Matador Network's Blog, page 1276

Stay in a mountain cave

If you’re craving some alone time or just love weird accommodations, the Beckham Creek Cave, a natural cavern in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains, may be the perfect luxury lair for your next vacation.

Photo: Beckham Creek Cave

The property has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and can sleep eight people (it can accommodate 16, but eight of them will have to bring their own sleeping mats). There’s a state-of-the-art kitchen and multiple living areas with lofts and balconies. The master suite has a round queen bed and a spa-like private bathroom, all within the natural cavernous surroundings. A natural waterfall flows right through the living room, and out front beside the deck to create a pool.

Photo: Beckham Creek Cave

The cavern sits on a private 260-acre resort where you hike, canoe, go horseback riding and catch-and-release fishing in peace and quiet.

Photo: Beckham Creek Cave

Current owner Rayne Davidson told Lonely Planet that guests are “blown away and stand there staring, open-mouthed in awe. I love watching their faces as they step in the first time.”

Photo: Beckham Creek Cave

Unsurprisingly, rent doesn’t come cheap, with rates starting at $1,200 per night.

H/T: Lonely Planet

More like this: 7 epic caves you can hike through in the US

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The 6 best places for Ayurveda

The ancient practice of Ayurveda dates back 3,000 years and originates from southern India and Sri Lanka. It’s believed to be the oldest complete medical system in the world. The philosophy is grounded in the belief that physical and mental health are dependent on a balance of biological characteristics (doshas) which are unique to each individual. It’s understood that doshas need to be maintained or restored by a regulated diet, sleep, exercise, and natural treatments. Many spas and resorts around the world now offer Ayurvedic consultations, programs, and therapies, which can range from massages to personalized diets and light therapy. If you have an interest in this form of healing, here are some of the best spas and resorts in Asia and the US that offer Ayurvedic experiences.

1. Pratima, New York

Photo: Pratima Skincare/Facebook

If you’re short on time or planning a staycation, but still want to experience Ayurveda from a qualified practitioner then Pratima in New York is worth a visit. Dr. Pratima Riachur combines her expertise as a botanist and chemist with the traditions of Indian medicine in her clinic. Riachur uses natural, ancient ingredients such as pure herbs and flowers to help clients attain a better balance in the modern world. We recommend the Absolute Bliss package which includes a consultation, a traditional Abhyanga message to unlock deep tension, and an Ayurvedic facial.

2. COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali

Photo: COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali/Facebook

Located near Ubud in Bali, the Como Shambhala Estate is one of the best Ayurveda-focused spas in the world. An Ayurvedic doctor is in residence and will customize a treatment plan including COMO Shambhala cuisine, private yoga, panchakarma, and body treatments. Its Bespoke package starts from $820 for seven days.

3. Siddhalepa Resort, Sri Lanka

Photo: Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort/Facebook

Ayurveda is integral to the way of life in Sri Lanka and the Siddhalepa Resort in Wadduwa is one of the finest in the country. Whether you want to detox or just chill out with a massage, there’s a large selection of recommended treatments and an extensive menu of dishes with Ayurvedic properties. You can personalize your diet to fit with your program as each ingredient is selected to rebalance your dosha. A room with a two-hour Ayurveda treatment starts at $120 per night.

4. The Raj, Fairfield, Iowa

Photo: The Raj Ayurveda Center/Facebook

The Raj in Fairfield, Iowa, is a well-known traditional Ayurvedic center that provides a range of treatments for conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to stress and chronic pain. Guests can indulge in the day-spa facilities or stay for a longer course of Ayurvedic treatments on the 100-acre estate. The Raj is also the only center in the US offering Maharishi light therapy with gems, a specialized therapy that helps balance energy and increases consciousness. In order to provide a personalized experience, the Raj accepts no more than 15 guests at a time, so you’ll need to book in advance. An individual massage at the day spa costs $170.

5. Somatheeram, India

Photo: Somatheeram/Facebook

Located in Kerala on Chowara Beach, Somatheeram Resort is famous for traditional Ayurveda programs which aim to holistically rebalance the body. Guests can choose from a variety of packages including detoxification, anti-aging, and slimming. Each treatment is individually prescribed following a consultation with a healer. A seven-day treatment package for October through December costs around $1,360, including full room and board.

