Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week Returns September 23-29!

Gorilla Cinemas Brings 'Dark Magic' Halloween Pop-Up to Over-the-Rhine Bar

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

Sep 25, 2023 at 3:16 pm

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard - Inline - Content",
            "component": "16925999",
            "insertPoint": "5th",
            "startingPoint": "3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "3",
            "maxInsertions": 100
          }
          
        ]

click to enlarge

Gorilla Cinemas Brings 'Dark Magic' Halloween Pop-Up to Over-the-Rhine Bar

Photo: Matt Benson/Unsplash

Something wicked is coming to an Over-the-Rhine bar this Halloween.

Gorilla Cinemas, the creative pop-up and immersive experience masters behind Tiki Tiki Bang Bang, Tokyo Kitty and Cosmic Gorilla, is unleashing sinister forces into their Findlay Market area witches- and wizards-themed bar, Pennifold’s Pub, for spooky season. Halloween pop-up bar “Dark Magic” will bring the abyss of the arcane to every corner of Pennifold’s, with a series of eerie events and themed cocktails and cursed mocktails.

“As you cross the threshold, be prepared to be captivated by an atmosphere steeped in the macabre, and cloaked in the unknown,” Gorilla Cinemas said in a press release.

Study: Of the States, Ohio Has the Third Highest Number of Ghost Encounters: With a ton of creepiness lurking throughout Greater Cincinnati, we could see how we, and Ohio at large, could be the perfect place for a haunt.

Dark Magic will take its hold on Pennifold’s from Wednesday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 5. The bar will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-10 p.m.; Fridays from 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays from 1 p.m. to midnight; and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. Guests of all ages are allowed in the pop-up until 9 p.m., but Gorilla Cinemas warns the theme may be too intense for kids under 8.

Pennifold's Pub, 1834 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: pennifoldspub.com.

Slideshow

Themed Bars and Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati Everyone Needs to Try

Ghost Baby1314 Republic St., Over-the-RhineThis subterranean nightclub/music venue is located several stories below Vine Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel formerly used by Champion Brewing (beer was aged and cooled in lagering tunnels before the advent of refrigeration). The historic, dimly-lit space, which has been vacant since the 1850s, features soaring ceilings with stone archways and decor that is adorned with "crushed velvet and unpredictability," according to the bar. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and live music.

Overlook Lodge6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant RidgeLuckily this Overlook is much more fun than the hotel and isn’t haunted…that we know of. The Overlook Lodge is a rustic, neighborhood bar based on The Shining that features a seasonal cocktail menu along with a list of domestic, imported and craft beers; rotating taps; and wine you can order from the non-ghostly bartender. You can listen to live music here on Friday and Saturday nights to keep Jack from becoming a dull boy, and hopefully you won’t spot any creepy twins at the end of a hallway.

Level One Bar + Arcade1331 Walnut St., Over-the-RhineTime to level up, Cincinnati. Level One Bar + Arcade features a lineup of pinball machines and old-school arcade games, some of which come from owner Paul Burkhart’s original collection that he’s been curating for 25 years. You’ll find over 50 games, a dozen pinball machines, multiplayer games and two skeeball lanes, plus a rotating list of rare titles. At the bar, there are two dozen local beers on tap along with themed cocktails – including drinks named after Pong and Frogger. Food isn’t served at Level One, but Burkhart encourages guests to order takeout from local restaurants and vendors.

Bircus Brewing322 Elm St., LudlowLudlow, Kentucky's nonexistent craft beer scene sent in the clowns, leading to the launch of Bircus Brewing Co., a branch of an original concept from Ghent, Belgium. Pronounce it like 'beer-cuss,' a hybrid of beer and circus, as the brew shares the limelight with carnival performances at the taproom. Performers can do everything from breathing fire to flying on the trapeze.

Schoolhouse Restaurant8031 Glendale Milford Road, Camp DennisonBuilt in the 1860s, this former Hamilton County schoolhouse was bought and saved from demolition by Donald and Phyllis Miller, who turned it into the Schoolhouse Restaurant. Keeping the schoolhouse theme, the restaurant features windows, yellow oak floors and blackboards, on which the menu is written, from the late 1800s. The menu features American comfort food like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, smoked ham, country-fried steak and homemade meatloaf.

Sundry and Vice18 W 13th St., Over-the-RhineThis apothecary-themed cocktail bar has drinks that lend more textures, colors and flavors than a classic list of libations in a warm, vintage-vibes atmosphere. The list of “tinctures, tonics and remedies” includes the Magical Mystery (rye whiskey, strawberry, amaro, lemon, egg white and bitters), the Night Cure (bourbon, honey, lemon and grapefruit oil) and Penicillin (blended scotch, honey, ginger and lemon), among a menu of other crafty cocktails, beer and wine.

Tiki Tiki Bang Bang965 E. McMillan St., Walnut HillsTake a trip to the tropics at this hidden gem in the heart of Walnut Hills. Tiki Tiki Bang Bang is the only bar in Cincinnati that will take you on an island exploration without leaving the Ohio River Valley via the Discovery Rum Club. Ask your bartender about it to buy the super secret book ($25 with a special flight of rum to get you started), choose your faction (are you Team Prof. McCaw or Team Capt. Dory?) and get to sipping on some rum. If exploring isn’t your game, you can kick back with one of Tiki Tiki Bang Bang’s punch bowls or island-themed cocktails.

Click to View 26 slides

Tags:

About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...