The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Celebrates Its 6th Anniversary with Spectacular Venues in Downtown Manhattan: Opening Night Gala at Cipriani Wall Street and Industry Invitational at the Newly Opened Pier A Harbor House, May 16-19, 2015
New Team Takes the Reins of the Four-Day Festival to Amplify Its Offerings and Engage the Wider Hospitality Sector and Beyond
NEW YORK, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Manhattan Cocktail Classic (MCC), New York's legendary multi-day celebration of cocktails and culture, today announces its move downtown with new festival venues as it prepares to celebrate its sixth anniversary. The much-anticipated opening night Gala will be held at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street on Saturday, May 16, 2015 and the trade-oriented, Industry Invitational will take place Monday, May 18 in the newly opened Pier A Harbor House overlooking New York Harbor in Battery Park. Tickets will go on sale soon at www.manhattancocktailclassic.com.
The MCC also announces its evolution into a full scale production company with plans to host a variety of cocktail events in New York and around the country, and is led by Michael Blatter, a veteran event producer and one of the foremost and respected authorities on consumer marketing. He has produced thousands of events and brings decades of spirits and hospitality industry experience. Blatter is backed by a team of seasoned cocktail veterans, spirits industry experts and event professionals who are committed to building on the festival's integrity and enriching the experience for both consumers, as well as partners within and beyond the wider hospitality sector.
"It is exhilarating and humbling to take the reins of the city's most anticipated drinks festival and relocating downtown, where New York's history and future are coming together," says Blatter. "We salute the festival's founder, Lesley Duval, for her years of creativity and hard work that created this inimitable brand and we're committed to making this and future editions the best ones ever. With the cocktail renaissance now well ingrained in popular culture, we envision expanding the festival to other U.S. cities and, ultimately, key cities abroad."
"It is very exciting and inspiring to see this infusion of new blood and new ideas into the MCC," says Dale DeGroff, "King Cocktail," the legendary mixologist and MCC advisory board member. "I'm confident to say that the team brings the talent, expertise and passion to take the festival to new heights."
New Venue for the Opening Night Gala: Cipriani Wall Street
On Saturday, May 16, 2015, the much anticipated opening night Gala will take place at Cipriani Wall Street, located at 55 Wall St. The stunning Greek Revival masterpiece with its facade embellished by 12 towering ionic granite pillars will be transformed into New York's most glamorous and exciting cocktail party for thousands of revelers. Built between 1836 and 1842, it originally housed the Merchants Exchange, the U.S. Customs House and National City Bank. Its Grand Ballroom is opulently designed and crowned by a vast dome. The building's terraces overlooking Wall Street, its bi-level restaurant and library will also be devoted to the Gala. And for the first time ever, the Cipriani Club, a secret subterranean level complete with a barber shop, billiards room and screening room, will be open to gala attendees as part of the festive evening.
New Venue for the Industry Invitational: Pier A Harbor House
On Monday, May 18, 2015, the Industry Invitational, the high-powered trade conference that runs in parallel with the festival, will take place at the newly-opened Pier A Harbor House, a landmarked 1880s-vintage structure located at the tip of Battery Park that juts 300 feet into New York Harbor and offers sweeping views of the Statue of Liberty and the Financial District. The 28,000-square-foot structure has been carefully restored by HPH, the hospitality group behind The Dead Rabbit, Harry's Cafe and Steak, Bacchanal and other downtown destinations. This year, the Invitational's improved programming, which is geared specifically towards hospitality industry professionals, will consist of advanced TED-style talks, tastings, panels, networking opportunities and more.
High-Spirited Events Over Four Days
The Manhattan Cocktail Classic will once again serve up a plethora of individually ticketed events across the four days of festivities: parties, pairings, dinners, dances, workshops, lectures, tiki-tours and bar crawls. These events take place all across New York City. Most of these events and activities are conceptualized and organized independently by brands, both large and small, as well as craft bartenders and cocktail luminaries. Ticket prices vary by event, but typically range from $25 to $295.
About The Manhattan Cocktail Classic
Part festival, part fete, part conference, part cocktail party, The Manhattan Cocktail Classic (MCC) is an annual celebration of the myriad points of intersection between cocktails and culture. With a plethora of events spread across four days and multiple boroughs, the MCC offers a vast array of unique experiences to enthusiasts and professionals alike, expanding the very definition of what constitutes a "cocktail event." It is produced by Cocktail Classic Productions LLC. The sixth anniversary of the festival will take place on May 16-19, 2015. Tickets will go on sale soon at www.manhattancocktailclassic.com. Follow the MCC on Twitter at @cocktailclassic and "like" us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ManhattanCocktailClassic.
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SOURCE Manhattan Cocktail Classic
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