Between ice castles and igloos, Wisconsin is working harder than ever to embrace the outdoors this winter and the BelAir Cantina at The Corners of Brookfield is stepping up, too, by creating a new ice bar that is expected to be ready to welcome the public at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22.
The 19-foot ice bar – built from 10,000 pounds of frozen water – will include special ice sculpted photo frames for photo opps for you and your furry friends, as well as a menu of specialty cocktails and “mystery shots” served in shot glasses made of solid ice. A few noshing options is also on tap, including warming tortilla soup and nachos.
Among the four special cocktail concoctions are the Polar Plunge, with pinot grigio, simple syrup, lemon-lime soda and triple sec; and the Northern Lights, with Malibu, melon liquor, pineapple juice and smoking dry ice.
In addition to the gelid bar – that will be topped with a giant carved ice bull (the restaurant’s logo) – there will be cozy heated outdoor seating nooks, too.
A 6x7-foot etched acrylic wall adorned with colored LED lights will provide illumination.
“There could not be a better year for us to help bring an ice bar to The Corners,” says BelAir Director of Operations Matt Roman Lopez.
“This is the perfect outdoor, fun activity for the community to experience good food, drink and times while embracing the cold with us.”
How long the ice bar will last is a decision that will be made by the forces of nature, but the guess is that it will endure at least a few weeks.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with BelAir Cantina on The Corners’ first-ever ice bar. This is yet another way for our community to feel comfortable gathering with family and friends, while having fun and enjoying the outdoors,” said Chelsea Roessler, director of marketing and events at The Corners of Brookfield.
“We’re inviting everyone to bundle up and come chill out with us.”
Find hours of operation, drinks details and more here.
Social distancing is encouraged, food and beverages will be served in to-go containers, and hand sanitizing stations will be available.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
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