Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy; The Lodges at Gettysburg - Gettysburg, PA

I’d be lying if I were to say I wasn’t a little hesistant at the idea of attending a performance reading of not one, not two but four Edgar Allan Poe poems. My only experience with the spooky poet was a reading of the Raven back in middle school. But this escapade was being headed by Rebecca (also a huge thank you to her very generous sister who gifted us the tickets and lodgings), and adventures with Rebecca are always amazing - so I trusted that even though I may be a bit out of my comfort zone, I’d still have a good time. Plus they served cocktails. I’m in.

I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed the readings. This performance was apparently Part 2, but you would never know if you didn’t attend Part 1 - which was the situation we were in. I would definitely deem each performance part their own standalone experience. The efficiency of drink distribution (let alone the DELICIOUS drinks themselves!) and passion behind the performances was phenomenal! I will be keeping my eyes peeled for future events by this group!

I made sure to follow the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy on my social media as well as all four performers! They each brought their own style and I would say they definitely make me want to pick up a Poe poetry book the next time I’m browsing my local library.

This review will be of the venue of the performance at the Lodges at Gettysburg, so please remember these ratings could vary depending on the location of the speakeasy.

Lady Needs-To-Sit's Starfish Guide

Restroom Rundown

There was a restroom right off the main stage area. It was easily accessible, however if attendees decided to use the bathroom during the readings, it would be a definite distraction (social etiquette be damned to some). The restrooms themselves were of a decent size and quite clean. A line for a stall was nonexistent except for a very short time right after the show - which of course is to be expected. Overall, quite pleasant for public/customer-only restrooms.

Seating Situation

While waiting to be let into the venue, there was no option for sitting. Standing room only in the lobby area and outside porch which wasn’t ideal. Once we were let into the performance area, we grabbed our first cocktail and found a seat in the front row to the left of the stage. There were no assigned seats, and the audience was left to their own devices on where they chose to sit. Thank goodness no Games of the Hunger occurred or pushy people. The seats themselves were not pleasant for someone of my plus sized fins and could have been a bit larger. Where the bottom of the seat landed on the back of my thighs was causing my nerve damage to spasm. Individuals requiring wheelchairs were placed at the end of the rows all the way to the side of the stage.

Railing, Ramps & Elevators (Oh My!)

The venue was all on one floor which made wheelchair access and maneuvering quite easy. There were no steps inside or even to enter the venue. As long as you could get up the steepish hill from the bottom overflow parking lot that is… but we’ll come back to that. There were a few steps to access our cabins porch and entry, and due to the steady downpour of rain, I didn’t look for any hidden ramp access to our lodgings.

Parking Lot Party

This was a bit of a hot mess. Rebecca and I were fortunate to have a room at the venue’s Lodge portion, so our parking was a bit different than attendees who drove for just the event itself. We were given a map as to where to go to park for our room however the map was labeled incorrectly. This caused a bit of confusion and first when we drove right past our parking spots! It was raining cold and steady all day and evening, so Rebecca and I chose to drive the short distance to the venue’s performance area. Thankfully we found a spot in the lot near the entrance, as the overflow parking lot was down at the bottom of a very large hill that looked very intimidating from our spot at the top.

Will I Return?

To the Lodges at Gettysburg? Personally, probably not - however I would recommend it for accommodations if you are choosing to visit the historical town and are looking for a rustic chic vibe in your sleeping quarters. The lodge does host other events as well as ballroom for weddings and other parties. Our room for overnight accommodations was spacious, cute and clean. Oh, but beware of possible rock-hard mattresses…you’ve been warned !

Swimmingly yours,

LNTS

Local Coffee Cove

This mermaid needed some strong bean brew the morning after the boozy beverage filled event - and I was pleasantly surprised to have found a coffee shop that has a handful of locations in the area! Denim Coffee now holds the trophy for the best iced vanilla latte I’ve ever tasted! It was sweet, creamy, and strong! They also carried a delicious assortment of pastries and local bottled drinks. I am crossing my fingers I stumble across a Denim Coffee spot closer to my own waters!