'Gold at the Four' a stylish F1 event

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - As the U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race weekend approaches, another venue has announced plans for an elegant round of parties planned to entertain visitors and Austin residents alike.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Austin on Wednesday announced its "Gold at the Four" series of events, with tickets available for individuals or memberships that includes perks and particulars.

Nightclub events will be held at Blue at the W, in connection with the Four Seasons' F1 schedule.

"Gold at the Four" features world-class entertainment, international style and fine dining to the all-inclusive events:

• the VIP Race Ball
• International Banquet
• Prohibition-themed After Race Party

Breakfasts and lunches are also planned, costing $150 or $300, depending on the day. Other events are a jazz and cocktails brunch and art show brunch.

Suites for as many as 30 people and VIP tables are available, priced as much as $30,000 per night.

"In keeping with race tradition, celebrations will commence Friday, Nov. 16 with the VIP Race Ball," said Ian Weightman, founder and president of Formula VIP Events . "Race enthusiasts, international dignitaries and Austin grand prix supporters will gather to celebrate F1’s official return to the United States."

The VIP Race Ball will begin at 7 p.m. with an all-inclusive cocktail hour followed by a five-course gourmet dinner in the F1-themed ballroom, after which guests will enjoy a live concert by Austin’s own Motown-style musical group, Soul Track Mind.

On Saturday evening, Gold at the Four will host the International Banquet, where celebrities and VIPs from around the world will come together with local Austinites to celebrate the eve of the 2012 race.

Drawing on the international nature of F1, the evening will feature an eight-course gourmet menu created by the Four Seasons’ chefs, complemented by champagnes, cocktails and fine wines from around the world. The menu will include a unique combination of traditional dishes and fine wine pairings from leading Formula 1 nations, including Germany, Italy, Japan, France, England, Spain and Mexico, according to event organizers.

The evening will include internationally-flavored, live music performances during dinner, followed by live Latin dance music.

After the Sunday race, the Prohibition After Race Party will be themed in the 1920s era of Prohibitions. The night will include a prohibition-era dinner, with period cocktails, a swing-style concert and dancing to sounds throughout the decades. The Bordertown Bootleggers will open as the evening’s dining entertainment, followed by local Austin success story, White Ghost Shivers, who will bring the night to life with their 1920s sounds and theatrical performances of early jazz, vaudeville, ragtime and western swing. The band’s local sound will create an Austin-flavored, sophisticated 1920s dance hall experience enhanced by after-race excitement and nostalgia, according to event organizers.

All Access Memberships to Gold at the Four and its sister venue, Blu at the W, along with individual event tickets, are on sale now.