6. Ananda Spa, Rishikesh

Photo: Ananda/Facebook

Overlooking the Himalayas, Ananda Spa is listed as one of the best Ayurveda centers in India. The resort has views of the Ganges Valley and offers a holistic regimen of Ayurveda, yoga, and Vedanta. Ananda Spa is famous for its four-handed massage and Pizhichil, a four-person massage in which clients are bathed in lukewarm, medicated oil. Seven nights with an Ananda rebalance package starts at $808.


More like this: 9 silent retreats around the world to take if you hate talking to people

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Restaurant in Germany bans children

Screaming babies at restaurants is one of those things we pretend we’re okay with so that we don’t look like jerks. In reality, we hate it. We do feel sorry for the helpless parents who know their kid is disturbing the entire restaurant, but we’d still prefer it if they weren’t there. Oma’s Küche, a restaurant located on the island of Rügen in Germany is taking a brave stand for all those who want to dine without the sound of tantrums: it’s banning children aged 14 and under from the restaurant after 5:00 PM.

Rudolf Markl, the restaurant’s owner, told the DPA News Agency last week that he was simply fed up with kids ruining tablecloths, shattering wine glasses, and disturbing other patrons, all while the parents sit idly by. When a few unruly kids recently damaged some antique photo stands, that was Markl’s breaking point. “We have somehow reached that point where you say: This just can’t go on like this,” he said.

Of course, the new policy is controversial, with some claiming discrimination, but Markl actually isn’t the first to ban children from his establishment. Several restaurants all across the world, including in North Carolina, Australia, and Florida, also outlaw children. While you might think the prohibition would damage business, it’s actually led to an increase in patrons. Flynn’s, a European-style restaurant in Queensland, Australia, reported the highest weekend profits in its 17-year history shortly after announcing the new policy. Caruso’s in Mooresville, North Carolina, similarly saw their daily customer count rise from 50 to 80.

It might not please parents, but there certainly seems to be a demographic of diners eager for an interruption-free meal.

H/T: VICE

More like this: 7 reasons you should travel with your baby

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Merry Cemetery in Romania

Cemeteries are often on travelers’ must-see lists (and no, we aren’t being sarcastic — people really have a thing for visiting burial grounds). The prestigious Père LaChaise cemetery in Paris is always filled with curious tourists wanting to have a look the tombstones of Van Morrison, Oscar Wilde, or Edith Piaf, and the city’s catacombs counted 512,000 visitors in 2016. The Jewish cemetery in Prague is one of the most-recommended spots to check out in the city, and the Normandy American Cemetery’s massive fields of small, white crosses attract about one million visitors each year. But, even though these world-famous cemeteries are extremely popular with visitors, they inspire little more than tragedies, loss, and sadness.

The graveyard of the town of Săpânța in Romania is not your typical dreary cemetery. It’s not filled with cookie-cutter, grey tombstones. It’s not decorated with plastic bouquets in pewter vases, large granite crosses, and sculptures of crying angels. Instead, it’s a seemingly cheerful place where every single tombstone is vivid and fun, hence the cemetery’s moniker: Cimitriul Vesel, the Merry Cemetery.

Stan Ioan Patras, a local woodcarver, started creating grave markers for the Săpânța cemetery in 1935 until his death in 1977. Each grave marker is made of wood, stands vertically on the grave, and is topped with a pointed, tin-covered, carved roof that protects the piece from the rain. All the graves markers are painted a special blue (“Săpânța blue”) and are heavily decorated with colorful flowers, as well as both geometrical and organic motifs, making the cemetery look incredibly bright and joyful.

Photo: Danilovski/Shutterstock

But each memorial is different. Below the pointy roof is a cross, and under each cross is a colorful painting representing the deceased doing something they loved, their jobs, or at the moment of their death — cooking, sewing, drinking, having a car accident, etc. — and, under each painting, is a unique, witty epitaph in the shape of a poem that describes the person buried below. Unless you speak Romanian, deciphering these poems will prove difficult, but two examples have been provided by the area’s tourism bureau:

Here is where I rest

And Pop Toader is my name.

I used to love the clarinet

And the tuica (brandy) in my glass

As long as I lived on Earth

I kept thinking of these things:

To have something to drink and what to eat

And to play the clarinet

I was also miserable

Cause I was a widower

But for you I am singing merrily

Not the way I am singing for myself.

