Thursday, March 13, 2008

Ice Bar at the Kube Hotel


It's been a while since I wanted to visit Hotel Kube, a very trendy hotel located in a very unusual place of Paris - for high-end hotels anyway; the 18th arrondissement? Last night, thanks to Packard Bell who had a product launch over there, I had the opportunity to go there and test what this hotel is famous for: its ice bar. Funny as hell. Everything is made of ice:the bar itself, the "furniture", the sculptures... even the glasses! Of course you have to wear a warm outfit, gloves, a ski hat... and you cannot really stay more than 20 minutes. And all you can drink is vodka! Check this little video clip that I made with the rest of my photos.
Thank you very much for all your nice congratulations, I cannot reply to every one but it really makes me happy;)

78 comments:

  1. I loooove the pnik in this photo! This post reminds me of another post of you when you showed us some verrines from Michael's b'day party. The other day I had a verrine and all I could think about was PDP!

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  2. Whaa!! A friend told me about this amazing bar!! I told me also that the cocktail was priceless. LOL
    Your picture is JUST wonderful, the colours are so girly... :)

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  3. Oooh c'est tres belle, ca. Les couleurs brillante, rose, bleu et violet. C'est tres jolie, Eric. Comment as-tu le fait comme ca?

    Corrections please.

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  4. I did it! Finally!!!! After losing for weeks I finally won GF!!!!

    Now I can take part in the Hall of Fame of PDP!!

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  5. I have heard of this ice bar what a strange experience.

    We still don't know the millionth visitor?

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  6. Bravo Monica, mais tu me dois cette victoire: j'étais en train de t'acheter. :))
    Elle est vraiment magnifique cette photo. Je sais où je vais aller samedi soir!!

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  7. Guille, you had bought me already! Why were you distracted with that when such an important race was taking place here??!!

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  8. Lynn, "corrections please" LOL!! You're so demanding!!
    Do you really want to know?..

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  9. Night night frozen Paris people. I am asleep. zzzzzzz

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  10. Well, Monica I can finally congradulate you!!!! You now have a golden finger to yur credit.

    This first bar of this sort that I am aware of was in London. Never made it there.

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  11. he he yes i am. I was without any graces i am afraid, i wanted to be so quick! lol yes please, really. I know it's full of them as i was typing like the wind.

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  12. Eric I love the link to the hotel and the video. So very interesting. I believe this is a rather new concept: "rooms & bars"

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  13. Hum hum...I was buying other friends Monica!! congrats, quand même... LOL.

    Lynn, ok. I found it was nice to write in French during the race.
    "c'est tres beau (c'est + masculine), ca. Les couleurs brillanteS, rose, bleu et violet. C'est tres joli (without the "e", masculine again), Eric. Comment as-tu fait ça?"
    Please correct me too!! I feel like a mean teacher now!

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  14. Guille I promise I'll save a lot of money in case you ever need to be rescued from some stranger at FB. Your price is high so I have to start saving asap!

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  15. There is an ice bar here in Minnesota, at the Chambers Hotel... Too damn cold, though!

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  16. I like the photo, too. I'm guessing from the looks of the video that there were colored lights in the bar. But there are no rules about enhancing photos here, as far as I know. Tres jolie. Pardonnez moi parce que je n'ais pas l'accent sur mon (ma?) keyboard.

    I've heard of an ice hotel somewhere in the north. But I would never stay there.

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  17. Monica, nobody wants to buy me!! Except Rose. (Sob. Which is nice of course!)
    Hi Petrea!

    Eric, did you "eat" the glass after having drunk your vodka?! Or did you let it melt in your hand? ;)
    One thing is sure, I won't be able to be barmaid there. Brrr!

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  18. Eric what a cool photo (pun intended)!! Now I want to buy that hot pink dress you featured a few weeks ago, and go to this bar dressed in pink. I guess it's good you can only manage to stay 20 minutes or so because of the cold -- too much vodka can be dangerous!

    Monica congrats! I knew you could do it!

    Katie

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  19. Sound like great fun ... and definitely a unique niche for Hotel Kube!

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  20. An ice bar in Paris? What a surprise. :D Way too funny about the 20 min. visit, needing to dress warm and the extensive menu (vodka, vodka and vodka). Love the photo and the video too (especially the jolly little tune). Thanks Eric!

    Congratulations Monica!

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  21. Hi Guille! Hi everyone. Guille, you're up late. Ma voisine couldn't translate "de donc" either, and she speaks English as fluently as you do.

    When I saw the drinking glasses made of ice I thought one's lips would get stuck on them when drinking. Ouch!

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  22. Another great photo post for you. I love the detailed text and I have listed this location for my next visit to Paris!

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  23. Guille maybe you're too expensive for other people to buy you. It's not that nobody wants to buy you. This conversation about buying people is really strange isn't it?!

    Thanks Katie!

    Phx thank you, I know you were wishing I could win it at some point!

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  24. Just checked your video and it confirmed what London does, the bar gives the patrons parkas to wear in the bar.
    Monica, you wrote something long, too! How dangerous, if you want to win the award. You are one PLAYAH( spoken with a Sopranos New Jersey accent) to beat.

