Best of Lounge 2013 - Winners

And the 2013 Brian Paynter Award for Lounger Number One goes to ....
J. WALTER HAWKES,  Jazz Giant, Trombone man, and Ukulele Aficionado

The Loungerati readers have voted via Survey Monkey for the 2013 Best of Lounge Awards and the results are in:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Best Burlesque Act or Performer: DRUNKEN DRAGON FESTIVAL at MACAO (Calamity Chang, Minx Arcana, Gal Friday, and Perle Noire) 
Honorable Mention: Gotham Burlesque at the Triad Theatre, Nuit Blanche: Dolls After Dark at Beaumarchais, Take Back the 80s Burlesque (Francine The Lucid Dream and Minnie the Moocha), Coney Island's Enchanted Tiki Room (Left Lucy & Co.)

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY AT GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Honorable Mention: Club Wit's End 5th Annual Black Cat Masquerade, Loungerati Staff Beefsteak Dinner, The Salon: New Year's Eve Eve Party at DL Lounge, Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala at NY Public Library

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: TERRY WALDO, PIANO MAN
Honorable Mention: Michael Arenella & Dreamland orchestra, Dandy Wellington & His Band, JC Hopkins Biggish Band, Gelber & Manning

Most Sought After Ingredient for the Home Bar: DEAD RABBIT ORINOCO BITTERS by Dr. Adam Elmegirab

Honorable Mention: Leather Work Apron from Moore & Giles, Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters, Home Bar Basics (and not so basics) manual by Dave Stolte, Tuthiltown Distillery Barrel Aging Kit

Best Dressed Lounger: EFF BLANGIARDO of Loungerati
Honorable Mention: Robert Kennedy (Tie Man), Michael Haar (Barber Extraordinaire), Dandy Wellington (Song and Dance man), Grace Gotham (Scintillating Chanteuse)

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY & GROG (New York)
Honorable mention:  Attaboy (New York), Golden Cadillac (New York), Sweet Leaf (Queens), Long Island Bar (Brooklyn)

Best New York Cocktail Bar or Lounge: CLOVER CLUB (Brooklyn)
Honorable Mention: Employees Only (New York), Death & Company (New York), Dutch Kills (Queens)

Best Barfood: Oyster Happy Hour - MAISON PREMIERE (Brooklyn)
Honorable Mention: Charcuterie - Employees Only (New York),  Bill's Burger - Bill's Food & Drink (New York), Scotch Egg - Dead Rabbit (New York)

Best of the NY Hotel Bars: THE RUM HOUSE at EDISON HOTEL (New York)

Honorable Mention: Library Bar at NoMad Hotel (New York), Lantern's Keep at the Iroquois Hotel (New York), Bemelmans Bar at Carlyle Hotel (New York)

David A. Embury Award for Best Cocktail of 2013: THE MIDTOWN, Bryan Schneider for Quality Italian (New York)

Honorable Mention: Brancolada by Jeremy Ortel for Donna Cocktail Lounge (Brooklyn), Spanish Crown by Maxwell Britten for Maison Premiere (Brooklyn)

Editor and Staff Picks:
Best Seat in the House: Parlour Bar Seat at THE DEAD RABBIT (New York)
Honorable mention: Standing room at the bar - Prime Meats (Brooklyn), Seat F14 at Clover Club (Brooklyn), Corner bar seat at Attaboy (New York)

Best Cocktail for the Road: Toronto Cocktail from Jillian Vose of DEATH & COMPANY (New York)
Honorable Mention: Manhattan on Tap at Saxon & Parole (New York), Cynar Julep, Sable Kitchen & Bar (Chicago), Daiquiri shots at Berkshire Room (Chicago)

Best Saloon: BAR X (Salt Lake City)
Honorable Mention: Daddy-O(New York), Grace 365 (New York), Ward III (New York), Alewife (Queens)

Best of the Internationals: ARTESIAN BAR at LANGHAM HOTEL (London)
Honorable Mention:  American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (London), Kelvin Grove Cafe (Edinburgh),White Lyan (London), Night Jar (London)

