LA in NY: The City of Angels at the 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic

It’s May 13th, and on this day last year I was in New York on the eve of the inaugural Manhattan Cocktail Classic to toast World Cocktail Day and celebrate my First Blogiversary with my blogger twin, The Dizzy Fizz. And even though I’ll be in L.A. this year and have to settle for vicariously drinking through everyone’s tweets and posts, I’ll be content in knowing that Los Angeles will be well-represented at MCC.

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Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT

With a limit of just nine attendees, Stories from Behind the Bar: PDT was one of the first seminars to sell out almost immediately after online tickets went on sale. Since its opening in 2007, Please Don’t Tell (PDT) has garnered acclaim for its classically-inspired seasonal cocktails: at the Tales of the Cocktail 2009 Spirited Awards, PDT was named World’s Best Cocktail Bar and Managing Partner Jim Meehan was named American Bartender of the Year.

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The Three Hour Tour: Around the World in Five Cocktails

Of the dozens of events that took place during the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, the Three Hour Tour was arguably the most eagerly anticipated. All 242 tickets for the booze cruise quickly sold out, and no matter how desperate your plea or generous your bribe, if you didn’t have a ticket, you were up the Hudson without a paddle.

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Stories from Behind the Bar: Clover Club

Third in a series recapping the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic. After the overindulgence of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala on Friday night, it was time get a little more serious on Day Two of the MCC with…well, more drinking. Fortunately, the day’s seminars were toned down from the Gala’s massive scale; many of them were…

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An Epic Night at the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala

On Friday, May 14, the center of the cocktail universe was at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, site of the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala. From 9pm to 1am, 2500 sharply-dressed imbibers roamed the Beaux-Arts splendor of the New York Public Library, sampling cocktails from 150 mixologists and 137 liquor brands from around the world.

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Death and Pain on World Cocktail Day 2010

First in a series recapping the 2010 Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Fear not, dear reader. Despite the grim title of this post, I had a great night out with friends old and new on the eve of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. I had flown to New York a day early to celebrate World Cocktail Day as…

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Thirsty in LA First Blogiversary & World Cocktail Day 2010

Today is May 13th, which means Thirsty in LA is celebrating its One-Year Blogiversary! It seems like so much has happened with the L.A. cocktail scene since I launched this blog, it’s hard to believe that it’s only been a year. Just look at some of the bars and restaurants that have opened in that…

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2010: So Far, So Good

So far, 2010 is off to a great start: got up early this morning, made brunch with my brother, had a nice Chinese seafood dinner with the family, then topped off the evening with a Manhattan at home on a quiet Friday night. Day One may be winding down, but a look at the calendar…

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