We caught up with Josh Schwartz, the beloved general manager of The Bluegrass Coffee & Bourbon Lounge in Olde Town, to get the scoop on this year's pop-up bar, NOEL. Josh shares a glimpse of the magic behind the scenes and offers a few insider tips.
"This will be our 6th Year of NOEL and we’re so excited to show off all of our hard work. If it’s your first time or 6th year in a row, this year will hopefully be the most jaw-dropping NOEL yet with our new cocktail menu and decorations! The elves have been hard at work for the last year and think you’ll really enjoy it!"
JOSH SCHWARTZ, GENERAL MANAGER
For those who may be new to NOEL, how would you describe the vibe and experience of the Christmas Pop-Up at The Bluegrass Lounge?
We’re proud to say that our Winter Wonderland is like no other holiday experience! We keep everyone in mind to make it the most magical season. For the kiddos, Santa comes every Wednesday, and the parents don’t have to wait at the mall. Thursdays we stay open late for Karaoke, so patrons can sing their Christmas cheer. Our ultimate goal is that every patron is immersed with all the magical lights & decorations, yummy cocktails, shot-skis, Christmas music, and pure joy. Community is a big part of the Bluegrass and it’s so much fun to see strangers interacting and becoming friends!
NOEL has some really fun themed nights with prizes. Can you share more about what guests have to look forward to this year?
NOEL will be closed on Monday & Tuesdays for the first three weeks of December for our fun ticketed workshops! Boozy Bingo, Wreath Making, Gingerbread House Competition, Paint N Sip, and Christmas Trivia always draw a large crowd and some really fun prizes. Saturday, December 6th we’ll be hosting a Kid’s Workshop with a Hot Cocoa station and Paint N Sip activity! Tickets are released to the public Friday, November 14th. Don’t miss out because they sell out fast!
For those planning a visit, what’s the best way to make the most of the experience? Any “insider tips” from you and your team?
Make sure to come early and get your name on the wait list. Last year we experienced wait times of 2-3 hours almost every night, but we’re upgrading to waitlist.me this year to organize the herd of people. We open at 4 PM on the weekdays and 2 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. You can always come in early or check in at the host stand and experience all that Olde Town Arvada has to offer while you wait.
What’s your favorite cocktail or menu item from NOEL and why should guests try it?
We’re very excited to unveil some new cocktails for Noel this year curated by our Beverage Director, Elise Chadwick! The Nutcracker Old Fashioned is a biscotti old fashioned and one of our favorites to be released. Resting Grinch Face and the award-winning Blitzen’s Nog are some of our favorite staples to the NOEL cocktail menu!
What does hosting NOEL mean to you personally and to The Bluegrass team?
NOEL is the most joyous time of the year at The Bluegrass and to see everyone's smiling faces and reactions to all of our hard work means so much. Myself, the entire staff, and our volunteers dedicate many long hours and days to making NOEL, the best Christmas Pop-Up Bar! Hearing stories about how it made their holiday season, is a big part why we put so much effort into NOEL. Making some extra money before the slow seasons is also a big plus in making sure our staff is taken care of.
The pop-up only comes once a year. What would you say to someone who’s thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll catch it next year?’
7 Years ago, we went to many of the popular corporate Christmas Pop-Up Bars and spent hours waiting to get inside, only to find some underwhelming cocktails and sparse decorations. We vowed right then and there, NOEL would have the best decorations, fun & tasty drinks, and something to bring the entire community together! We have a good feeling if you come to experience NOEL, it’ll be one of the highlights of your holiday season!
NOEL is the most joyous time of the year at The Bluegrass and to see everyone's smiling faces and reactions to all of our hard work means so much.
We vowed right then and there, NOEL would have the best decorations, fun & tasty drinks, and something to bring the entire community together! We have a good feeling if you come to experience NOEL, it’ll be one of the highlights of your holiday season!