Host with the most Aidan Demarest is back as emcee, and just like last year, the Prom King and Queen will get a horse-drawn carriage ride around Los Feliz. To add to the magnifique setting, there will be mimes, accordions, French singers and a 17-foot lighted Eiffel Tower.

Like the 60s, if you remember last year’s Enchantment Under the Sea prom, you weren’t there. To help fill in the blanks, Lee has created a special Cocktail Community Collage.

Irez-vous au bal d’étudiants avec moi?

Midnight in Paris
2nd Annual Valentine’s Day Prom
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012
7pm to 12am
No cover, open to the public
Featuring:

• Special “love potion” cocktail menu
• (Spiked) punch and hors d’oeuvres
• Make-your-own-champagne-cocktail bar featuring Miracle Mile Bitters
• Caricature artist, Artist Alley, photo area
• Accordions, French singers and mimes
• Horse-drawn carriage ride for the Prom King and Queen
• 17-foot lighted Eiffel Tower
• “Le kitchen sink”

Big Bar at Alcove
1929 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA, 90027
(323) 644-0100
www.alcovecafe.com/bigbar

Related posts:

1. Valentine’s Day: Enchantment Under the Sea at Big Bar
2. Bastille Day at The Spare Room, Featuring Paris Loves LA
3. November 30: The Edison Launches Toy Drive to Benefit Midnight Mission

For a comprehensive list of dining options on December 31st, be sure to visit our friends at dineLA for the Mother of All New Year’s Eve Restaurant Round Ups.

Wherever you end up on New Year’s Eve, please celebrate responsibly. You can Go Metro with special overnight 24-hour rail service on December 31st and January 1st, and of course a taxi is just a phone call away.

Cheers to a fantastic 2012!

Photo by Bar | Kitchen via Facebook

Bar | Kitchen
Located in the lobby of the O Hotel in Downtown LA, Bar | Kitchen is offering a three-course New Year’s Eve dinner menu for $45. To pair with Chef Vahan Tokmadjian’s seared sea scallops, beef short rib pot roast, and almond & pear upside down cake, B|K is featuring a unique selection of small production bubbly and craft champagne cocktails. Reservations: 213.784.3048.

Big Bar – Countdown Across the World
At Big Bar, nine is your lucky number for the second annual New Year’s Eve Countdown Across the World: nine time zones, nine countdowns, nine cocktails and nine playlists. The countdowns start at 3pm with the Hüsker Dü (Kanon Organic Vodka, Aperol, lemon, bitters) and travels all the way across the map every hour until midnight, when Los Angeles welcomes 2012 with a champagne toast and the Historic Core: Rittenhouse 100, Lairds Bonded Applejack, Green Chartreuse, Dolin Rouge, Angostura. To tempt thirsty Angelenos, Big Bar is posting pics of the NYE cocktails on its Facebook page every day until New Year’s Eve.

• Special cocktail menu featuring house favorites from Don Q, Leblon, and Zaya
• DJ Phys-Ed; DJ kill-devil kicks things off with dancehall vibes at 8pm and hosts an East Coast Toast at 9pm
• Breakfast for the surviving revelers
• “We only ask that you bring your best spirits and finest evening attire or favorite party pants.”

Photo by The Edison

The Edison – Bootlegger’s Ball
On New Year’s Eve, The Edison presents the Bootlegger’s Ball, featuring Lyndsay and the All-Nighters, aerialists, dancers and “a host of gifted eccentriques to accompany you on a unique and unforgettable journey into 2012.” Tickets include The Edison’s legendary Midnight Toast. Tables include desserts and special New Years favors. Tickets start at $75. Doors at 7pm. Table reservations and pricing: 213.613.0000.

Eveleigh – Roaring 20s Soirée
The Wayback Machine will be in effect at Eveleigh, which is not only presenting a Roaring Twenties Soirée, but is also thoughtfully serving an all-day brunch on January 1, 2012. Both dinner options include a 5-course Prix Fixe Menu; the Late Seating includes a champagne toast at midnight and access to The Uptown Five jazz quintet and NYE festivities starting at 9:30pm.
Early Bird Seating: $75. Late Seating: $95. Reservations at OpenTable or call 424.239.1630.

The Cocktail Party features a 1920s-inspired cocktail menu created by head barman Dave Kupchinsky, an open bar from 10-11pm, live jazz quintet entertainment and piano, countdown to 2012 and complimentary champagne toast. 1920′s cocktail attire suggested.
$50 per person. 9:30pm-2am. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/event/2669132447?ref=ebtn

On New Year’s Day, Eveleigh is serving an All Day Brunch with classics from the dinner menu to help with recovery from the night before, as well as REHAB with the best hangover remedies from the bar.
11am-10pm. Reservations at OpenTable or call 424.239.1630.

The Golden Stag
Take the Wayback Machine to the historic Park Plaza Hotel, where LACMA Muse and Sypher Art Studios present The Golden Stag, a Roaring Twenties style party.
Featuring:

• Performances by Brent Canter, Elliot Deutsch Big Band, Astra Dance Company, Alice Underground, and more
• Midnight champagne toast and fireworks display
• Absinthe bar
• 18-piece orchestra

Fellas and Flappers: $50 (includes champagne toast); Big Daddies and Leading Ladies: $150 (includes reserved table service with hosted bar). 8pm. Tickets: 323.857.6010.

