Nightmare Before Tinsel re-opens for the season

It’s spooky season in the city, and that means that some of Philly’s most popular seasonal pop-ups will be back in full swing.

Nightmare Before Tinsel is back in Midtown Village, and even though this past year has been a bit, let’s say deflated on the celebrating front, the themed hotspot has taken the time to expand its offerings to offer Philadelphians a way to enjoy their time safely. Last year, the pop-up from Craft Concepts Group and Teddy Sourias debuted with a menu full of themed drinks, instagrammable rooms and plenty of surprises, and this year the venue will be taking on an asylum theme—which might be a bit odd considering the circumstances, but it is creepy.

Nightmare Before Tinsel is also taking all safety precautions, so the set-up will be different from last year and even from space’s typical Christmas set-up as well. Visitors will still get to go through the venue’s “haunted” tour through the space, but instead of hanging inside, there will be full service for dining available at tables outside. Nightmare will also serve legal cocktails-to-go and food outside the front window—all guests must wear a mask when not seated. Tickets, which include one food and drink item are available for an introductory rate of $15 for the launch of Nightmare for the first week, and tickets after that will range from $15 to $20. This ticketing system will also help reduce capacity and space out guests to help follow CDC guidelines.

“Craft Concepts Group is ready to unleash nightmare again for Halloween – in a fun and frightful new way you don’t want to miss.” said Sourias in a statement. “After the success of Tinsel in July this past summer, and after perfecting our safety protocols, we wanted to bring back this concept in an entirely new way for 2020. We were getting a lot of requests and people want something positive and light-hearted to do and look forward to this October. Nightmare Before Tinsel and Tinsel have both become part of Philadelphia’s most beloved holiday traditions – and we are glad we could find a way to bring them back. For our staff, this also lets them have fun and get creative during this challenging year and time for restaurants. It also lets us bring more of our staff back after shut-downs earlier in the year.”

According to the release, for Nightmare, Craft Concepts Group again tapped the talents of internal interior designer Anne White of AGW Interiors for specific interior and design elements, as well as local artist Scott Johntson. White is known for her work around Philadelphia with Tradesman’s, Tinsel, Blume and Leda and the Swan, while Johnston is known for his work with Silk City Diner and Franky Bradly’s. Both worked with Sourias and his CCG team, along with other artists, to create an entirely new Nightmare experience for 2020.

The new space which has completely transformed the old home of Simpson’s Jewelry is now decked out with asylum decorations, but flash photography is prohibited until you get to Nightmare’s selfie station which has become the venue’s calling card on social media.

After the frights, there is also plenty of bite into and sip on with a menu filled with different themed cocktail creations and food options from Tata’s Empanadas, plus local collaborations with local eateries including Snackadabra. A few standout cocktails include the Ecto Cooler Shot ($10 crystal head vodka, midori, pineapple and a gummi brain); Elvira ($14 Manatawny maple whiskey, local apple cider and apple schnapps); Candy Corn ($12 three bitches vodka, orange juice, lemon and candy corn); The Fog ($13 Tanqueray, cider and champagne) and more. The venue will also serve up a selection of drafts, cans and wine as well for those who are looking for something a little more tame. More food will also be added once a new venue opens from Sourias with a Day of the Dead theme to compliment Nightmare.

According to the release, Nightmare Halloween Pop-up Bar hours weekly will be Monday through Thursday, 4  to 11 pm, and Friday through Sunday, 2 pm to 11 pm. For more information follow @tinselphilly on social media.