Friends gathering at Dasher’s Dive Bar at the Power Plex
By Suzanne Corbett, STLSportsPage.com Food / Travel Editor
Pop In and Toast Santa at Holiday Pop Up Bars
It’s time to toast Santa. Santa is coming to town, soon. That said, St. Louis has what it takes to fill your glass, stein or mug. Just pop in and order up a festive libation at one of this year’s holiday pop-up bars. Each promising to bring a little extra merriment to the season along with a cup ‘o cheer.
Up On the Rooftop
Three Sixty at the top of the St. Louis Hilton at the Ballpark is debuting its holiday happening, “Up On The Rooftop.” The pop-up cocktail experience is open now and will continue through December 30.
The pop-up includes a 360 snow globe creation 400 feet over the St. Louis skyline with great views of the glowing Gateway Arch and downtown lights, overlooking Busch Stadium. Guests can celebrate inside Three Sixty or outside on the patios with warm fire pits, and of course, creative cocktails designed to keep you warm. Top picks on this year’s menu include Hot For Santa (hot chocolate, peppermint, vanilla vodka, marshmallow), Baby It’s Cold Out Cider (Buffalo Trace, allspice, sweet vermouth, cider and ginger ale), and No Partridge in My Pear Tree (Hendricks, pear liqueur, lemon and cinnamon).
Dasher’s Dive Bar at The Power Plex
Don’t let the night end after driving through Dasher’s Light Show at the PowerPlex. For that matter, you don’t have to drive the lights to enjoy Dasher’s Dive Bar, located on the PowerPLex campus. through the begin your holiday night out by popping in for a cup’ o cheer now until January 2 on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m., located into the PowerPlex.
Counted among Santa’s favorite sips, the Merry Manhattan, Naughty Nog, The Grinch, a mix of peach schnapps, rum. Blue curacao, orange juice, pineapple, maraschino cherry, garnished with a candy cane. And for those who prefer along with designated drivers there are mocktails such as the Sober Santa and the Virgin Moscow Mule garnished with rosemary and cranberries. Order a couple of shareable snacks, as Dasher’s Dive Dip (spinach artichoke dip served with crispy Parmesan cheese and basil pita crackers) and visit the Hall of Reindeer Games for your own game of pickleball, corn hole, darts, ping pong, or pinball.
Frosted at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park
The Piper Palm House has frozen over once again, so to speak, to bring back its popular Frosted pop-up bar for one week only December 16-23. A great holiday event, which as portion of the proceeds benefits Tower Grove Park.
Operated by STL Barkeep, who created a holiday-inspired cocktail menu with drinks as Eat, Drink and Be Rosemary, It’s Mint to Be and Mull it Over. All served in spite of its name, you don’t have to freeze to imbibe. Drinks are served inside the Piper Palm House was well as the outdoor adjoining plaza, which will feature a heated tent. Frosted will also provide live music and food trucks to make the experience merry. Entry to Frosted is free and seating is first come, first served. The experience is for those 21 and up, except for a special family-friend event on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19, when Frosted opens early at 11 a.m. for an experience for the whole family.
Jingle at World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End
Santa is checking his list and checkmating it twice at the World Chess Hall of Fame’s pop-up, Jingle. The World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End has transformed its third-floor gallery into a kitschy, winter wonderland complete with floor-to-ceiling decorations that features an illuminated, multicolor-changing bar.
Jingle features “nice” and “naughty” hours. Nice hours are for the whole family. Reservations cost $5 per person, which includes hot chocolate, cookies, treats and hands-on activities and projects. Jingle transforms into a 21-and-up cocktail lounge with chess-inspired drinks and small bites from Kingside Diner. Those reservations cost $10 per person, which includes a complimentary drink ticket (more drinks are available to buy), soft drinks and light appetizers.
Jingle is reservation-only, with each time slot lasting one hour. Jingle runs through Jan. 2.
