Inspired by the “mesmerism demonstrations” of the French Revolution, Hypnosis Salon celebrates Bastille Day by turning a rustic Williamsburg loft into a parlor of insurgency so guests can wine, dine, and explore powers of the unconscious mind.
With a plutocratic elite making a mockery of our democracy while the public remains enamored by pseudo-scientific health regimes, we have much in common with the Enlightenment French, who were also deeply fascinated by bold political rhetoric and "animal magnetism," an early precursor of hypnosis.
Today, hypnosis is often seen merely as way to quit smoking or squawk like a chicken at a stage show, but these Hollywood tropes barely scratch the surface. In reality, hypnotism is a set of subtle, almost meditative techniques that allow willing participants to engage their own imaginations and explore new frontiers of possibility in themselves.
This private Hypnosis Salon will revive hypnotism's rich history for our contemporary minds to enjoy together. In our parlor, an intimate group of guests will laugh, learn, and leave feeling more wonderful than they have in ages. No waving watches required.
The leader of our culinary revolution, Asc Helvetius, will draw from Reign of Terror's class conflicts to create a meal fit for a king...
With our dinner, we'll pay homage to revolutions past and present with an entire menu free from the labors of the animal proletariat (meaning it's vegan), with gluten-free options also available.
Just as our hypnosis crosses the boundaries of the unconscious, the evening's menu will take us on a tour of disputed borders. We'll be enjoying celeriac remoulade in a creamsome mustard black pepper dressing (from Alsace Lorraine on the French/German border) alongside exotic mushrooms a la escargots—with garlic, butter, and parsley on puff pastry—a Catalan dish nodding to the ongoing Catalonian separatist revolution.
Silken tofu thermidor, in a savory sherry cream sauce, French onion tarts, and more will be accompanied by serve-yourself pots of exotic salts—black volcanic salt, gray sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, and fine red Hawaiian salt—all free of La Gabelle, the French salt tax that was one of many matches lighting the fires of revolution.
And for desert, we'll dine on Marie Antoinette's famous line, "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche," famously translated as "Let them eat cake," with a tarte tropezienne: a classic French dessert combining rich cake-like brioche and dairy-free ice cream with crunchy pops of crystallized sugar.
You'll have your cake... and eat it too.
Hypnosis Salon honors the three C’s of Collaboration, Creativity, and Consent. Our event presents a rare opportunity to experience the power of hypnosis in a safe, expert-lead environment. Working our way up from an introductory guided meditation to more fascinating hypnotic feats, guests will be able to discover what hypnosis is like for them, without ever feeling "put on the spot" or pushed past their own boundaries.
As hypnotists, wizards, and hosts, we promise to ensure that no one feels embarrassed, consent is maintained at all times, and all guests leave feeling wonderful and refreshed.