A Sarasota neighborhood bar is again going all in for Christmas, unveiling its annual “Miracle at the Tap” holiday pop-up — a fully immersive, wall-to-wall Christmas takeover complete with themed cocktails, over-the-top décor, and, new this year, falling snow.
Tamiami Tap, which opened in late 2018 and is located in downtown’s historic Laurel Park neighborhood, has become one of Sarasota’s most festive holiday destinations thanks to its partnership with “Miracle,” a globally recognized pop-up concept founded in New York in 2014. Today, there are more than 230 Miracle pop-ups worldwide, but Sarasota hosts one of only two Miracle installations across the Florida Gulf Coast (the other is located in Tampa).
Creating the ‘miracle’
“We’re still the only one in Sarasota,” said proprietor and co-owner Marc Epstein. “The concept protects each market, so you won’t see another ‘Miracle’ here or in Bradenton. It really makes this something special for the community.”
For Epstein and co-owner Randy Kok, the transformation is a major undertaking. The staff begins decorating the Monday after Halloween, spending six to eight hours every week for nearly a month until the bar is fully decked out…