You might expect a man known for Halloween to spend October 31 somewhere haunted. Mike Drake prefers his sofa.
The author of Halloween in New York and Contemporary Krampus has become something of an unofficial Halloween ambassador, fielding the same question every fall: What should we do in New York?
“All the time,” he says when asked how often people seek his advice.
Yet his own Halloween plans involve his partner, two familiar screen favorites, and something delicious to eat.
“On Halloween itself, I’m home on my sofa with my honey watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” Drake says.
They record NY1’s coverage of the Village Halloween Parade and watch it afterward, skipping the commercials. Their snack of choice? Pumpkin Spice bagels from New Yorker Bagels.
Drake calls them the best bagels in the city. The bakery’s preservative-free seasonal offering has become part of his holiday ritual—proof, he suggests, that you don’t have to be a mad scientist to make a great bagel.
We caught up with Drake at Susuru Ramen in Queens to hear where he sends people who prefer their Halloween adventures beyond the living room.
Start With a Walk Among the Stories
Drake recommends Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery, where winding paths, elaborate monuments, and Egyptian-inspired tombs make for an absorbing autumn afternoon.
Founded in 1838, the historic cemetery offers plenty to admire without anyone jumping out from behind a headstone. For Drake, its appeal lies as much in the beauty and history as in the atmosphere.
Another favorite is the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. For a film lover, discovering how screen illusions are created can be as entertaining as watching the movies themselves.
“It’s one of my favorite places,” he says.
Let New York Put On a Show
For sheer spectacle, Drake points visitors toward the Village Halloween Parade. Watching from home may be his personal tradition, but he believes the exuberant gathering deserves to be experienced in person.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s Halloween Extravaganza offers another memorable setting for seasonal chills. There is something particularly fitting about celebrating Halloween beneath the soaring architecture of a cathedral.
Theatergoers have choices, too. Drake’s recommendations include The Lost Boys, Paranormal Activity, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Rocky Horror Show. Check TKTS for available discounts; the selection changes daily.
Meet a Few Familiar Faces
At the Ghostbusters firehouse, 14 North Moore Street in Tribeca, visitors can admire a real New York landmark with a starring role in movie history.
Drake’s reminder is simple: It remains a working firehouse. Keep entrances clear and give firefighters room to do their jobs.
For fans who want to take their Ghostbusters enthusiasm on the road, Drake recommends booking an Ecto-1 tour with Gotham Cinema Rides. Riding through New York in a recreation of the beloved ghost-catching vehicle, with classic movie locations along the way, gives sightseeing a wonderfully cinematic twist. After all, why settle for watching a Halloween favorite when you can climb aboard?
For a different kind of encounter, he recommends House of Wax inside Downtown Brooklyn’s City Point. Its antique waxworks and death masks turn a visit into a distinctly unusual brush with the past.
In Times Square, Madame Tussauds offers a more cinematic fright. Its Warner Bros. Icons of Horror attraction includes Annabelle, providing a photo opportunity for anyone willing to get close to the unsettling doll.
Make Room for Beauty—and Something Sweet
Drake also recommends the Día de Muertos celebration near the Flatiron Building. The Mexican tradition honors loved ones who have died, bringing remembrance and community into the season.
For a cheerful autumn photograph, head downtown to the Pumpkin Arch on Pier 17’s Heineken Riverdeck. Visit after dark to see it glow against the waterfront.
And if your travels take you through Times Square, Drake suggests checking out the seasonal decorations at Raising Cane’s before stopping at the Krispy Kreme flagship for Halloween doughnuts.
New York offers plenty of ways to celebrate: grand spectacles, quiet walks, movie monsters, and sweet treats.
Drake’s own itinerary simply ends a little closer to home—with his honey, a familiar movie, and a Pumpkin Spice bagel.
