Bombay Sapphire Window Displays in SoHo, will include codes where passerby can get codes for free cocktails at participating nearby bars, now through Dec. 19.
Fashion designerRomeo Hunte and visual artist Shavanteì Royster have unveiled the first ever Bombay Sapphire holiday window displays, celebrating New York creatives and ‘turning the lights back on’ for storefronts in lower Manhattan, where almost one third of small business have closed during the pandemic. The Art, Fashion, and Design windows come to life with performances (think live Charlie Chaplin-esque nutcracker dances, holiday fashion shows and painting demos in the windows). Times are 4-9pm daily for passersby + free cocktails at nearby bars (Dante West Village, Gelso & Grand, Lil Frankie’s and AMA West Village) when you show the window QR codes).
NYE- The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17
Spend New Year’s Eve by The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17. Photo: J. Kratochivl.
For an intimate venue to toast to the New Year, visit The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City’s seasonally rotating dining concept. Take over your own winter cabin with up to 8 guests and indulge in buckets of bubbly, craft cocktails, and a delicious cuisine specific menu while soaking in the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
There are five reservation slots throughout the day–11am-12:30pm, 12:45-2:30pm, 3-5pm, 6-8pm, or 9pm-1am–each with various food & beverage packages to choose from. For more information about the packages and to make a reservation, visit The Greens website.
New Year’s Eve Champagne Pairing Cruises
Friday, December 31st 2021 @ 10pm – Saturday, January 1st 2022 @ 12:30am. Celebrate New Year’s Eve safe and comfortable on Classic Harbor line. Enjoy, Champagne, Cheese & Dessert Pairing With Harbor Fireworks & Live Music. This is still our number one choice for NYE. Take in all the beauty the New York City skyline has to offer while cozying up and staying warm. Fully decorated for the holidays and plenty of space and partitioning to feel at ease while you take in the sights. Bundle up, as it can be quite cold as you step out on the outer deck to take in the sites. It’s a night and NYE you will never forget. Book now.
NYE-Masquerade Ball at Pearl Alley
Don’t miss Pearl Alley’s NYE celebration.
This New Year’s Eve, Dante’s Winter House Masquerade Ball is taking place inside Pearl Alley at Pier 17, NYC’s luxurious new waterfront venue. The newly opened space will be offering a 4-hour premium open bar with festive signature cocktails made by Dante’s award-winning bar team alongside delicious bites severed throughout the night. Hidden under your Masquerade Mask, dance the night away with live performances by DJ Chachi, DJ Tre and Saxophonist. There will be party favors, surprises, and to top it all off, the best views in New York City. Toast to 2022 with bubbles in hand and an unforgettable night at the Seaport’s most exciting new venue. Get your tickets here.
NYE at The Fulton
On New Year’s Eve, The Fulton by Jean-Georges will be offering its menu à la carte from 5 pm -7:30 pm, in addition to a $298 five course prix fixe menu 8 pm -10 pm, including delicious dishes such as Sashimi with Spicy White Ponzu, Char Grilled Octopus and a Truffle Course with a choice of Fresh Tagliatelle with Black Winter Truffle or Truffle Meyer Lemon-Parmesan Risotto. Please note: the pre-fixe menu is $84 for children under 10 years old. The full menu can be found here. Reserve a table here.
NYE & New Year’s Day at Malibu Farm
Enjoy NYE and New Year’s Day specials at Malibu Farm.
In celebration of New Year’s Eve, Malibu Farm will be offering delicious new specials to toast the new year, in addition to their all-day menu on Friday, December 31st, and Saturday, January 1st. Specials include Peekytoe Crab Risotto, Grilled Lobster, House-made Carrot Ricotta Gnocchi, and more. The full menu can be found here. New Year’s Eve hours, 12 pm – 1 am; Happy Hour from 10 pm – 12 am. New Year’s Day hours, 11:30 am – 8 pm. Reserve your table here.
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL/HOLIDAY MAGIC AT EVERY TURN
The holidays are just around the corner and Grand Central Terminal has all your readers’ gifting needs covered. The Terminal is thrilled to present Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Vanderbilt Hall. Featuring crafty creations, artisanal elegance, and handmade delights, the collection of six vendors provides customers with even more unique and thoughtful last-minute holiday gift choices.
