Immersive Cocktail experience brings the North Pole to Sin City’s Coolest Lounge…
“If the holidays are already feeling less like The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and more like open season on Big Capital, here’s a way to reclaim some Christmas cheer: drinking it.”
Update December 22, 2020 – Due to overwhelming response, The Sand Dollar Lounge owners Anthony Jamison, Benito Martinez, and Nathan Grates have announced the extension of Miracle on Spring Mountain into 2021. Las Vegas’ most popular holiday pop-up bar will now continue in festive mode through January 10, 2021. Since Nov. 23, the live music, craft cocktail and pizza bar has been transformed into the exclusive Las Vegas location of the renowned Miracle Bar Popup, a unique Winter Wonderland pop-up bar for the holiday season, while following and exceeding all safety protocols mandated by the state of Nevada.
As part of the extension, the following additional chef Pizza Pop-up nights have been added and all proceeds will continue to benefit the Las Vegas Rescue Mission:
Sun. Dec. 27th – Mike Vakneen & Ben Jenkins (Pop Up Pizza/Oscar’s Steakhouse)
Sun. Jan. 3rd – Nick Dugan (Michael Mina)
Sun. Jan. 10th – Adam Sobel (MINA Group)
With all that’s happened in the past eleven months, 2020 will undoubtedly go down as the worst year of our lives. Even the upcoming holiday season has been affected by renewed restrictions, canceled events and scuttled holiday shows. One bright spot has been A VEGAS ROOM CHRISTMAS, which plans to continue under stricter government guidelines. But what we REALLY need is a miracle. Fortunately, a special event has returned to bring peace, joy, and festive holiday cocktails to our struggling city – MIRACLE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN.
Last year I was unable to attend MIRACLE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN due to an impending loss in my household. Those bad memories might be a little less painful now had I ventured out to Sand Dollar Lounge and its magnificent holiday festivities.
If you’re familiar with Sand Dollar Lounge, you know that it’s a truly awesome hangout. It boasts a great staff, awesome cocktails, amazing pizzas and cool live music (when permitted by you-know-what). Nestled to the west side of an inconspicuous plaza on Spring Mountain Road (and not far from the world-famous Golden Tiki Lounge), Sand Dollar has been a legendary favorite since 1976.
Owners Anthony Jamison, Benito Martinez, and Nathan Grates successfully restored the closed-down establishment in 2009. Not content to rest on their laurels, they’ve taken on the massive task of transforming the historic fun spot into seasonal pop-up experiences. Right after this year’s spooky NIGHTMARE ON SPRING MOUNTAIN, the team flipped the switch to create a spectacular Christmas wonderland.
This year marks the second time that Sand Dollar Lounge has been part of the Miracle Cocktail Pop-up Bar network. The concept began six years ago in NYC’s East Side and has swept through the United States, Canada and countries like Panama, England and Switzerland. Sand Dollar proudly hosts the only “Miracle” pop-up in Nevada.
I’m told that “Miracle 2020” is bigger, bolder, more colorful and lots more elaborate than last year’s inaugural effort. I was on hand a few days prior to the the ribbon-cutting in order to sample the season’s specialty cocktails. Witnessing the transformation in such a short time was nothing less than staggering.
Beginning Friday 11/27, “Miracle” will open from 2 pm to 4 am. Decor was designed and installed by Bright Light Holiday Co., a local service owned by my buddy Garrett Pattiani. He and partners Kerry and Daniel Dennis primarily do outdoor decorating projects, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to put their unique stamp on this project. Says Garrett:
“Owner Anthony Jamison and I grew up in Tonopah, Nevada. When he heard that we did holiday decor, he asked us to collaborate with him. Kerry spends months planning the interior, searching for unique items and decorations to fit the “Miracle” brand. “
There are tens of thousands of lights, along with dozens of trees, elves, candy canes, stockings, snowmen and Saint Nicks. Highlights include a “Santa’s Twerk Shop” donation booth (proceeds benefiting the Las Vegas Rescue Mission), a North Pole stage backdrop, and a Hanukkah corner.
The year-round drink list will be temporarily switched over to an extensive holiday-themed Miracle Bar menu. Everything from the Snowball Old Fashioned to Jingle Balls Nog are served in special mugs and glassware that are available to buy for gifts or your own party ware. To add to the fun, there will be special themed nights and pizza events. Patrons are encouraged to dress in the spirit of the theme nights, with special attractions planned.
Ambient musical performances by solo and small combo artists will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights. During food events, prominent local chefs will create unique pizzas, with net proceeds going to Las Vegas Rescue Mission. The event schedule is as follows:
Sun Nov. 29th Justin Kingsley Hall Pizza Pop-Up
Mon Dec. 1 Ugly Sweater Party feat. Paradise City Creamery Pop-Up
Wed Dec. 2nd Johnny Church Pizza Pop-Up
Sun Dec. 6th Josh Smith Pizza Pop-Up
Mon Dec. 7th The Grinch Day
Wed Dec. 9th James Trees Pizza Pop-Up
Thurs Dec. 10 First Night of Hanukkah Vodka-Latke Party (free latkes while they last)
Sun Dec. 13th -Brian Howard Pizza Pop-Up
Mon Dec. 14th Candy Cane Day
Wed Dec. 16th Petrina Peart Pizza Pop-Up
Sun Dec.20th Chris Decker Pizza Pop-Up
Mon Dec. 21st Naughty or Nice night feat. Paradise City Creamery pop-up
Wed Dec. 23rd Justin Ford Pizza Pop-Up
During Miracle on Spring Mountain, Sand Dollar Lounge management will follow all existing and newly mandated Covid-safe protocols, including 25% capacity, required reservations via their website (limited to parties of 4 seated together), sanitizing between all guest visits, masks required at all times (unless physically eating) and more. Sand Dollar Lounge is non-smoking.
Sand Dollar Lounge is open daily from 2pm to 4am. It’s located at 3355 Spring Mountain Rd Ste. 30, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Call (702) 485-5401 or visit their website for reservations or more information.
Photos: Sam Novak, Jose Salinas & Eric C. Gladstone/Feast of Friends
VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak 