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’Tis the season — for a cup of good cheer.

Known for creating unique dining experiences at Roanoke-based Lucky, Fortunato and Stellina, restaurateurs J.P. Powell and Hunter Johnson, with interior designer Nicole Foley, have been busy decking Stellina’s Kirk Avenue halls.

At 5 p.m. today, Stellina will throw open its festive doors and welcome guests as pop-up cocktail bar Miracle at Stellina. The venture is part of an international chain of Christmas-themed cocktail pop-up bars that open for a short period of time between late November and January each year, first established by Miracle founder Greg Boehm in New York City in 2014.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be kicking off the 2023 season, almost a decade to when we first started,” Boehm said.

Miracle at Stellina is the first Virginia location to open west of Richmond.

Miracle cocktail pop-up bars feature festive drinks served up in special collectible drinkware designs, over-the-top, retro decor, and an evening of rockin’ good cheer.

Miracle at Stellina will feature 14 festive cocktails and two specialty shots with names like Yippee Ki Yay Mother F****r!, The Krampus, and Marshmallows & Unicorns. If you’re looking for something more traditional, try a Snowball Old Fashioned or a nice glass of Mulled Wine.

Many of the drinks come in collective drinkware that can be purchased. These mug collections have become synonymous with the joy and magic of the season, and this year's collection is no exception. Folks who appreciate a retro mug or special holiday glass won’t be able to resist the Naughty & Nice Shot Glasses or the vintage-style Santa’s Rocks Glasses.

At the end of the 2023 season, Miracle will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from retail sales of select mugs to the Seva Foundation, which empowers communities around the world to develop self-sustaining programs to preserve and restore sight.

As for the decor, Powell said that guests can expect to see a lot of Christmas decor, but they will see other holidays included in the decorations as well.

“We try and include others… there's a little bit of Hanukkah in there and Kwanzaa and Ramadan and we try and like have a little bit… try and reflect some other things so it's not just Christmas, but I would say it's predominantly Christmas,” Powell said.

Miracle at Stellina is one of 200 locations chosen to participate in this year’s holiday cocktail pop-up destination tour.

Miracle at Stellina will be one of five such pop-up cocktail bars in Virginia this season. Other locations are in Ashburn, Reston, and Richmond. Three of those bars will be Miracle bars; two others will be Sippin Santa themed bars, which is the tropical-themed counterpart to the Miracle theme.

“We've always prided ourselves on trying to lead the way in Roanoke for doing new things and trying new things,” Powell said.

Miracle at Stellina (104 Kirk Ave. SW, Roanoke) runs through Dec. 31 and is open 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. No reservations are taken.

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