Halloween is known to get a bit freaky in New York City, where ghosts, ghouls and vampires hop from bar to bar looking for treats. Possibly the only thing we don’t expect to see on Halloween weekend is snow.
A rare storm– given the catchy name of “Snowtober”– dumped over an inch of white powder in Central Park on Saturday. This was only the fourth time in the city’s history that snow fell before Halloween, and the storm left over 2 million people without power from the mid-Atlantic to New England.
In the East Village temperatures dropped to the 30s and fluffy white snowflakes alternated with rain. The Astor Place cube was dusted with snow and Halloween wigs swayed with the wind on St. Marks Place.
>> Scroll down for photos of the East Village during the Snowtober 2011 storm.
The Astor Place cube was covered in snow on Saturday morning, although the powder melted instantly upon hitting the street.
Downtown Traveler editor Leslie Koch was caught off guard by the freezing temperatures; she longed for her North Face parka as wet snow soaked through her rain jacket.
Street vendors on St. Marks Place were in full Halloween mode and continued to hawk their rainbow-colored wigs, sunglasses and pashminas during the snowstorm.
The intersection of St. Marks Place and Avenue A became a minefield of slushy puddles.
Noticeably fewer people were walking on St. Marks Place during Saturday’s snowfall, although popular brunch spots like 7A remained crowded.
As usual, few taxis were available to pick up soaked pedestrians on Saturday, as rain, sleet and snow appear to be instant triggers for their “off duty” signs.
The snow came down hard in front of East Village boutique Trash and Vaudeville, the city’s premier vendor of rubber, vinyl and leather fashions.
A pedestrian struggled to shield himself from the snow outside of Kmart in Astor Place. Mangled umbrellas dotted the sidewalks, victims of the high winds.
A taxi darted past the Astor Place Cube, which only recently was covered in crochet by artist Olek. Too bad the artwork was removed– it would have been a nice shield from the snow!
Cars were covered in snow on Saturday for the length of St. Marks Place. By the following day, all of the snow had melted and there was no indication in the East Village that “Snowtober” had ever happened.
Where were you for “Snowtober 2011”?
Share your experience with other readers by leaving a comment below.
![Great- now other passengers roll their eyes at YOU! I was the person who always groaned when a couple with a baby approached my row on an airplane. Sitting next […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sleeping-baby-on-a-plane-36x36.jpg "How to take a baby on a plane: Tips for seat assignments, feeding and diaper change"){kind=small}
![Germs, crazy people and tons of stairs are just a few reasons I hesitated to take my newborn baby on the New York City subway. I’ve been more adventurous than […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Baby-on-NYC-Subway-1-36x36.jpg "How to take a baby on the New York City subway – tips for new moms"){kind=small}
![This review is written by Downtown Traveler contributor Claudia Oddo, a first-time visitor to Blackout Haunted House. In 2014, Blackout plays by new rules. Do not speak unless instructed to […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Claudia-blackout-36x36.jpg "Review: What to expect at Blackout Haunted House in New York City (Halloween 2014)"){kind=small}
![New Yorkers, get ready to face your fears. Now in its 11th season, Nightmare haunted house stays fresh by embracing a new theme each year. The 2014 haunt, New York, pays […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/nightmare-haunted-house-2-36x36.jpg "Experience NYC’s scary past at Nightmare haunted house (2014 review)"){kind=small}
![Got scythes? If you’ve always dreamed of wielding a massive sword, scythe, hammer or gun, then you need to get yourself to NY Comic Con. It’s a safe place to […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-COMIC-CON-WEAPON-LINX-36x36.jpg "22 Badass Cosplay Weapons from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)"){kind=small}
![What kid doesn’t like dressing up for Halloween? The only thing better is dressing up on a random day, meeting up with tens of thousands of like-minded peers, and receiving […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-Comic-Con-Baby-Batman-36x36.jpg "23 Creative Kids Costumes from NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)"){kind=small}
![Think all the attendees of NY Comic Con look like “Comic Book Guy” from The Simpsons? Get with the program… this is 2014! The annual pop-culture convention at the Javits […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NY-Comic-Con-Womens-Costume-36x36.jpg "Top 10 Trends in Womens Costumes at NY Comic Con 2014 (PHOTOS)"){kind=small}
