Something wicked this way comes! Whistler’s Raven Room is hosting a Halloween pop-up bar from Oct. 10 to Nov. 3.
The pop-up came through a partnership with Black Lagoon, a company which specializes in creating “an unforgettable experience with [a] darkly immersive atmosphere and brand-new cocktail menu,” according to a press release by Black Lagoon.
Owners of Raven Room are merging their appreciation for fanciful decoration and incredible cocktails for the weeks-long takeover.
It’s not the first time they’ve done a pop-up, either. At Christmas last year, they brought a winter wonderland to the cocktail lounge.
Brandi and Luke Woodnutt are co-owners of Raven Room with Jason and Steph Redmond, and Brandi said the decision to take on a gothic pop-up was a no-brainer, with her passion for holiday creativity extending to both her home and the lounge.
“I will take anything that allows me to be creative and weird, and Halloween spooky season is also something that I adore,” she said.
Having attended a Black Lagoon pop-up in Seattle last year, Luke knew the immersive experience was right up their darkened alley.
“It was lined up, it was busy. We got in there, and it was absolutely amazing. You’re just immersed in everything that you can think of for Halloween,” he said.
The opportunity for sinfully delightful cocktails, designed by Black Lagoon's Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage, was another draw for him.
Guests can expect specialty libations with names like Nightmare Fuel, Siren’s Song and Witching Hour, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, perfect for health-conscious vampire victims.
While Black Lagoon does send out some items for macabre décor, Brandi is a stickler for realistic terror and goes to work redecorating whatever she brings into the space.
“I make it look more realistic myself, because if you've ever seen a fake dead body, it doesn't really look anatomically correct,” she said with a laugh.
Hayes and Ramage launched Black Lagoon after experimenting with a spooky pop-up bar in New Orleans. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were brainstorming career directions.
“We were young emo kids and goth kids, and we were commiserating over the closure of the goth clubs in both L.A. and Toronto,” Ramage said.
Knowing the demographic was still going strong, but seeing few options for sharing their culture and appreciation for avant-garde costumes, Hayes and Ramage decided to turn their one-off pop-up into a yearly Halloween experience.
“We were fresh out of the pandemic, and it went off. We had so many people lining up from all walks of life, from cocktail enthusiasts to goth kids and fashion people who just wanted an excuse to come down in costume,” Ramage explained. “So, it ended up being really successful. From there we [decided to] do this every year and make it bigger.”
While Halloween can come with an unholy number of invitations to all sorts of depraved dens, the weeks-long affair ensures people have flexibility in picking when to drop into the darker dimension.
“You could experience it during any of that period for the three weeks through Halloween,” Brandi said, adding they will also throw a Halloween-specific party.
Once Halloween has come and gone, they’ll finish the celebration off with a party for dia de los muertos, or day of the dead. Nov. 3rd is the final day to bask in the gory setting.
While the owners wouldn’t give away the sinister specifics, Brandi said guests can expect devilish details.
“It's still going to look classy," she said. "But at the same time, there will be blood dripping from the ceiling.”
