Happy Independence Day America!!! Celebrate at the Liberty Belle Spectacular!

Today July 4th, marks the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Though the country is as divided as ever when it comes to political, economic, and social perspectives, we all come together today to celebrate the great things about the country and being American.

In New York City, Loungers will be flaunting their patriotic pride at the Liberty Belle Spectacular at the Empire Hotel rooftop bar and lounge.  Expect lots of seersucker and linen suits on the fellas and colorful vintage cocktail dresses on the gals. This collaboration between the producers of Club Wit's End, The Salon, The Champagne Riot, and Dances of Vice is in its third year and promises to be the place to party and enjoy the fireworks going off above the Hudson River.  Once again, The Salon's Cocktail Director Fredo from Loungerati will at the back bar serving out patriotic punch, Liberty Belle Bucks, and a Red, White, and Bourbon fix that is sure to quench your thirst!

This event was chosen by TimeOutNY as oe of their recommendations for Fourth of Juy Events and is SOLD OUT as of this morning!!

Here is the lowdown from the Liberty Belle gang:

DANCES OF VICE, THE SALON, THE CHAMPAGNE RIOT, and WIT'S END join forces to present another unforgettable vintage Fourth of July extravaganza! Join us on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel for live music, burlesque, da...ncing, fireworks, and delicious cocktails under the stars!

THE THIRD ANNUAL LIBERTY BELLE SPECTACULAR - A VINTAGE FOURTH OF JULY ROOFTOP EXTRAVAGANZA

Live music by GELBER & MANNING AND THE STAR SPANGLED ORCHESTRA

EDDIE CLENDENING & HIS BLUE RIBBON BOYS from the hit Broadway Show MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

MONA'S HOT FOUR
w/TAMAR KORN

Scintillating Burlesque by
GIN MINSKY
JEZEBEL EXPRESS
GAL FRIDAY
MISS EKATERINA
MEDIANOCHE

Plus....
MC DANDY WELLINGTON
ALBERT CADABRA
DJ SEI (Rebel Night)
DJ MOMOTARO

Guest Bartender
FREDO from Loungerati

Jump and swing to patriotic melodies from the 1930-40's by GELBER & MANNING AND THE STAR SPANGLED ORCHESTRA; red hot rockabilly by EDDIE CLENDENING & HIS BLUE RIBBON BOYS from the hit Broadway show "Million Dollar Quartet;" and Dixieland jazz by MONA'S HOT FOUR, featuring TAMAR KORN on vocals.

Our all-star program also features tap sensation GIN MINSKY, world class contortionist MISS EKATERINA, mesmerizing burlesque by JEZEBEL EXPRESS, GAL FRIDAY, and MEDIANOCHE; magic by The Great Deceiver ALBERT CADABRA; and our dapper MC DANDY WELLINGTON.

DJ'S SEI (Rebel Night)) and MOMOTARO keep you dancing all night, and delicious cocktails by guest bartender FREDO from Loungerati all on one of New York's most beautiful rooftop venues makes for a Fourth of July to remember!

Be crowned Mr & Mrs Liberty Belle, and win cool stuff! Judges will be observing incognito during the party! 

Dress Code: We celebrate the Fourth in vintage style, and we encourage our guests to do the same! Vintage & vintage-inspired cocktail looks from the 1920s-50s are encouraged, but not required. But please, men: no sneakers or shorts!

July 4, 2012
EMPIRE HOTEL ROOFTOP
44 West 63rd St, NYC
Doors at 5pm
21+ (ID required)

ADMISSION
$25 Early Bird *sale ended June 23rd*
$30 in advance (w/reserved admission time)
$35 at door (cash only)
$25 Group Tickets (for groups of 10 or more)

TICKETS & MORE INFO:
http://www.libertybellespectacular.com

Paparazzi: Flicks from The Liberty Belle Specatular

The iconic Empire Hotel neon sign lit up the night

Fredo & Brian P, the Old Boys, enjoying some smokes.

GZ, Jee Jee, and Fredo

Liberty Belle Punch sir? 

 

This should be framed!

Check out more great flicks from the event at Metromix New York 

Photography of the Loungerati paninari crew, courtesy of the talented Gabi Porter

Barfly's Beat: Liberty Belle Cocktail Menu

Fredo behind the bar the Empire Hotel

By popular demand, below is the cocktail menu I put together for the recent Liberty Belle Fourth of July Spectacular at the Empire Hotel Rooftop bar. A big thank you to Justin Noel from Contemporary Cocktails for helping me batch the punch and prep the ingredients. The bar staff of the Empire Hotel bar were pros despite the over capacity crowd.

The recipes from the Specialty Cocktail menu:

Yankee Doodle Dandy

2oz (RI) Rye Whiskey

1 barspoon of John C. Taylor Velvet Falernum

1 barspoon of Yellow Chartreuse

2 Dashes of Aromatic bitters

Orange and lemon peels

Combine ingredients in bar glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into Old Fashioned glass and add several large ice cubes. Garnish with orange and lemon peels.

This recipe is a variation of Giuseppe Gonzalez’s “Dandy” series of cocktails (he used scotch or gin) at Dutch Kills.

Southside Fizz

2 oz Tanqueray London Dry Gin

1 oz Lime Juice

¾ oz Simple Syrup

6-8 fresh Mint leaves

Club soda

Gently muddle mint with lime juice in bottom of mixing glass. Add gin, syrup, and ice and shake well. Pour into a Collins glass and top off with club soda. Garnish with mint.

Independence Julep

1 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon

1 oz Appleton Estate Rum

¾ oz of Demerara sugar syrup

2 springs of Mint

Gently muddle the mint and Demerara sugar in bottom of bar glass. Add the rum and bourbon then strain into a chilled highball glass over crushed ice. Stir the mixture, garnish with mint and serve.

Liberty Belle Punch (single serving)

1 ½ oz of Buellit Bourbon

1 oz of St. Germain Elderflower

1 ½ oz Lemon juice

1 oz Simple syrup

2 dashes of Rhubarb bitters

Lemon wheels and cherries

Sparkling wine

Combine everything except sparkling wine in shaker, add ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into goblet and top off with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon wheel and cherry.

Classic Daiquiri

2 oz Cruzan Platinum Rum

½ oz Lime juice

1 oz simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with Lime wedge.

(Photo credit: Gabi Porter for Metromix NY)

Destinations: The Liberty Belle Fourth of July Spectacular

Here is the ONLY place you should be on the Fourth:

EVENT: The Liberty Belle Fourth of July Spectacular
TIME & DATE: July 4, 2010 - 7PM to Close
LOCATION: Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 W 63rd St NYC
Tix Available Online: http://www.libertybellespectacular.com/

Dances of Vice, The Champagne Riot, The Salon, and Wit's End join forces to present an unforgettable swing-era vintage Fourth of July extravaganza featuring vintage patriotic melodies by Gelber & Manning and the Star Spangled Orchestra, rockabilly ballads, boogies and blues by SIT & Die Co, bugle boy extraordinaire Bob Leive, performances by tap sensations The Minsky Sisters, mesmerizing burlesque by Jezebel Express and Perle Noire with special guests The Rhinestone Follies, and the dapper MC Dandy Wellington! Join us at the rooftop of the lavish Empire Hotel, featuring a fantastic view of the fireworks, live bands, burlesque, swing dancing, and delicious cocktails designed by Fredo of Loungerati under the stars!

ADMISSION: $20 Adv, $25 Doors Tix

Get there early to avoid lines! I most likely will be rolling drinks for your pleasure!