On the rocks: Ice Bar 2013

PORTLAND HARBOR HOTEL ICE BAR

5-9 pm Jan 24-26 (Saturday sold out) | $20; $5 for valet parking | Portland Harbor Hotel, Portland

20,000 pounds of ice. You could make a lot of cocktails with that amount of frozen water. But the 20,000 pounds we’re talking about has been carefully hand carved on the patio of Portland Harbor Hotel. It’s Ice Bar 2013.

Think bars made of ice, martini luges, and beers cupped in mittened hands. Plus grub from Buck’s Naked BBQ, Spread, Zapoteca, Go Berry, Cabot Cheese and Eve’s at the Garden. And if things get too chilly outside – and you’re not in the mood to fight a stranger for space closer to the outdoor heater – head inside to drink near the fireplace.

And to help you make the most of your Ice Bar experience, the good people of Portland Harbor Hotel have put together this list of

Ice Bar Dos and Don’ts:

DO dress for the weather … hats, gloves, warm shoes.
DO remember that the Ice Bars get busy, which is a big part of the fun.
DO come prepared to have fun. The hours for each Ice Bar are 5PM to 9PM.

DON’T forget to buy drink tickets in the Hotel lobby. Bartenders only accept drink tickets at the Ice Bars. We accept credit cards at the inside bars only.
DON’T forget to include #icebar13 and @portlandharbor in your Tweets
DON’T forget to tag http://www.facebook.com/portlandharborhotel in your Facebook posts

And if we may be so bold, we’d like to tack on a few more:
DO marvel at the ice carvings
DON’T tried to ride them, even if one looks kinda like a horse.

DO feel good about the fact that Ice Bar proceeds benefit Community Counseling Services, the Root Cellar, and Share our Strength of Southern Maine.
DON’T negate that dogooderness by getting stupid drunk.

DO embrace winter
DON’T embrace the bartenders. You know, unless they initiate.

FMI or to buy tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com

More Ice Bar details from the Press Herald: Ice bars: Hot new way to banish winter blahs

And if you miss this Ice Bar, there’s more to be had:

FROST ICE BAR AND LOUNGE
WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Jan. 25; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Jan. 26
WHERE: Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton St., Rockport
HOW MUCH: Free
INFO: 594-2511

SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE ICE BAR AND SNOW BALL
WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 2
WHERE: Saint Joseph’s College, 278 White Bridge Road, Standish
HOW MUCH: $20
INFO: (877) 752-2586; therock.sjcme.edu/event/icebar2013

FLAVORS OF FREEPORT ICE BAR
WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15
WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park St., Freeport
HOW MUCH: $15
INFO: flavorsoffreeport.eventbrite.com

INN AT BRUNSWICK STATION ICE BAR
WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Feb. 21-23
WHERE: Inn at Brunswick Station, 4 Noble St.
HOW MUCH: $10 in advance; $12 at door
INFO: brownpapertickets.com

• Portland Harbor Hotel 468 Fore St. Portland, ME 04101 www.portlandharborhotel.com 207 Get Directions