Love Me (Bar)Tender, an immersive and experiential pop-up bar from destination marketing organization Memphis Tourism, has come to New York City.
The company collaborated with Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate to transform the Pekarna bar on the Upper West Side into the singer’s famous den, the Jungle Room. The pop-up will be open on Friday and Saturday.
Pekarna underwent a temporary transformation with Jungle Room-style replicas, Memphis tunes, signature Memphis cocktails and a photo booth. Attendees to the pop-up will also have the chance to win a trip to Memphis, including hotel and airfare.
“Memphis is a city of boundless creativity and soul — effortlessly blending nostalgia with modern influence and style, the culture of our destination has changed the world,” said Regena Bearden, chief marketing officer at Memphis Tourism. “That approach is what inspired the Jungle Room. We’re taking a slice of Americana and making it authentic and exciting to generations of travelers. After experiencing the Jungle Room and getting a taste of Memphis’ magic and vibe, we want that next step to be booking a trip to Memphis to experience the real thing.”
New York’s Love Me (Bar)Tender marks the first stop for the experience, as it’s going on tour with stops planned for Oct. 10 and 11 in Boston at The Point Boston, and on Oct. 18 and 19 in Chicago at Five Star Bar.
The Jungle Room at Graceland features a green shag carpet, a rock waterfall, a lacquered tiki bar and other tiki-inspired furniture. Since opening to the public for tours, the room at Graceland Mansion has seen more than 23 million visitors.
Elvis recorded some of his most famous songs in the Jungle Room, including “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Moody Blue.”
Those interested in visiting the pop-up can get tickets on memphistravel.com/lovemebartender. Entrance is free.