Another one, a little more on the funny side, reads:

Under this heavy cross lies my mother-in-law

Had she lived another three days

It would have been me who lied here

And she would have been the reader

There are about 800 such grave markers in the Merry Cemetery and, despite the death of Stan Ioan Patras (also buried in the cemetery, behind the church that’s just as cool as the graveyard), the tradition continues thanks to Patras’ apprentice, Dumitru Pop. But because he knows he too will end up in the Merry Cemetery (he’s got his plot reserved), he’s training the next carver/painter/poet who will take his place.

Photo: Dziewul/Shutterstock

Săpânța is located very close to the border that Romania shares with the Ukraine and is a 10-hour drive (about 360 miles) from Bucharest, the capital. The area around Săpânța is also home to eight gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage wooden churches, so the detour to this part of the country is well worth it.


More like this: The 7 creepiest places to visit in Europe

The post This is the happiest cemetery in the world appeared first on Matador Network.

What is foil surfing?

For most of us, surfing means catching a wave, standing up, and maybe doing a few turns. It requires a board between five and 11 feet long, as well as often endless waiting for the perfect combination of tide, swell, and wind. Stand-up paddling has made it easier to catch small waves by adding the power of the paddle and the momentum of a big, heavy board to the wave-riding equation.

Still, with exceptions like the Eisbach river in Munich, you can only surf on select stretches of coastline that actually have waves. That is until foil surfing came along to turn all that on its head and make “surfing” possible in unexpected places. If you’ve never heard of foil surfing, you’re certainly not alone. Even many surfing aficionados have never heard of this weird twist on the sport, let alone tried it — but it has actually existed for quite some time. Here’s everything you need to know before you try it yourself.

A post shared by Slingshot Foil (@slingshotfoil) on Jun 21, 2018 at 5:02am PDT

How does it work?

A hybrid of surfing and hydrofoil technology, foil surfing replaces the traditional fin at the bottom of a surfboard with a much longer, hydrodynamically designed fin called a blade. That blade is longer than the fin on an average surfboard and has wings at its base.

When the board moves forward, the wings lift the board out of the water, revealing much of the blade, as well. Foil surfers literally glide above the surface and can perform tighter turns due to the smaller surface area in contact with the water.

Photo: Wallenrock/Shutterstock

Maui-based big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, said to have been the first surfer to use a jet ski to get towed into monster-sized waves, is also credited with first using a foil board to tow in behind a jet ski. Maui was also the birthplace of kiteboarding, and soon kitesurfers took up foil boards to make the kiting experience much smoother — since the wind that makes kiteboarding possible can also make the water extremely choppy.

Along the way, regular surfers figured out that foil boards harness a lot more of the ocean’s energy than regular boards, and they don’t lose that energy to the friction that happens when a board is in contact with the water. Moreover, the boards can literally be pumped up and down to generate more energy, sort of like how pumping your legs on a swing generates more back and forth energy.

A post shared by Ferran (@gallegoferran) on Aug 19, 2018 at 1:01pm PDT

What’s the appeal?

Neither foil surfing’s extra maneuverability nor the novelty of gliding above the water are its main selling points (though Hamilton has said it “feels like flying”). Rather, it’s the promise of being able to surf in places that are otherwise unsurfable. The same airplane technology that causes the board to lift out of the water also means it easily gathers enough momentum from whitewater for the rider to keep surfing in small surf, or no surf at all.

After catching a wave, it’s even possible to turn around and, still standing, ride the board away from the beach, instead of paddling out. But avoiding a tiring paddle is far from foil surfing’s only advantage when it comes to surfing the unsurfable; because foil surfing can be done almost everywhere, foil surfers can avoid crowded lineups and make the most of whatever conditions are on offer elsewhere. Skeptical? Earlier this year, Hawaiian surfer Kai Lenny caught 11 waves in a row in six minutes on a hydrofoil, breaking his own personal record.

Photo: aerogondo2/Shutterstock

What equipment do you need?

You could try to retrofit a fin onto a regular surfboard, using a surfboard that’s relatively buoyant and ensuring it has the thickness to fit a tuttle box for the hydrofoil fin. You could also order a new hydrofoil board from a pro board-shaper like Signature Foils.

A post shared by Ride Engine (@rideengine) on May 16, 2018 at 7:12am PDT

It’s not for the faint-hearted.

Like any type of surfing, foil surfing is a lot harder than it looks. Even Kelly Slater, the best surfer in history, appeared to struggle during his first time on a hydrofoil. Compared to regular surfboards, hydrofoils require an extreme level of balance, skill, and fitness just to keep the board out of the water.