Best Dive aka "The Gutter Award": TRACKS in Penn Station (New York)

Honorable Mention: Jimmy's Corner (New York), Montero Bar & Grill (Brooklyn), Arthur's Tavern (New York)

Don't Bruise the Ice Award for Best Ice Program: SAXON & PAROLE (New York)

Honorable Mention: Dutch Kills Bar (Queens), Booker & Dax (New York), Little Branch (New York), Violet Hour (Chicago)

Brian F. Paynter Award for Lounger Number One: J. WALTER HAWKES - Jazz Giant
Honorable Mention: Robert Kennedy (OcTIEBer), Patrick Soluri (The Salon), Fredo Ceraso (Loungerati)

Happy Repeal Day! Raise a Glass to Utah!

Loungerati Editor Fredo Ceraso enjoying
Repeal Day cocktails at Employees Only
(photo credit: Gabi Porter)

On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution became the law of the land. This piece of legislation repealed the 18th Amendment's Prohibition of alcohol. The last state to ratify the amendment in the State conventions, thus passing the 3/4 majority required to amend the Constitution under Article 5, was Utah! So let's all toast Utah!

XXI Amendment 

Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

On December 5, 2006 Loungerati was formed to fill the void for lounge website Tommywhitetie.com which was closed down by it's eponymous founder. A select group of Loungers refused to go quietly. It wasn't last call yet, and there was an open bar of opportunity and ideas.

Loungerati was born on a cocktail napkin at a bar called Brooklyn Social in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and memorialized with the epic Lounge Doctrine delivered by The Senator at the Algonquin Hotel bar the following year. Loungerati continues to serve as an outlet to those who enjoy Lounge culture, the sporting life, exquisite cocktails, classic music, and a good time!

To toast this joyous occasion, try out this exquisite libation I adapted for a multiple Best of Lounge winner in the categories of Burlesque and Haberdashery - the lovely and dangerous Gin Minsky!

The Gin Minsky
adapted by Fredo Ceraso

2 oz Hendricks Gin
1 oz St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
3/4 oz fresh lemon
2 dashes of Bittermens Burlesque bitters
Champagne

Tools: Mixing tins, jigger, coupe, Hawthorne strainer, fine strainer

Method: Combine bitters, citrus juice, gin, and elderflower liqueur in a mixing tin, add ice. Shake until well chilled. Double strain into champagne coupe. Top with bubbles and garnish with sprig of rosemary.

Please join us at the legendary King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City around 10pm December 5th to celebrate your right to imbibe and Loungerati's 7th Birthday!

Best of Lounge 2013 - The Voting Begins

McIlroy & Ross of Attaboy up for Best New Cocktail Bar

Welcome to the Best of Lounge 2013 Voting!

Click here to VOTE!

The categories open for your consideration are: 

Best New Cocktail Bar/Lounge

• Golden Cadillac (New York)
• Long Island Bar (Brooklyn)
• Sweet Leaf (Queens)
• Dead Rabbit (New York)
• Attaboy (New York)

Best New York Cocktail Bar/Lounge 

• Clover Club (Brooklyn)
• Dutch Kills (Queens)
• Death & Company (New York)
• Employees Only (New York)
• Amor y Amargo (New York)

Best New York Hotel Bar

• Rum House at Edison Hotel
• Lantern's Keep at Iroquois Hotel
• Library Bar at NoMad Hotel
• Bemelmans Bar at Carlyle Hotel
• King Cole Bar at St. Regis Hotel

Most Sought After Ingredient/Bar tool for the Home Bar

• Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters 
• "Home Bar Basics (and not so basics)" manual by Dave Stolte
• Tuthilltown Distillery Barrel Aging Kit
• Leather Work Apron from Moore & Giles
• Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters by Dr. Adam Elmegirab

Best Barfood 

• Charcuterie at Employees Only
• Scotch Egg at The Dead Rabbit
• Bill's Burger at Bill's Food & Drink
• Derby Cobb Salad at the Astor Room
• Oyster Happy Hour at Maison Premiere

