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The Blue Martini Lounge Goes Pink

September 26, 2012

By: Alissa Ponchione

Going into its third year, the Blue Martini Lounge’s Pink Party and month-long Breast Cancer Awareness promotion, continues to draw attention to a good cause.

Beginning October 1, the 12 Blue Martini locations will be featuring its Pink Passion cocktail, which is not only delicious but will donate $1 from each drink to a breast cancer charity partner.  The promotion culminates in the ultimate celebration on October 20—the Pink Party—a party celebrating women, where all donations go to charity.

Christine Francis, corporate events manager for the Blue Martini explains that after the event is in the books the next step is to “find a local charity partner, someone who supports breast cancer awareness and who is active in the community.”Francis said that the Pink Party continues to grow each year due to the fact that the community is highly involved in the promotion. Initially, “we just wanted to do something for the community and something for charity.” At first it was subtle, but the second year everyone that participated upped the ante, wearing “crazy pink tutus and pink wigs. The participants and guests make it over-the-top pink.”

It’s not just the community participating in the event but also the staff, who change their uniforms from blue to pink. The male workers wear pink ties instead of blue and the female workers wear pink corsets. Everything becomes pink for the promotion.

Liquor sponsors and donations from local businesses support the Pink Party as well. Chambord Vodka, an ingredient in the Pink Passion cocktail, is sponsoring most of the Blue Martini parties this year. Facebook and word-of-mouth advertising alerts people to the upcoming promotion, but the best marketing “has been the past two years,” says Francis. “People really love what we do and what we put on … it caught on like wildfire.”

“For this party, we spoil the women,” Francis says. “They get a free cocktail when they come in, and there are all kinds of giveaways” including a chance to win a girls trip. Francis said the different Blue Martini Lounges are partnering with other locations for the weekend getaway. For example, the Ft. Lauderdale, FL., Blue Martini is sending the winners to Orlando, where another Blue Martini is located for the party.

To make this happen, Francis says that “the community has been so helpful.” And hotels are helping with the weekend getaway promotion, which keeps the cost of the promotion down. “We reach out to local businesses to see if they want to be a part of it” although there is an internal cost the Blue Martini team has to take on. “There’s not a (monetary) goal that we set,” she adds, though the goal is get people buying and imbibing the Pink Passion cocktail all the while helping a good cause.

Blue Martini CARNAVAL Labor Day Weekend Party on Deco Drive

Cheers! Blue Martini at the Shops at Legacy Blue Martini is Now Open for Dining, Dancing and Fun

By Angela Patterson, About.com Guide

If you’re looking for a cool new place to hang out, then you’ll want to go to Blue Martini. It’s located in the Shops at Legacy and it’s the hottest one-stop destination for dining, drinking and dancing. It would have to be a super cool place with neighbors like The Capital Grille and Seasons 52. With daily happy hours and live music, it’s already a hot spot. It’s a lounge so guests must be 21 years old to enter.

Sip a Blue Martini at 7301 Lone Star Drive, Plano, TX 75024.
972-727-2583

Hours: Open 7 days a week. Monday – Friday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday Noon to 2 a.m. Happy hour is from 4-7 p.m.
daily.

Go Casual on the Patio or Cool in the Club
As you walk in to the patio bar area, you’ll notice that the windows are open and it’s 104 degrees outside. But you’re not hot. That’s because even the casual patio area is air conditioned. Managing Partner Scott Mauro says it’s going to cost a little to cool the patio in this Texas heat, but Blue Martini’s motto is “Everything we do is designed especially for you!” I’m not a fan of the extreme heat this time of year so I loved the air conditioned patio. I didn’t mind sitting by the open-air window at all. And they do roll out the blue carpet for their guests.

Once inside, it’s a very upscale, sleek, sexy club with a hip Miami feel to it. With great music, trendy lighting and beautiful people hanging out, the only thing missing may be Don Johnson in a pastel linen suit (sleeves pushed up of course).

The seating is extraordinarily comfortable. Tables near the bar/stage are more like high-rise sofas surrounded by a tall table. The seating is cozy and there’s always room for one more.

Across from the bar you can hip hop on the elevated dance pod. My immediate thought was “How dangerous is that?” but Mauro quickly said that there are fewer incidences of falling than you would think. Good to know. Warning: there’s a 2-person maximum on the pod.

Did I mention sexy people? From the Blue Girls behind the bar and serving drinks to the security guys walking around with ear pieces, it’s all-out eye candy.

VIP
You don’t have to be a rock star to hang out in the VIP section either. Blue Martini can accommodate anything from intimate parties to larger corporate or social events. But if you are a rock star or pro athlete, you’ll enjoy the seclusion of the VIP area. It’s in the back where you have a perfect view of everything.

The Drinks
I love martinis. They’re served in a sexy glass. They come shaken or stirred — adorned with a lemon twist or an olive. And with more than 45 specialty martinis on the menu at Blue, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a favorite soon. I know you’ll have fun trying to find a fave.

If you haven’t tried the Blue Martini, you absolutely must. It’s an exotic drink made from Van Gogh Blue Vodka, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, sour mix and orange juice. The bluish-greenish cocktail isn’t served in a traditional martini glass — but an oversized snifter over ice with a glow stick and adorned with an orchid. I had to try the signature drink. It was a little bit sweet, a little bit sour and very refreshing. I also ordered one on my second visit.

If you prefer drinks that are less sweet and more old-school, try the Down and Dirty (Grey Goose, olive juice, 3 olives) or the Masterpiece Bleu (Stoli Elit Vodka with 3 Bleu Cheese-stuffed olives). Mmm, olives.