The Grand Central Holiday Pop-Up Shops are open from 10 am–7 pm on December 17th – 24th (closed at 3 pm on Christmas Eve). Please find the selection of artisans below:
ekologic: Singular pieces of eco-fashion and accessories, made sustainably by a women-owned collective
Magnolia Bakery (open December 21st – 24th): From beautifully iced cupcakes and cakes to iconic banana pudding
In addition to the Holiday Pop-Up Shops, Grand Central’s 55 plus shops and restaurants offer holiday magic at every turn, from gift shopping at the likes of Apple, Diptyque, and TUMI to dining at Cipriani Dolci, the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, and many more.
To top off the shopping experience, GCT is offering complimentary wrapping for gifts purchased at shops inside Grand Central Terminal. The Holiday Wrap-Up will be available from December 18 and 20–24 near the New York Transit Museum on the Upper Level. Bring up to five-holiday gifts purchased in the Terminal, and their receipts, and GCT’s gift-wrappers will then wrap your gifts in luxurious celestial ceiling paper.
In just a few weeks, the world’s leading brands and top talent will come together in a curated presentation of design, offering inspired vignettes by respected brands, design seminars, culinary demonstrations, and special appearances.
Imagine walking around to see the latest designs from furniture, accessories, lighting, and art to kitchen, bath, and building projects, the show offers thousands of products for you to source and shop, from independent makers and well-established manufacturers.
ADD Show is now in its 19th year and draws around 40,000 design aficionados to interact with incredible design displays from more than 400 brands.
“There are a lot of big brands that you’d expect here, but it’s kind of amazing how many smaller brands you can discover. It’s a free look as an architect at what’s going on in the world of design and what’s emerging right now.” —David Rockwell, Founder & President of Rockwell Group
“There’s nothing that surpasses the Architectural Digest Design Show in our industry. It is a meeting of great minds, and where our industry comes to exchange good ideas and take-home information that will improve their business. There’s really nothing that tops it. As seasoned as I am a professional, one would think I’ve seen it all, but more than half of what I see [here] I’ve never seen before.” —Jeffrey Bilhuber, AD100 Designer
PAUL-ÉMILE RIOUX
Mark your calendars, get some comfortable shoes, get tickets and come to meet Downtown Magazine’s team as this will be our first year as a media sponsor.
MARCH 19-22, 2020
Thursday, March 19: 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. Open to design trade & VIP consumer ticket holders.
Friday-Saturday, March 20-21: 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. Open to all ticket holders. Sunday, March 22: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Open to all ticket holders.
LOCATION PIER 94 55th Street at 12th Avenue
New York City 10019
This purchase includes a 2-month complimentary trial membership to AD’s new digital design community AD PRO which includes the current issue of AD Magazine, a $50 value.
Your ticket allows you complimentary access to DIFFA by DESIGN! A three-day confluence of design, art, shopping, and festivities located in a new venue Center 414, 415 5th Avenue. From the opening night DBD Gala to the one-of-a-kind industry chats, DBD will showcase the latest in the design world, all while raising money in the fight against HIV/AIDS. DIFFA by Design takes place on March 26-28, 2020. For more information go to diffa.org.
MIELE, INC.
Valid FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Includes re-admission all 3 days
$32.00+tax
Onsite ticket price is $45.00+tax.
Ticket purchase includes a 2-month complimentary trial membership to AD’s new digital design community AD PRO which includes the current issue of AD Magazine, a $50 value.
Your ticket allows you complimentary access to DIFFA by DESIGN! A three-day confluence of design, art, shopping, and festivities located in a new venue Center 414, 415 5th Avenue. From the opening night DBD Gala to the one-of-a-kind industry chats, DBD will showcase the latest in the design world, all while raising money in the fight against HIV/AIDS. DIFFA by Design takes place on March 26-28, 2020. For more information go to diffa.org.
Screen Shot 2020-02-05 at 2.24.08 PM
Valid FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Includes re-admission all 3 days
$32.00+tax
Onsite ticket price is $45.00+tax.
Ticket purchase includes a 2-month complimentary trial membership to AD’s new digital design community AD PRO which includes the current issue of AD Magazine, a $50 value.
Admission to the show is complimentary for Design Trade with proper credentials who pre-register prior to March 19, 2020. Design Trade are registered Interior Designers, licensed Architects, Landscape Designers, Set Designers, Developers, Contractors, and other design professionals. Students can register for complimentary admission. Valid credentials are required and include business cards, company credit cards, profession -membership cards, Tax ID. Along with a Government-issued Photo ID.
