A bar named Lovecraft opened on Avenue B two weekends ago, just in time for its namesake’s birthday: H.P. Lovecraft, the horror writer who’s influenced the likes of Stephen King and Guillermo Del Toro, would have turned 124 this Wednesday.
To celebrate the occasion, East Village theater company Radiotheatre NYC will be on hand to perform several of Lovecraft’s short stories, including “The Beast in the Cave,” “Dagon” and “The Book.” If you can’t make tomorrow’s performance, fear not. The 6th annual H.P. Lovecraft Festival comes to the East Village’s Kraine Theater October 2 to 12.
The bar is also giving away 100 free issues of Weird Tales Magazine, the pulp publication that started circulating when Lovecraft was in his 30s; he was a frequent contributor and turned down an offer to be its editor. If you show up in costume (think Cthulhu), the bar will give you a free shot, plus prizes to the first people who show up.
Did we mention there will be free cake? Because there will be free cake.
Lovecraft’s 124th Birthday Party, Lovecraft Bar, Lower East Side, Wednesday, August 20 from 6 p.m.-12 a.m.Â