Long Dark House bookstore is hosting a Halloween Party at Elaine’s for Strange People Looking for Their People
"Making friends is hard, but it doesn't need to be scary," says Chanthal Harris, owner of the new goth-inspired bookstore that opened this fall at 1510 King Street. She admits, "A little spooky never hurt."
Long Dark House bookstore is taking “Socially Haunted” off her new shop’s bookshelves and celebrating Halloween at Elaine’s, 208 Quen Street in Alexandria, VA — home of Elaine’s Literary Salon!
This delightfully strange Halloween gathering will feature costumes, conversation, games, and the chance to meet new people who might just be your kind of weird. “Whether you’re a horror lover, sci-fi fan, gamer, introvert, extrovert, artist, movie buff, fandom enthusiast, or someone simply looking to make new friends, there’s a place for you here,” Harris insists, noting, “coming alone is absolutely encouraged.”
Harris says she created “The Socially Haunted” club because she knows plenty of people in the area want to make new friends but aren’t exactly thrilled about walking into a room full of strangers and figuring out what to say.
She insists: “This isn’t networking. It isn’t speed dating. There’s no assigned reading. And you definitely don’t need to be good at small talk.”
That’s why Halloween costumes are highly encouraged.
Dress for success: Go full horror icon, dress as your favorite fictional character, embrace your inner cryptid, or show up in something wonderfully weird. No costume? No problem. Come as you are (even if that’s a little haunted).
Be prepared to play to break the black ice: We’ll have conversation starters, games, and easy ways to break the ice without the pressure of forced socializing. Participate as much or as little as you’d like. Grab a drink, admire everyone’s costumes, strike up a conversation, and see where the night takes you.
Some titillating tips for attendees: Love horror? Tell someone which movie actually scared you. Deep into sci-fi? Give us your most controversial take. Currently obsessed with a game, show, book, fandom, cryptid, niche internet rabbit hole, or something else nobody in your regular life wants to hear about anymore?
“Perfect,” Harris says. “You’ve found your people.”
Event details:
- When: Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 6-9 pm
- Where: Upstairs at Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
- Get your free ticket: The Socially Haunted 👻 Halloween Party @Elaines
Meet the Event Organizer: Long Dark House founder Chanthal Harris: I’m a lifelong reader who discovered a love of horror and science fiction at an early age. From haunted houses and ghost stories to imagined futures and speculative worlds, books became a way to explore possibilities, ask questions, and find meaning in the unknown.
Located at 1510 King Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Long Dark House is an independent bookstore specializing in horror and science fiction, with a carefully curated selection of other strange stories. Rooted in community, curiosity, and imagination, the bookstore was founded on the belief that bookstores should be places to gather, linger, discover, and connect.
The name Long Dark is rooted in the idea of the liminal—the spaces between what was and what comes next. It exists in that threshold between certainty and possibility, where stories take shape, transformation becomes possible, and the ordinary gives way to wonder. Through books, events, and community programming, Long Dark House embraces the mysterious, the unconventional, and the imaginative while creating a welcoming home for readers who find comfort in the strange.
More than a bookstore, Long Dark House is intended to be a literary hub and third space for the Alexandria community….a place where readers can browse shelves, attend events, join book clubs, discover new authors, buy gifts/chocolates, and spend time among people who take comfort in the unconventional.
About ElaineLiterarySalon.com: A home for authors everywhere, the Salon features writers on our popular podcast that ranks #1 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for literary salon shows. Watch all of the videos in the series on YouTube at ElainesLiterarySalon.tv
Find Elaine’s Literary Salon events here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com
Elaine’s Literary Salon is located at award-winning Elaine’s Restaurant: 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA. A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt—a blend of Middle Eastern, French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Located in an 1880s building, it was the home of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins for 38 years. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: Elaines-Restaurant.com.