Best Burlesque Act or Performance 

• Coney Island's Enchanted Tiki Room, Lefty Lucy & Co.
• Take Back the 80s Burlesque - Francine "The Lucid Dream"
• Gotham Burlesque at Triad Theatre
• Nuit Blanche: Dolls After Dark at Beaumarchais
• Drunken Dragon at Macao - Calamity "The Asian Sexation" Chang & Minx Arcana

Best Dressed Lounger

• Eff Blangiardo, Acolyte of Sprezzatura
• Michael Haar, Barber and Radioflyer
• Grace Gotham, Chanteuse and Burlesque vixen 
• Robert Kennedy, OcTIEber aficionado
• Dandy Wellington, Song and Dance Man

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge/Retro/Vintage Event

• Club Wit's End 5th Annual Black Cat Masquerade
• Jazz Age Picnic at Governor's Island
• The Salon: New Year's Eve Eve at DL Lounge
• Loungerati Staff Beefsteak Dinner
• Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala at NY Public Library

Viva La Music Award: Best Jazz/Swing/Lounge Band

• JC Hopkins Biggish Band
• Michael Arenella & The Dreamland Orchestra
• Gelber & Manning
• Dandy Wellington & His Band
• Terry Waldo, Ragtime piano man at Dead Rabbit and Rum House

David A. Embury Award: Best Cocktail of 2013

• The Midtown (Booker's Bourbon, house made sweet vermouth, Nardini Amaro, Maraschino, grapefruit peel, burnt sugar sour cherry), Bryan Schneider for Quality Italian
• Brancolada (Branca Menta, Appleton Estate V/X, coconut cream, pineapple juice, orange juice, mint sprig), Jeremy Ortel for Donna Cocktail Lounge
• Spanish Crown (Lemon-grass infused mezcal, Suze, creme de violette, La Gitana sherry, blueberries), Maxwell Britten for Maison Premiere
• Banker's Punch (Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength Irish Whiskey, Dead Rabbit Jamaican Rum Mix, fresh lime juice, raspberry cordial, Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters, dashes Graham’s LBV Port Wine), The Dead Rabbit
• Form of Flattery (El Dorado 12 Year Rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, beet juice, nutmeg Falernum, grapefruit peel), Pouring Ribbons Bar

Additional categories will be voted by the Loungerati editors and include:

• Best Saloon
• Best Seat in the House
• Best Cocktail for the Road
• Best of the International Bars
• Best Dive aka the Gutter Award
• Don't Bruise The Ice Award for Premier Ice Program
• Brian F. Paynter Award: Lounger Number One

Deadline to cast your votes is November 30th, the winners will be announced on Loungerati's 7th birthday Dec 5th (Repeal Day of course).

Cheers!

Fredo, Eff, & The Senator

Destinations: Nitehawk Cinema's "Spirits, Dinner and a Movie" with the Dead Rabbit on August 7th

Our friends at award winning cocktail den The Dead Rabbit have team up with Nitehawk Cinema for the very first Spirits, Dinner and a Movie! The feature film will be Gangs of New York with food and cocktail parings throughout the Scorsese classic. This is a cannot miss event.

Here is the press release and Cocktail/Dinner menu:

Fresh on the heels of their three-time win at the 11th annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards (International Bartender of the Year, World’s Best Cocktail Menu and World’s Best New Cocktail Bar), The Dead Rabbit’s Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry will launch Nitehawk Cinema’s very first “Spirits, Dinner and a Movie” event on Wednesday, August 7th in Williamsburg.  Teaming up with the best bartenders in the city, this series is the newest of Nitehawk’s creative repertory programming, combining moviegoer’s favorite things: fantastic drinks, food, and film.

The first feature is Martin Scorsese’s 2002 fictional historical drama, Gangs of New York, which depicts the violent rise of gangland power in New York City. Larger than life, the film has it all: history, love, loyalty, revenge, and true O.G. gang violence. The best part? As with Nitehawk’s “Beer, Dinner and a Movie” and “Film Feast” series, the audience will be served each course during the specific moments inspired by the film.