Harvard & Stone
Harvard & Stone is throwing its first New Year’s Eve party with special performances by Lil’ Jenny and Molly D’Amour, accompanied by the H&S band and DJ Aaron Castle’s rock’n'roll oldies. Your all-inclusive ticket features an all-night open bar with craft cocktails, punches, American microbrews and bottomless champagne. Tickets $100 per person. 8pm-2am. Use promo code “harvardandstone” and get a 20% discount: www.eventbrite.com/event/2650177753?discount=harvardandstone

La Descarga – Havana Nocturne
Four words: gangsters, dames, booze and gambling. That’s what La Descarga has in store for guests at its Havana Nocturne, a 1920’s-themed night that includes premium open bar, Latin orchestra, burlesque dancers, passed apps, and a Havana-inspired casino. The three biggest chip holders at the end of the night will receive some great prizes. The dress code is formal and the theme is gangsters and dames of the 20′s. Tickets are $200 per person, includes gratuity, and are limited to 150 guests. To purchase tickets, email nye@ladescargala.com.

Neat – New York New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, Aidan Demarest is keeping it simple at his Glendale bar Neat: no cover or reservations, live music, champagne toasts at 9pm and midnight, and Chinese takeout to soak up all the spirits (served neat, of course). What’s the over-under on how many times Don’t Stop Believin’ gets played that night?

Next Door Lounge
Looks like the Wayback Machine will be in overdrive this New Year’s Eve as Next Door Lounge transports guests to a glamorous Masquerade Party set in 1920’s Hollywood. Live jazz and classic black and white films provide the backdrop as you enjoy cocktails by Joseph Brooke and bites from the Next Door staff kitchen. Tickets are $75 per person and include a welcome drink, masquerade mask, party favors, and a midnight champagne toast. Ticket reservations: reserve@nextdoorhollywood.com.

From 10:30pm to 1:30am, Picca is hosting a Late Night Industry Party with open bar (beer, wine, pisco shots, punch) and bites for friends, family and industry patrons for just $40 per person. Space is limited and pre-paid reservations are required.

Providence
At Providence, Chef Michael Cimarusti ushers in 2012 with a sumptuous Market Menu that rings in the new year with delicious style. Market Menu items include wild Japanese buri, wild New Zealand John Dory, and American Wagyu style beef. Early seating is 5:30 and 6pm, late seating at 8:30 and 9pm. $195 per person, $260 with wine pairing. 323.460.4170.

• Luxury Tequila Flight ($100) – John Rivera Sedlar’s 6 Year Aged Anejo, Milagro Romance & Herradura Suprema
• Mezcal Flight ($25) – Vida, Chichicapa, Joven Ilegal

Other NYE specialty flights include single malt Scotch, rum and American whiskey. Reservations after 9pm will receive a complimentary glass of cava. Reservations suggested, walk-ins are welcome: 323.933.5300.

Seven Grand – World Whiskey Flight
Like Big Bar, Seven Grand is also going global on NYE with its World Whiskey Flight, a private tasting featuring eight of the best whiskies in the world as chosen by members of the Seven Grand bar staff:

• Parker’s Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon ’Barrel Finished’ (10 Years Old)
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye
• Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Whisky
• Scott’s Selection Littlemill 1984 (distillery closed)
• Connemara Peated Cask Strength
• Lark Single Cask
• Talisker Distiller’s Edition (11 Years Old)
• Scott’s Selection North of Scotland 1964 (45 Years Old)

Punch reception at 5:30pm, World Whiskey Flight at 6pm, event opens to the public at 8pm. Tickets are $120, includes gratuity and appetizers: http://7grandnye.eventbrite.com.

Photo by Tasting Kitchen via Facebook

The Tasting Kitchen
At The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney, Chef Casey Lane is offering three five-course menu options with French, Italian, Moroccan, and Spanish inspired flavors that will appeal to meat lovers, seafood fans, and vegetarians alike. The “All” Menu features Apicius Duck Confit with kumquat preserve, and puntarella; the Pescatarian Menu features Tagliarini Nero with squid and serrano chile; and the Vegetarian Menu features Truffled Egg with polenta and fall vegetable salad. Wine pairings for each menu are also available. $90 per person, $45 for wine pairings. 310.392.6644.

Click to view.

The Varnish – Soul Shakedown Party
From its location in the back of Cole’s, The Varnish will be dancing to its singular beat on New Year’s Eve with a Soul Shakedown Party that features unlimited craft cocktails, bottomless Bols Genever punch and the 2nd Annual Varnish Twist Contest, hosted by Varnish GM Chris Bostick. Rare groove and soul classics will provide the imbibing soundtrack to the event, which will take place from 9pm-2am. Tables in the intimate venue are available for parties of two, four and six. Seating for New Year’s Eve is limited, reservations are a must.
$125 per person (gratuity included). For reservations contact Chris Bostick at 213.622.9999, or email thevarnish@thevarnishbar.com.

