Satanic Salem Walking Tours review! The Satanic Temple HQ weddings & ministry, Baphomet statue, Salem Art Gallery.
O-hisashiburi, Baphomet-sama. It’s nice to be back on your lap.
In Part 2 of my Salem, Massachusetts stories, we’ll take an insider peek at The Satanic Temple’s headquarters! (You may recall that I first visited TST Salem in 2019, and came back recently.)
TST / Salem Art Gallery has opened its doors again to visitors, with new art exhibitions and a goat-headed fortune telling machine. You can now stay in a suite at The Satanic Temple, and get married here by an ordained Minister of Satan… Read on for the Satanic scoop.
First, we’ll run around Witch City with Thomas O’Brien Vallor, who runs the top-rated Satanic Salem Walking Tours. He developed the tour with The Satanic Temple; it’s a 1.5 hour guided stroll covering Salem’s history and connection to the devil, free from supernatural or superstitious elements.
A Salem resident since his teen years, Thomas is an experienced tour guide, and expert in occultism and witchcraft. He’s a member of The Satanic Temple and previously worked at TST HQ. In addition to running his successful tour company, he gives regular lectures on history and other dark matters at The Satanic Estate / Virtual Headquarters.
Thomas offers Satanic Salem Walking Tours every day except Tuesdays, at 12 noon or 8pm (make a booking via his site).
Look for him at the Derby Square meeting place, by Salem Old Town Hall (above). Built 1816, it’s the location of the Halloween party where the Sanderson Sisters performed “I put a spell on you” in the film Hocus Pocus.
Within minutes, you’ll “get” why Thomas O’Brien Vallor has the #1 rated tour in Salem on TripAdvisor, with hundreds of 5-star reviews. He has an infectious energy and deep knowledge of Salem’s history, which doesn’t gloss over its darkest moments or wander into ghostly territory.
If you’ve seen the Hail Satan? documentary, which I recommend, then you’ll have a sense of The Satanic Temple’s origins and mission.
In line with TST’s values (the pursuit of knowledge, and seeking justice for marginalized), Thomas debunks misconceptions about Salem’s history and the witch trials — such as that Satan caused women to falsely accuse outsiders of witchcraft.
He spoke with compassion about the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, at their memorial at Charter Street Cemetery. Each stone honors one the nine who were hanged as witches. I stood over a plaque that read, “God knows I am wholly innocent of such wickedness.”
Also known as the Old Burying Point, Charter Street Cemetery is the second oldest in the USA (founded 1637). The famous graves include that of Justice John Hathorne, who sentenced many innocents to be hung as witches. (The judge is the great-great-grandfather of Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables.)
Thomas pointed to the “hanging trees” in the Old Burying Point Cemetery. They’re similar to the ones that some of the victims were hung from, during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
I wasn’t surprised to see people with Gothic fashion and tattoos, on the Satanic Salem Walking Tour. However, this is an activity for everyone, and all ages are welcome. Thomas often gets families who book his tours on a whim (or because he’s the number one rated guide), and end up being delighted by the experience.
Thomas does a terrific job of delivering historic facts in an entertaining and witty fashion. Here stands Roger Conant, the founder of Salem, outside the Salem Witch Museum. (It’s a must-visit for first-timers; see my Witch Museum review here.)
Don’t forget to stop to… fondle the flowers. I’m wearing an official The Satanic Temple ring; it’s the TST Winged Crowned Skull Logo Ring, created by Kate Hockstein of Arcana Obscura. My alien pinky peridot ring is Alina Abegg Jewels.
We walked by St Peter Episcopal Church at a time when the sunlight fell just-so on the winged skull headstones. These very Gothic “Death’s Head” carvings show the deceased carried by wings, representing the soul going to heaven. (Or… hell?)
After the 1690s, the tombstone imagery included winged cherubs (“soul effigies”). If you ask me, these round faces with wings are creepier than the grinning skulls!
Salem is filled with centuries-old Gothic architecture (Thomas told us the historic pointy-roof houses are often painted black, to make them look extra spooky for visitors). Here is The Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin; see my tour inside Witch House here.
Made sense to wear my Baphomet bomber jacket by Long Clothing. Salem truly is a Goth / Satanist haven.
Hail Thomas O’Brien Vallor — Salem witch, historian and tour guide extraordinaire! When you visit Witch City, I hope you’ll join his Satanic Salem Walking Tours. There’s no better way to get to know Salem and its fascinating history, from a Satanist perspective.