Fitness and ability aren’t all foil surfers need to worry about. Foil surfing also has that sharp fin, which isn’t called a blade for nothing. Unlike the fin on a regular surfboard, the fin on a hydrofoil is massive and made of metal (as opposed to fiberglass). This combination, with sufficient momentum, transforms the fin into a highly dangerous instrument — one that’s more than capable of inflicting serious injury. In fact, experienced Japanese surfer Yu Tonbi Sumitomo discovered this in 2016 when he nearly sliced his face off while surfing his new foil board. The massive stitches stretched from his temple clear across his forehead.

This may sound like fear-mongering, but the number of people at some of the world’s busiest surf breaks makes surfing such a dangerous craft in crowded water extremely risky. Experienced foil surfers should stay away from crowded lineups and surf either on their own or in small groups. The same goes for beginners — although one look at the shorter board and lethal blade might just make small waves on an 11-foot stand-up paddleboard not look so bad, after all.


More like this: 10 mistakes learner surfers make (and how to fix them)

The post What the heck is foil surfing? Everything you need to know about this wild sport appeared first on Matador Network.

Helicopter tour of Maui photography

My childhood includes many wonderful memories of Maui: boogie boarding, sunburns, snorkeling for hours on end, the scent of leis, rainbow sunsets, and more. It was enough to make me believe that I truly knew everything there was to know about the Hawaiian island. That is, until I returned as an adult and saw it from an entirely new perspective: the air. Boarding a doorless helicopter and heading to the skies is an exhilarating, heart-pounding way to see Maui and a humbling experience for someone who thought they’d seen it all. These photos show how spectacular Maui is from above and prove just how much land there is yet to explore on the ground.




1

Predictably, this adventure started off at an airport. Pacific Helicopter Tours is one of few outfitters to offer all of its tours without doors and customizable flight plans, which is vital for photographers, as well as a bonus for anyone looking for unparalleled views without pesky glares.

2

Within minutes of takeoff, we were in the Iao Valley, part of the West Maui Mountains. The scale of it all is a bit too much for the human brain to process, leaving you slack-jawed and likely with the Jurassic Park theme on repeat in your head.

3

As we went further into the mountains we passed Honokohau Falls. They are only accessible by helicopter and the tallest falls here at 1,119 feet (pictured left). On the way out of the West Mountains, you’ll pass by the Wall Of Tears, which consists of about 17 waterfalls near the summit of Pu'u Kukui (pictured right). An ancient legend says the gods poked their fingers into the sides of the cliffs to create the appearance of the mountain crying.

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4

Skirting along the Maui coastline is a visual feast for the eyes: the practically neon colors, the endless horizons, and the brand new view looking straight down will blow your mind. You can see in the helicopter that we were pretty snug, which did make my heart jump a bit, but it was worth it to have that full unobstructed view of it all.

5

Because helicopters are rad, you can quickly nip across the Pailolo Channel to check out Molokai’s north shore, which has some of the highest sea walls in the world. The island is the fifth largest in the Hawaiian chain and has a population less than 3,000.

6

There are mountain goats along the coast, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of one on the approach to Papalaua Falls. Papalaua Falls is an impressive 1,200 feet tall and is extremely turbulent to fly next to. It got a little cold compared to the warm air I had encountered on the tarmac before takeoff.

7

The weather became so turbulent, in fact, that our helicopter caught a thermal and autogyro’d over the top into the Halawa Valley. That means it had no pitch in its blades, and an updraft lifted us up about 800 feet in a few seconds. It was like being on a rollercoaster.

8

Back on Maui, the coast greets you with the Kahakuloa Head. It is believed that the Kahakuloa Head was one of King Kahekili's favorite cliff-diving spots during his rule in the 1700s. The view from 1500 feet up continues to impress and is far from getting old.

9

I couldn’t quite get enough of Maui from the air, so after my flight, I booked it to Ho’okipa and sent my drone up. Ho’okipa is a world-renowned windsurfing spot when the tradewinds pick up in the afternoon. The waves are normally very large, so the surfers here are some of the best on the island.

10

Maui is really a destination with endless opportunities and discoveries for adventurers. Each time I visit, I am blown away by something I didn’t notice before - new destinations, new hikes, and new views - but seeing it from above is something else altogether. It’s a behemoth of beauty that will have you returning time and time again to uncover more.

