New York's Pierre Hotel Launches Champagne-Sabering Series, Month Of Holiday Festivities

Fifth Avenue's Pierre Hotel, one of New York's most esteemed and historic hotels, is gearing up for the holidays in fine fashion. They'll be hosting two Champagne-sabering events during the month of December, and have also released their lineup of events and specials for the Christmas season.

The hotel's Champagne-sabering series will be taking place in the ornate rotunda with representatives of the featured Champagne house on hand to chat about the Champagne and demonstrate the art of sabering a Champagne bottle (that is, using a special sword to open the bottle). They'll be pouring Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Dec. 8 and the highlighted Champagne will be Pommery Cuvee Louise on Dec. 15. Tickets to the events cost $70 per person (a good deal considering the amount of high-end Champagne you're able to sample and the quality of the passed hors d'oeuvres), and can be made by calling the hotel's new restaurant, Perrine.

A full slate of events will also be taking the hotel into the New Year. A Christmas tree lighting party will be held in its upscale bar Two E on Dec. 6 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and guests will toast with Taittinger Champagne while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and festive cocktails. On Dec. 22, from 1 to 7 p.m., Santa Claus will be visiting Two E's afternoon tea service with milk and cookies for the kids, spiked egg nog for the adults, a photographer on hand for photos with Santa, and carolers at 6 p.m.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Perrine will be serving a special menu for $85 per person featuring special dishes like Hudson Valley foie gras terrine, porcini and morel mushrooms with pumpkin gnocchi, and chocolate hazelnut buche Noel. And, to ring in the New Year, Perrine and Two E will both be hosting lavish parties with open bars, dancing, and a midnight toast. The 5:30 p.m. three-course seating at Perrine costs $95, the 9 p.m. four-course seating costs $325, and the party at Two E, which begins at 10, costs $175.

If you're planning on staying at the hotel with your family (or just looking for a romantic couples' getaway), the Pierre is also offering a Suite Family Christmas Package, which includes a stay in a suite that's been decked out with a Christmas tree and scented candles, a full in-room Christmas dinner, a kit for building a snowman in Central Park, and, of course, milk and cookies for Santa. The package starts at $2,375.