Speaking of the devil… The Satanic Temple’s headquarters looks particularly enticing at night. Located at 64 Bridge Street, TST HQ / Salem Art Gallery is impossible to miss, as the former funeral parlor glows with purple lights after dark.
An elegant fountain sits outside the The Satanic Temple Salem. You may recognize this office wall painting from the Hail Satan? documentary; it depicts Baphomet, goat-headed Satanic symbol of the reconciliation of opposites. (As above and so below, male and female, animal and human.)
The Seven Fundamental Tenets hang on the office walls. One shouldn’t be surprised to see a bunny mask and black feather boa in the inner sanctum of TST…
… or a collection of rusting metal chastity belts and torture equipment!
Gothic candles, animal skulls, and a bronze figure of Baphomet add to the office’s dark decor.
Visitors are welcome to visit The Satanic Temple / Salem Art Gallery during its opening hours, and sit on the infamous Baphomet statue. (The Satanic symbol was built to be placed next to a Ten Commandments monument on Arkansas Capitol Grounds, to ensure the equal representation of minority religions. To this day, TST is fighting for the right to emplace Baphomet.)
Mark Porter constructed the controversial bronze statue, which weighs over 3,000 pounds and stands eight and half feet tall.
“Baphy” sits next to these ghostly figures by Zach Brown, who had a “Strange Familiars” exhibition at The Satanic Temple Salem. His evocative works draw from ancient myths, and touch upon themes of mortality.
Be sure to bring some US $1 bills, to feed the new Satanic fortune-teller machine! The mechanical Baphomet moves his hands around the glowing crystal ball, and speaks (much like Zoltar).
Here’s a first look at another new addition… The Satanic Temple is now available for overnight visits! You can stay in this Gothic suite with red satin drapes and a dramatic wood poster bed. (Book it here.) Guests have access to a private bathroom, and a newly renovated kitchen as well.
You can also now get married, Satan-style. The Satanic Temple is available for wedding parties with fewer than 50 people. Salem Art Gallery provides a TST-ordained minister to officiate your marriage. They’ll help you with decor and catering, and have both indoor and outdoor areas for for small wedding receptions.
The Satanic Temple now has a online Satanic Ministry ordination program. The program is currently being rolled out in stages, and involves 10 lessons, an exam, essay, and background check (eligibility also depends on location). Once you’re ordained as a Minister of Satan, you can officially oversee weddings, funerals, unbaptisms, and other religious rituals.
(Thomas Vallor just became a minister himself, and will be helping with weddings at Headquarters.)
Here are some bonus answers from an interview I did with TST cofounder and spokesperson Lucien Greaves, as it refers to the Belle Plaine military memorial above (which you can see at Salem Art Gallery).
La Carmina: “I adore The Satanic Temple’s elegant veterans memorial, which features gold pentagrams on a black steel cube. Can you tell me about your efforts to emplace it in a Minnesota veterans park, as a means of upholding government viewpoint neutrality?”
Lucien Greaves: “In Belle Plaine we offered a monument on public grounds where there was already a privately-donated Christian monument, similar to Arkansas. Instead of “allowing” a Satanic monument on their public grounds, the city decided to remove their Christian monument and close down their park as a public forum. That’s great, but they only did this after approving our monument, which caused us to expend considerable resources in having it constructed, and they shut down the “forum” only after having the Christian monument displayed for some two years. The case for discrimination against us seems pretty clear, and the claim that we have a type of contractual breach claim (“promissory estoppel”) is moving forward.”
Lucien Greaves continues, regarding the Belle Plaine lawsuit: “Nonetheless, the judge dismissed the claim of religious discrimination on the grounds that we have failed to establish that there is anything in our religious practices or tenets that directly demands that we should have a monument on those public grounds. Imagine if Christian claims were subjected to this level of scrutiny. In fact, there is nothing in the Bible that directly prohibits abortion. More to the point, there’s nothing in the Bible that comes close to recognizing that Christian corporations are prohibited from providing health insurance that covers certain forms of contraceptives for employees, but Hobby Lobby successfully argued that case to the Supreme Court.
We are clearly not being treated equally by the courts, and I don’t think that’s going to change until more legal scholars and commentators start recognizing and exposing what it is that is going on here. Unfortunately, we now see a lot of people merely looking at the ruling in the most general of fashion and assuming, often out of convenience, that we failed to make a compelling case.”