Photo by Wood & Vine

Wood & Vine
Wood & Vine is presenting a five-course or seven-course prix fixe and two seating options for its New Year’s Eve menu. First seating is 6-7pm and includes a Celery Root Shooter, Dungeness Crab Salad, House-Made Spaghetti, Seared Branzino, Paso Prime Rib Eye, and Butterscotch Pot de Crème. The second seating is 9-10pm and includes the previous plus Roasted Scallop, Roasted Venison Saddle, and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. First seating $55; second seating $75. 323.334.3360.

Related posts:

1. So Long 2010, and Thanks for All the Fish!
2. So Long Aughts, and Thanks for All the Fish!
3. Food & Wine Cocktails 2011: Twelve Los Angeles Bars in the Top 100 American Bars

Click to view.

To help raise funds, The Spare Room is presenting the First Annual Bartenders with Bar Tabs Auction. Several of the city’s finest are donating their time along with bar tabs from their home bars. The Spare Room will mix and match the tabs and auction off these pre-paid drinking dates. Already confirmed for the auction block: Aidan Demarest, Kate Grutman, Dave Kupchinsky, Lacey Murillo, Lauran September, Alex Straus and Marcos Tello, with more to be announced. Dan “The Imbiber” Dunn will be the emcee and auctioneer.

Added 12/21: Kenny Arbuckle and Bayardo De Murguia.

Boxing Day Social at The Spare Room
Monday, December 26, 2011
7pm-11pm
Suggested donation: $10
Featuring:

• Bottomless punch
• Bar bites
• Jenga tournament
• Live music by Hobo Jazz
• DJ Miss Diana

Sponsored by Wild Geese Irish Whiskey and Akvinta Vodka

The Spare Room
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Mezzanine Level)
7000 Hollywood Blvd. (at Orange)
(323) 769-7296
www.spareroomhollywood.com

Hospitality Kitchen
821 E. 6th Street (at the corner of 6th and Gladys)
Downtown LA
House: (323) 267-8789
Kitchen: (213) 614-9615
Days: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and 4th of July.)
Time: 7:45am – 12:45pm

For more information about the Hospitality Kitchen, please visit lacatholicworker.org/visiting-and-volunteering/soup-kitchen.

Related posts:

1. Bastille Day at The Spare Room, Featuring Paris Loves LA
2. Game On: The Spare Room Opens at the Hollywood Roosevelt
3. The Spare Room Nominated for 2011 AIA|LA Restaurant Design Awards

Sabrina Kershaw (L) bested Kelly Unda in the Speed Rack Boston finals. | Photo: Lush Life Productions

Speed Rack launched a ten-city tour in October to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the purpose of finding the fastest female bartender in America while raising funds for breast cancer charities. The Speed Rack tour follows the success of the inaugural LUPEC NYC Speed Rack competition, which raised $3,500 this past June. The national tour kicked off last month in Boston, where Sabrina Kershaw (The Citizen, Noir Bar) was crowned the winner and $5,000 was raised. Next was Portland, with $3,600 raised and Seattle’s Missy Cross (Sun Liquor) emerging victorious.

Click to view.

Speed Rack LA is the third stop of the tour, featuring a stellar lineup of 18 competitors:

• Kiowa Bryan (Eveleigh)
• Anne Marie Ceralvo (The Spare Room)
• Danielle Crouch (Caña Rum Bar)
• Christine D’Abrosca (Next Door Lounge)
• Jaclyn Goodyear (Killer Shrimp)
• Jennifer Lane (Black Market Liquor Bar)
• Jen Len (Drago Centro)
• Tammy Machicado (Night & Day Productions)
• Meghan Malloy (La Descarga)
• Jaymee Mandeville (Drago Centro)
• Mia Mastroianni (Soho House West Hollywood)
• Lacey Murillo (1886, Black Market)
• Lindsay Nader (Harvard & Stone)
• Gracy Ramirez (Dog Haus)
• Mia Sarazen (Harvard & Stone, Black Market)
• Naomi Schimek (The Spare Room)
• Devon Tarby (The Varnish)
• Kylee Van Dillen (Westside Tavern)

Throughout the afternoon, pairs of bartenders will face off and make a round of cocktails, selected from a list of 50 industry standard recipes. Judges will rate each drink based on prep time and accuracy. The esteemed judging panel includes Hollis Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon, Aidan Demarest (Neat), Jessica Gelt (LA Times), and Ted Haigh (aka Dr. Cocktail). Emcee Simon Ford will keep the proceedings moving as the competition nears its climactic final showdown.

Following the LA competition, Speed Rack will travel to other cocktail-focused cities with strong LUPEC chapters, including Washington DC (Dec 4, 2011) and then on to San Francisco, Houston, Denver, Las Vegas, and Chicago in 2012. The goal for the nationwide competitions is to collectively raise $75,000 before the ultimate Miss Speed Rack is crowned in May 2012 at the national finals in NYC.

The tour is being produced by Lindsey Johnson of Lush Life Productions, with event coordination by Claire Bertin-Lang (Proof ABV). Local support for Speed Rack LA is being provided by 213 Nightlife and the USBGLA.