More like this: Why Kauai is the most underrated island in Hawaii

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Best US Oktoberfest celebrations

Summer might be drawing to a close, but the party’s just getting started. Oktoberfest is everyone’s favorite excuse-to-get-drunk holiday in the fall, and it’s right around the corner. Ideally, you’d be able to make the trip out to Munich for a truly authentic Oktoberfest experience, but for many of you, that’s probably not in the cards. The good news is, you can still tap into your German side here at home, thanks to the many Oktoberfest celebrations happening all across the United States. From California to Oklahoma, these celebrations bring Munich to a city near you. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. San Francisco, California

Photo: Oktoberfest by the Bay/Facebook

San Francisco’s version of the iconic German festival is Oktoberfest by the Bay. You’ll find authentic German music provided by polka bands playing the glockenspiel and accordion, activities for families, and, of course, beer. The festival lasts three days (September 22th to 24th) and has enough singing, dancing, and drinking to make you forget you’re not actually in Munich.

2. Helen, Georgia

Photo: Helen, GA Oktoberfest/Facebook

This small town in Georgia (population: 572) has one of the oldest Oktoberfest celebrations in the country — this year will be the 48th annual event. Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is a replica of a traditional German village in the Alps. Specialty shops sell handcrafted German imports, and the local festhalle offers authentic food, drinks, and dancing.

3. Denver, Colorado

Photo: Denver Oktoberfest/Facebook

Denver really puts the “fest” in Oktoberfest, but kind of ignores the whole “traditional German” part. You won’t find many lederhosen or feather hats in Denver, but you will find a ton of craft beer, as well as live music from new contemporary artists. This more modernized celebration can be a welcome alternative for those simply looking for a lively festival atmosphere and some good German food, without all the extras.

4. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Photo: Tulsa Linde Oktoberfest

There’s nothing like a traditional German festival mixed with a slice of classic Americana. That’s what you’ll find in Tulsa’s Linde Oktoberfest, which combines the typical Midwest country fair atmosphere with German beer, food, and polka dancing. And in Tulsa, they’re not satisfied with a mere one or two-day celebration — their version of Oktoberfest lasts four days, from October 18th to the 21st.

5. Fredericksburg, Texas

Photo: Fredericksburg Oktoberfest

Texas isn’t all BBQ and rodeos. The town of Fredericksburg honors the traditions and stories of its original German settlers year-round, with museums, historical farms, and German heritage events. So, of course, they take Oktoberfest pretty seriously. The celebration completely takes over the town, including a traditional Hauptstrasse Chicken Dance, and the “OkTubaFest” live tuba performance.

6. Cincinnati, Ohio

Photo: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati/Facebook

If you’re looking for the biggest party, you need to check out Zinzinnati — America’s largest Oktoberfest celebration with over 500,000 annual attendees. From September 15th to 17th, Zinzinnati is filled with German music and food — including bratwurst, soft pretzels, and jumbo pickles — and tons of Sam Adams’ OctoberFest beer. You can also flex your beer mug muscles in the stein-holding contest.

7. Leavenworth, Washington

Photo: Leavenworth Oktoberfest/Facebook

Leavenworth is a Bavarian village year-round, and Oktoberfest is its time to shine. Spread over the course of three weekends (September 29th-30th, October 6th-7th, and 13th-14th), you can partake in all the classic Oktoberfest activities with the snowy Cascade Mountains in the background. It’s not a little village in the Alps, but it sure looks like one.


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The post 7 best Oktoberfest celebrations in the US worth traveling to appeared first on Matador Network.

Childhood memories Arizonans have

Not unlike feral baby animals, kids from Arizona have to learn a few life lessons the hard way — most of these involving sharp natural objects, viciously toxic desert critters, and irradiated swimming holes. Here are some memories that Arizonans can look back on and wonder how we got out of the inferno intact.

1. Watching “Wallace and Ladmo” was a ritualistic household activity.

Or at least you heard about it all the time from your parents. One of the longest-running shows in the history of television, almost every Arizonan child has a fond memory of appearing on the kids’ program and getting their very own Ladmo bag.

2. You checked your bedsheets for scorpions every night after your bath.

You learned to sound the alarm to your parents only if the bug was an inch long or shorter.

3. You built an inch-thick layer of summer foot calluses from going barefoot on 130-degree asphalt.

You would hang out and play on the bubbling hot blacktop and limp home in pain.

4. You remember every stretch of the exactly six-hour drive to the beach.

Either Rocky Point or San Diego, depending on your parents’ style. There was desert, desert, desert, and more desert, and then…voila! The Pacific Ocean emerged, glittering in all its glory. Your car probably overheated on the way home, but we can gloss over that part.

