Montreal’s Grand Prix weekend is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Racing fans, celebrities and people watchers from all over the world converge in the 514 for three days of nonstop fun, turning downtown Montreal into one great big party!
One of the hottest tickets in town during Grand Prix is the Ritz Carlton’s Grand Prix Party. The pinnacle of glamour and lavish decadence, this is the masterpiece of the entire weekend. We were on the list along with the guys from Man About Mtl for this year’s party and as you can imagine the event was bigger than big!
The atmosphere outside the Ritz Carlton was buoyant and jovial as couture draped guests greeted each other as they arrived. Nearly an entire block of our famous Golden Mile along Sherbrooke was transformed into a spectacle that resembled an opulent Hollywood premiere. As we walked the black carpet into the event, fans were lined up waiting to see which VIP guests were on the list for this year’s event. The outdoor terrasse on Sherbrooke was transformed into white sand beach where people sipped on champagne and watched the crowds go by.
Upon entering the hotel we gathered in the Palm Court, sipped on flutes of Moet et Chandon and chatted with a few of the other guests. Photo ops were abound as celebrities, musicians, politicians and our favorite Montreal Canadiens were ushered in one after the next. Photo booths were set up in several locations throughout the lobby and inside the Palm Court. Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy were present and represented by models decked out in the traditional Ogilvy tartan and Scottish headgear. Infiniti had a booth set up near the entrance of the hotel as well. Nearby, Dior Cosmetics had a counter set up to keep guest looking their absolute best. Nespresso was also present for those requiring a delicious espresso between glasses of champagne.
Through an immense archway of fresh roses we eventually made our way upstairs to the beautiful Oval room where the party was well underway. Tables of freshly cut porchetta and shaved roast beef kept the hunger away as the DJ turned out one great song after the next. The luxury carmaker, Infiniti was a major sponsor of the event and had a sparkly cherry red, high-performance concept car on display.
Out in the garden more guests gathered near both the Cognac bar and the oyster bar while nearby an artist used vibrant colours to create an on the spot painting of the famous hotel. A soft breeze kept everyone cool in their chic couture, well into the night.
Summer is a great time to be in Montreal. The warmth of the day kept the night comfortable as the sun went down and stars came out. As the late night hours brought the party to a close, we stepped out of the hotel, back into the night and onto the black carpet. The street was still filled with people and the energy of the city was still revving like an F1 engine. This festive energy on warm summer night in Montreal was the perfect sendoff from what was truly the event of the summer season.
Check out our gallery full of exclusive photos of the fantastic night!
Photo Credit: David Major-Lapierre
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