The headline says it all, friends. Building on the bonds that were forged at the inaugural Art Beyond the Glass between bartenders, brands and community, Art Beyond the Glass II is taking place on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club in downtown LA. Dozens of LA’s top bartenders will mix cocktails and showcase their art, music, photography and much more. Proceeds from ABTG II will benefit Art Share LA, a vital non-profit located in the Arts District of downtown.
Among the bartenders returning for ABTG II are Brent Falco (Cole’s Red Car Bar); Giovanni Martinez (Sadie); Julian Cox (Soigné Group); Mia Mastroianni (Soho House); bartender/artist Brian Butler (Sunny Spot); bartender/artist Justin Pike (The Tasting Kitchen); photographer Eugene Lee (Big Bar); magician Joshua Lucas (Writers Room); and DJs Dave Fernie (Pour Vous) and Steve Livigni (Old Lightning).
First time participants include emcee Aidan Demarest (Neat, Liquid Assets); Beau du Bois (The Corner Door); Chris Ojeda (Soho House); Devon Espinosa (Pour Vous); Devon Tarby (The Varnish); Francois Vera (No Vacancy); Nathan Burdette (The Bazaar); artist Brittini Rae Peterson (Goldie’s); DJ Dino Balocchi (Littlefork); bartender/performer Kiowa Bryan (Eveleigh); bartender/DJ Paul Sanguinetti (Patina Group); and furniture designer Philip Renderer (Seven Grand).
Invention Bar and Lounge | Photo by David Guettler Photography, courtesy of LAAC
ABTG II is taking over the third floor of the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), the first private club in Los Angeles, founded in 1880. Tello Demarest Liquid Assets is overseeing the new bar program at LAAC, a collaboration that began with the opening of the stunning Invention Bar and Lounge. The Invention debut coincides with the LAAC’s new Social Membership, which offers access to the venue’s bars, restaurants and events, as well as some of the perks enjoyed by full members, for a lower monthly rate.
The LAAC project represents a homecoming for Marcos Tello and Aidan Demarest, who both made their initial mark on the LA cocktail scene at Seven Grand, one block up from LAAC. At a recent launch event, Demarest said, “It’s really a nice full circle for us to come here and bring classics to this place, and be in the middle of this vibrant downtown setting again.” A fourth floor space will be the base of operations for Liquid Assets. The opening cocktail list, selected by Tello, is a short menu of drinks that were invented at private clubs around the world, such as the Pegu Club, served at the Royal Officer’s Club in Burma (now Myanmar).
Invention was designed by Tracy Beckmann, who also designed the nearby Mas Malo and the former Tar Pit supper club on La Brea. Beckmann started working with LAAC eight years ago, beginning with the John R. Wooden basketball court, and continuing with the Centennial Ballroom and LAAC’s hotel rooms. At that same launch event, Beckmann described her vision for Invention: “I want you to feel like you’re staying at your rich uncle’s house. He’s traveled the world and found all of these exotic curiosities.” Everything inside Invention was custom designed, from the Chesterfield sofas to the molecule-shaped light fixtures and the carpeting, which has a circuitry board pattern.
Centennial Ballroom | Photo by David Guettler Photography, courtesy of LAAC
A rotating roster of bartenders will be in the main bar at Invention, and DJs will be spinning in the lounge area (yes, there will be a dance floor). The spectacular Centennial Ballroom, which was recently featured in Mad Men, will showcase art and host live music, DJs and other stage performances. We won’t give away ALL the surprises, but here’s a taste of what else you can expect at ABTG II:
Guests can bid on silent auction items like this limited edition framed print, “Stir with Ice,” by Matt Talbert. | Photo courtesy of Matt Talbert
Another auction item, the LAST unopened bottle of the legendary Miracle Mile Clusterfuck Bitters. Once this one is gone, that’s it. | Photo courtesy of Louis Anderman
Zane Lamprey and Dan Dunn will be recording their podcast, “Happy Hour with Zane & Dunn,” at ABTG II. | Photo courtesy of Dan Dunn
Tickets are on sale at artbeyondtheglass.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $50 and are only available online, there will not be sales at the door on the day of the event. Admission includes cocktails, bar bites, art and entertainment. In addition, guests will be able to purchase bartender art, buy raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items.
Validated onsite parking at the LAAC will be available for $4.50 per car. The Parking Garage is located at 646 South Olive St.
For those who prefer to let someone else do the driving, Art Beyond the Glass is partnering with Uber, which is offering a $20 credit to new subscribers that can be used for a ride to or from ABTG II: www.uber.com/go/artbeyondLA
For more information, visit www.artbeyondtheglass.com.
After the jump, a complete list of the bar teams, artists, DJs and live performances.
Art Beyond the Glass II
Sunday, June 30, 2013
3:30-7:30pm
$50
21 and over
Tickets: artbeyondtheglass.eventbrite.com
Proceeds benefit Art Share LA
Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 West 7th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 625-2211
www.laac.com
INVENTION
- Team Bombay Sapphire: Chris Ojeda, Kate Grutman, Mia Mastroianni, Nathan Burdette
- Team Del Maguey / Becherovka: Devon Tarby, Giovanni Martinez, Julian Cox, Rosie Ruiz
- Team Infinium – Casa Noble Tequila & Zaya Rum: Dr. Christopher Day, Dan McClary, Joe Swifka, Justin Pike
- Team Leblon Cachaça: The 3 Graces (Brent Falco, Cari Hah, Zahra Bates), Jason Schiffer, Justin Roberts
- Team Pisco Porton: Brady Weise, Brittini Rae, Chris Amirault, Daniel Zacharczuk
SATELLITE BARS
- Team Aviation Gin: Daniel Warrilow, Kiowa Bryan, Michelle Bearden, Paul Sanguinetti
- Team Belvedere aka Team Handsome: Dan Long, Devon Espinosa, Francois Vera, Ricky Yarnall
- Team Campari America – Campari & Cynar: Daniel Warrilow, Dave Kupchinsky, Jill Webster
- Team La Niña Del Mezcal: Angela Gomez, Beau du Bois, Brian Butler, Jen Len
Artists: Anonymous, Brian Butler, Brittini Rae, Eugene Lee, Gabriella Mlynarczyk, Jason Schiffer, Justin Pike, Kate Grutman, Peter Lloyd-Jones, Philip Renderer, Ricky Yarnall, Tony Brown
DJs: Dave Fernie and Steve Livigni, Dino Balocchi, Paul Sanguinetti, Naomi Schimek and Allan Katz.
Live performances: The Victorians, featuring Erik Trickett; magic by Joshua Lucas and Jordan Gold, sponsored by Diageo; Copper the Bet featuring Brian Summers; Kiowa Bryan; and Dr. Christopher Day. Plus, a special edition of Bowmore’s “Whisky for Words,” featuring LA bartenders reading their own poems and Bowmore donating $50 to Art Share for each poem.
ABTG logo designed by Dave Stolte, Home Bar Basics.
Cocktail coupe image courtesy of Eric Alperin, The Varnish.