AUGUST 7 - 7PM ($95)

GANGS OF NY - with The Dead Rabbit

Martin Scorsese • 2002 • 187 Mins. • USA • English • 35mm • Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly • R

In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father’s killer. 

Food & Cocktail Menu

Bill The Butcher Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, poire eau de vie, lemon sherbet, Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters, mace tincture, boiling water, freshly grated nutmeg 

The Dead Rabbit rabbit terrine, whiskey aspic, torn bread

Old Smoke Morrissey

Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Dolin Rouge Sweet Vermouth, Chartreuse Verte, Bittermens Orange Cream Citrate, Pernod Absinthe, Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters

Three Square Meals bacon and red skinned potato hash, poached quail egg; smoked whitefish salad, celery, My Friend’s Mustard**; blue fish ceviche, lime, jalapeno, tomato

Reddy The Blacksmith Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey, Dead Rabbit Jamaican Rum Mix, Grahams LBV Port Wine, fresh lime juice, raspberry cordial, Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters 

Whose Man Are You? port aged rib eye, champ, watercress

Paddy The Priest

small serving of Guinness & Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey 

The Return of The Dead Rabbits rabbit loin, braised cabbage, mustard sauce

Challenge Accepted

blueberry and bourbon pie, guinness ice cream

Harry The Soldier Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Irish Whiskey, lemon & orange sherbet, Suze Gentiane, eucalyptus tincture, Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters, tamarind nectar, Assam tea

Food & Cocktail Menu is subject to change.

**My Friend’s Mustard (beer mustard born in Brooklyn, raised in Detroit) locally made by friend-of-Nitehawk, Nick Dodge

Follow on twitter, #SpiritsDinner:

@NitehawkCinema

@deadrabbitnyc

Where to get a decent cocktail in NYC during Tales of the Cocktail week

The crew behind the stick at Attaboy this week

Once a year, the world's best craft bartenders, taste makers, brand ambassadors, drinks writers, liquor sponsors, and cocktail aficionados plus a legion of media and public relations people descend on the New Orleans for a week of booze filled seminars, "spirited dinners", tough talking competitions, liquor tastings, and brand sponsored parties. Yes, it is time for Tales of the Cocktail again, the culinary and booze festival that is a bonafide  CocktailCon for the industry.

In past years, many of New York’s cocktail imbibers took the week off and substituted their daiquiris for a shot and beer. Their favorite drink slingers were partying it up in the Big Easy so why even bother? Fear not friends, times have changed as new generations of craft bartenders have expanded the city’s already deep bench of bartending talent. There will be no cocktail drought this year. In addition to a slew of young and up and coming bartenders, many veterans and legends will be in town this year.

The following is a list of 10 top shelf watering holes and the talent behind the stick this Wednesday through Saturday July 17 – 20:

• Attaboy (134 Eldridge Street) – Award winning barmen Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy are staying in town this year with their whole crew including bright boys Brandon Bramhall, Andrew Rice, and Dan Greenbaum. Expect lots of citrus forward seasonal cocktails and aperitifs.
• Clover Club (210 Smith Street) – Travis St. Germain, Ryan Lilila, and Pedro Rojas will be keeping Brooklyners wet with their delicious array of cocktails and small plates.
• Employees Only (510 Hudson Street) – The party never stops at EO, where Bratislav Glisic and Ulysses Vidal keep high volume cocktails flowing till the chicken soup is served.
• Macao Trading Company (311 Church Street) – Good guys Gabe Lerner and Vincent Vitek will be serving up libations Drunken Dragon style.
•  Ward III (111 Reade Street) – Consummate hosts Kenneth McCoy and Abdul Tabini with young guns Mikey Diehl and Dustin Olson will be making bespoke cocktails for your pleasure.
• Rum House (228 West 47^th Street) – Old pros Nino Cirabisi and Abel Rodriquez joined by young buck Eric Job will be cranking out libations for the Times Square crowd. Stop by for a drink and the live piano.
• Death & Company (433 East 6^th Street) –Jason Littrell will be back from Tales and working Saturday July 20^th with Natasha David while new boys Scott Teague and Tyson Buhler cover the rest of the week
• Mayahuel (304 East 6^th Street) – Phil Ward’s cantina and agave mecca is fully operational with Jeremy Oertel and Jordan Brower holding the fort on Saturday July 20^th with Jordan Bower and Natasha David covering tags the rest of the week.
• The Dead Rabbit (30 Water Street) – Jack McGarry & Sean Muldoon assure us that they have a deep bench and it will be business as usual at the Financial District cocktail destination. Expect signature punches, toddies, slings, and a encyclopedia of clever cocktails.
• Amor y Amargo (443 East 6th Street) – Barman Sother Teague is flying up a ringer from Atlanta, Mr. Ari Form makes his triumphant return to NYC. Get your bitters and amaro fix on!

