A frozen hotspot is about to emerge in two weeks, an outdoor night club created literally out of 12,000 pounds of ice. When it opens, the Samoset Resort’s FROST Ice Bar & Lounge will be “the hottest coolest” thing to hit the Midcoast in years.

In the weeks leading up to its unveiling on Friday, Jan. 18, Chef Tim Pierce, of Samoset’s La Bella Vita restaurant and Enoteca Lounge, will work with a crew to construct a large ice bar, a luge, tables, chairs — and even glasses out on the frozen back deck of La Bella Vita that overlooks the Penobscot Bay. 

This is the first season in more than four years that the Samoset Resort has been open year-round. “We thought we’d try to do something big here to bring some excitement into the community,” said Pierce, who will do the majority of ice carving himself. He first learned ice-carving skills as Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he studied, and later, discovered he had a knack for it. With 20 years of ice carving experience under his belt, including instructing the ice carvers for the Camden Winterfest, this will be his biggest project for the Samoset Resort.

Inspired by the original ice bars and lounges in Scandinavia, FROST Ice Bar and Lounge promises to be "a glistening, outdoor frozen fantasy land." A talented team of ice carvers and designers, led by Pierce, has begun the initial preparations and will start carving and assembling the 300-pound blocks of ice using chisels and chainsaws next week. Everything in this outdoor wonderland, with the exception of the comfortable fire pit will be created out of ice, including tables, seats, couches, and stools, some of which will be covered in faux polar bear skins. Along with life-sized ice sculptures, there will also be an ice luge.  Sponsored by Cold River Vodka, Vermont Spirits and Ripe Bar Juice, FROST’s bartenders will be pouring a variety of specialty cocktails as well as sponsored spirits down the luge. “We’re going to be create a special menu for this event outdoors,” said Pierce. Hors d’eouvres will also be passed and with even more surprises for the evening.

A band, aptly named The Icicles, will be playing Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18 and 19, starting at 5:30 p.m.

“It’ll be all lit up outside with some lights even incorporated into the ice bar itself. It’s going to be really posh,” said David Day, Director of Food and Beverage.

FROST will be entirely weather-dependent. Past its opening weekend, the ice bar will be open the following weekend Jan. 26-27 from 5 to 10 p.m. and possibly more weekends, as well. “As long as the weather cooperates, FROST bar could be here for months,” said Pierce.

One last reminder for those attending this completely chill event. FROST Ice Bar and Lounge is outside on a Maine winter night and even the cocktail glasses will be made of ice. So wear your longies and your mittens—so you can still look cool while staying warm!

For more information visit: samosetresort.com/frost-ice-bar-a-lounge.html