium onion, diced

3/4 cup celery, diced

3/4 cup carrots, diced

1 cup mushrooms, diced

2 large eggs

1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

3 sprigs fresh thyme, just the leaves

1 tbsp. fresh sage, chopped

1 small apple (granny smith works well), peeled and diced

Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut brioche bread into 1” cubes and bake for about 10-15 minutes until toasted.

  2. Meanwhile, into a pot over medium high heat add butter until melted. Add onion, celery and carrots and cook until everything starts to soften, about 7 minutes.  Add mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes longer.  Remove from heat and set aside.

  3. Into a bowl whisk together the eggs, herbs, apples, mushrooms, and salt and pepper. Add your cooked vegetables and mix to combine.

  4. Pour mixture on top of toasted bread and stir to combine. Bake stuffing for about 45 minutes. If your stuffing starts to get too brown, cover until finished baking. Enjoy!

As America’s favorite brioche brand, St Pierre’s products are widely available via grocery stores nationwide as well as Walmart.

The Rise of Mushroom Coffee: A New Era in Health-Conscious Brewing

In today’s health-focused culture, where wellness transcends mere goals to become a lifestyle, mushroom coffee is emerging as a leading trend. This innovative beverage combines the classic energizing effects of coffee with components often linked to the reputed benefits of medicinal mushrooms. Such a blend makes mushroom coffee a more mindful, health-oriented option for daily consumption, resonating especially with those who weave wellness into their daily routines.

Image courtesy of Freepik

The uniqueness of mushroom coffee lies in its ability to enhance the usual coffee experience by potentially offering additional benefits. For those who find regular coffee too acidic, mushroom coffee presents a more stomach-friendly option. Additionally, it incorporates adaptogenic mushrooms, which are believed to help the body better manage stress. This attribute makes mushroom coffee especially enticing to wellness enthusiasts and those seeking a natural way to support their body’s stress response.

The Rise of Mushroom Coffee

The Rise of Mushroom Coffee, Image Courtesy of Freepik

Finding a coffee that delivers on both taste and health promises can be a daunting task. Leading the initiative is More.Longevity & Wellbeing with its Coffee Superfood Blends. These products are meticulously developed, selecting each ingredient for its quality and scientific backing, ensuring they contribute effectively to the blend. Flavors such as Salted Caramel Vanilla and Mocha are designed to mask the natural earthiness of mushroom, making the beverage more enjoyable while enhancing its appeal. The addition of adaptogens and essential vitamins in the blends aims to support overall health by boosting immunity, enhancing energy, and improving mental clarity.

The Rise of Mushroom Coffee

The Rise of Mushroom Coffee, Image Courtesy of More.Longevity & Wellbeing

The company’s commitment to radical transparency ensures that consumers receive a product free from unnecessary fillers and additives, affirming a respect for consumer health and environmental sustainability. This level of honesty and ecological consideration is becoming increasingly important to consumers who prefer products that are both healthy and environmentally conscious.

As the trend continues to carve a niche within the beverage market, consumers are presented with expanding choices. It’s no longer just about picking a brand; it involves selecting a philosophy and a level of quality that resonates with personal health values and taste preferences. The coffee not only invites coffee lovers to rethink their daily mug but also serves as a gateway to a more mindful and intentional morning routine.

Image Courtesy of Freepik

Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell

Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County.

The team at Dancing Wines is developing a collection of sensory brands that celebrate life through taste, touch and aroma – inspiring you to find your inner dance and show the world what truly moves you.

Dancing Wines’ red wine trio includes Old Vine, Duo and Estate — three limited-release wines made from hand-picked grapes that showcase the full breadth of the Dancing estate.

Lauren Russell (L) and Cynthia Russell (R) from Dancing Wines

Lauren Russell (L) and Cynthia Russell (R) from Dancing Wines Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Today’s conversation with the dynamic Mother / Daughter team Cynthia and Lauren Russell from Dancing Wines ha been edited for length and clarity.

For the full, un-edited conversation, visit our YouTube channel here.

Joe Winger: What is the most important message you’d like to share today?

Lauren Russell: I think one of them is dancing is art and art is life.

Another is love needs no explanation. I think really the thread between those is we’re trying to create a product and an experience that brings people together and invites them to find their inner dance, which is something we say a lot. 

So we want to encourage people to find their unique rhythms. And wine is also really lovely because it is a vehicle that brings people together to enjoy a moment and diverse people together.

I think my Mom [Cynthia] can speak to this as well, but one of the things we thought about when first exploring wine was just how daunting the whole atmosphere is around the consumption of it and the buying and using all the right adjectives.

Especially for my generation I feel like there’s a bit of a learning curve. So I think one thing we really want people to take away from the brand is just like, just enjoy it. Love needs no explanation and you can’t drink wine when your mouth is full of adjectives. We’ve created a great wine just for you to be able to enjoy and to describe however you want and enjoy whenever you want.