At the entrance of The Satanic Temple Salem, you can pick up candles (such as these), clothing, homewares and more from the gift shop. Proceeds go to their campaigns for social justice, pluralism, and reproductive rights. You can also shop for all things Luciferian through The Satanic Temple’s online shop.
The Salem Art Gallery / TST HQ has rotating art exhibits at all times. When I was there, “Incipit Spring” was on display (photos pictured). Co-organized with the Salem Arts Association, the installation features local artists and their interpretations of renewal and growth.
Right now, you can see Cevin Soling’s “We’ve Become What We Parody.” He describes his artwork as “bending the familiar to create an alternate world that exposes the undercurrents of hypocrisy and violence that persist beneath everyday objects’ veneer. The works are intended to generate a conflicted response of both horror and humor where the humor may feel guilty or inappropriate. The works serve as critiques of both ourselves and our culture designed to prompt unsettling questions. What kind of world have we created? What do we value, and what do we want to achieve? How do we suppress thoughts of our eventual demise and the specter of violence that surrounds us?”
Here’s another bonus Q+A question with LG that didn’t get published.
La Carmina: “Many people continue to confuse TST with the Church of Satan (established in 1966 by Anton LaVey, author of “The Satanic Bible”). Could you discuss how TST is distinct from the Church of Satan, and the significance of LaVey’s writings to Satanism today?”
Lucien Greaves: “LaVey was certainly important to Modern Satanism, but his Church of Satan did not have much longevity. Something calling itself The Church of Satan exists as a website and a Twitter account today, but there really is no Church of Satan, as an organization, offline. I get the impression that some people think that the Church of Satan holds similar events to The Satanic Temple, has a physical headquarters like The Satanic Temple, believe that the Church of Satan is a federally recognized religious organization in the same way we are, and that the Church of Satan even manages public campaigns in the same way that we do. None of that is true of the Church of Satan.”
Lucien Greaves: “Philosophically, the Church of Satan fetishizes authoritarianism and endorses a belief in the power of magic, and the legitimacy of Social Darwinism. On the face of it, this places the two organizations worlds apart. However, LaVey believed that his philosophy was born of adherence to the best available scientific evidence, which he clearly thought should override comforting dogmas. It is not at all impossible that if he were alive today, he would adjust his thinking to contemporary knowledge and approve of the Satanism of The Satanic Temple. Some of his living friends have told me that they think he would.”
The Satanic Temple has more of a connection to The Process Church of the Final Judgment, a defunct religious group founded in 1966 that spoke of a balance between Luciferian and Christian ideals. Lucien Greaves has the largest collection of The Process memorabilia, much of which is displayed in TST’s library (which anyone can visit).
You can learn more about The Process in the engaging documentary Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment, which is on TSTTV and directed by Neil Edwards.
Close-up on the masks on the wall of the red throne room, and the shelves of Satanic Panic literature inside The Satanic Temple’s Library.
The library has a lot of Satanic eye-candy on the walls. The picture frames contain newspaper clippings about TST, cartoons by Lucien Greaves, a portrait of Elvira signed “To TST,” and Lucien’s original sketches for the After School Satan logo, and Baphomet statue design.
This cute baby goat caught my attention. Satan is kawaii…
If you’re intrigued by The Satanic Temple’s work as a religious organization, I encourage you to view the Hail Satan? documentary by Penny Lane. It’s currently streaming on Netflix Canada, and can be found on Amazon, Hulu, etc.
And do pay their official headquarters in Salem a visit. Admission is well worth it to see the artistic details for yourself, such as these antique chandeliers.
The Satanic Temple is having live, in-person events again as well. Check TST’s calendar for upcoming events and tickets, including The Satanic Chef’s Devil’s Dinner Party in October. (And you can spend the night in their suite, above.)
The Mark of the Beast is found elsewhere in Salem. The downtown gift store Twilight House has pentagrams and goat-headed figures in the windows.
Baphomet was a heathen idol associated with the Knights Templar, and later with occult and mystic traditions. His famous image as the Sabbatic Goat is based on an 1856 drawing by Eliphas Levi.
Before we leave Salem, let’s take a twirl in my red dress on Salem’s only rooftop bar — The Roof. Located at the top of The Hotel Salem, this rooftop bar and restaurant has magnificent views of the historic downtown.
The outdoor bar and kitchen serves up special mixed cocktails, decorated with edible flowers. We tried the blossom ‘rita with blood orange liqueur and lime juice, and a pineapple gin cooler with muddled sage.