![Today’s post is written by Claudia Oddo, a New York City-based writer and editor of NewYorkerAbroad.com. This was her first time visiting a New York City haunted house. You haven’t […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/10608518_10203403847080894_3987049205411782236_o-36x36.jpg "Celebrating 10 Years of Terror: 5 Reasons to Visit NYC’s Blood Manor Haunted House"){kind=small}
![Our brush with a 12-foot gator in the Louisiana bayou There’s a reason swamp tours are a top attraction in Louisiana’s Cajun Country: alligators are dangerous, sexy and cool. Who […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Screen-Shot-2013-06-22-at-7.16.47-PM-36x36.png "PHOTOS: Alligator sighting! A kayak tour of the Lousiana bayou"){kind=small}
![Would you like a craft beer with your jambalaya? Cajun Country is not traditionally known for its craft beer, but locals clearly appreciate a fine brew. Karlos Knott, owner of […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Louisiana-Getaway-Cajun-Country-2-15-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Cajun Country brewery pairs craft beers with traditional Louisiana dishes"){kind=small}
![Really? A World War II museum? I was skeptical when a coworker told me I absolutely had to visit the National World War II Museum during my vacation in New […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_1443-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Art and History at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans"){kind=small}
![I never thought frog’s legs would be the highlight of my vacation. Cajun Country is well-known for its unique cuisine, from gumbo to crawfish etouffee. This fall I had the […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cajun-Cuisine_Grilled-Alligator-36x36.jpg "Top 10 traditional Cajun Country foods- from alligator to cracklins"){kind=small}
![Local food is all the rage and one farm in Cajun Country has taken it to a new level. At family-run Belle Ecorce Farms, you can sample artisanal goat cheeses […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Louisiana-Getaway-Cajun-Country-6-3-36x36.jpg "Meet the goat behind your cheese at Belle Ecorce Farms – Cajun Country road trip"){kind=small}
![New York may host the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but New Orleans has something better: the Bayou Classic. This New Orleans Thanksgiving parade features lively bands, dancers and a seemingly […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_1226-36x36.jpg "PHOTOS: Beads and bands at the New Orleans Thanksgiving Parade"){kind=small}
![Jazz, fine dining and public drinking: the perfect getaway? Seven years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, New Orleans is once again a bustling weekend getaway and bachelor(ette) party destination. […]](https://downtowntraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0277-36x36.jpg "First Impressions of New Orleans: Bourbon Street (Photos)"){kind=small}
Cool photos, what did you use to make them look like drawings/paintings? Did you or your sister take them? Super cool! We did not get much snow in LI, just slush.
Thanks Maria! I snapped the photos on my iPhone 3G and edited them with the free Photoshop app. Mainly I increased the vibrance, sharpened them and added the border. My iPhone photos tend to be blurry so I enjoy playing around with them 🙂
I like how you did with the photo! And I can’t believe it’s snowing even before November. Crazy!!
Hope everything is alright with you!
All is well, thanks for asking! We lucked out in downtown Manhattan and did not see the massive blackouts and downed trees that the suburbs had to deal with.
Gosh what a snow storm! It’s gonna be a wet Halloween for you guys there! Love the gorgeous picture of you with the umbrella! 🙂
Thanks! Fortunately the weather has improved today (cold but no rain or snow), so kids won’t have to trudge through the snow to trick or treat (in my neighborhood anyway!).
Love all the effects on your photos! I can’t believe it snowed before Halloween! Global warming?
Seriously– we have had some funky weather this year! A tornado, earthquake, hurricane. What’s next?
I sent my skis in for repair at REI a couple of weeks ago. I told them no hurry as I was not expecting any snow until December. Glad this did not happen here. I would have been without skis.
Way to get out there on your beat and take some pictures as the storm unfolded. New York sure has had some freaky weather this year.
Our weather has been crazy! At least we didn’t have an earthquake too 🙂 The snow didn’t stick in my neighborhood, so no cross-country skiing opportunities, alas…
I certainly don’t miss slushy puddles!! CAnnot believe this came so early…when I moved out of NYC it was during a blizzard that took everyone by surprise in early January – looks like they are coming earlier and earlier…
Awesome pics, I can’t believe it’s snowing already!!!
I kinda loved the snow. Luckily we did our Halloween activities on Friday night, so we spent the entire day napping, recovering and then having hot pot for dinner.