A NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION
Beer garden to embrace winter with ski trips, tree-lighting ceremony
TROY >> A new Troy business is embracing the winter weather and the holiday season this week with an outdoor community tree lighting ceremony.
The Hill at Muza is a modern European bar, beer garden and event venue nestled behind its popular parent restaurant, Muza, in Troy’s Mount Ida neighborhood, just up “The Hill” from downtown.
The business’ indoor-outdoor setting will provide as the birthplace of a new holiday tradition, when The Hill at Muza hosts the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday night at the 379 Congress St. establishment.
“We’re looking to kick off the holiday season with good friends, family and neighbors in a cozy winter atmosphere,” said Tim Tyrrell of The Hill at Muza in a press release. “This is a unique space in the Capital Region and we do all we can to make our guests feel as if they’re on a mini European vacation, right here in the heart of Troy.”
The charming open-air beer garden is heated by a roaring wood burning fire pit and a collection of commercial grade flame-torch patio heaters. The space also includes with intimate nooks of stonework and woodwork, as well as fanciful lighting by Troy-based Lightexture.
For those who like it a little toastier, the enclosed bar space can hold 50 patrons and is warmed by a cast iron fireplace. The indoor area is festively decked with holiday greens, lights, and hundreds of bulbs ornately laced and strewn on the ceiling.
This Friday, Tyrrell and business partner Adam Siemiginowski will light a fresh-cut 15-foot spruce tree from a farm in Altamont. The tree stands on a stage area, about six feet above the beer garden, and is decorated with 500 feet of twinkling Christmas lights.
Complimentary plates of Christmas cookies will be served.
Hot mulled wine, hot chocolate, beer and wine will be available from the bar, as well as foods from the menu.
The Hill at Muza also recently announced its upcoming series of Aprés Ski Saturdays, an effort to bring the local ski crowd together with their non-skiing friends.
From 4 to 11 p.m. every Saturday starting Dec 12, a variety of specials will be available to those who present a ski pass from that week. Skiers on their way home from the mountain are encouraged to relax outdoors in their gear before heading in for the night. Ski movies will play in the bar room with other surprises to be announced.
“We’re embracing the outdoor space, and we want our guests to have as much fun as they can with the winter weather,” said Adam Siemiginowski of The Hill at Muza in a press release. “We want to offer an in-between place where skiers and their non-skiing friends can meet and hang out.”
An avid skier himself, Siemiginowski said his friends have complained in the past that they don’t get to see much of him during the 10week ski season. As an alternative, he said he hopes area skiers and their friends will adopt The Hill at Muza as the “local ski lodge” where they can meet up with friends in town.
The Hill at Muza is open regularly from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Spring hours are to be announced.
Guests enter The Hill at Muza through a pair of black gates located at 379 Congress St., then a narrow walkway between two buildings leads visitors up to the beer garden.
Street parking is available on both Congress and 15th Streets. There is also a bike rack on the 15th Street side.
For more information visit www.thehillatmuza.com or www.facebook.com/TheHillatMuza.