Your ticket allows you complimentary access to DIFFA by DESIGN! A three-day confluence of design, art, shopping, and festivities located in a new venue Center 414, 415 5th Avenue. From the opening night DBD Gala to the one-of-a-kind industry chats, DBD will showcase the latest in the design world, all while raising money in the fight against HIV/AIDS. DIFFA by Design takes place on March 26-28, 2020. For more information go to diffa.org.
Valid THURSDAY-SUNDAY
Includes re-admission all 4 days
Onsite ticket price is $45.00+tax.
From the classic hit song by the Champs to the last call at your local bar, Tequila is well-known for keeping the party going, so National Tequila Day on July 24th gives everyone a reason to celebrate. What better way to celebrate than by serving your guests three different bottles of award-winning, delicious Alacran Tequila. The company is committed to producing great-tasting, premium-quality agave products. Alacran was founded in 2010 in Mexico City and launched in the U.S. in 2011. Their products are sold at restaurants, hotels, bars and stores.
Alacran XA was a Gold Medal winner in The Fifty Best 2018 and a Double Gold Medal winner in San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017. -Photos provided by Alacran.
Alacran XA is a luxurious, extra-aged tequila that is packaged in a clear glass bottle that showcases its beautiful amber color with golden hues. Alacran XA uses 100% Weber Blue agave that has aged between 7 and 10 years and was harvested in the highlands of Los Altos in Jalisco. The drink is matured for 40 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon. Ensuring the quality of the product, each bottle is hand-labeled and numbered.
Alacran Reposado – Also was a Double Gold Medal winner by The Fifty Best in 2018. – Photos provided by Alacran.
Alacran Reposado Tequila is a reposado tequila that is packaged in a clear glass bottle that displays its bright golden hues. This specific tequila also uses 100% Weber Blue agave that is between 7-10 years old and was harvested in the highlands of Los Altos in Jalisco. Alacran Reposado Tequila is matured for 4 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon generating a rich, caramel and oak flavor with a hint of vanilla. Like with Alacran XA, each bottle is hand-labeled and numbered.
Alacran Cristal – A recent Gold Medal Winner awarded by The Fifty Best in 2019. – Photos provided by Alacran.
Alacran Cristal is another premium añejo tequila that is packaged in a clear, sleek-looking glass bottle. Like the other two, this tequila uses agaves that are aged between 7-10 years and were old harvested in the highlands of Jalisco. It is matured for 14 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon generating a rich, woody flavor with a hint of vanilla. As a result of their exclusive clarifying filtration process, a crystal product is produced with light gold reflections. Each bottle is also hand-labeled and numbered.
For more information and ideas on how to celebrate with Alacran Tequila, check them out on Facebook, Twitter and their website.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: (L-R) Tom Astor, Cristen Barker and Nigel Barker attend the Monkey 47 Gin Celebrates "Shaken And Stirred" Podcast Launch With Nigel Barker And Tom Astor At The Wild Monkey on April 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Monkey 47)
At my dear friend Nigel Barker’s 47th birthday, celebrated at Monkey 47 Gin’sgorgeous New York pop-up, I chatted with his best friend Tom Astor along with Nigel himself about their newest collaboration, a podcast called Shaken & Stirred that combines cocktails with interviews and some of the most interesting people they can find. See what they had to say below!
(L-R) Tom Astor, Cristen Barker and Nigel Barker. Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Monkey 47.
Grace A. Capobianco: Tom, will you share one thing about Nigel that has remained “status-quo” over the many years you’ve known each other?
Tom Astor: Nigel and I have managed to maintain the ability to remind the other that we are not as important as we think we are or might think we should be. Thus, humility has remained throughout our friendship. I would like to think that at the same time we have kept the same level of affection for each other and our families and have nothing to prove to the other. We are, after all, just long serving best friends who have hopefully enriched each other’s lives and will continue to do so. Even him having an affair with my ex-wife wasn’t enough to ruin our friendship!
GC: For Shaken & Stirred, is there a script with each guest or is it truly off the cuff?
TA: We emphatically do not script our interviews/podcasts. Each podcast is ‘off the cuff.’
Nigel and I research our guests’ lives and careers thoroughly, which is key to steering any conversation once it gets going. Scripting our interviews would ruin the point of allowing our guests the freedom to go wherever they want in an interview.
GA: How do you choose the type of cocktail for each episode? Does it have anything to do with the guest?
TA: The cocktails are chosen for each show for any number of reasons. A guest may have been asked for a preference, in which case we will happily oblige, or I might have arrived at the studio with a hangover and be trying out the ‘latest cure.’ What we look for in all of our cocktails is their history and backstory. The history almost always makes the drink more interesting than the actual drinking…almost.
