By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
NOLITA — Don't worry if you can't make the to trip from Manhattan to South Africa, Mulberry Street is offering up a chance to get into World Cup fever.
PlayBeautiful is a new pop up space launched over the weekend by a group of Manhattan soccer enthusiasts and businessmen that will stay open on 201 Mulberry St. for the next month.
The space broadcasts the games in an “indoor mini stadium” modeled after Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, with bleacher-style seating. It will also host soccer clinics in a "training ground" space with fake grass and goals.
“Soccer fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game through sight, sound, taste and touch," said Alexander Kotler, executive director of PlayBeautiful.
The space will also have soccer-themed happy hours, panel discussions and food sessions, with World Cup cupcakes decorated with a flag of a playing country.
Someone even went so far as to make cupcakes for North Korea, who was shellacked by Portugual, 7-0.
PlayBeautiful was launched by Kotler, also of Football Parnerships, Upper 90s Soccer + Sport Zac Rubin and Whitney Shanks of Openhouse Gallery that leases out the space.
Danielle Santoro, who lives in New Jersey but stopped by PlayBeautiful’s store to pick up Italy team T-shirts said: “I was disappointed by Italy’s game with New Zealand, that was awful.
"But it’s awesome to have this all here to share in the excitement.”
For more information, visit PlayBeautiful’s website.
