I happened upon the Lodge at Gallow Green a few Sundays ago in the heart of Chelsea’s gallery district when a handsome doorman waved me in to see “the city’s only rooftop cabin.” A ride in an old-fashioned elevator (with uniformed operator) and a stroll past a 1930s-era hotel check-in desk, and I was led outside to an encampment with spruce trees. And a bona fide rustic chalet serving maple toddies. It was the perfect wintry wormhole.
Photography by Erik Bardin/Polarity Co. via Interior Design, unless otherwise noted.
Above: The cabin, complete with shingled roof and barn doors, stands atop a six-story former warehouse on West 27th Street.
Above: Curiouser and curiouser: Modeled after a late 1930s Scottish bothy, an alpine mountain retreat, the interior has worn oriental carpets, herbs hanging from the rafters, and tartan-draped armchairs. On weekends, brunch is served, and at night, it’s a clandestine après-ski bar.
Above: Place your drinks order under the blue camp kettle—and grab a hanging mug if you like. It felt as if I had wandered onto a stage set, and though next to no information was offered, it turned out I had: The Lodge is an offshoot of Sleep No More, the UK-imported interactive theatrical performance, a silent, immersive staging of Macbeth that takes place just a few floors below in a dark maze of equally intricately appointed rooms known as the McKittrick Hotel.
I later returned to see the show—an experience that gives new meaning to living dream/nightmare (yes, I recommend it)—and was happy to make my way back to the lodge afterward. Photograph via WSJ.com.
Above: As at Sleep No More, guests are encouraged to fully explore the premises, and nothing is off limits. Photograph via Evan Gannon.
Above: Flaking out is also an option; in the bar, wool curtained bunkbeds serve as a lounge within the lounge.
The design of the lodge is the work of the same London-based team (led by Punchdrunk artistic director, Felix Barrett) that created Sleep No More.
Above: Don’t forget your eyeglasses. The moody lighting is as singular as the setup and was designed by Sleep No More lighting director Evan Gannon.
Felix Barrett explains: “The light, or rather the lack of it, slows the audience down and enables them to discover each installation. Exploring in darkness creates an almost childlike experience of being in a world you’re not supposed to inhabit.” Photograph via WSJ.
Above: In the adjoining room, a botanist’s study awaits perusal. Found inside a drawer: handwritten walking directions to Cairn Lochlan (MacBeth’s burial place?), avalanche cautions advised. The white mask is what audience members wear at Sleep No More to differentiate themselves from the actors in their midst.
Above: There’s also a cozy library bedroom that I’d like to re-create at home. Bedside reading: The Bark-Covered House, or Back in the Wood Again, a 1937 Lakeside Classic.
Above: Explore outside and you’ll find a fire pit—plus a not entirely welcome reminder of the city beyond. Come April, the cabin will be dismantled and Gallow Green, a garden watering hole, springs to life. But the pop-up lodge is slated to return with the cold weather. Photograph via WSJ.
The Lodge at Gallow Green is at 542 West 27th St., between 10th and 11th Avenues. It’s open to the public and reservations are recommended for weekend brunch. On arrival, allow the doorman to direct you and head straight to the top.
Tickets for Sleep No More are sold separately, but it turns out you can purchase them at the hotel desk that you pass en route to the lodge.
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