ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A circus of people dressed to the nines in their finest cocktail dresses and business suits gathered for a look at the city's newest hotel.
Those spotted in the crowd were a handsome gent in a ringmaster costume — complete with a bright-colored tailcoat and black top hat.
The splash of fashion was on par at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Moxy Allentown Downtown on Thursday evening.
After all, the hotel's decor, sure to please art aficionados, is a nod to the Vaudeville era (1880s to early 1930s) and area attractions such as Dorney Park and the Great Allentown Fair.
'Cozy and stylish'
After city officials, including U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, state Rep. Josh Siegel, state Sen. Nick Miller and Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk helped cut the ribbon, scores of onlookers packed into the hotel's elevators to step right up for a glimpse of the hotel's rooms.
Those who didn't head that way posed for photos with Tipsy, a tiger that rests on a golden carousel, or took a seat on the couches in front of the fire.
" The Moxy has cozy, but very stylish bedrooms at an attractive price that we think will appeal to travelers and locals of all ages."Adam Hluschak, general manager Moxy Allentown Downtown
The Moxy hotels place emphasis on their lobbies (guests check in at the bar) and feature curated lounges, comfy couches, lounge chairs and co-working spaces.
"The social experience continues in our public spaces, in our lounges and library and with non traditional features like our fortune-telling machine. Our fortune teller, the Zoltar machine, is on the ground floor," Moxy Allentown's “Captain” (General Manager) Adam Hluschak said.
Allentown's Moxy, a Marriott hotel brand, is the first to open in Pennsylvania.
As part of the brand's concept, hotel rooms are meant to be minimalistic and options include queen-sized beds or two bunk beds.
" The Moxy has cozy, but very stylish bedrooms at an attractive price that we think will appeal to travelers and locals of all ages," Hluschak said.
So while there aren't mini-bars or butler service, the rooms have rotary phones on which guests can hear a pre-recorded bedtime story/meditation and a free sheet of paper art designed by Allentown-based artist Denis Aumiller.
It's of Aumiller's "Carnival No. 6" piece that features a monkey wearing a fortune teller outfit and holding a tarot card.
'Iron Chef' winner's food
No carnival party would be complete without food and drinks.
On Thursday, attendees sipped on artisan cocktails and cotton candy infused drinks while snacking on bags of freshly popped popcorn.
There was also plenty of food to go around catered by famed chef Jose Garces.
The James Beard-award winner and "The Next Iron Chef" winner announced earlier this week that he will open two restaurants near the Moxy, in the city's Downtown West district.
The first, Rosa Blanca, a Cuban café and rum bar, will open in the first quarter of 2025 on the ground floor of The Nines apartment building at 950 Hamilton St.
Garces' other eatery, Okatshe, is a modern take on traditional Japanese izakaya, a casual after work pub, and will open in the second quarter of 2025 at a yet-to-be-revealed location downtown.
"Downtown West is a thriving, up and coming neighborhood."State Rep. Josh Siegel
Since 2020, the Downtown West district has become the city's trendy spot for apartment hunters and entertainment.
The neighborhood, from Ninth to 12th streets and Walnut to Linden streets, recently welcomed five new City Center residential communities, including Cityplace, The Nines, The Gallery, Walnut View and 1010 Apartments.
Also in Downtown West, City Center Group, developers of the Moxy Allentown Downtown, will open a state-of-the-art concert hall run by Live Nation, Archer Music Hall, in March.
"What's most exciting is that this work continues. Because this isn't even mile one for us," said Siegel, D-Lehigh. "A decade ago, that work began at the intersection of Seventh and Hamilton, and we've made it all the way here.
"Downtown West is a thriving, up and coming neighborhood.
"And here's the thing, I know 10 years from now, we are going to be standing further down Hamilton at a future ribbon cutting celebrating more transformations, new businesses, and new prosperity that invites people from all over to venture and visit our city."
