Provided photo.

On October 25, The Vampire Circus will descend into the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The 90-minute theatrical production created by former Cirque du Soleil performer Francisco Santos blends together a Tim Burton aesthetic with circus artistry and supernatural thrills. Ahead of the production at the Van Wezel, however, is another spooky element in Sarasota—the Vampire Circus Pop-Up Bar at the Sarasota Modern’s restaurant, Wink Wink Food & Drink.

“We wanted to take the concept behind the stage and create an experience where the guests could step into an atmosphere of a vampire circus themselves, and have the opportunity to embrace an unexpected little mystery and experience something completely different,” says Ashlee Rulison, director of sales at the Sarasota Modern.

Rulison and her team have transformed the restaurant’s outdoor patio into a lair full of spooky thrills and circus-themed touches to bring the concept to life. “It’s a whimsical theatrical escape that feels as though you’re stepping into another world. We’re putting up draping to make it completely private,” says Rulison. “We have vampire pictures in frames, candles and different kinds of seating, so that the area is more of a lounge space.”

The Vampire Circus Pop-Up Bar, Rulison maintains, is an environment of playful darkness rather than outright scares. Complimenting the space is a specially curated set of cocktails and menu items including the Bloody Bao and Love at First Bite. “The Bloody Bao Bun is our bao buns with fried chicken, black garlic, aioli, carrot, and pickled onions and cilantro. The Love at First Bite is a vodka raspberry lemon drop—it’s dark red with raspberry lemon, filthy cherries and a black sugar rim,” says Rulison.

For Rulison and the team at Sarasota Modern, transforming Wink Wink’s space is an important part of the job. “We believe that hospitality is more than just having a beautiful space,” says Rulison. “It’s about creating memorable experiences.”

Vampire Circus Pop-Up Bar, October 23-31, Wink Wink Food & Drink, 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota.

Provided photo.

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