Daunting Dining for a Petoskey Halloween

Oct. 23, 2015

If you’re looking for a unique way to usher in this Halloween, Petoskey’s got it with their Haunted Halloween Progressive Dinner. You’ll enjoy three courses at three restaurants with local ghost hunters and haunted history as the evening’s entertainment.

If you feel afraid during your appetizers, sense eeriness during your entree and get the chills while enjoying your after-dinner coffee, all the better — that’s the whole point.

PARANORMAL START

Kate Manthei, promotions coordinator for Downtown Petoskey’s Management Board, is working on the dinner event, which will begin in the haunted lobby of Stafford’s Perry Hotel.

“While everyone is arriving there will be an open cash bar and Bumps in the Night Paranormal Group will be there with all their ghost hunting equipment,” Manthei said.

The group will explain what they do and how, while sharing some of their experiences.

“They’re a neat bunch and last year people loved getting to hear about the technical side of ghost hunting — and yes, there is a technical side!” Manthei explained.

GHOSTLY GRILL

City Park Grill is the night’s second scary stop, which Manthei pointed out is a legendary local site. It’s said the basement is the haunt of a local ghost who used to own the Grill and, while the ghost doesn’t seem to have a negative presence, the staff will occasionally find downstairs glassware broken without obvious cause.

“This is where we’ll stop for the main course,” Manthei said. “The Perry and City Park will both be offering courses that highlight their fall menus.”

City Park is also one of Petoskey’s most famous old buildings. Built in 1876 as a billiard hall that served “intoxicating beverages,” it was later the terminus of Petoskey’s underground prohibition tunnels and a hangout of writer Ernest Hemingway.

SPOOKY CENTURY

“Over the past 100 years, there have been several buildings in downtown Petoskey that have had spooky things happen,” Manthei explained. “Local historian Chris Struble, who is also the president of the Michigan Hemingway Society, will be a speaker for the night and has gathered up all of these stories and local lore; he’ll be sharing this with our guests.”

Manthei pointed out this is also a great way to learn about Petoskey’s history because you’ll hear about the beginnings of the town and its tourism boom, the hotels, railroad, tunnels and more, “all in the context of the ghosts who have hung around,” she said.

“Chris also loves to freak me out by sharing the story of my office, which is in one of the haunted buildings, and that story is very Edgar Allen Poe. Think ‘Tell-Tale Heart,’” she added.

ICE SCREAM

The Haunted Halloween Progressive Dinner will wrap the night up at Jesperson’s, the family-owned downtown restaurant that’s been in business since 1903.

“They’ll have their famous pies, ice cream and coffee ready for everyone,” Manthei said.

“This is the quintessential, small town way to end the evening,” she added. “You’ll be sitting in a restaurant that Ernest Hemingway went to daily, while a local historian shares the insider’s scoop on local haunts and the mayor of Petoskey serves you pie his family has been making for 112 years. You can’t make this stuff up!”

COSTUME DRAMA

Manthei is hoping that, since it’s the night before Halloween, guests might dress up for the event, although costumes are not required.

“If people did, I think my life will be complete!” she said. “But whatever ensemble you come dressed in, I’d recommend dressing warmly for the walks between restaurants.”

How do you prepare for the possible sighting of a Petoskey ghost? “Well, nothing is going to jump out at you, at least if we’re lucky — or unlucky, depending on how you look at it,” Manthei joked. “However, if the chandelier at the Perry starts swaying or you catch a whiff of smoke on the walkthrough of City Park’s basement, let’s just say I wouldn’t be too surprised.”

Petoskey’s Haunted Halloween Progressive Dinner takes place Friday, Oct. 30 from 6:30– 9:30pm. The cost is $45 and reservations are required; tickets are available by calling (231) 348-0388 and more details may be found at petoskeydowntown.com.