DancingWines

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Cynthia: Yeah, I think the measures we created we have a beautiful heritage property that the soil and the climate create this great wine. And me being of an older generation where wine was very intimidating, even though I know a lot about it.

And drinking it for a very long time. I’ve lived in France. I’ve lived in California. It’s still when you order in a restaurant, you’re scared. Do I know enough? I’m going to be embarrassed. Is this the right pairing? And what the good news is that wine making in the world has become so sophisticated that if you are buying wine from a place that is special, including all.

Sonoma or France or Italy, the wines are good, they’re really good and all you have to do is be comfortable with yourself and enjoying it. And so that’s what we’re trying to do is take a product that has thousands of years of history as being a part of our culture and make you comfortable with just having fun, enjoying it and celebrating what wine can do to bring people together.

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Joe Winger: You have a really unique story that you restored a vineyard up in Dry Creek.  Can you talk about experience and what you learned from the restoration?

Cynthia: We lucked out.  It was a Covid purchase. We spent a lot of time as a family together in very small confined spaces drinking a lot of wine. 

We [thought we] might end up needing a place where we have more outdoor space and can be together. So we bought this property more as a farm and then discovered that it was a unique part of the world. 

Zinfandel grapes have been growing in this small region for over 150 years.

It was called America’s grape back in the time I think [the] 1850s. Okay, we have these vineyards. They’re really old. 

There was one owner at this property for 60 years, an older Italian gentleman. And a lot of the area is multi generation, fourth generation Italian families who came over and cultivated this grape.

We never intended to make wine and yet we were scared to let this history and heritage die. 

So we took classes and tried to figure out, can we make wine?

It’d be such a shame to let this history go in this special place. 

We made a great discovery, which was that you don’t have to be an expert on wine. You just have to have great soil and a great climate. 

Then we launched from there. 

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Lauren:  We’re always towing the line between the respective tradition and traditional winemaking and the land and all of the old vines and creating something new. 

She [Mom, Cynthia] always brings a lens of respect for the older generation and ways of life and what wine has meant to her throughout her life.

I’m always pushing the other direction. We always land somewhere in the middle. 

You’ll see that in the brands, it has really playful branding and packaging.  But, our winemaking is a bit more traditional. We’re a sustainable vineyard but we have old vines and we respect what the land has to offer and what it’s been offering in that region for a long time.

It creates a better product and brand for us because we get to cater to both audiences.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: You have a collection of sensory brands.  Can you talk about what that collection is, what inspired the idea, and what we should be looking for?

Lauren:  All of the products have been and will be inspired by the backdrop of the vineyard. 

When we talk about wine, we talk about this kind of multi sensory experience, whether that’s aroma or where you’re having it, who you’re enjoying it with.

We came into wine knowing that it was going to be not just about taste or smell, but about the holistic experience of what wine could do for someone. 

Sort of the thread between all of our products are taste, touch and smell. Again, like finding your inner dance and allowing you to express your personality.

We’re launching a trio of fragrances, which are loosely inspired by the terroir and the vineyard.

Cynthia: We have a fresh perspective on Sonoma. Every time we arrive, we have this nose full of these incredible senses:, the smell of moss, crushed grapes, barrel, fire and oak. 

Yeah. So we’re like, wow. Every time we arrive, we’re like, wow, this is really cool.

This is so distinct and unique and just elevates your experience of being there. 

We are going to bring more experiences to the brand when we can, like having an artist in residence, creating visually beautiful contributions.

We have an art collection there that inspired us to bring art to the brand. It’s largely from a diverse group of artists from the West Coast who are very colorful and young and also push boundaries. So our idea with the senses is like we’re trying to This is a brand that you enter into our world and you get to experience people and life in a way that’s very unique and bold and

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: What are both of your backgrounds outside of wine?

Lauren: I was raised in Connecticut and went to Dartmouth for undergrad, was a creative non-fiction writer, so always had that storytelling bent. 

After school, I worked at a lot of businesses in marketing.  Uber Eats, Refinery29, right before the pandemic, I worked for AB and Bev that was my first kind of foray into alcohol. 

Then during COVID, I got my MBA at Columbia.  We all got this massive reset of our priorities.  I come from an entrepreneurial family.  This opportunity arose 

Cynthia: We’re a family who really believes in experiences. I have dabbled in many different areas.  I went to Scripps college. I actually was a dance major until I was not. I became an international relations major. I lived in France for a while. Then moved to New York City and worked for JP Morgan trading stock, money market securities. 

I didn’t find that was my passion, so I went to Harvard Business School and I got a master’s in business. Then I worked for American Express where I started a weekend travel program. It was a little startup within the travel segment of American Express. I got my “sea legs” of starting a business.