Presale tickets to Speed Rack LA are $20 and are available online at speedrackla.eventbrite.com. A special admission and Speed Rack t-shirt package (with bonus free koozie) is priced at $35. Tickets at the door are $25, cash only, based on availability, and are first come, first served.

For more information, visit the Speed Rack website at www.speed-rack.com.

Speed Rack LA
Sunday, November 13, 2011
3pm-7pm
21+ w/ ID
Tickets:

• $20 General Admission and $35 Speed Rack package tickets: speedrackla.eventbrite.com.
• Day of event: $25 at the door, cash only and based on availability.
• Includes complimentary punches, cocktails, Abita beer, and food.
• Proceeds go towards breast cancer research, education and prevention.

More info:

• www.speed-rack.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/speedrackinfo
• Twitter: @Speed_Rack

Blossom Room – Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7000
www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/la/hollywood-roosevelt

For a taste of what will go down at the Roosevelt, check out this video of the inaugural Speed Rack event in New York:

Related posts:

1. Game On: The Spare Room Opens at the Hollywood Roosevelt
2. November 28: Home Bar Basics Book Launch at 320 Main
3. November 23: Thanksgiving Eve Bash at Seven Grand

Schimek said the weekly special is a tribute to Katz’s Deli, located on the street that gives the Ludlow Street Collins its name. If you’re not a fan of pickles, this drink probably won’t make your must-try list. But if you are, there’s no finer tip of the hat to the Old Pickle District than this tall drink, which pairs especially well with the Pastrami Reuben.

Fall Happy Hour at The Spare Room
Wednesdays from 6-9pm
Featuring:

• $7 Ludlow Street Collins
• $6 Pastrami Reubens or Turkey Rachels
• $3 Beer
• Half price bowling

Ludlow Street Collins

"I'll have what she's having."

Demarest (currently gearing up for this weekend’s opening of Neat in Glendale) will be going out in style with a Tiki-themed blowout, featuring Kraken Rum cocktails and guest bartenders Marcos Tello and John Lermayer (The Florida Room). Hopefully there will still be a bar left for Schimek to manage after the Robert Evans of the LA cocktail scene meets the 2011 Simon Ford Uh Oh Award winner.

A Night of Tiki at The Spare Room
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
10pm to close
Featuring:

• Guest bartenders John Lermayer and Marcos Tello
• Island-inspired Kraken Rum cocktails and music

The Spare Room
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Mezzanine Level)
7000 Hollywood Blvd. (at Orange)
(323) 769-7296
www.thompsonhotels.com

Related posts:

1. Boxing Day Social at The Spare Room
2. Bastille Day at The Spare Room, Featuring Paris Loves LA
3. Dec. 16: Evan Kleiman Hosts “Good Food” Happy Hour at Sublime

What’s that you say? You don’t have anything to do on Sunday, October 2nd? Well, now you do! Or, you will have something to do if you win our giveaway, which grants you entry to the Sunday City Sprawl, an exclusive Sunday brunch taking place from 12pm-3pm on the rooftop of the Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood. The event is sponsored by Cointreau, hosted by the one and only Aidan Demarest, and features cocktails by Harvard & Stone’s Rich Andreoli.

The guest list of 25 spots is already closed. But we’ve managed to find two more seats, which will go to one lucky winner. And it couldn’t be easier to enter: all you have to do is join Aidan’s Cointreau Sunday group on Facebook, and tell us your favorite Sunday brunch item in the comments. (Yes friends, that includes booze.)

This giveaway is only open to new members who join the group after 6pm today (Saturday, October 1st). The contest closes at 11:59pm tonight. Limit one entry per group member. After the contest closes, we’ll put the names of new members in the Randomizer and pick a winner. The winner will be announced on Sunday morning in this blog post and in the Facebook group.

Good luck!

Image of Petit Ermitage pool courtesy of Petit Ermitage.

Related posts:

1. Sipping the Summer During Sunday Supper
2. Ticket Giveaway: LA’s Best Bartender Competition
3. Taking the Triple Sec Challenge: Hiram Walker vs. Cointreau

Sure, you can make a Bastille Day cocktail (or two) and toast the storming of the Bastille at home. But what if you’re in the mood for a bit of carousing with fellow revelers? The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt will have you covered tonight by hosting an intimate performance by Paris Loves LA. The band features Adele Jacques, a très chic French singer who performs Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot songs in a cabaret style. In addition to Gainsbourg and Bardot, Paris Loves LA is influenced by French Sixties pop, American jazz, and cinema.

If you’re looking for something to sip while the chanteuse is singing, The Spare Room will feature a special one-off drink list, including Aidan Demarest’s Duke for a Day and other Bastille Day cocktails by Naomi Schimek:

• Duke for a Day – Cognac, lavender, lemon
• Champs Élysées – Cognac, Yellow Chartreuse, bitters, lemon
• Champagne Flip – Champagne, Cognac, Cointreau, egg yolk, cream, sugar
• La Prise Armagnac – Cointreau, Luxardo Bitter Liqueur
• Champagne Cobbler – Champagne, Cointreau, berries

Bastille Day at The Spare Room
Presented by Cointreau
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Doors at 8pm
Featuring:

• Paris Loves LA (1st set 10pm, 2nd set 11pm)
• Special guest: DJ Nils Kock
• Bastille Day cocktail menu

The Spare Room
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Mezzanine Level)
7000 Hollywood Blvd. (at Orange)
(323) 769-7296
www.spareroomhollywood.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1voxjxkNsU

Related posts:

1. Boxing Day Social at The Spare Room
2. Game On: The Spare Room Opens at the Hollywood Roosevelt
3. Celebrate Bastille Day with G’Vine Gin and the Barricade Cocktail

What’s the Nantucket Sound, you say? Here’s the cocktail recipe from Naomi Schimek:

This summer special is going on at The Spare Room right now, as I type this post. The special will be happening every Wednesday this summer, from 6-9pm.