So get out there and support your local NYC cocktail bar! The show must go on! 

Destinations: The Fourth of July 2013 in NYC

This year there are a multitude of terrific events for your Fourth of July vintage-retro partying in New York. Two stellar rooftop parties featuring patriotic big bands, burlesque, and timeless vaudville promise to be the perfect spot to enjoy fireworks fire works and get your dance on. There is also a genuine riverboat Jazz Age cruise in New York Harbor featuring first class drinking and dining, and the musical stylings of Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra.

THE LIBERTY BELLE EXTRAVAGANZA - A Vintage Fourth of July Rooftop Spectacular

This year the vintage-Retro nightlife veterans (The Salon, Wit's End and The Champagne Riot) annual collaboration is pushing the envelope and throwing parties on not one, but TWO of NYC's rooftop clubs that will showcase the finest in hot jazz music, vintage entertainment and raucous patriotic revelry! The LBE producers have also partnered with Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing,for even more dancing, & live big band music! 

FEATURING:

At the DL Lounge:

• Gelber and Manning and The Star Spangled Orchestra * 
• Jessy Carolina and the Hot Mess 
• The Brain Cloud 
• The Blue Vipers
• LES Hot Club 

At the Empire Hotel:

• The Hot Sardines 
• The Red Hook Ramblers 
• Dandy Wellington and his Band 
• and following Midsummer Night Swing's "Battle of the Bands," A Magical Midnight Jam Session  
  
  featuring musicians from both bands: The George Gee Swing Orchestra, and Mora’s Modern Rhythmists

Burlesque & Vaudeville by:

• Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey
• Hazel Honeysuckle
• Medianoche
• The Maine Attraction 
• Jezebel Express 
• Gin Minsky
• and many more

The events are MC'd by Albert Cadabra (at the DL) and Mr. Dandy Wellington (at the Empire Hotel)

Any admission allows entry to both Liberty Belle venues, choose one venue to start your evenings festivities - $35 in advance (online only) - $40 at door (cash only) - $40 Combo Ticket (advance only) includes entry to Midsummer Night Swing. Tix Available Online: http://www.libertybelleextravaganza.com/

THE RIVERBOAT BALL

Shortly after its birth, jazz made its way to the industrial north on riverboats puffing up the Mississippi. This 4th of July, celebrate America's independence and her musical voyage, aboard a genuine riverboat.

Dance, drink and dine as the New Orleans style Riverboat "Queen of Hearts" splashes through the night along the banks of Old Manhattan, enjoying unrivaled views of the fireworks and the hottest 1920s jazz entertainment this side of the Mason-Dixon.

• Prime Fireworks Views
• Premium Open Bar - All Night Long
• Gourmet Hors d'ouevres and Raw Bar
• A Free Flowing Champagne Deck

FEATURING:

• Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra
• Ragtime Piano Man Terry Waldo
• Humor's Favorite Temptress - Grace Gotham
• Banjo Wizard Alan Cary
• Jenny Rocha and Her Painted Ladies
• Tap Dance Dynamo Helen Pontani
• And much more!

Tickets are $200 per person, in advance only. 21 and over with required identification. They cruise RAIN OR SHINE aboard the Queen of Hearts - Pier 78 boarding at 6:00 pm docking at 10:00 pm for more information and directions visit us at: www.DreamlandOrchestra.com