The Roof’s menu includes tacos, rice bowls, and seafood. I went for the fresh guacamole with blue cheese, served with spiced tortilla chips. (I wonder what Anton LaVey would think of me eating this dish…)
Matching the brick architecture around me, in my Sourpuss Clothing red dress.
I was already in awe at the panoramic views from The Roof Salem… and then, this rainbow appeared as the icing on top.
Blending in with the Massachusetts brick buildings, in a red Sourpuss dress and matching silk mask by Lemonwood Luxury.
From the rooftop balcony, I could see Salem’s cobblestone streets and harbor in the distance.
See my full Hotel Salem review here. Loved staying at these hip mid-century modern boutique accommodations (part of Lark Hotels).
“Here lyes Buried”… Come see the skull death head gravestones and more for yourself, in Salem MA.
The town is known for its “Haunted Happenings” Halloween celebrations, but it’s spooky and Satan-y here year round.
Have you seen the Hail Satan? documentary about TST yet? If you haven’t, give it a watch and let me know your thoughts. You can also see more from The Satanic Temple’s headquarters in my article from 2019. And never forget… “Thou art thine own master!”
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New York City’s Most Instagrammable Places! One World Observatory, SuperReal immersive art, Yotel NYC robot hotel.
The Pet Shop Boys knew what they were talking about when they sang: “New York City boy… You’ll never have a bored day!”
I’ve spent so much time in NYC over the years (including living there for a few) that going back feels like a homecoming. There are always innovative new exhibitions, and landmarks I never got around to checking out.
Read on for my 2021 guide to New York’s art and travel attractions, including the most Instagrammable spots in the city. Such as One World Observatory (I’ll never grow bored of this view from the deck)…
… and the trippy SuperReal immersive projections at Cipriani 25 Broadway. (I flew to NYC in late July to report on culture in the city. As you can see, I kept as safe as possible, staying away from crowds and masking indoors.)
And leave it to me to find Mr. Roboto. Read on for a peek inside my stay at Yotel New York, a sci-fi space hotel with a luggage “Yobot” robot!
Let’s take it from the top: I went to the southern end of Manhattan to ascend One World Trade Center. Also known as the Freedom Tower, the skyscraper soars up from the former site of the World Trade Towers, and stands next to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
One WTC was designed by architect David Childs, and completed in 2013. It is currently the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth tallest in the world.
Photographer Joey Wong and I were keen to take in the sky-high views from One World Observatory, located on the top levels of the skyscraper.
(It was bright up there, so I wore these exact Roberto Cavalli snake sunglasses. They’re the RC 1047 Chianciano oversize frames, with gold serpents on the sides!)
Travel these days requires a fair amount of planning, as many attractions require advance bookings and have limited time slots. Tickets to One WTC Observatory are available online, with various options including skip-the-line VIP passes.
Address and directions: While the building address is 285 Fulton Street, note that the doors to the Observatory are on West Street between Fulton and Vesey Streets. Once inside, go down the escalator to find the entrance.
From the enormous windows of One World Observatory, New York City looks miniscule. I was reminded of the Jigsaw disco song “Sky High” — as they sang, “We could have touched the sky.”
The tower has a three-story observation deck, located on floors 100–102.
Visitors ride the SkyPod elevators, which climb up 102 stories in only 47 seconds, reaching top speeds of 36.5 km per hour! (And there was no ear-popping or discomfort.) During the swift ride, we saw video footage of the transformation of New York City from unsettled land to a metropolis of skyscrapers.
When you step out of the elevator, you’re greeted by a visual show that ends with a rising curtain, revealing the magnificent views from One WTC.
Then, you’re free to wander around the circular observatory, and take in views from several floors. Here’s one of my favorite perspectives: you can see Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and 8 Spruce Street (the rectangular tower in the center). Formely known as the Beekman Tower, this iconic 76-story skyscraper was designed by architect Frank Gehry.
And can you recognize the tiny figure, outside these picture windows? That’s the Statue of Liberty, raising her green torch over Liberty Island.
Architecture buffs like myself will enjoy peering out the glass, and spotting famous NYC buildings. In the center, you might recognize the 1913 Woolworth Building, which towers 60 stories above downtown Manhattan. It was financed by millionaire Frank Woolworth, and designed by Cass Gilbert.
New York City has other observation points and decks, including the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and The Edge at Hudson Yards. One World has by far the highest viewpoint, providing plenty of opportunities for Instagram-friendly photos like this.
