Ghosts and ghouls, witching hour approaches. Teddy Sourias and Craft Concepts Group – the creators of Philadelphia’s Christmas Pop-up Bar – announces the opening of Nightmare Before Tinsel. Philadelphia’s Halloween Pop-up Bar will take over the 100+ former jewelry store space at 116 S. 12th Street in Midtown Village.
Among the ghosts that still haunt the space – including the ghosts of Tinsel’s past – look for eerie ambiance, scary photo opps, witches bru cocktails, seasonal fall beers, costumed bartenders, and tons of frights and flights. Inside the new Halloween pop-up bar, look for a room of 1,001 eyes, fights inspired by Poe’s Nevermore, a haunted coffin, zombie wall, custom retro ghost bar, giant spider web alley and more – plus of course lots of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, witches and spectres. Nightmare plans to creak open the doors in early October, with final details to be revealed soon. Stay tuned as Concept Group prepares to unleash your worst and best nightmare – in a fun and frightful new bar experience.
“Craft Concepts Group is trading in the holiday cheer for boos, scares and frights,” said Sourias. “Nightmare Before Tinsel will keep you scared all month long during October. We have been working away to bring you a brand new pop-up experience unlike anything done in a Philadelphia bar before. Tinsel has quickly become a popular part of Philadelphia’s holiday tradition – and we wanted to continue to test our creativity. We also are trying to constantly think out of the box and have a little fun along the way. We can’t wait to
The former home of Simpson’s Jewelry, and the home of Tinsel Christmas Bar for the last two years, will be converted from top to bottom, left to right and everything in between with scenes, images and custom art that bring Philadelphia’s Nightmare to life. Exhibits, props, decorations and photo opportunities will range from scary and gory, to ironic and funny, the retro and vintage. Bring your phones charged for selfies and snaps for everything from a haunted casket, skull wall, spiders web and zombie’s wall. At the bar, look for a custom giant bar top that celebrates the true ghosts of Halloween’s past, present and future – by artist Scott Johnston. Above the main bar, Nightmare trades in the grand Christmas Gift Chandelier for spooky spectres, ghastly ghosts and other things that go bump in the night. In the darkest and deepest corner and crevices of Nightmare, look for a truly eye-popping experience with the selfie room of 1,001 eyes in the haunted doll house. Only the brave are welcome – at your own risk.
For a blast from the past, and a tip of the hat to Philadelphia’s history, look for some Nevermore inspiration taken from tell-tale stories by Edgar Allen Poe. For the sweet tooth, enjoy a trick or treat with a cocktail inspired by Candy Corn – which was invented in Philadelphia.
As Nightmare gets closer to completion look for a full list of features, themes and stories to be shared. This is an early preview of the haunted fun that will scare up fun all October long.
From eerie ambiance to quirky cocktails, look for a full selection of exclusive and spirited cocktails and witches bru. Behind the bar, look for your favorite bartenders from BRU, Tradesman’s, Blume, Finn McCools, Tinsel and Uptown Beer Garden rustling about the ruins pouring potions and seasonal fall beers. Like Tinsel, the bar will feature selections in theme, several with a take-away souvenir so you can never escape Philadelphia’s Nightmare. For the true-spirit seekers and adventurous, costumes are welcome and encourage – but optional. Happy hour specials will run on select weekdays for those who get in the true bewitched spirit of the holiday.
Music for Nightmare Before Tinsel will be currated by DJ Robert Drake, who also currated music for Tinsel. Drake has a long history with Halloween in Philly as the coordinator and head zombie of the Philly Zombie Crawl. He is also known as “Mr. Christmas.”