GA: Who makes the cocktails?
TA: I make the cocktails. Nige is too lazy to get involved. He prefers to pretend to iron the flags behind the set with his state of the art steam iron whilst checking himself out in the mirror.
GA: Do you, Nigel, and your guests actually drink during the show?
TA: Of course we drink during the show. It loosens up the interviewers (and the guests sometimes).
GA: Where is the show produced?
TA: At the moment, the show is produced at Univision Studios in NYC. The joy of the podcast is that we can pretty much produce them anywhere from a bar and studio in any city in the world. Given the fact that not everyone we might be interviewing lives in New York we expect to be hitting the road in the future and have started researching some pretty amazing venues.
Nigel Barker and Tom Astor. Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Monkey 47.
GA: We know a lot about Nigel, tell us a bit more about your career and personal life.
TA: I live on my family’s farm in the Cotswolds in England with my three children. Merriscourt is a beautiful place to live, and I have converted some of the old barns into a wedding and events venue. My career has involved a stint in the art world, banking, buying and selling classic cars, and squeezing as much fun out of life as I possibly can for myself and kids!
I have always had a love for New York and have visited on too many occasions to count. I feel a strong family connection with the place which runs deeply through my veins. There really is not another place like it on the planet.
GA: Have you ever had a podcast before? What are some of the challenges you and Nigel experienced?
TA: I have never done a podcast before! Nigel had to initially explain what they were. I cannot say that I have found any of the process a challenge as such. It has been a fascinating journey and such a great way of finding out about so many things one would really never know about. I suppose the real challenge is making the guests open up which has so far worked well.
GA: How’s it going so far, any feedback from listeners or guests about the show, and what if anything would you do differently?
TA: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, both from our guests and listeners. I think the formula we have adopted/created works well and I cannot think of any reason to change things. Obviously we are open to criticism and should anyone feel we can improve our show we will sit down, listen, mix a drink. and either ridicule the suggestion or take it seriously…
I very much hope to continue to be able to do these podcasts with Nigel. There are so many interesting people out there whose views and feelings are worth listening to. I feel that we are at the beginning of doing something quite useful as well as fun. Useful in the sense of opening others (and our own) eyes to a raft of issues, fights, passions, experiences and life. I hope the listeners enjoy listening to the podcasts as much as we enjoy making them!
GC: Nigel, how and when did you meet Tom Astor?
Nigel Barker: Tom and I met when we were 13-years-old at Bryanston School, Dorset, England. It was a boarding school, and when you meet kids at that age and basically live with them force majeure, you quickly find the ones you really get on with and often times you grow up together like siblings, but ones you pick!
GC: When did you know you would be lifelong friends?
NB: I just turned 47, and looking at his answer to your first question we may not be friends for much longer!! Joking aside, Tom and I became close very early on and not because we had loads in common but because we both had a similar outlook on life. We both love to enjoy life, poke fun at each other, and are fascinated by a good stories, even when they are just rumors…
GC: Over the years, how have you and Tom kept in touch, and how did you two come back together to create your new podcast Shaken & Stirred?
NB: We were groomsmen and ushers at each others weddings, we made each other godparents to our first born, we take family vacations together every other year, rendezvousing at some exotic locale with our growing families en masse, and we realized that as our kids grow up we needed another reason to see each other hence Shaken & Stirred!
GC: I loved the bit about when you and Crissy had your first child Jack, was Tom really there 3 minutes after the birth? Can you give us a little more insight? it sounds like a interesting and humorous story.
NB: Timing is everything as they say, and there is another character we have not mentioned yet who is Dickie Dawson, the third musketeer. He is also a godparent to our children, and his family also vacations with us, and he was a groomsman/usher etc. We are all very competitive with one another and Tom wanted to make sure he saw his godson before Dickie and jumped on a plane when he heard Crissy was in labor arriving at the hospital 3 minutes after the birth…poor Dickie was an appalling two weeks late.
Nigel Barker and Bryan Greenberg. Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Monkey 47.
Nigel Barker and Bridget Moynahan. Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Monkey 47.
GC: You say the podcast came about from lots of boozy lunches and dinners, I’m sure that there’s more to its creation than that.
NB: Well there were brunches too! It really all culminated one weekend last year when Tom was visiting at our home upstate in Woodstock, NY. We were having a hilarious time, chatting, plotting, exaggerating, bragging, and joking as we do and thought what can we do to have a perfect excuse to do this more frequently and the podcast was born.
