Artist date: check in to the McKittrick Hotel

Source: The McKittrick Hotel

When: Wed-Mon evenings, plus matinees on Sat/Sun

Where: The McKittrick Hotel on W 27th St in Chelsea

Cost: $170-200 (I know, it’s a big splurge but I promise it’s worth it!)

When I was a kid, I loved playing pretend. I could lose myself so easily in the world of whatever book I was reading at the time, and my friends and I spent many, many recesses acting out every scene from our favorite series, first Harry Potter and then Lord of the Rings. Halloween was, and still is, one of my favorite holidays. I would plan my costumes in July, looking forward to that one magical day of the year when I would get to become whoever was my favorite character at the time. And eat my weight in candy, of course. 

As an adult, I still love the feeling of immersing myself in an alternate reality every now and then. It’s why I love a themed party and why I still love going to the actual movie theater even when streaming makes it so easy to stay at home in my comfy pants. It’s probably one of the reasons that I love New York so much. There are a million different worlds to explore in the nooks and crannies of this city, but there is one place in particular where you can truly lose yourself for an evening.

The McKittrick plays host to Sleep No More, an immersive theater experience that reimagines Shakespeare’s Macbeth with a film noir flair. It’s very much a choose-your-own-adventure situation where you are free to roam five floors of intricate, beautifully designed sets, encountering the characters as their stories unfold and collide. This autonomy over your experience is a big part of the fun, so I definitely recommend letting your own curiosity lead the way if you go with a group rather than sticking together. It also makes it more interesting to debrief at the Manderley Bar afterwards. My other personal recommendation is to dress up for the occasion (but wear comfortable shoes!) because why not?

Sleep No More is truly a one-of-a-kind experience and I find it really ignites my creativity and lights up that part of me that still loves to play pretend and craves adventure. I know it’s pricey, but it’s worth every penny, so when you want to take your inner artist on a really special date, this is the place!

Posted April 23, 2023