NITE OUT: Ghosts of NY (walking tour)

As posted, the Ghouls had their first outing on Friday, October 23rd.  It consisted of two walking tours, visiting locations notorious for their reports of haunting or the unexplainable.  

The walking tours were given by Ghosts of New York licensed guides.    

Before I take you on a photographical journey of Friday night, let's introduce you to the three Ghouls behind this blog, and a few of their friends who agreed to partake in the event.

Nickie: 1st ghoul

(don't judge by the drink in her hand...she drinks this stuff like it's water)

Jarrett: the boyfriend (practically forced to come along)

(the skeptic, and overall not interested one of the group)

Nickie and the rest of the gang:

(from left: Bridget-fellow ghoul, Leah, Mel, Nickie, Eric, and Jana-fellow ghoul)

The East Village walk started out with Peter Stuyvesant, A.K.A. "Peg-Leg Pete", his tomb within St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, a creepy bust of him, and two sets of lights that eerily went on and off.

One of the lights was above his tomb, the photo on the left is "off", the photo on the right is the same light.  This "on-off" activity happened several times while we spoke about his final resting place. 

Call me crazy, but this is a rather large moisture droplet if that's what you want to call it.  I find the shape of it to be interesting, a possible orb???  Maybe ol' Peg leg Pete paying a visit?

Another stop, McSorely's Old Ale House...

a favorite watering hole of Harry Houdini. 

McSorely's boasts being the oldest ale house in the city, along with being allowed to stay open and fully operational during the prohibition (it pays to know people in high places).

Houdini gave them handcuffs from his very last performance/escape.  

To this day, they still remain in the bar.

Houdini, as well as accounts of small children in the bar, have been witnessed to this day.  And by the way, the "small children", they're dressed in old garb, not modern day fashions.

One of the most interesting stories came from the Merchant House.

Not to mention, this place boasts to be the Most Haunted House in the city!

The last stop on the tour was what is now a restaurant called Il Buco

Back in the 19th Century, it was a favorite wine bar of Edgar Allan Poe.
I will not get into the unexplained happenings in the cellar to this day, but I will enlighten with the tidbit of thought that

  this place could've been Poe's inspiration behind 

"The Cask of Amontillado"

The second tour through the West Village began at one of the last fire stations in the city.

Then onward to Washington Square Park, 

built over the top of 15,000-20,000 graves, of which still remain buried below.

This was the point of most "activity" throughout the evening.

At this point, I must admit it was drizzly and very soggy outside.  But someone, kindly explain how these "raindrops" (as the more skeptical would have it) seem to be traveling upward!?!???

Below is the site of many hangings, back when NYC used this as a method of justice, seeing many criminals to a final demise:

And the sight to my most intriguing photos of the evening...

Seriously, look at that dragon-like demon looking object...

Then to W. 10th Street, and a residence to many over the years....

said to be home to 22 different spirits; 

one of which is Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) 

and a ghost-cat.

The final stop on Friday's tours was Edgar Allan Poe's house.

He's said to be seen in the second floor window, writing by candlelight.

There were many other stops along the tours that I did not get into such as Cooper Union--a theater President Lincoln attended, a theater Washinton Irving is said to haunt, and the building to which the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 occured.

While some may dismiss these stories or simply chalk them up to pure whimsy, whatever the case, the tours were extremely informative and fun.  I also plan to make another trip, or many, back to Washington Square Park to document more.  Perhaps this will be the next Nite Out???

-Posted by: Nickie