The Spare Room
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Mezzanine Level)
7000 Hollywood Blvd. (at Orange)
(323) 769-7296
thompsonhotels.com/hotels/la/hollywood-roosevelt/drink/the-spare-room

Related posts:

1. Bastille Day at The Spare Room, Featuring Paris Loves LA
2. Boxing Day Social at The Spare Room
3. Get Pickled with The Spare Room’s Fall Happy Hour Special

Zahra Bates

Two of L.A.’s best bartenders will be a constant presence throughout the Manhattan Cocktail Classic: Zahra Bates (Providence) and Naomi Schimek (The Spare Room) were named Bar Fellows for the 2011 MCC. Bates and Schimek were selected (along with bartenders from across the U.S., Toronto and Amsterdam) from a hundred applicants to become members of the MCC team for the week, working on the front lines and behind the scenes to help produce the festival.

Judging a cocktail competition with @ThirstyInLA and @lushangeles. So different from a Barista comp. Plus you get drunk!

April 17, 2011 7:49 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@SingleOrigin

Chris Owens

The cocktails were judged in two categories: Spirited Cocktail with a Signature Ingredient and Fruit Forward Long Drink with a Garnish Focus. One winner from each category would go to New York for the Final. In the Signature Ingredient category, cocktails had to use DonQ rum and a “signature” or “housemade” ingredient made by the bartender. The signature ingredient would also be judged as a standalone. A cocktail in the Garnish category had to use seasonal ingredients paired with a DonQ rum, and the garnish would be judged on its look and creativity as a standalone. Cocktails in both categories were judged on technique, creativity, seasonality, visual appeal and of course taste. Varnish GM Chris Bostick would separately evaluate the competitors in the Technical scoring.

Contestants from each category drew numbers and competed head-to-head, tournament-style. Given the talent level of the competitors and the quality of the entries, scoring was close, especially in the final showdown for the Garnish category. Judging was made even harder when the contestants made adjustments to their recipes for the final round. One drink in particular closed the gap to such a degree that it came down to the Technical scoring to determine a winner in that category.

When the dust had settled, the winning cocktails were the Cafe Pasquale by Marcos Tello (1886), and the Foxy Brown by Jason Schiffer of 320 Main. Both winners stood out beyond having great tasting drinks that were nicely presented; Tello’s rock candy swizzle and Schiffer’s “cocktail within a cocktail” were especially notable for their creativity. Both the Cafe Pasquale’s signature ingredient and the Foxy Brown’s garnish could be enjoyed on their own or incorporated into their respective cocktails. Consistent execution was a key factor, as well.

Cafe Pasquale by Marcos Tello

CAFE PASQUALE
Created by Marcos Tello
Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Don Q Gran Anejo
• ½ oz. Homemade “Mexican Chocolate” Syrup*
• Dash of Fee Bros. Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Preparation: Build & stir with one large ice cube
Glass: Clear Glass Coffee Mug
Garnish: Demerara Swizzle Stick & Dried Julienned Chiles
Presentation: White Plate with a mound of cayenne pepper & a mound of chocolate
*Mixture of chocolate powder, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, & Demerara Syrup

Foxy Brown by Jason Schiffer

FOXY BROWN
Created by Jason Schiffer
Ingredients:

• 2 oz. DonQ Cristal,
• 1 tsp. Firelit coffee liqueur
• ¾ oz. 320 Main house-made Orgeat
• 1½ oz. Lime Juice

Preparation:

• Shake with crushed ice
• Serve over crushed ice in a Double Old Fashioned
• Garnish with a “cocktail within a cocktail”: ¼ oz Fernet Branca and ¼ oz Depaz Cane Syrup inside a lime shell.

Tello and Schiffer will be at MCC to compete against winners from other USBG chapters in the Mix-Off Finals, taking place on Saturday, May 14th at Skylight West. Four winners will be named by a judging panel (two from each category), and a fifth winner will be chosen as the Crowd Favorite when the event opens to the public for The Cocktail Club: A DonQ Rums 80s Bash.

According to the DonQ press release, the five winners from the MCC competition “will be flown to Puerto Rico to tour the Destilería Serrallés and visit the Serrallés Castle. On their return, the winners will present a tailored mixology seminar to their respective USBG chapters. In addition to the winners’ individual prize package, a $5,000 donation will be made to the winning chapter’s non-profit affiliation.”

Cheers to Marcos and Jason for sharing their recipes, and good luck in New York!

The Cocktail Club: A DonQ Rums 80′s Bash
Saturday, May 14, 2011
9pm-1am
$50
Featuring: open bar and “80s pop cuisine”
As this post goes live, tickets are still available on the MCC ticket page.

