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Hello Cocktails!

Books and booze. I live in Philadelphia, but I get around.

Suds and Spirits at District Space

On the lookout for weekend plans, an acquaintance reached out over Instagram (I take pictures too folks) to inform me that the pros from the 1 Ounce or 2 Cocktail Club had set up residence at District Space to sling cocktails incorporating beer from the Flying Dog Brewery. She had me at beer! The late… Read More Suds and Spirits at District Space

January 21, 2018 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

High Art at the Columbia Room

It was on a freakishly balmy early January evening in Blagden Alley that we headed to the Columbia Room to sip through their fall tasting menu; temperature wise, it was eerily reminiscent of the last time I’d visited the bar in August. But we cast off our global warming concerns and threw ourselves into the 5-cocktail… Read More High Art at the Columbia Room

January 18, 2018 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

Christmas Cocktails Came Late This Year

My little Christmas cocktail party was all set – early December Saturday reserved, tons of alcohol procured, and a dozen homemade ingredients in the preparation process. But one winter morning I woke up with a horrible fever, and my holiday season was transformed into an fierce battle between my immune system and a hellspawn virus.… Read More Christmas Cocktails Came Late This Year

January 14, 2018December 23, 2018 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

Paris je t’aime

“There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and harder even—the French air clears up the brain and does good—a world of good.” – Vincent van Gogh Upon returning from my week-long trip to Paris, I felt silly telling friends how wonderful it was. The last… Read More Paris je t’aime

January 1, 2018January 21, 2018 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

Old Testament Cocktails

This week I’m reviewing Richard Elliott Friedman’s new history of the Exodus. While the mention of the Old Testament usually evokes strict moral codes and sober living, the document itself is choc-ful of booze-fueled fun/sin. For those too busy to read all 24 books, Wikipedia provides a great run down of alcohol’s role in scripture. So,… Read More Old Testament Cocktails

November 29, 2017 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

The Sweet Science – Barmini

DC’s favorite laboratory for the cocktailian sciences, Barmini is the epitome of innovation, style, and taste. Ambiance: ***** Decor: ***** Cocktails: ***** Service: ***** Overall: 5 My failure to visit Barmini is a bit of a scarlet letter. I mean, I’ve visited hundreds of other bars including dozens in the DC area – but not one… Read More The Sweet Science – Barmini

October 20, 2017 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

Capitol Cool at the Occidental

As of resident of the greater DC area for 13 years, I have to admit the shine of living in and around capitol tends to wear off. The traffic, the legions of self-important apparatchiks, lawyers, the traffic….these factors take the bloom off the rose pretty quickly. And that’s a damn shame: this city is a… Read More Capitol Cool at the Occidental

October 17, 2017 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

Neighborhood Hang – The Good Silver

A laid back and sightly neighborhood joint, the Good Silver provides a friendly setting and some nice booze. Ambiance: ***1/2 Decor: **** Cocktails: ***1/2 Service: **** Overall: 3.75 It was one of those classic October days in DC: leaves changing color, pumpkin spice lattes in hand, and 100% humidity. Yuck, seriously – I swore we were… Read More Neighborhood Hang – The Good Silver

October 9, 2017October 9, 2017 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

A Boozy Guide to Vermont

“The gods of the valley are not the gods of the hills, and you shall understand it.” – Ethan Allen While considering possible locations for a short summer vacation, it dawned on me that it had been eight years since I had last set foot in the forested paradise of Vermont. Summer is certainly a… Read More A Boozy Guide to Vermont

September 6, 2017September 17, 2017 HelloCocktails1 Comment

A Trip Down Daiquiri Lane at the Columbia Room

So there was big news in the DC cocktail world recently – our very own Columbia Room, sort of DC’s de-facto flagship, won Best American Cocktail Bar at the Spirits Award last month! With DC’s sports teams failing in often spectacular fashion to bring home a title for over two decades, this is a welcome… Read More A Trip Down Daiquiri Lane at the Columbia Room

August 6, 2017 HelloCocktailsLeave a comment

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"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." Excited to kick off my first summer as a Philly resident at the beautiful @bok_bar. This is the "Dirty Dio" with Delta Dirt Vodka, grapefruit, pineapple, lime, salt, and club soda. "When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious." So sad to leave Ireland. I'll depart with a long list of wonderful experiences and memories including a magic night at Dublin's @vintagecocktailclub. There, I watched Steve and Laura work a room of 15 people and just kill it. Amazing drinks and service, you must go. This is the "Zombie 1935" with Havana Club rum, Wray and Nephew overproof rum, pineapple juice and bits. "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." If I ever give up on the world, I'll be moving to the Irish countryside - nothing but fresh dairy, thick wool, and green grass. Got a wonderful glimpse of the country life at the @mountjulietestate - just south of Kilkenny, the estate is the perfect ode to Irish hospitality. This is "The Lady Helen" with gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon, grapefruit, bitters, and soda. "Out of Ireland have we come. Great hatred, little room, maimed us at the start. I carry from my mother's womb a fanatic heart." Can't say enough about Dublin - nonstop fun, fascinating history on every block, and classic luxury @merrionhotel including in the stately 23 Bar. This is the "Amour de Mure" with vodka, blackberry liqueur, lemon, and honey ayrup. "Ingen ko pa isen - there's no cow on the ice." Dreaming of Sweden at Andra Hem, the new cocktail lounge in Rittenhouse. This is the "Pears for Heirs" with gin, apricot, pear, and sparkling wine. "We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace—business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred." Made a wonderful discovery in South Philadelphia this weekend - @irwinsupstairs is a super fun restaurant built atop the Bok school, a mastepiece of New Deal-Art Deco architecture. The aesthetic, the views, the service, and the food were all on point. Can't wait to return in the warm weather for some rooftop drinking. This is the "Fig-Getaboutit" with Dark and Overproof rum, fig, allspice, dram, and lime. "Hour by hour the caissons reach down to the rock of the earth and hold the building to a turning planet." No better view of my new city than from  @jgskyhigh - luxurious, fun, and I saw Ja Morant in the lobby. This is the "Pomegranate Storm" with Bacardi white rum, pomegranate, ginger, and lime. “Night was come, and her planets were risen: a safe, still night: too serene for the companionship of fear.” It was a wonderful Valentine's night in the low light of the legendary @theransteadroom with special guest and DC guy @deke_dc from @allegory_dc. The drinks were spectacular, including the "Down the Rabbit Hole" with @absolutelyx, chocolate biscotti, clarified milk, and coffee. "With people you can never tell, will they have changed when next we meet? But here in my dear old home at least, the plums still smell as sweet." Was blown away by @royal_izakaya - amazing food and a beautiful bar to boot! This gem is the "Panda Creamsicle" with pandan-infused white rum, calpico, and orange liqueur.

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  • You Should Drink Here – Grace and Proper
  • Diving Into Philly – Part 3
  • You Should Drink Here – Southwark
  • One Night in Manhattan
  • Diving Into Philly – Part 2

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