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  25. Wow, I've never heard of an ice bar before. Love the colors, cool in more ways than one,lol

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  26. Hi Eric,

    Just curious, why don't you display a visitor counter on your homepage? We can join in the celebration as you hit 1,000,000!

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  27. Bonjour everyone!

    first Eric I must say Thank thank thank you for this blog. It's so amazing to have stumbled upon your page at this time in my life. I'l be moving to Paris in July (from LA) and I do not speak French YET! However I will and I would also like to link up with folks as I have no friends but am eager to make some.

    Looking forward to conversing with you all!

    Jade

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  28. Oh, yeah, I've heard of one like that in Canada but on a much bigger scale. Pretty cool stuff. They serve Gray Goose, too? Smooth.

    Hello, Jade! Welcome to this blog! Should'nt be too hard to find people to talk to around here ;)

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  29. Ooooohhh, I feel like I'm floating inside of a giant Cosmopolitan!! This sounds like the place for me, sans la glace mais avec le vodka :)

    Ice, Ice, Baby... (where is Michael when we need him???)

    Congrats on the GF Monica!
    Bienvenue Jade!

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  30. Viva a Monica!!!!
    Ate que enfim :) (finally)

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  31. Hey Eric,

    I visited your blog by chance... and am i glad!

    The photos are amazing and I don't think I could see Paris in a better manner sitting in India. Thanks a ton for doing such an incredible job!

    Infact I think even I would start clicking Delhi from tomorrow. :-)

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  32. Hi Eric,

    A nice site with good pics.love to watch more if possible may be some videos.Godd work
    Prakash
    http://24moneytree.blogspot.com

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  33. It looks like the clientele of this bar are relegated to forever remaining strangers because any kind of "ice breakers" must surely be forbidden.

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  34. Guille, not mean at all, ooooh lots of errors and silly ones at that. I'm not surprised. Thanks.

    I'm feeling left out with the Facebook talk and, i never thought i'd say this but, "i think i want to be bought."

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  35. Oh so chic and coooool! I worked with a chef once who did beautiful ice sculptures for events. Does this hotel/bar have a whole posse of trained ice artists creating the furnishings? Seeing the video of everyone wearing those big heavy coats made me feel the chill! Does the hotel have an alternative room for poeple to gather and talk once they've endured their 20 minutes of chill and color!? I think a lot of us are going to want to check this out for ourselves on the next visit (but I'm not fond of vodka. . .sigh).
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  36. There is actually an ice bar in Richmond, VA, too! We're fairly small town but this seems so cosmopolitan! I haven't been yet because I'm not really trendy.

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  37. Hey girls i just had to gloat - i think Eric came to my blog! I'm not sure though, since there is no profile. Are you being incognito, Eric? Was it a SECRET visit? Gosh that's even better he he. Envious, girls?........ ;)

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  38. Only vodka, huh? Not my favorite. I do love the color in this shot.

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  39. I love the colours and the concept. I had heard of the ice hotel but not the ice bar. I want to go...

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  40. Don't get your hopes too high Lynn.
    it is probably the other Eric -Eric Bana - gathering the courage to ask you out.

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  41. Oh dear... I'm allergic to Vodka...
    AMAZING COLOURS!!!!!!

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  42. ONE MILLION????? WAAAAAAAAA!!!!! THAT'S COOOOOOOOOOOLLLL, EVEN COOLER THAN THE ICE BAR!!!!!

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  43. I believe the original Ice Bar is in Stockholm. My daughter had part of her wedding reception there. And this gives me a chance to recommend a singer who I first heard of on Richard Nahem's 'Eye Prefer Paris' blog. The singer is Stacey Kent -- she lives in Paris and sings in French and English. You can go to this part of her website and download "The Ice Hotel" track for free. I love it, love it, love it.

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  44. LOL Phx ! I like the PLAYAH !!

    Thanks Pont Girl!

    Rose, antes tarde do que nunca né!!!

    Lynn, I sent you an invitation to FB, so whenever you want to join in, we'll be waiting. You are so funny! I never thought I'd ask someone to buy me either, but I was in danger so Guille rescued me with her pocket full of money!

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  45. Monica, my 'virtual' pocket full of money. People is going to believe that I'm a good match!
    I've something for you btw,you like to learn French expressions so you probably already know it: "antes tarde do que nunca : mieux vaut tard que jamais."

    Lynn...I WANT TO BUY YOU! ;)

    Cassons la glace!

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  46. Lynn,
    Knowing Guille, she is probably selling all her stock of people saving up to buy you.

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  47. Waaa! Facebook makes me crazy! I didn't click on the buy/sell application right away and now I can't find it.

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  48. EXPAT: Thank you VERY MUCH for this info. I hear Stacey Kent on FIP RADIO once in a while, and I'm a huge fan of her sound. Thank you!!!

    By the way, FIP:

    http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/fip/accueil/

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  49. Goodness... i've never felt so much in demand... blush...;) I shall have to join at some point and let you fight over me then LOL ! Perhaps it'll be a bidding war. he he i've absolutely NO IDEA what i'm talking about i've never even been to Facebook. Who shall i buy then, ooh now there's a question.

