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I'm Dreaming of a Kitschy Christmas

POP-UP BARS BRING HOLIDAY JOY GALORE

Article by Grady McGill

Photography by Grady McGill

The best Christmas parties don't have to be for children! No! The holiday pop-up bar Miracle turns the holiday into a decoration and light spectacular with creative cocktails and snacks. Dress up, dress down or put on your best ugly Christmas sweater and re-create your best childhood memories — or make new ones.

Head over to the Brasserie and Neighborhood Cafe at Parish, Bon Ton, Golden Eagle, Wonderkid and Fox Marquee Club for some holiday fun at the Miracle Bars and the Sippin’ Santa pop-ups. The decorations are over-the-top, more on the kitschy side than understated elegance — but that’s half the fun! I certainly look forward to the Miracle Bar holiday season party, and there is no better time to get in the holiday spirit. 

Holiday-Themed Cocktails

You have to try the cocktails such as the Christmapolitan, Jingle Bells Nog and Snowball Old Fashioned. My top recommendation is the Christmapolitan, and here is why. The cocktail had great flavors and not too intense but well-balanced. I like how it tasted, and it is made with vodka, elderflowers, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime and Absinthe mist. Yummy! 

Parish

The Miracle Bar at Parish will kick start the holiday season. Parish is a cafe located in Inman Park in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood off the Atlanta Beltline serving brunch, lunch and dinner. Parish has wonderful decorations all over their restaurant — up, down and sideways. There isn’t an inch that doesn’t have a light or a Santa on it. The moment you walk in, it sure feels a winter wonderland, and Parish sure does a great job with it.

Bon Ton

Bon Ton’s theme, “Sippin’ Santa,” is kin to the Miracle bar but it has a unique mixture of tiki and Christmas. Think Santa enjoying a break in Hawaii. It is a seafood restaurant located Midtown Atlanta across from Mary Mac’s Tea Room off Ponce De Leon. Also with a tiki-Christmas theme is the Golden Eagle on Memorial Drive.

Marquee Club

The Marquee Club presented by Lexus is located at the Fox Theater in Midtown Atlanta is one of the Miracle pop-ups. Like other venues, the Marquee has a Christmas-themed bar serving holiday cocktails, cookies, peanuts, Chex mix, holiday decorations and Christmas lights and music. I had the Run Run Rudolph cocktail and thought it was really neat. I loved the combination of prosecco, London Dry Gin, mulled wine, puree lemon and cane syrup.

These holiday pop-up bars are becoming a favorite holiday tradition in Atlanta. The restaurants are doing proper COVID-19 precautions, so you won’t have to worry. Truly, the second you walk in, the holiday spirit takes over and you are enjoying cocktails, snacks, the music and goodwill toward men.