Skylight West
500 West 36th St. (at 10th Ave.)
New York, NY 10018
www.skylightnyc.com

Life will be a little less fun in Los Angeles while Aidan Demarest is busy in New York hosting two events at this year’s MCC. First up, on Saturday, May 14th: The Spare Room presents The Evening Glass-Off, hosted by Demarest, Marc Rose and Med Abrous. Once guests make their way to the third floor roof of the Thompson LES, they can toast the Manhattan Cocktail Classic with complementary Moet champagne as well as Aidan’s award-winning Mai Tai, The Evening Glass-Off.

Update 5/14: The Evening Glass-Off has been moved to the roof of the Thompson LES.

The Spare Room presents The Evening Glass-Off
Saturday, May 14, 2011
5pm-8pm
Hosted by Marc Rose, Med Abrous & Aidan Demarest
Featuring:

• The Spare Room Barstaff
• Complementary Moet and The Evening Glass-Off
• Small bites by The Meatball Shop

RSVP to rsvp@spareroomhollywood.com

Thompson LES Hotel
190 Allen Street (between Houston & Stanton)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 460-5300
thompsonhotels.com/hotels/nyc/thompson-les

On Monday, May 16th, Demarest teams up with his Liquid Assets partner Marcos Tello to present an “East Coast / West Coast Switcheroo” edition of Red Rover, their all-star mixologist series. Red Rover will take place at Jo’s Restaurant and feature Tello and Varnish co-owner Eric Alperin behind the stick.

Liquid Assets presents Red Rover
An East Coast / West Coast Switcheroo
Monday, May 16, 2011
10pm to close
Featuring:

• Guest bartenders Marcos Tello & Eric Alperin
• Cash bar, no tickets necessary

Jo’s Restaurant
264 Elizabeth Street (between Houston & Prince)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-9640
www.josnyc.com

Related posts:

1. An Epic Night at the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala
2. Debbi Peek Wins USBG Piña Colada Competition at 2011 Tales of the Cocktail
3. Thirsty in NOLA: Tales of the Cocktail 2011

Traveling on the trolley of death #bloggerbarhop

February 1, 2011 12:18 am via Twitter for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@SavoryHunter

Aaron Tell

This dispatch from the Death Trolley was sent on the final leg of the Blogger Bar Hop, a night of revelry with a motley crew of gin-soaked bloggers, bartenders and random passers-by who were shanghaied along the way.

The idea for the bar hop was hatched a couple of months ago, during a holiday party at Musso & Frank. Caroline on Crack and I were talking about a bar crawl organized by Simon Ford, who had taken a group of L.A. bartenders for a night on the town that is now the stuff of legend. Caroline thought there should be a similar event for bloggers, and broached the idea to Aidan Demarest, who in turn talked to Erick Castro. A few sips of our Gibsons later, and Plymouth Gin was on board as the sponsor. Demarest would curate the hit list of bars and book the transportation, while Caroline would coordinate the blogger invites.

A couple of weeks later, an email was sent out to recruit a team to storm the gates of some of the best drinking establishments in the city. Answering Caroline’s call to action were me, Aaron, e*star LA, Food GPS, L.A. Cocktails Examiner, L.A.-O.C. Foodventures, Elina Shatkin (Squid Ink, Toque), and LAist Editor Lindsay William-Ross. The Blogger Bar Hop would be the ultimate test of our cocktailing abilities; only the strong would survive this mission and weak livers need not apply. Who would be found wanting? If the Blogger Bar Hop was a war movie, who would be that one guy showing everyone photos of his sweetheart back home? Who was going to be the redshirt of this landing party?

On the itinerary were some of Demarest’s favorite bars, including a few familiar names from his CV: “To me these bars represent a broad range of styles and atmosphere. And you can be sure at all of them that any time you go you’re getting a great drink.”

Plymouth Gin punch bowl at The Spare Room.

FIRST STOP: THE SPARE ROOM

The team assembled last Monday night at The Spare Room, Demarest’s new bar and gaming salon in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. To help identify us (as if we weren’t going to be noticeable), I brought some supplies left over from our Burning Man luau, including a box of leis and a special accessory for Demarest:

We haven't had a drink yet and Aidan has used his coconut bra for a cup #bloggerbarhop (@ Spare Room at The Roosevelt) http://4sq.com/i8n0SY

January 31, 2011 7:11 pm via foursquareReplyRetweetFavorite

@ThirstyInLA

Thirsty in LA

Aidan Demarest prepares a scorecard for the bar hop.

Demarest told us to fill out scorecards to track our drink tally; the winning blogger would get a free game of bowling at The Spare Room. To keep us honest, each cocktail on the card had to be initialed by a bartender.

Our welcome cocktail was Castro’s dangerously good Blogger’s Brew: Plymouth Gin, pineapple gomme, velvet falernum, fresh lemon, Earl Grey tea and spices. Castro nicknamed his drink the “L.A. Christmas,” after the spices that call to mind those bone-chilling, 50-degree Los Angeles winter nights.

The bar's signature cocktail, the Spare Room Snap.

