When The Michigan Room lounge and bar opens in Dearborn on May 9, customers will have an opportunity to view live glassmaking while enjoying their beverage of choice in hand-blown glasses.
Located at 25331 Trowbridge Rd., near Michigan Avenue and Telegraph Road, The Michigan Room will offer patrons a view of glass artists at the Glass Academy as they manipulate molten glass in 2100°F furnaces into one-of-a-kind drink receptacles.
The Michigan Room combines the spectacle of glassmaking with a lounge environment and bar serving cocktails, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages in custom, hand-blown glasses designed specifically for each beverage. All beverage glasses will be available for purchase. The Michigan Room also provides a venue for special events, from corporate meetings to family gatherings.
“We want to give glass enthusiasts and newcomers a comfortable environment to watch the exciting process of glassblowing,” says Jacob Nordin, second-generation Glass Academy owner. “Few people get the chance to watch glassblowing up close, and The Michigan Room will provide an experience that immerses guests in the world of glass.”
The beverage counter at The Michigan Room is Michigan-focused and offers three classic cocktails that will rotate throughout the year (opening cocktails are a gin and tonic, a margarita, and an old fashioned), beers, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and coffee drinks.
The beverage counter supports local purveyors, including small batch botanical sodas created in Detroit by Casamara Club Sodas, Dearborn Brewing drafts and seltzers, Ann Arbor Distilling Botanical Gin, Ann Arbor’s TeaHaus small batch lemon tonic, and Detroit City Distillery bourbon and rum.
The design and décor also is inspired by the Great Lakes and Michigan. The color blue appears throughout the lounge, which was sustainably created and decorated. Upcycled chairs, tables, vintage lamps, and recycled paint coalesce to provide an eclectic, unconventional vibe.
In addition to the lounge area, a railing runs alongside the hot shop, providing the closest view to the glassmaking action. The railing, bar, and central counter island are built from Michigan-sourced black walnut.
The Michigan Room sits inside the 14,000-square-foot Glass Academy, which includes a 6,500-square-foot hot shop and a 4,000-square-foot retail glass gallery.
The Michigan Room will be open Thursday and Friday from 4-7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Public hours include glass-making activities in the hot shop, with Thursdays offering a glass-blowing demonstration. Interactions with the glass makers are encouraged and welcome.
The Michigan Room can be booked seven days a week for events of 30-125 people. Event packages include varying levels of interaction with professional glass artists, including glass demonstrations, workshops, and “Design Your Own Glassware” happy hours. A private area for caterers is available, as well.
