The Parlour at Albion Manor, an upstairs portion of the bar and restaurant, has a completely different vibe than the downstairs on a normal evening. Come October 1, when you walk up the steps you will be immediately transported to The Black Lagoon, a nation-wide macabre pop-up bar experience only found at The Parlour through Halloween. The whole experience is metal meets pirate. Think Jack Sparrow circa 2003, prior to the ick and deserved shame settling in.
I got a sneak peek of the event a few weeks ago, the space filled with sea-faring spook, dim lighting, and cocktails to match the mood. It wasn’t your usual pumpkin-filled Halloween experience. The Black Lagoon at The Parlour is very much meant for the adult revelers who want a cocktail and an evening to whip out the darkest shade of lipstick they own. The drinks match the more classy take on the festivities. Lacking the usual overly sweet punches and replacing them with ingredients like Chinese five spice, matcha and carrot. This year’s cocktails include: Sirens Song (Aged Rum, Rye, Pineapple, Orgeat, Sherry, and Lime), Nightmare Fuel (Tequila, Mango, Matcha, Lime, and Absinthe), Frank’s Fix (Vodka, Carrot, Miso Falernum, Coconut, and Lime) and Momento Mori (Mezcal, Blackstrap Rum, Coffee, Banana, Chinese Five Spice) and will be served in non-alcoholic versions, as well.
The Black Lagoon can be found in 35 cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico this Halloween season. Black Lagoon previously inhabited The Parlour’s sibling bar, The Dandy Crown, in 2022 and can be found in Chicago only in The Parlour at The Albion Manor this year. “We chose our roster of locations and cities carefully,” says Erin Hayes, creator and industry veteran. “Each city has a robust cocktail culture, so guests expect quality drinks. We also wanted markets with vibrant countercultures, so patrons likely to enjoy our immersive vibe will come and feel right at home.” The event is the brainchild of Hayes and Kelsey Ramage.
The Black Lagoon will be at The Parlour at Albion Manor, 1480 W Webster Ave, Oct. 1-31. For more information and tickets, visit thealbionmanor.com.
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