Every ticket option to One World gives you access to these stunning 360° views. However, the VIP pass has benefits including access to the priority lane for security, elevator, and exit. You’ll also get a Flexible Arrival time, so there’s no stress about making a specific timeslot.
One World’s observation deck is indoors, which was a relief on a hot summer’s day.
One of NYC’s most bizarre buildings is the “Jenga tower” on the far left. (The apartment high-rise is actually called 56 Leonard Street in Tribeca.)
Visit One World Observatory for these bird’s-eye views over the Big Apple. More info and tickets on their website.
You can also find One WTC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (And don’t miss out on the nearby September 11 museum and memorial pools, as well as the subway station designed by Santiago Calatrava.)
Now, for something new in New York. I dove into a dream world of moving projections at The SuperReal Experience, a 45-minute experience that pays tribute to the city.
These immersive digital shows are an exciting new way to experience art (I’ve seen a few worldwide, including Teamlabs Tokyo and Imagine Van Gogh Vancouver). The lighting and visual effects are constantly changing, creating new moods for photography.
SuperReal is located at Cipriani 25 Broadway, inside the former Cunard Building. The event space has decadent Italian neo-renaissance domes and arches, which provide a framework for the projection mapping.
Look up, and all around you — including the floor. SuperReal uses every inch as a canvas for digital effects.
One corner of SuperReal has a bar. Lie down on one of the beanbag chairs, and sip on a drink. If you’re feeling playful, you can bounce the white balloons around the venue.
Music and sound effects accompany the visuals. The vibe constantly changes with each “dream,” from psychedelic 90s to dark thunder and lightning.
I wore “A Tim Burton Film” dress from Forest Ink — appropriate, for this fantastical atmosphere!
The projection mapping encompasses the entire 12,000 square foot grand hall of Cipriani 25 Broadway.
I loved how SuperReal highlighted the building’s majestic architecture, creating virtual realms that blur the lines between reality and illusion.
The original art is accompanied by 360 degrees surround sound. My favorite part: when they blasted Sylvester’s disco hit, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”
Amazing how the high-tech moving visuals exactly match the interior details.
From Art Deco to decadent flowers, the mood keeps on shifting.
Head to the historic 25 Broadway in NY’s Financial District, to see these superb visuals in motion. You can book a time-slot ticket to The SuperReal Experience here.
Finally, a “Yo” to the aliens… I had a blast staying at Yotel New York, a hotel inspired by outerspace! (I hope there’s a press trip to space in my future.)
Yotel NY has a convenient mid-town Manhattan location (not far from 42nd Street Port Authority), and the spaceship design is prime for photo-taking.
Yotel has a sleek modern design, and the rooms are affordable. The NY hotel has 713 “cabins,” and the hallways made me feel like I was a passenger on a rocket to Mars. (Wearing Sleevey Wonders under sleeves as a top.)
I didn’t run into any aliens at Yotel — unless you count the two grinning, horned “deer” statues in the lobby!
Everything at Yotel has a high-tech design. Guests check themselves in at the computer kiosks; it’s a simple process that only takes two minutes, and includes creating your own room key.
Instead of a “lobby boy,” Yotel has a giant white robot to carry and store your luggage! The Yobot’s arm can handle 500 pounds, and maneuver hundreds of suitcases a day.
Using the touch screen computer, you can have the Yobot store your bags in an assigned locker. All you need is the receipt with a bar code to get them back.
Even the vending machines have a futuristic edge. This Vengo dispenser is the size of a picture frame, yet contains items like toiletries and headphones. You can purchase them from the touch-screen with cashless payment.
Yotel NYC’s rooms are ingeniously designed like space-cabins to save space. The shelving is built-in, and the flat bed retracts into a sofa with the push of a button!
The Yotel room pods are designed for maximum compactness, yet you have everything you need for an enjoyable stay — including views of Midtown from the window.
There’s even a neon lighting option, to get you in the mood for an intergalactic disco party! Such a fun stay, at Yotel NYC.
I leave you with some NYC subway outfit photos. Wearing a vintage Japanese kimono jacket / coverup from Burcu’s Angels Vancouver.
Tim Burton dress from Forest Ink. Anastasia liquid lipstick has been my go-to, as the lip stain stays on when you’re wearing a mask.
Do you have any favorite Instagrammable spots in New York City? (I’ve been living in these Roberto Cavalli snake sunglasses.)
More from NYC to come, including reviews of museums and art shows. And you can enjoy my previous New York travel stories here!
LA CARMINA