Next up was one of Demarest’s creations, the Spare Room Snap: rye whiskey, SNAP, lemon juice and freshly grated nutmeg. As I mentioned in my opening night review, the bar’s namesake cocktail is a great drink; well-balanced between spice, gingery bite, and the tart lemon.

You Drink Our Milkshake

Then came a White Russian variation called the You Drink Our Milkshake, made with vodka, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao and cream. Another winner that was rich, velvety, and so very drinkable.

Some of the bar hoppers loosened up with a few frames of bowling, while others gave the photo booth a try. In the meantime, a punch bowl appeared by the bowling lanes. We were still at our first stop and we were already three or four drinks in.

Fortunately, it was time to leave and we headed downstairs to our chariot. Joining us for the epic journey were Castro, Spare Room bartender Naomi Schimek, and Lindsey Nader, the former PDT bartender who is creating the cocktail menu at the upcoming Son of a Gun.

According to Demarest’s plan, we would spend about 45 minutes at each bar, then hit the road. With such a tight schedule, there was no time to look for stragglers; once Demarest said it was time to go, if you weren’t on the trolley you’d be cabbing it back. To make sure this didn’t happen, we were each assigned a number to sound off each time we were ready to leave a bar. (No joke, more than one bar hopper was saved from getting left behind this way.)

We board the Trolley of Death!

Demarest had stocked the trolley with beer, champagne and a bottle of bacon-washed bourbon he dubbed “Figgie Smalls.” (Naturally, none of these items would count towards our scorecards.) As we turned onto Hollywood Blvd., Demarest skillfully served the champagne; when he said that he could pour champagne “while driving the Indy 500,” you had to believe him:

Aidan pouring champagne on a moving trolley without spilling a drop, he's a pro! #bloggerbarhop

January 31, 2011 8:12 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@ThirstyInLA

Thirsty in LA

Like any proper tour guide, Demarest would occasionally grab the microphone to point out landmarks, offer safety tips (“If you fall off, tuck and roll”) and keep us in line, with mixed results. As we continued east, rowdy passengers began haranguing pedestrians. Considering half the trolley was open and exposed, Lindsay summed up our somewhat vulnerable situation:

On a sightseeing trolley getting sloshed rolling thru east Hollywood. We might get shot at tonight. #bloggerbarhop

January 31, 2011 8:21 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@SquashBlossom

Lindsay William-Ross

We made it through the gauntlet and pulled up to Big Bar in Los Feliz. Our arrival instantly turned the intimate bar’s vibe up to eleven; my sympathies to anyone who was there for a quiet Monday night drink. The consensus favorite cocktail seemed to be Bar Manager Juan Sevilla‘s excellent Merry Widow:

At @bigbarlosfeliz loving Juan Sevilla's Merry Widow: #PlymouthGin dry vermouth, benedictine, bitters & absinthe rinse #bloggerbarhop

January 31, 2011 8:56 pm via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@ThirstyInLA

Thirsty in LA

Another standout was a Clover Club that Elina let me sample. Sevilla and Alcove Cafe owner Tom Trellis sent out plates of delicious bar bites, which were devoured faster than chum during Shark Week:

#BloggerBarHop Stop #2: @bigbarlosfeliz Merry Widow cocktail, and why have I not had the bacon wrapped, goat cheese filled dates before?

January 31, 2011 8:47 pm via TwitterrificReplyRetweetFavorite

@foodgps

foodgps

Demarest decided to kidnap bartenders at each stop, so as we left Big Bar we were joined by Sevilla, Mia Sarazen and Rich Andreoli. We attempted to do a quick stop at Tiki-Ti, but sadly it was closed; the Trolley of Death pushed on. Esther and others braved the biting wind as we traveled north on the 110 towards our next stop:

If your hand touches mine and it's frozen, it's bc I chose to stay in the rear, open aired part of the trolley on the 110. #bloggerbarhop

January 31, 2011 9:44 pm via ÜberSocialOrigReplyRetweetFavorite

@estarLA

estarLA

Marcos Tello and Erick Castro

THIRD STOP: 1886

As we walked into a busy 1886, we were welcomed with coupes of Rose Parade Punch: gin, roses, cucumber and soda. Marcos Tello (who would ride the Death Trolley as well) gave a brief welcome speech before we enjoyed more libations from Garrett McKechnie and Danny Cymbal:

Drinks @1886bar during #bloggerbarhop; I got the gin gin mule http://twitpic.com/3vdjxx

January 31, 2011 10:03 pm via TwitpicReplyRetweetFavorite

@LAOCfoodie

H.C.

For the trip out of Pasadena, I joined the hardy group seated in the open part of the trolley, warming myself with occasional swigs of Figgie Smalls. There may have been PBRs and Edison beer involved, too.

The Death Trolley rolled into downtown L.A. and our next stop, The Varnish. Logistically, it made sense to go downtown after the other bars, but of course this meant that the later stops on the itinerary would have to deal with a group that was on the far side of a dozen drinks. Varnish GM Chris Bostick told me later he was following our bar hop tweets and, like a captain preparing for an approaching storm, was able to batten down the hatches before we arrived.

