Montclair’s MC Hotel hosted a grand opening gala on Oct. 17 with hundreds of guests celebrating the property’s establishment as a gathering place, artistic space and more.

While the property officially opened Aug. 15, bringing the first full-service hotel to the town in 80 years, Thursday night’s occasion spotlighted the arts and creative vision that the city of Montclair is known for.

Developed by a joint venture between The Hampshire Cos. and The Pinnacle Cos., along with investment partner Circle Squared Alternative Investments, the 159-room, 120,000-square-foot, nine-story MC Hotel is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection portfolio.

Incorporated into the night’s festivities were works by Montclair artist Siona Benjamin-Kruge, whose artwork is displayed in the lobby and on some of the floors. She researched the history of Montclair and displayed them in her seven artworks, Montclair Shangri-La, for the MC Hotel. For the opening, Benjamin-Kruge collaborated with dancers to “celebrate the universal ‘blue-ness’ of our transculturalism.”

Staff was dressed by creative director Arlinda McIntosh, founder of Sofisafunk the Skirt Co., a slow fashion lifestyle collection of versatile, zero-waste skirts.

The Bumbys provided “A Fair and Honest Appraisal of Your Appearance,” to any guest that went to their table. The anonymous artists used nothing more than analog typewriters and charming wit.

Also in attendance was artist and Montclair native Steve Kelly, whose body of work ranges from bold, abstract collages to large-scale figurative oil paintings. Using bright colors his work comments on the absurdity of everyday life and modern trends.