Stash away the bright lights, water, and midnight snacks. The Gremlins are taking over Hotel Madrid, 600 S. 6th St., for two weeks this December. And if you’re a fan of the 1984 film, you might just want to set aside some time to enjoy this blast from Christmas movie past.
The festivities kick-off on Dec. 10 when the Hotel Madrid bar will be reimagined as Dorry’s Tavern, the Irish bar where Stripe and his gang of gremlins party during their take-over of Kingston Falls, New York.
You can expect dim red lighting, tinsel, plenty of rogue gremlins and – of course – lots and lots of popcorn ... plus a special opening night showing of the original 1984 film featuring everyone's favorite mogwai, Gizmo.
A special cocktail menu will feature Gremlins-themed drinks including Rockin’ Ricky Rialto, a twist on Irish coffee featuring Tullamore Dew, chocolate and Bittercube Corazon bitters; Gizmo Saves The Day, a warming punch with floral, fruity and herbal notes from a mix of Hendricks gin, Muscatel, Drambouie and chamomile; and the Bye Billy featuring Milagro tequila, fig, almond and cinnamon plum-infused vermouth.
As for food, there will be plenty to feed your inner gremlin, from popcorn and gingerbread cookies to special one-off menus like fried chicken night, which will be announced on Hotel Madrid’s social media channels.
The Gremlins pop-up will take place Dec. 10-24 with hours Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5 to midnight (food until 11 p.m.)
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
