A Trifecta of NYC Kentucky Derby Viewing Parties

Saturday May 4th will be the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The "most famous two minutes in sport" unites classic fashion style, 19th century cocktails, gambling, and an age-old sport of kings in a quintessentially American event. The fellows suited up in seersucker, ladies in elegant straw hats, bourbon mint juleps in icy tins, and wagers on a long shot to win are a tradition. For loungers, it is a friggin' national holiday and expect us to be celebrating in full regalia, julep chalice in hand, at our favorite watering holes!

This Derby Day we recommend the grand daddy of mint julep variations adapted by historian David Wondrich from a recipe in an 1857 edition of Harper's Weekly and trifecta of authentic Derby viewing parties in New York City for the win!

Prescription Julep

1 1/2 oz of Cognac (VSOP or better)

1/2 oz Rye Whisky

1/4 oz of rich simple syrup

8-10 mint leaves

Tools: Julep chalice, jigger, bar spoon

Gently rub the mint leaves on the inside of the julep tin and discard. Add cognac, rye and rich simple and stir mixture gently. Fill cup with crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs. Insert sterling silver straw in between mint sprigs.

Maison Premiere - 2nd Annual Derby Party featuring Four Roses Bourbon

12pm-8pm

Julep master Maxwell Britten and his crew of dapper drink slingers will be throwing one hell of a pre-race BBQ in Maison Premiere's backyard. Icy platters of oysters will be plentiful and an extensive menu of mint juleps served in silver beaded tins will be available. The Maison Premiere House Band starts at 3pm and goes to 7pm. This year there will be a fashion contest for the most Derby outfit. Prizes range from booze (hurrah!) to $100 gift certificates! The Derby will also be broadcast live on the cocktail den’s famous old-fashioned radio from 6:28 to 6:30.

Maison Premiere - 298 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn - 347-335-0446

Clover Club - 4th Annual Kentucky Derby Party featuring Bulleit Bourbon

4:30pm-8pm

Bulleit Bourbon will provide complementary passed hors d' oeuvres and mint juleps. Mixtresses Elayne Duke and Julie Reiner set up shop in the front of Clover Club with their julep bar again this year. They encourage guests to sport fancy hats, seersucker suits, and crank out juleps for all. Oh yeah, there will be a very short horse race shown;) Don't miss it!

Clover Club - 210 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn - 718-855-7939

Rum House - Derby Day Party featuring Larceny bourbon specials

5pm-7pm

The gang at Rum House breaks out the julep cups, crushed ice, and copious amounts of mint and partner with Heaven Hill  Distilleries' new Larceny Bourbon for $8 Julep and Old Fashioned drink specials. Come watch the race live on the big screen with Larceny bourbon cocktails. There will be food. There will be fancy hats. And there will be ponies.

The Rum House at the Edison Hotel - 228 West 47th Street, New York, NY  - 646-490-6924

Our trifecta picks for the 139th Kentucky Derby are All Other Three Ye (5:1) to win, Verrazano (6:1) to place, and Goldencents (7:1) to show!

Destinations: Japan Week In New York March 4 - 21

Loungers who are inspired by the Japanese culture should not miss this year's Japan Week which will take place between March 4th and 18th in New York City. 35 restaurants will participate and feature local and regional dishes inspired by 21 Japanese prefectures to create a "culinary tour" of Japan.  Many will be serving them in special "ekiben" bento boxes that are traditionally sold at Japanese railway stations. Their prices range from $12 to $25. Japan Week will culminate with a cultural fair in Grand Central Station's Vanderbilt Hall from March 19th - 21st.

The following is a list participating Japanese restaurants in Manhattan: Aburiya Kinnosuke, Aki on West 4th, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Cha-An, CURRY-YA, Donguri, Greenwich Grill, Go Go Curry, Hakata Tonton, Hakubai / Kitano Hotel, Hasaki, Hatsuhana, High-Collar, Kubo-chan Ramen, Kyotofu, Marumi, Megu Midtown, Misoya, Ootoya, Rai Rai Ken, Restaurant Nippon, Robataya, Ronin, Sakagura, Sake Bar Decibel, Shimizu, Soba Koh, Soba-ya, Sunrise Mart, Sushi Ann, Sushi Azabu, Sushiden Madison Ave., Sushiden 6th Ave., Tori Shin and Wasan.  Additional details on the menu items and pricing will be posted to japanweek.us.

Also new this year, diners will be encouraged to post photos to Japan Week's Facebook page of the dishes and drinks they enjoy at the participating restaurants, along with a short essay of why they'd like to visit Japan.  The winning essay's writer will win a round-trip ticket to Japan!

Please get out there and get your umami on!

Destinations: The Salon - Mardi Gras at the DL Feb 12th

Loungerati's choice destination for your krewe's Mardi Gras fun is The Salon's swank event at the DL Lounge. Here is the skinny from nightlife impresario Patrick Soluri: " The Big Easy comes to the Big Apple on Fat Tuesday, courtesy of THE SALON! Our creole carnival features a spectacular lineup of more than 25 performers (incl. 3 bands & 3 DJs), for your lounging 'n dancing pleasure...plus we've got Mardi Gras beads for every dame & dapper gent. For those craving more Nawlins, bring an appetite 'cause we've got the crawfish cookin! THE DL's fab chef is preparing a special Cajun 3 course Prix-fixe menu at the restaurant on the first floor... we'll keep your toes tappin to live music during dinner, then head upstairs for two more floors of live music, dancing, lounging and imbibing from some of the top talent in town." featuring Live Music by GRAND STREET STOMPERS traditional dixieland & New Orleans-style jazz septet on the 3rd floor with GORDON AU and vocalist TAMAR KORN. on the 2rd floor "Red Room" with BABY SODA JAZZ BAND New Orleans jazz & 30's era swing - developed by hobos, perfected by science! Featuring EMILY ASHER and BRIA SKONBERG. on the 1st floor for dinner, lounging and dancing JESSY CAROLINA AND THE HOT MESS featuring "Blind Boy" Paxton DANDY WELLINGTON Master of Ceremonies and Emcee Extraordinaire burlesque by LEGS MALONE GAL FRIDAY Specialty Craft Cocktails menu featuring New Orleans classics from: CLAUDIA SCHUMACHER (from Lucy's Lounge & LUPEC) -------------------------- THE DL - 95 Delancey Street (Corner of Delancey St & Ludlow St) New York, NY F/J/M/Z subway to Delancey/Essex or B/D to Grand St. 21+ (ID required) for 2nd & 3rd Floor Under 21 allowed on 1st floor only -------------------------- **TICKETS** GENERAL ADMISSION $25 - Advance Ticket (online) $30 - At the Door (cash only) General Admission tickets include dance lesson, Mardi Gras beads and access to all floors. -------------------------- for more info and tickets, please visit:http://www.thesalon.biz/