One of our favorite places to hang out through the seasons is here at the Portland Harbor Hotel. Summers sipping a martini in the garden courtyard, with the afternoon sun lighting the tables, is a mighty fine experience. Merry Madness, an evening of shopping and merriment in December, when it was held here was the best. February brings Ice Bar memories. My brother and I attended the very first one, when it was held here. As I recall, Elenka was visiting Florida( she wouldn't have ventured out with us anyway... had it been the Heat Bar, she certainly would have been up for a night), and the temperature that day had hovered at about zero. That night Mr. Mercury dropped to somewhere between 10 and 15 below, and Marchin and I were off to see what it was all about. The lobby, bar and restaurant areas were packed shoulder to shoulder. There was food all over, but the beverages were served outside in the courtyard. Now, they had the firepit blazing, with plenty of guests sitting and talking, and a few of those large propane patio heaters were scattered about providing some warmth. But it was still FREEZING! We finally got to the Ice Bar (a HUGE bar cut out of a block of ice), ordered a couple of brew and bro handed the poor, young lady bartender a hundred dollar bill. Oh my! Between the temps, her gloves, the change for the 100, (I think it took her about 5 minutes to make the change) it was like a cartoon frozen in time. I'm still smiling!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Rendezvous
One of our favorite places to hang out through the seasons is here at the Portland Harbor Hotel. Summers sipping a martini in the garden courtyard, with the afternoon sun lighting the tables, is a mighty fine experience. Merry Madness, an evening of shopping and merriment in December, when it was held here was the best. February brings Ice Bar memories. My brother and I attended the very first one, when it was held here. As I recall, Elenka was visiting Florida( she wouldn't have ventured out with us anyway... had it been the Heat Bar, she certainly would have been up for a night), and the temperature that day had hovered at about zero. That night Mr. Mercury dropped to somewhere between 10 and 15 below, and Marchin and I were off to see what it was all about. The lobby, bar and restaurant areas were packed shoulder to shoulder. There was food all over, but the beverages were served outside in the courtyard. Now, they had the firepit blazing, with plenty of guests sitting and talking, and a few of those large propane patio heaters were scattered about providing some warmth. But it was still FREEZING! We finally got to the Ice Bar (a HUGE bar cut out of a block of ice), ordered a couple of brew and bro handed the poor, young lady bartender a hundred dollar bill. Oh my! Between the temps, her gloves, the change for the 100, (I think it took her about 5 minutes to make the change) it was like a cartoon frozen in time. I'm still smiling!
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Good story. You always have such vivid memories which tie your photos together.
ReplyDeleteYes, these are great memories, but I hope you'll go again and bring us some photos from the Ice Bar itself, if they ever do it again. Love your stories.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting story around a nice picture.
ReplyDeleteI am shivering just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to an ice bar, but always wanted to. Maybe someday the trend will make it to Jackson, MS!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a few times of ice bars and even whole ice hotels, but never went to one. This is something I should still try out! :)
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
Why limit martinis to summer? Your picture puts a really nice feel on the city.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about the ice bar was the way they make the martini's....they had a martini luge slide where all of the ingredients simply start at the top and slide all of the way around several turns and ends up in your chilled glass......doesn't get any better.
ReplyDeletewonderful image, wonderful story. thanks for starting my day with a smile, birdman.
ReplyDelete