Uptown Beer Garden Mutates Upside Down for Spooky Season with ‘Stranger Things’ Theme

“People don’t spend their lives trying to get a look at what’s behind the curtain. They like the curtain. It provides them stability, comfort, definition.” ~~~ Murray Bauman, Stranger Things

Story, photos by Sharon Kozden

Actually, Murray, I beg to differ with your above-referenced statements about “the curtain.” I liked getting a look at what’s behind it … at least I did on the evening of September 28th … when Aversa PR and Craft Concepts Group welcomed media to a preview party like none other at Uptown Beer Garden‘s Stranger Things-themed pop-up bar. Greetings from Hawkins, Indiana. Wish you were here!

Perhaps if I had watched Netflix TV’s Stranger Things, I may not have wanted to part that literal curtain on early arrival to the event. I’ve just never had the desire to watch the series. Dunno why or why not. It just didn’t call to me. Still, and because I’ve always been fully immersed in spooky season, I peered eagerly behind the temporarily-closed-for-media-event divider, then entered an Upside Down world that was super scary yet fascinating, thrilling while occasionally disturbing, pulsing and throbbing with fun and excitement and very much what I’ve come to know as a Teddy’s World event, where Craft Concepts Group’s owner Teddy Sourias knows how to delight and surprise with his enormously successful pop-up bars.

The wildly popular forerunners to Uptown Upside Down include the Halloween-y Nightmare Before Tinsel and Christmastime’s Tinsel, and if you’ve been, ’nuff said. If you haven’t previously checked out the world according to Teddy, then run, don’t walk. His vision-turned-creations never disappoint and are always the talk of the town.

Working with immensely talented teams and folks (main artists Zeneca Thompson and Jason Miller), Uptown Upside Down is filled with fascinating props, handmade designs, stunning art, spot-on iconic set scenes, drinks with names (as I refer to themed cocktails) and enough character representations (both human and creature) to make you feel transported to the show’s location of Hawkins, Indiana. A must-get photo op is City Hall-topper Billy Penn looking down on the squirm-inducing creeper Vecna! What would Billy make of it all? It’s amusing to contemplate. And all of this is precisely what I most enjoy about CCG’s productions. They are all so wholly enthralling and immersive.

Sourias stated in a release, “After the instant success of Tinsel Christmas Pop-up Bar and Nightmare Before Tinsel, I always wanted to have a giant outdoor Halloween pop-up at Uptown Beer Garden. The theme was an easy choice, as our team at Craft Concepts Group are obsessed with the show. We engaged with local artists to really go for authentic pieces and go above and beyond anything we have ever done before … We can’t wait to see everyone out this October!”

Using the aforementioned art along with a playlist featuring tunes from the show, a cocktail menu with wikkid drinkables such as the fruity You Remind Me of the Babe, Blood Bag, Scoops Ahoy, Hellfire, Chrissy Wake Up and more, Sourias and team strategized to replicate the show that the CCG gang is fawning over, hence the as-if-you-are-there feels. While there’s a new fall menu to ogle, we sampled chicken wings, sliders and an array of other tasty and flavorful light bites during our private event.

At heart, I am a Netflix kinda gal who very much enjoys an early in and snuggling with my beloved Tillie Rose, King Kai-Kai (Kaiaulait) and Belle du Joule, but I do declare in the here and now, I also am a firmly entrenched Teddy’s World fan girl, who can always be counted on to reverse sofa-surfing and fur baby-cuddling in Sharon’s World whenever Aversa PR’s Kory Aversa or CCG’s Teddy Sourias invites me to a CCG happening. For them, I will come out from behind my “curtain,” mutate from full-on frumpitude [sic] to some semblance of my social media gadabout and influencer-wannabe self to promote their event and to have what I know will be a critically acclaimed good time.

Stranger things have happened.

For a glimpse into Teddy’s World, visit Uptown Beer Garden – An awesome beer garden in the center of Center City

Uptown Beer Garden posts polite ‘keep out’ signage: this was the night for MEDIA to party in one another’s presence, as most of us created content via reels, snaps, words and more to later tag our fabulous host and get the word out. The Word: Slayed!

I arrived early with my plus one, and we were able to literally “get a look at what’s behind the curtain” after a proper check-in with my credentials. I turned and was suddenly confronted by this encephalitic creature.

Skellies to the left of me, skellies to the right … here I am stuck in the middle with ’em!

Meet Uptown Beer Garden’s version of the Walmart Greeter on hand for Uptown Upside Down.

Gladwyne-based writer and photographer Sharon Kozden showcases Craft Concepts Group’s “body of work.” Owner Teddy Sourias nails it each and every time as Philly’s KOC: King of Conceptualization.

A cozy seating area is made even more cocoon-like with a greens- and web-covered trellis treatment. Note the presence of Old Sparky at the end of the road.

Governor: please call me, like, STAT! Is it too late for clemency? Sharon Kozden exhibits her fear-factor while posing in the fake electric chair, which was transported for the occasion from CCG’s pop-up Nightmare Before Tinsel.

Uptown Upside Down gorgeously lighted ceiling casts a Halloween-purple haze.

REDRUM, the cocktail!

Chrissy Wake Up (with keepsake glassware) is one fabulous whip creme-topped and frozen cocktail … a slushy libation.

Introducing Scoops Ahoy, a creamy concoction with a clever twist of a topper.

Show me a drinkables menu such as this one, and I’ll show you one indecisive woman who wants one of each. As it happened, I had but just two, one of which was not the Blood Bag, alas.

There are many scrumptious selections on Uptown Beer Garden’s eatables’ menu; however, (and for the media preview party), we were treated to a plentiful array of yummy light bites.

The Dream Team makes the scene! From Left, Jamie Singer, Jennifer Lynn Robinson, Sharon Kozden, Su Rudy and my plus-one Kaleigh Dooley maybe shouldn’t look over their collective shoulders just yet. Eek!

While I admittedly have never watched Netflix’s Stranger Things, this character made for an eerie-creepy photo op.

There are stranger things, and then there are stranger things (and then some!), as evidenced by this “girl” on a wire. For the uninitiated such as myself, this replica depicts the character known as “Max” and portrayed by Sadie Sink on the series.

Did you know there’s a hotel in Indiana that has a room decorated with this 80’s-throwback iconic bedroom set from the television series?

Can you get any more literal with the upside-down aspect? Check out these two (human meets Demogorgon) and their choppers. I’ll take Kaleigh Dooley’s pearly whites over the creature’s rotted yellow ones any day.