Tickets still available for the ‘Best Downtown Martini’ competition
With the success of the last Best Downtown Martini Competition, the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency is excited to announce it will again host the wildly popular event.
“Last year we sold out of all the tickets,” said Helen Ramey, marketing manager for the CRA. “It (the event) is a good way for people who are not familiar with the downtown area to capture the essence of our downtown dining district.”
The event will feature 11 downtown area restaurants which will compete in three categories to mix the best martinis.
Patrons of the competition will be given passports and ballots with their wristbands for the event and can take notes and then cast their ballots on the best martini at the end of the evening.
The categories in which the drinks will be judged are the classic martini, the exotic martini and the dessert martini. The winners will be presented with a $500 cash prize.
“These are exquisite,” said Ramey. “This is definitely not your grandmother’s martini, shaken or stirred with an olive.”
Winners of last year’s competition included: Cruiser Lounge for best classic, Leapin Lizard for best exotic and Ralph’s Place for best dessert.
“All of the restaurants involved with the event are wonderful and if people are not familiar with all of the wonderful dining we have here, they should really come down for the event. It is going to be great,” said Ramey.
Appetizers will also be served up to guests at each of the participating location and will include such mouth-watering choices as, smoked fish dip, blackened mahi with mango salsa, sushi and pot stickers, mint and lime melon salad, Caribbean chicken, golbaki, cocktail meatballs, chicken saute, Cajun gumbo and pinwheels and canapes.
The 11 restaurants which attendees of the event will ride to via trolley service throughout the evening are 850 Restaurant, Martinis Bar Hunt, Pearl Lounge, The Deck, Cruiser’s Lounge, Monkey Bar, Ralph’s Place, Twisted Conch, Leapin’ Lizards, Paradise Tiki Hut and Scorz Sports Bar.
“We are going to have five trollies running continuously throughout the evening so if people want to stay and linger at a particular place and then hop the next one then that won’t be a problem. They can hop the next one,” said Ramey.
Ramey said the CRA is making safety a priority again this year and has several options available for people who didn’t bring a designated driver. America Executive Limousine Service will offer rides to groups of two or more within the city limits for $10 and The Cape Paradise Resort will offer discounted rooms for $69.95.
For attendees who did remember to bring along designated driver, special wristbands for a discounted price of $10 will allow the driver to ride the trolley and enjoy the appetizers.
Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased at the following locations: True Value Hardware, June’s Hallmark, Wild Country Furniture, John Michael’s Fine Jewelry, Ralph’s Place, Cape Dog Bakery (All located in Big John Plaza at 1305 Cape Coral Parkway) Leapin Lizard, Red Barn, Twisted Conch, Cruiser’s Liquor Mart, Monkey Bar, Ron’s Barbershop and Su Casa.
“For those out-of-area people looking come, they can call the CRA and we will have will call tickets available,” said Ramey.
Check-in booths will be located in Club Square, near Scorz Sports Bar and Big John Plaza near John Michaels Jewelry and open at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available at Club Square or Big John Plaza.
“This will be a great night of fun in the downtown area,” said Ramey. “And a wonderful night to be with friends.”
For more information contact the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency at 549-5615.