GC: It seems like it’s a little bit the male version of (formerly) Kathy Lee and Hoda, a morning show where alcohol is a prop. Alcohol sort of helps lift the boundary lines for you, Tom, and your guests, would you agree and give us an example?
NB: I have been on the Kathy Lee and Hoda show a few times and trust me, S&S is very different. We do indeed enjoy a cocktail or two on Shaken & Stirred, but as the name suggests the drink is a character throughout the show. Most of us have a story about the first time we had a drink, or what we were drinking when we met someone special, and every cocktail has a historical story of how it came about. For example, when I first met my wife Crissy, I took several girls to a bar in Milan, Italy and I asked Crissy if she would do a tequila body shot with me. Crissy being the good (clever) girl from Alabama declined but this other model from Canada piped up and said she would. So I applied the salt to her neck, placed a lime between her lips, then licked the salt from her neck, took the shot and bit the lime out of the girls lips…Crissy immediately changed her mind and said she would do one too. So I set Crissy up with salt on the neck and lime in the mouth but this time when I went to bite the lime out of Crissy’s lips she pulled the lime into her mouth and I had to give her a proper kiss to retrieve said lime. That tequila body shot was our official first kiss.
GC: What do you hope that your audience learns from Shaken & Stirred?
NB: We are fond of rumors, legends, and stories on Shaken & Stirred, but ultimately it’ss the truth and not the well rehearsed Hollywood publicist’s version.
GC: How do you and Tom choose your guests?
NB: So far (we have recorded 24 episodes) they have all been friends, but we designed it in a way that it really doesn’t matter what the guest is known for or what they are currently trying to promote. Rather, we think of topics we want to discuss and then our guests join the conversation. The only prerequisite is they need to be good raconteurs.
GC: Any exciting up and coming guests? And who would be your dream guest?
NB: Lot’s of great guests like Miss J, Coco Rocha, Michele Hicks, David Mixner, The Jauncey Brothers, Fern Mallis, Hugh Evans, and Hugh Jackman and Deborah Lee Furness are scheduled for our next taping.
GC: Many people attempt to become entrepreneurs, and those who are, know it’s certainly NOT easy. You shared with the audience that you have always a ton of balls up in the air, how do you juggle them, and when one drops, how do you handle it?
NB: I never really think of myself as an entrepreneur, I just liked to get involved in whatever interests me and don’t pigeon hole myself. Of course, not every idea or business is going to work perfectly, but if you don’t try you’ll never know. I look for opportunities that I am personally interested in and have some knowledge about already. I don’t need to be an expert but once I commit I am in 100% and try to become an authority on the subject for my own peace of mind. Just because I am a photographer doesn’t mean I can’t be a TV host, an author, movie producer and director, furniture designer, or gym owner!
When Andrew W.K. put out his first album for Island Records in 2001, a lot of people were confused. After all, I Get Wet featured a unique hybrid of heavy metal guitars, chant-along stadium-style choruses, dance music electronics, and Tony Robbins-style positivity. While no one truly knew how to classify what Andrew W.K. did on that landmark release, he made an immediate splash with hit singles like “Party Hard,” “It’s Time To Party,” and “We Want Fun.”
A second career as a TV personality took off for Andrew in 2004 with the MTV series Your Friend, Andrew W.K., which led to appearances on plenty of other Viacom programming. This ultimately led to him hosting four seasons of the Cartoon Network’s Destroy Build Destroy. Somewhere in between those two shows, Andrew became an in-demand motivational speaker, leading many to initially discover him as an on-air personality rather than as a musician. He also was one of the partners of the popular venue Santos Party House, which had a strong run from 2008 through May of this year.
Andrew W.K. is staying active as ever in the fourth quarter of 2016, embarking on the Power of Partying Tour, which takes him through all 50 states of our country. His New York stop will be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Nov. 20. Andrew spoke with Downtown about that November appearance and plenty more.
You are most associated with the word “party.” Has your definition of what a “party” is changed over the years?
Andrew W.K.: The main quality that first drew me to the word “party” was that its definition was very pure and almost inherent, it almost didn’t even need to be defined more than “to celebrate a specific event, occurrence, or phenomenon.” In the most expansive and specific way, the event/occurrence/phenomenon that I’m celebrating is being alive. So that’s what partying is to me — deciding to be in a constant celebratory state about life, even when it’s hard or painful or there doesn’t seem to be anything worth celebrating.