Regardless of what you prefer, Blue will show you that martinis are more than just gin and vermouth.

Happy Hour
Happy Hour is from 4-7 p.m. daily and you can expect special prices on both food and beverages. Wednesday is free cover for ladies.

The Food
The food is fantastic and many items are offered at happy our prices between 4-7 p.m. daily. The Shrimp and Crab Dip is amazingly flavorful and a sure hit (Gulf shrimp, blue crab in a creamy cheese sauce served with seasoned toast points) $11 (regular price) /$6 (happy hour price). One of the most colorful items on the lighter fare menu was the Fruit and Cheese Plate. My friends and I feasted on the seasonal fruit, mouthwatering cheeses and tasty flatbreads. $16/$10.

Of course you’ll find a Shrimp Martini on the lighter fare menu. You can also nosh on freshly made Roasted Red Pepper Hummus or a variety of flatbreads.

The Seared Tuna is as delicious as it is beautiful, and the accompanying Mandarin Sesame and Wasabi Sauces are the perfect spicy complement. I absolutely loved Lollipop Lamb Chops: Balsamic Marinated New Zealand Lamb served with Parmesan Truffled Fingerling Potatoes and Mint Pesto. That dish made a lamb lover out of this Texas Rancher’s daughter.

Leo Lopiccolo is the Director of Kitchen Operations, and he was in town for the club’s opening. Recipes for some of Chef Leo’s signature dishes – like the Eggplant Caprese Salad — are from his grandmother’s own kitchen. Seasoned roasted eggplant, fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, EVOO, fresh basil and mixed olives. $12/6. I haven’t tried this dish just yet but it’s on my must-sample list for my next visit. (Trust me, that will be soon).

You’ll also find beef tenderloin and portabella, burgers, sandwiches and salads on the menu.

Live Music
You can enjoy live music Wednesdays through Sundays each week at the Plano location.

Dress Code and Cover Charges
Fashionable attire is recommended by Blue Martini, which means no shorts, sneakers, baseball caps or flip flops. A shirt with a collar is recommended for men. Jeans are Ok.

Cover: Charged after 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. $5 ladies/$10 men.

Overview
I’ve never been to a Blue Martini before so I excited to see a new upscale lounge in the suburbs. It offered everything that I was looking for during a recent reunion with my college friends: fantastic food, great drinks, rockin’ music and cool, fun people. It was a great people-watching place.

•I thought the service was outstanding. My table was constantly asked how everything was and if
we needed anything. The staff was quick to pick up empty plates or glasses.

• The food was phenomenal. There are other night spots nearby where I would never even consider
ordering their food. Blue Martini’s food was outstanding and I will be returning to sample more
items on the menu.

• It’s the perfect place for Girl’s Night Out, happy hour with the guys, or just to hang out when you
feel like a little live music and dancing.

• The martinis tasted great, the presentation was spot-on (neon glow sticks, orchids) and they had
fun names: Skinny B*tch, OO7, and Sex in Rio.

• Blue Martini has everything you’ll need for the perfect evening: great atmosphere, beautiful people and the cool vibe. Make this your one-stop destination for the evening.

• If it weren’t for the sweltering heat, you’d never know you were walking out of a lounge in Plano,
Texas. I give it 5 stars for coolness.

• The good news is more Blue Martini locations are planned for Texas.

Little Black Dress Party 2012

Blue Martini is currently seeking sponsors for our famous store-wide Annual Little Black Dress Party on July 21st 2012. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to showcase your brand in front of thousands of women across the nation! Click here to view our sponsor information packet.

For additional information on becoming a sponsor for the Little Black Dress Party, contact Christine Francis Cfrancis@BlueMartiniLounge.com

Eye on South Florida

Little Black Dress Party 2012

Blue Martini is currently seeking sponsors for our famous store-wide Annual Little Black Dress Party on July 21st 2012. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to showcase your brand in front of thousands of women across the nation! Click here to view our sponsor information packet.

For additional information on becoming a sponsor for the Little Black Dress Party, contact Christine Francis Cfrancis@BlueMartiniLounge.com

Bellevue Komo

Those who relish a “Miami Vice” kind of ambiance and 10-ounce martinis (with up to 6-ounces of alcohol) with names such as “Sex in the City” and “Down & Dirty” will welcome tomorrow’s 4:00 p.m. grand opening of the Blue Martini at the Bravern. It is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., weekends from noon until 2 a.m.

Boasting the exact same décor as its 11 sister, martini emporiums in cool, warm places such as West Palm Beach, Vegas and Fort Lauderdale, the 7,800 square foot lounge on the Bravern’s third floor includes three bars, a dance floor, a stage and two VIP rooms. Unlike the group’s more tropical locations, which boast outdoor patios, the Northwest’s first Blue Martini will feature a “mock patio” with two windows that open and some big potted plants.

Busy gearing up for the big preview tonight, Events Manager Laura Pacelli showed us around and explained the drinking ethos at Blue Martini, “Everyone gets their own shaker tin so they can pour their drink at their own discretion.”

When asked, “Why Bellevue?” Pacelli noted, “It’s a beautiful area and it’s booming and the owners feel it was needed.”

The Florida-based lounge offers a menu of more than 40 specialty martinis, live entertainment and special events such as “Ladies’ Night” every Wednesday evening when women enjoy half-price drinks.”We are thrilled to death to have a neighbor that will dovetail with our clientel,” said David Blackham, co-owner of David Lawrence, located on the third floor of the Bravern. “I don’t drink but I still love a good party!”

Pink Party 2011