There were wacky-looking cocktails, a shrine to Elvis, and a vanilla and spice scent in the air: It was the Christmas in July event at the Inn at Irving Place and its accompanying venues Cibar and Lady Mendl's Tea Salon. Organized by the inn's general manager Shawn Rettstatt, the event was held to show off the venue's quaint event accommodations (the bar and upstairs tea salon can be combined to accommodate 175 guests) to a crowd of more than 100 public relations, marketing and event management types.
Lady Mendl's Victorian Christmas decor featured pretty antique rose bouquets and lots of vanilla candles, giving the room a warm, inviting smell. Downstairs, Cibar hosted a hip party with hors d'oeuvres--with lamb chops, salmon and duck, to name a few ingredients--and fun Christmas-y cocktails, including white chocolate "Candy Cane" martinis and green "Holiday Cheer" cocktails made with strawberry lemonade and Chopin vodka. DJ Shorty's mix of crooner Christmas tunes and the festive, kitschy atmosphere (there was a bust of Elvis surrounded by candles at the bottom of the stairwell) made it fun, feel-good affair.
--Suzanne Ito
Lady Mendl's Victorian Christmas decor featured pretty antique rose bouquets and lots of vanilla candles, giving the room a warm, inviting smell. Downstairs, Cibar hosted a hip party with hors d'oeuvres--with lamb chops, salmon and duck, to name a few ingredients--and fun Christmas-y cocktails, including white chocolate "Candy Cane" martinis and green "Holiday Cheer" cocktails made with strawberry lemonade and Chopin vodka. DJ Shorty's mix of crooner Christmas tunes and the festive, kitschy atmosphere (there was a bust of Elvis surrounded by candles at the bottom of the stairwell) made it fun, feel-good affair.
--Suzanne Ito