Edgar Allan Poe and the Witch of Staten Island

Poe has the most amazing way of popping up in New York City history. This makes sense, when one considers the true character — and career — of the man. He was by no means an introverted shut in; rather, he was a man about town, and an accomplished editor and journalist, though one not above the occasional foray into publicity hoaxes. And sometimes, he puts in his two cents on the most seemingly unlikely of affairs. Such is the case with Polly Bodine.

The Friendly Horror and Other Weird Tales

Two Staten Island residents, Jessica Burke and Anthony Burdge, have woven the strange history of the island into their fiction, a marvelous Lovecraftian collection of short stories called The Friendly Horror & Other Weird Tales.

Boroughs of the Dead Launch Party

Celebrate the launch of Boroughs of the Dead: Macabre New York City Walking Tours at Brooklyn Winery with an evening of tales written and inspired by the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe.

Fear City

I’m possibly going to hell for this, but I couldn’t help riffing off the vintage Fear City flyer that’s been making the rounds online this week. I’m aware of the irony of using this flyer to sell walking tours in which I expound upon the violent bad old days of NYC, so don’t bother pointing that out.

Gorgeous Green-Wood Photos from a Customer

One of my wonderful customers posted this gorgeous album of photos from our recent Green-Wood Cemetery tour. You can see more of these lovely images on Facebook, or check out the tour and take some yourself this Sunday July 7th at 5:30. See the hidden gems and strange secrets of New York’s foremost Victorian cemetery. With a focus on the scandalous and lesser-known inhabitants of Green-Wood, on this tour you’ll see the final resting places of femmes fatales, revolutionaries, suicides, artists and murderers.

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