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  50. "Who shall i buy then"
    Lynn, that's simple: me.

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  51. Lynn, I've been on Facebook for months but have avoided using the applications (timewasters!) until now. And this owning thing confuses me, so I'm lost! But I believe I just gave Monica to Michael.

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  52. Hey! I'm at home watching an ER rerun from 2004. I happened to look up at the credits and one of the guest stars is...Petrea!!

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  53. ER? Is it a soap opera/series? I know you were a famous actress.

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  54. ER...!! Ok, in France it's "Urgences"!!! And I'm totally fan. Petrea, your my new goddess. LOL

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  55. Heee! I'm the dispassionate judge on that one. In real life I'm much more glamorous (and passionate, of course).

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  56. Hey Petrea that's so great. I've never watched the series but will now! We all bow down to you, you do realise it's YOU everyone will want to buy now? LOL watch out! How exciting. I will watch any that i see appearing on tv now. Give us a clue about your character.

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  57. "Dispassionate....I was trying to remember that word the other day"!! A line from "Grey Gardens"...you have all totally lost me today, so I thought I would continue with this "Proustian" exercise...LOL!!

    The thought of an "Ice Bar" just doesn't appeal to me, though I love the photo! I deal with enough "frosty" humans everyday as it is. I think I'll wait for the "tropical bar" to open...or Paris Plage!

    Petrea is an actress??? Mais, bien sur..she lives in the "southland"...LOL!!! Been to the "polo lounge" lately?? ;-)

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  58. Oh dear, Lynn. I'll have to put up some more pictures. Will have to do that later as I'm running out.

    Tonton flaneur: I don't even know where the Polo Lounge is! (But I'd love to go if I can find something to wear.)

    Guille, there's a difference between "actress" and "famous actress." But it's nice to be famous at PDP.

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  59. How exciting, Petrea! I watched your demo reel and it was awesome. I like the very end, as the Judge, when you bang the gavel and demand "Silence!" I bet you may want to do that around here once in a while!

    What a fun job. All I get to do is write up living trusts and contracts and put people into business. Blah blah blah.

    Silence! Heh. I had to try it.

    Congrats on the GF du jour Monica!

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  60. Guess what i have on tv right now? ER !! Oh yes i do. First time i've seen it. Storyline is about Luca and his wife and baby? It's xmas time. she's an alcoholic. Right episode? Wrong?

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  61. Ice bar, ahem ... I can see the concept : seems to be a perfect space to warm someone in your arms, after 20 minutes being frozen, especially if this person is not fond of vodka ;))
    That should work !!

    My day (beginning of the afternoon) at work turned suddenly quite hard, sigh. And I am afraid that may go on like that a little while... But I hope to make a japanese break ASAP ;)

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  62. Quick note: Expat thanks for the soundtrack, I will make a new video with my photos and use her song instead tomorrow when I'm less tired...

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  63. We have an ice bar in Melbourne, too. It's called - wait for it - "Chill On", and features a three-seater ice couch (which I seriously doubt anyone is going to be found asleep on, even after a solid night of drinking vodka).

    "Chill On"

    We also have a digital arts bar, called - this one's far more inventive - "Horse Bazaar". It features a twenty metre, wrap-around video wall for which artists are invited to provide content, and something which I think is unique in the world: a rear projection urinal! They also have pretty cool music - some of it live.

    "Horse Bazaar"

    Are there any such venues anywhere else in the world. Or, better still, anyone interested in pooling funds and opening one in Paris!

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  64. Love the photo -- and the ice bar!
    And a big CONGRATS to you, Eric, on your blog anniversary!
    MZM

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  65. By the way i found the Kube website very, very annoying. Horrid music whilst you try to find some pics of the place and all you are rewarded with before you race to switch off the noise, were animations. I wanted photos! Was i alone in this?

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  66. Guille thank you! I really like to learn new expressions.

    So tell me, is "Cassons la glace" an expression? I know what it means literary, but I don't think I get the meaning of it.

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  67. Hotel Kube,Looks and sounds great. Now I know one place where to go in Paris to visit. Thanks.

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  68. Such a pretty photo! Really all of your photos on here are really great.

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  69. I stayed at the Kube once, I couldn't get over the furry walls or the fingerprint door security (that never worked). The room was awesome though!

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  70. I've been to Ice Bar in London, it's near Piccadilly Circus. I think the interior must look the same, all made of ice, but showing some characteristic places for London, such as the red (rather icy) telephone box. The shape of the glasses is quite different. There is a huge variety of colorful drinks, all based on Finlandia Vodka. You also have to wear a uniform with a hood and gloves and you can stay there up to 40 minutes, but after half an hour most people leave the bar.

    Great experience!

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  72. whoah.. there is such a bar made of ice?
    my country doesnt have that since we're like getting hotter by the day!

    wish i could enter an ice-made bar! hehehe...

    haven't drank vodka though..
    i have to ask my parents first if i could just have a sip.. hehe..

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