It seems like most people understand this idea of a “party mindset,” this party approach to daily life. I like that I don’t have to explain it — in order for someone to have their own version of partying, all they have to do is party. The word “party” communicated a sort of basic visceral power and clarity, while at the same time not necessarily offering too many instructions on how exactly to party. That’s why it’s appealing, because it is synonymous with freedom. It’s really the celebration of freedom. It’s the active expression of gratitude for all those most essential qualities life comes with.
What do you remember about the first gig you ever played in New York?
A.W.K.: I remember a great deal about it. It was in a storefront venue on the Lower East Side that is no longer in business. I believe it was called The Artnet. I had some friends playing there who were visiting New York from Michigan. They invited me to play too. I set up my keyboard and my drum machine and played some early versions of some of the songs from my first album. I think there were about 13 people there. I remember there was also a swing made out of a piece of chain hanging from the ceiling. I’m pretty sure there is a video of it on the computer somewhere.
Andrew W.K.
What should we expect from your upcoming appearance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg?
A.W.K.: Well, people should not expect music, so I guess the venue’s name is a little inappropriate for my event! I’m giving a extemporaneous lecture on the power of partying, and then opening the floor to a free-form Q&A discussion on life. This event in Brooklyn is part of my 50 state U.S. speaking tour, and it informally marks my 10-year anniversary as a motivational speaker. My first ever lecture was in 2006 at New York University’s Skirball Center.
Do you have any plans to perform live music in New York anytime soon?
A.W.K.: I’m currently recording my new album and I look forward to doing an eventual world tour for that. In the meantime, my band and I continue to perform concerts here and there. We played in New York City a couple months ago, at Coney Island, and I had played another show a few months before that. I imagine I will play another New York City concert in a few more months. It’s always on the horizon.
When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
A.W.K.: I don’t like referring to people as “kids.” I remember adults calling me a kid and it always seemed “off” and meant to be belittling somehow. I guess I was smaller and younger than they were, so maybe they thought less of me and other children. I often hear people describing audience members as “kids,, but sometimes the audience is older than they are. Maybe it’s meant to be complimentary, because youth is seen as being a prized attribute, but of course even children are still people. My last words for any human being who might be reading this is: stay strong, never let down, and party hard.
Looking for a way to gallop into the Kentucky Derby mood? This Saturday, May 2, many venues around the city will be hosting viewing parties for the biggest horse race of the year. Here are few going on downtown that we think you should check out:
Kicking things off, the NYC pub Pounds and Ounces will be hosting a Kentucky Derby viewing party complete with food, drinks, and music. Customers can enjoy their meals while watching the event on the pub’s three large televisions. The fun will be spiced up with a ‘Derby Day Hat Contest,’ in which the winner will receive $500. Drinks include the Woodford Reserve Bourbon’s “Perfect Mint Julep,” the Jack Daniels’ “Pub Ice Tea,” and a Pounds & Ounces cocktail served on tap. For those who want a special taste of the Kentucky Derby, there will be an interesting new dessert called a Mint Julip Torte, which is a Woodford Reserve torte with brown butter, topped with mint gelato, pecans, and Chantilly cream. Roxy Cottontail, a talented indie artist, will provide music.
The Kentucky Derby officially begins at 6:24 p.m. that day, but customers can get there early to try Pounds and Ounces’ brunch menu, which will be served from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Brunch menu items include stuffed French toast and frittatas!
What better way to watch the Derby than on the rooftop of one of downtown’s most fabulous rooftop settings? Hotel Chantelle will be hosting their annual Derby Style party from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prizes will be given out to the best dressed people and guests will receive a complimentary mint julep when they arrive.
Access to their Parisian inspired rooftop lounge will begin at 5 p.m. Bowties, plaid, sundresses, and oversized hats are strongly encouraged. The app, Fever, has been promoting this event, which you can learn more about by downloading it here.
GOTO NYC is hosting their 3rd Annual Kentucky Derby party on the DL rooftop from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy access to a separate whiskey bar, sponsored by Virgil Kaine by either drinking it straight, or in delicious cocktail form created by mixologist Gil Bouhana. Music will be provided by DJ Tim Martell, fresh off his performance from Coachella.
Tickets are still on sale, which you can buy here. When you purchase a ticket for this event, a portion of the proceeds will go towards the GOTO Scholarship Fund.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your sun hats and seersuckers, and make your way to one of these great Kentucky Derby events this Saturday!
