This weekend, bid farewell to sobriety and "well, well, hello there" to the social buzz, as the Manhattan Cocktail Classic takes over town. Tonight's sold out kick-off gala is being hosted at the New York Public Library, where attendees (no doubt attired in top hats and swingy dresses) will be treated not only to limitless beverage and food, but "wild and/or scandalous performance art."As the website details:
Please note that the Manhattan Cocktail Classic will not be held liable for any injuries suffered (whether physical or emotional) by Gala attendees due to pre-existing phobias pertaining to open spaces, confined spaces, heights, clowns, and/or exotic birds. Don't say we didn't warn you.
So, obviously, we'll see you tonight at the NYPL. And we'll be chronicling it all over at The Huffington Post.
And since we'll all need a hair of the dog, the festivities start right back up again tomorrow at 11 am at the Official Bar at the Astor Center. The Stories from Behind the Bar series run throughout the weekend and the beginning of next week at the top cocktail destinations in town. Tickets are still available to events at the Brandy Library, Macao Trading Co., PDT and Huckleberry Bar.
Most excitingly, you can still score a seat to:
Chasing the White Dog in Manhattan: The History of Moonshine with the Legendary Junior Johnson and the Craft Distilling of Today
Event Date: 5/16/2010, 6:15 pm
with Junior Johnson (Legendary Moonshiner), Joe Michalek (Founder of Piedmont Distillers) and Max Watman (Author of "Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw's Adventures in Moonshine")
Author Max Watman will lead a lively panel discussion with legendary moonshiner, Junior Johnson and craft distiller, Joe Michalek. They'll discuss the roots of moonshine in the American South and Moonshine's present day renaissance. Junior Johnson will share his first-hand experiences as a bootlegger in the old days - outrunning revenuers on the back roads of North Carolina, how he distilled the best 'shine around and how he parlayed those experiences into NASCAR stardom. Max Watman, who's become a moonshine expert in his own right, will enlighten the audience on traveling the nation in search of distillers on both sides of the law. Joe Michalek will bridge the gap between moonshine's past and the craft distilling of today. He will speak to his own journey from moonshine enthusiast to professional craft distiller and how Piedmont Distillers' process couples moonshine traditions with distilling innovations to ensure superior quality spirits in every batch.
The seminar will include a Q & A from the audience, tastings of the alcohol at the various stages of the distillation process, straight samples of the finished spirits and cocktails crafted from Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon and Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine.
Sunday, May 16th, 6:15pm - 7:45pm
The Gallery at Astor Center, 399
Lafayette at East 4th Street
Limited to 50 attendees
Please sir, may I have another?