I quit that business because I had kids, then I started my own mail order company then I decided again, that maybe I needed a little more education.

I went back and got a doctorate at Columbia in organizational leadership.

I have a consulting firm on the side where I consult leaders and organizations about how to handle complex challenges in a complex world. 

So my daughter [Lauren] gets through business school and we decide to marry all these wonderful experiences together and create something really new and unique.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: Let’s talk about your wines.

Lauren: We launched with our rosé which is really beautiful. It’s an intentional rosé. From our Primitivo grapes and we harvested them early and intentionally for rosé.

It has this really beautiful distinct, watermelon, almost Jolly Rancher aroma, and it’s really playful and full, but also dry. And it’s been a really big hit so that was a fun debut for us. 

We just launched our trio of reds, and what makes them unique goes into the story about the restoration of the vineyard.

We’re still learning our land and learning from it. 

We chose to harvest from different blocks and treat the wines in a similar fashion and bottle them separately to see what personalities they expressed. 

One is the Old Vine Zinfandel, which is from our oldest head trained vines which is the deepest, moodiest, richest wine. It’s really lovely.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Then we have an estate wine, which is actually from Primitivo, a different word for Zinfandel. That one is a bit lighter. 

Then we have a third, a duo which is a blend of both. And so it’s really helped us to understand. And they are quite different.

They’re obviously all Zinfandels in their expressions, but they’re all quite different. 

People say Zinfandel is like a map of the land and I think that’s really true here. Which is super cool. 

But we have two forthcoming sparkling wines because I think it really speaks to our ethos about being playful and to my generation.

Cynthia: It’s really fun for us because being on the East coast, Zinfandel is a really unknown varietal and we think it’s underrated. Californians know it’s been around for a long time. It has a lot of possibilities with food. And so what we’re trying to do is bring to light this really good wine and do it in a slightly different way.

We pick ours earlier, trying to have it be less jammy, juicy, heavy; lighter, less alcoholic than some of the more traditional Zinfandels that are on our street. 

That’s really trying to address the changes consumer changes.

Our wines are chillable, super easy to eat with most any food, especially ethnic food, spicy food.

2022 was our first vintage. 2023 is already in barrels and we’ll be bottling that in probably in March. But it’s going to be a little different because the climate was different that year.

The rosé was just a fluke. Our winemaker wanted to try a Zinfandel rosé. Most people love it. It’s so distinct and unique.

Our 24 Rosé will come out in March.  The reds will come out in the early summer. We’re going to bottle the sparkling in January, but that will be at least a year until you’ll see that. The  pétillant naturel will probably be launching at about the same time as the rosé

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Lauren: What’s fun about having both an early release sparkling and a [second, additional] later release [sparkling wine] one is going to be lighter, more effervescent, maybe geared towards the younger generation and the other will have that toastier champagne flavor.

Joe Winger: Do you have a favorite wine and food pairing?

Lauren: This one’s so hard. Rosé and oysters or any seafood is just awesome. Sparkling wine and a burger is one of my favorites.

In terms of red, when I think of Zinfandel, it’s Thanksgiving foods.  It speaks to the hominess in our story. Bringing everyone around the table. Kind of experiential pairing.

Cynthia: Yeah, that resonates with me. 

We have a lot of ethnic food, so it holds up really well to spice, to sweet and sour, salty and sweet. So it’s great with Indian food, Mexican food. Apples in your pork chops. 

A burgundy is usually killed instantly by those kinds of flavors. It’s too fragile.

[Ours] is not fragile, but it still has so many nice aromas and flavors to enhance whatever you’re eating.

Lauren:  It’s great with pizza. Pizza and a nice glass of Zinfandel

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Joe Winger: What’s something magical about Sonoma that you learned through this journey?

Lauren: True of both Zinfandel and Sonoma it always has this underdog energy to Napa. One of the hidden gems, we wake up really early and drive to the Redwood forest to watch the sun rise through the trees.

We eat a burrito because we have terrible burritos in New York.

There’s an amazing food community, 3 Michelin star restaurant, chefs, farm to table.

Cynthia: The distinct part of Sonoma is how important nature is to everyone there. It’s not just about wine. It’s incredible nature.

We both traveled a lot, lived in a lot of places. I’ve never seen such natural beauty in such a small area.

Lauren:  That’s what the idea of our products is too.  We have to bring people here in some way, differently than just having them taste the wine.

So as many dimensions as we can bring people into that realm to experience [00:29:00] that it’s like definitely the dream.

Joe Winger: Whether it’s social media, website, or other ways, what are the best ways for our audience to find and follow Dancing Wine?

Lauren: We have our website, which is wearedancing.comWe also are on Instagram, which is at DancingSonoma

One comment on “2023 NYC Halloween events: Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest (Updated)

  1. BRian R. says:

    Incredible list. Love this

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