5. You hung out at Slide Rock before anyone knew it was full of some gross toxin.

You have never paid the $20-per-car fee to get in, you had no idea it was a historic apple farm until you were an adult, and you’re sure it’s never been thoroughly cleaned up. But your childhood weekend swimming trips on that stretch of Oak Creek totally explain you and your friends’ indestructible foot fungus.

6. You hoped and prayed for one snow day a year.

Knowing it would only require an inch of accumulation or some report of black ice to cancel school.

7. You played in the sprinkler, the Slip ‘N Slide, or with Willy Water Bug on the AstroTurf lawn.

Until you were finally allowed to go to the public pool.

8. You lost a dog to a rattlesnake bite, a javelina goring, or a black widow nip.

Arizona kids’ Old Yeller stories are just a little more badass than people who grew up somewhere else.

9. Every June you and your family kept the tradition of frying eggs on the sidewalk.

And if you were a jerk, maybe you crisped a few unlucky ants with a magnifying glass too.

10. You got Rodeo Days off from school.

But due to state priorities maybe not Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

11. You kept a horny toad or tarantula as a pet in a loosely covered aquarium from which they continually escaped.

Sure, maybe they weren’t the snuggliest critters to cuddle up with, and maybe they didn’t do cool tricks, but by golly, they were loyal when you caught them.

12. The first car you learned to drive was a stick shift, and you practiced on dirt roads and/or in an abandoned strip mall parking lot.

Luckily, we have the wide open, overbuilt spaces for that.

13. It was always freezing on Halloween, but at least that meant the end of summer.

“Freezing” means it got down into the 50s.

14. You went along with your family to Bashas or Smiths.

Maybe you even licked and stuck stamps on the yellow Bashas thank you cards for prizes unknown, which seemed to make your mom really happy. You cut coupons out of the Republic or maybe the Citizen or Star, but probably the Republic no matter where you lived.


More like this: 17 ways someone from Arizona knows you’re not local

The post 14 memories you have growing up in Arizona appeared first on Matador Network.

TSA canine dropouts can be adopted

As it turns out, getting a service dog gig for TSA might be almost as difficult as actually getting through an airport security check. Some dogs just don’t have the right temperament for the job — they’re just too nice. Well, TSA’s loss is our gain because dogs who don’t quite make it through security training are given up for adoption.

Dog breeds mostly include German Shorthaired Pointers, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, and they’re usually not too broken up about the change in their career path. Dogs who “fail” often do so because they’re easily distracted, have physical disabilities, lack the drive, are nervous, or are too shy. Two more organizations, Service Dogs Inc. and Freedom Service Dogs of America also work for these doggy dropouts to be adopted. As for older service dogs who have been in the business for a while, Mission K9 works to make sure they can truly enjoy retirement by connecting them with loving families.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

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The post Dogs who failed TSA training for being too “nice” can now be adopted appeared first on Matador Network.

Harry Potter pop up in NYC

The Cauldron pub in London prides itself on turning an ordinary bar night into something resembling a Hogwarts potions class. Now, this magical pub is bringing its fantasy-themed mixology to New York City with The Cauldron Magical Cocktail Experience, an immersive class that lasts an hour and 45 minutes where you use a magic wand and molecular mixology to brew drinkable elixirs.

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Une publication partagée par The Cauldron Magical Pub (@thecauldronpub) le 20 Avril 2018 à 9 :27 PDT

When participants arrive at the Manhattan venue for the special class, they will don a wizard robe, a wand that allows them to pour beer without using their hands, a cauldron to create their “potion,” and all the necessary tools. And, if you’re interested in taking this class but know nothing about molecular mixology, don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to create some pretty cool beverages. Even those of us with no magical blood will notice drinks changing as they’re being made — emitting smoke, bubbles, and transforming in color.

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Une publication partagée par The Cauldron Magical Pub (@thecauldronpub) le 27 Févr. 2018 à 12 :36 PST

The New York City installment of The Cauldron opens on September 13th, and will remain open for four months. While it’s only planned as a pop-up experience right now, the owners hope to make it permanent if it proves popular. Cauldron classes cost $44.99 for each ticket ($54.99 in peak hours) and you can purchase tickets through their official website.

H/T: Secret NYC

More like this: This is the walking tour of London every Harry Potter fan needs to go on

The post Brew your own Harry Potter cocktails at this New York City bar appeared first on Matador Network.