A Halloween Event at The Whitney

The Whitney Restaurant [where I work as Tea Director] had their annual Halloween Adventure on October 30th, 31st and November 1st.  This was the 10th year.  My hubby and I were gifted with two tickets [$199 per person] for Friday night. 

The event started at 7:00 p.m.  I'm never there at night to see the new entrance sign all lit up and the lights inside the mansion shining through the windows, so I couldn't resist taking a photo.

We were told costumes were welcome.  Some guests came in costume and others in normal attire.  My hubby and I wore simple, conservative Halloween outfits.

Friday's event was very well attended and I think most of the first floor dining rooms were used. We were seated in the Music Room where there were only a few empty seats.

Reagan, one of the servers, oversaw the Music Room and was assisted by other servers.

The event opened with all the guests assembling in the Great Hall for an opening toast to the Whitney family.  Since my hubby and I don't drink champagne [or any alcoholic beverage] we toasted with a non-alcoholic bubbly drink.

Then we went into our assigned dining room for the meal to begin.   The Whitney is known to be haunted with documented para-normal activity [although I've never experienced any strange happenings in the six years I've worked there].  I don't delve into the spirit world, but both Mr. & Mrs. Whitney died in the mansion, and for a period of time the mansion was occupied by the Wayne County Medical Society where it was a hospice for tuberculosis patients, some of whom died in the mansion, so there's plenty of fodder for ghost stories - especially at Halloween.  Below is the evening's menu.

I only took a picture of the appetizer [Crispy Shrimp Sticks] which were yummy, and the dessert.  I had begun eating the Caesar Salad, and Red Wine Braised Short Rib with Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Honey Butter Glazed Carrots, when I realized I forgot to take a picture.

After our main entree, the Music Room guests went outside to the Carriage House where we went upstairs to tour the second story, which is also said to have para-normal activity by the former caretaker, Grace Whitney Hoff [Mr. Whitney's eldest daughter] and some children. None of them chose to reveal themselves to us during the tour, however.  [Thank goodness!] 

From the Carriage House, we walked over to the Canfield building [a vacant building behind the restaurant owned by The Whitney] where a Magician entertained us.

Then we went down to the basement of the Mansion [which used to be Mr. Whitney's billiard room] where Dye Paranormal, a ghost hunting husband and wife duo, shared some of their experiences in the mansion using their paranormal equipment.

The last entertainment segment took us back inside the mansion to the second floor [which was the ballroom when the Whitneys occupied the mansion] for some musical entertainment [vocal and piano].  The performers were very good and this was my favorite entertainment segment.  

When they finished their entertainment, we went back down to the Music Room for our dessert - an Orange  & Chocolate Mousse Dome, after which the event concluded.

The photo below is Maddie, one of the servers.  Most of them were dressed for Halloween and I wish I would have had time to take all of their pictures.

Below is a group photo of Music Room guests.  When we left the basement segment, Reagan walked us all to the front of the mansion for a photo by the entrance sign.  

It was a nice evening and I hope you enjoyed attending vicariously.  I went home and got ready for bed so I could return to The Whitney the next morning [Saturday] to prepare for Mansion Tea.