Anniversaries are always special occasions, but in Los Angeles, locations that celebrate triple digit birthdays are a rare breed indeed. This Tuesday, December 8 is the one year anniversary of the $1.6M restoration and reopening of Cole’s, L.A.’s oldest public house and 101-year-old landmark saloon. To mark the occasion, 213 is establishing the Jimmy Barela Award, named after the legendary barman who served for 65 years at Cole’s historic Red Car Bar. A three-day celebration starts on Sunday with a cocktail competition and book drive.
The inaugural Jimmy Barela Award is sponsored by Promixo Spirits and will be given to the bartender who “expresses the most creativity in mixing an original cocktail inspired by 1800 Tequila’s popular super-premium Blanco, Reposado or Anejo brands.” Participants will include mixologists from Rivera, Comme Ca, Cicada, and 213’s own Seven Grand, The Doheny, The Varnish, Tony’s Saloon and more.
The blind tasting will be judged by Betty Hallock (LA Times food writer and editor), Jonathan Gold (Pulitzer Prize winning food critic and LA Weekly columnist), and a sure-to-be-tough peer panel of leading Los Angeles mixologists. Following the competition is an afterparty at the Red Car Bar, beginning at 8pm.
The winning cocktail will be served during Cole’s 101st Birthday Party, and featured throughout the year on the Red Car Bar’s specialty cocktail menu. The winning mixologist will also receive a cash prize and two VIP Lakers tickets provided by Promixo Spirits.
Customers who bring a book to Cole’s Sunday through Tuesday will receive a $1 Off French Dip coupon. All book donations will support the renovation of the Mary Murphy library at the Midnight Mission, currently serving Mission residents and the downtown homeless community. For more information, please visit www.midnightmission.org.
Cole’s 101st Birthday Party
Sunday, Dec. 6 to Tuesday, Dec. 8
118 E. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 622-4090
www.colesfrenchdip.com
Inaugural Jimmy Barela Award
Sunday, Dec. 6
Competition Afterparty begins at 8pm
Feat. DJs Pony vs. Tiger
Follow HarryCole1908 on Twitter for updates on Cole’s 101st birthday celebration.