#BloggerBarHop Stop #4: The Varnish (@213nightlife) a quick but effective stop. Devon Tarby makes a good Death and Taxes.

January 31, 2011 11:47 pm via TwitterrificReplyRetweetFavorite

@foodgps

foodgps

Devon Tarby was a rock star, handling regular customers and ginned-up bar hoppers with equal aplomb. Caroline asked Tello to make her a Manhattan, “for old time’s sake.” I was dancing with Schimek when it was suddenly time to leave; all those drinks must have had the cumulative effect of compressing time, because it felt like we had just walked in.

The wheels had really started to come off the rails by the time we hit Seven Grand:

What round is this? (@ Seven Grand w/ @estarla @carolineoncrack) http://4sq.com/eYR5Xc

January 31, 2011 11:31 pm via foursquareReplyRetweetFavorite

@ThirstyInLA

Thirsty in LA

Memories are scattered and fuzzy at this point, but the bar was definitely two or three deep and the clock was ticking on our stay (not that any of us were in dire need of more liquor). I’m pretty sure I ordered a WhistlePig Manhattan. I may have even drank some of it before a quick departure order was given.

Then it was back on the road, as we headed into the homestretch of the bar hop. Friends like Dan Cox were continuing to track our progress, and it seemed like they were having a good time drinking vicariously through us:

Reading #bloggerbarhop is even more entertaining than Justin Beiber on Letterman! BRING IT!!!

February 1, 2011 12:13 am via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@DanCoxPR

Dan Cox

Our penultimate stop on the bar hop was the Original Tommy’s in Hollywood, where Demarest loaded the trolley with a massive to-go order to help us soak up some of the gallons of booze. There’s a vague memory of Food GPS taking his leave at this point, burger in hand.

Pitstop for burgers and fries #bloggerbarhop (@ Original Tommy's Hamburgers) http://4sq.com/h96NHX

February 1, 2011 12:39 am via foursquareReplyRetweetFavorite

@LAOCfoodie

H.C.

Then we were back where it had all started. Only this time, we had to navigate a packed Roosevelt lobby and the queue to enter The Spare Room. We were all a bit gin crazed at this point, so copious amounts of water were all we could handle. Well, maybe a bit of dancing, too.

When the dust had settled, most of the bar hoppers had acquitted themselves admirably. Sure, there was sloppiness in abundance, but fear not, dear reader; we watched out for each other. No one was left behind and collateral damage was confined to a few (thousand) brain cells. And who had the winning scorecard? It was a tie between Esther and Lindsay, who both logged 22 drinks:

@SquashBlossom Oh we certainly didn't drink the most but we were coherent/nerdy enuf to keep score + ride OPENAIRTROLLEY @carolineoncrack

February 2, 2011 10:57 am via ÜberSocialOrigReplyRetweetFavorite

@estarLA

estarLA

The chicken scratches on my own mangled scorecard got progressively worse with each stop, so I’m impressed they were even able to write anything towards the end of the night. Free bowling and props to both Esther and Lindsey for riding in the open section of the Death Trolley all night!

Esther was kind enough to let me and Caroline crash at her place, and the morning arrived rather abruptly with the sound of her smoke alarm going off. (Naturally, no one moved.) As I sat up on the couch, I went through the usual post-boozing checklist: phone, wallet, camera; everything seemed to survive the crawl intact. Well, almost everything:

OH @ThirstyInLA: "Did I sit on a burger?" #bloggerbarhop #hangover

February 1, 2011 10:09 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@Carolineoncrack

Caroline on Crack

Fortunately, I had a change of clothes with me and didn’t have to wear the jeans with the Tommy’s chili patch on the back pocket. For brunch, Esther suggested we meet Lindsay at The Hollywood Corner for some much-needed sustenance and Blogger Bar Hop debriefing. Unfortunately the Bloody Marys weren’t available, but Caroline and I managed:

Beer, it's what's for breakfast. (@ The Hollywood Corner w/ @estarla @carolineoncrack) http://4sq.com/dEKEPb

February 1, 2011 10:56 am via foursquareReplyRetweetFavorite

@ThirstyInLA

Thirsty in LA

No doubt about it, Caroline is a pro. Not only did she jumpstart and help organize the Blogger Bar Hop, she consistently tweeted throughout the night and also documented the shenanigans in an awesome Flickr album:

For the curious, pics from last night's @drinkenglishgin #bloggerbarhop http://bit.ly/dFZ13l

February 1, 2011 8:02 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@Carolineoncrack

Caroline on Crack

Many thanks to Aidan Demarest, Caroline on Crack, Erick Castro, Plymouth Gin, our trolley driver, and of course all the bartenders who helped make the Blogger Bar Hop a night that none of us will soon forget. Or remember, for that matter. Cheers!

More coverage of the Blogger Bar Hop:

• Caroline on Crack – And Then It Was All a Blur
• e*star LA – All Aboard: Blogger Bar Hop on the Trolley of Death
• L.A. Cocktails Examiner – Drunkocalypse Now

Related posts:

1. Oliver Jones Named Winner of the 2010 Jimmy Barela Award
2. So Long 2011, and Thanks for All the Fish!
3. A Hot Time at Jonathan Gold’s Second Annual Union Station Cocktail Party