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2024-11-02 19:20:02
Halloween is over, which means one thing: It’s officially Mariah Carey season. This year, the Queen of Christmas and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” hitmaker is teaming up with Virgin Hotels for a one-of-a-kind holiday pop-up bar, and it’s coming to New Orleans.
From Friday, November 15 through Sunday, December 29, Virgin Hotels New Orleans — as well as Virgin Hotels in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, and New York City — will transform into a Carey-themed winter wonderland courtesy of national pop-up events company Bucket Listers. The pop-up will promote Carey’s three-year-old Irish cream brand Black Irish, a line of flavored liqueurs “inspired by the heritage of the global singer-songwriter.”
The pop-up bar will serve over-the-top Black Irish liqueur-based drinks, like an espresso martini served with a candy cane rim; a white chocolate martini topped with cotton candy and glitter; a bourbon martini with a chocolate-covered pretzel rim; and cocoa coffee topped with glitter sprinkles and edible butterflies. There will also be plenty of Carey-themed displays, decor, and photo ops, like a life-sized gift box with an “All I Want For Christmas Is You” neon sign; a “Letters to Mariah” station; a lyric wall; and an oversized Christmas tree. Patrons will also be able to sit on a life-sized Christmas wreath to recreate Carey’s Magical Christmas Special album cover, sure to be an Instagram hit.
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It’s the first time Bucket Listers has put on an event in New Orleans, but the company is known for its touring pop culture-themed pop-ups, like a Saved By The Bell pop-up that started in Chicago, a Barbie pop-up with Mattel that made stops around the country, and a Buffy The Vampire Slayer pop-up. It’s no surprise the Carey-themed pop-ups are taking place at Virgin Hotels across the country — since it opened in New Orleans in 2021, Virgin Hotels has held countless themed events, holiday pop-ups, and parties.
Tickets for the New Orleans pop-up are on sale now, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 and 8:30 p.m. daily. They range from $20 to $30 depending on the day of the week and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.