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

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!