Photo credit: Peter Riot

My most favorite time of year sees my birthday (Oct 30^th for those of you readying your present buying) stealing candy from my niece and nephew when they aren’t looking, autumnal scents in the air and Pumpkin Spiced lattes from just about any coffee establishment I care to enter. This time of year also sees the venerable Blood Manor opening its doors once again (from Oct 2^nd to Nov 7^th) at their 2^nd floor office space.

I was lucky enough to attend the press/opening party for Blood Manor, which first took place at a bar across the street from the attraction (Blood Manor is down at 163 Varick) hosted by James-one of the congenial owners of Blood Manor as well as “SX Drinks.” This boisterous hour and a half of taking pictures with bloodied clowns, sexy dom lady ghouls and various other horrifically painted/costumed Blood Manor actors ended with groups of ten or so of us then stepping across the street to enter the scary “manor.”

Once again, the make-up here is top notch, as are the costumes and each horrifically festooned room. But for me it is the enthusiasm of Blood Manor’s ‘inhabitants’ that make this haunt the best you’re likely to find this season. There is a butcher room complete with hanging carcasses and knife wielding butchers, a werewolf den with animatronic ghouls greeting you and a menacing goat man who simply snorts in your direction, a crazy clown room with bloody clowns prompting you to “play,” sexy ghouls threatening spankings with boards; every character is stunning in and out of their milieu (they were just as crazed and kinetic in the bar meet-and-greet) and make the attraction.

A few 3D rooms (it’s hard to tell when the rooms begin and end here) end the attraction. These are a real neat touch to be sure and very disorienting. But I feel one truly goes to Blood Manor for the interaction of the cast, their scary portrayals and the good-natured scare you’ll get here.

Go here for more info but plan accordingly, Blood Manor gets really crowded the closer to Halloween we get.