Time Out New York
NYC Recession Diary
Metromix
The New York Times
Just A Taste
The Examiner
The Dipsograph
Lush Life Photos – Day One
Lush Life Photos – Day Two
Lush Life Photos – Gala
Tweets, many tweets
Slashfood
More Photos
Serious Eats
The Boulevardist
Notes on a Party
BlackBook Mag
The Liquid Muse
Off The Presses
Retro-Luxe
Tuna Quest
Confessions of a Palm Beach Bartender
Drinking the World
Cocktail Buzz
Nightclub & Bar
The New York Law Journal
Bloomberg.com

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Older 2009 Coverage (like, before we even did anything):

July
New York Times
The Dizzy Fizz
Time Out New York (But hey now, we love NOLA!)
Undertaking the Bar
Off the Presses
Good Spirits News
Nightclub & Bar

August
Off The Presses (Part II)
Down by the Hipster
Serious Eats

September
Time Out New York – Fall Preview, Best of October
Serious Eats – Interview with Lesley Townsend
Kegworks.com
Tasting Table
The New York Post “Fall Forward: 12 Things We Can’t Wait For”
Loungerati
New York Decider – Last Licks
Savory Cities
Savory Cities – Interview with Dave Wondrich
The New Yorker
Restaurant Guys Radio – Interview with Lesley Townsend
Intoxicated Zodiac
Digital City
New York Daily News
The Feedbag
Standards and Pours
Food Mayhem
Budget Travel
The New York Times Diner’s Journal
The Village Voice
New York Insider TV
Snacky Tunes Radio Show
BlackBook
New York Times Dining Calendar
NBC New York
Drinking the World
The NY City Dish
Joonbug Scene Tracker
Eater.com
Metromix
New York Post
The Dizzy Fizz

Friday May 14th, 9pm ish until sometime a bit later, at The New York Public Library

To kick off the inaugural Manhattan Cocktail Classic, it seems only fitting that we go back to where it all began: The New York Public Library.  For those of you who came last year, rest assured, it really was just a preview…

Tickets $100 each.  Get out your tux and top-hat, folks.  This one’s going to be a doozy.

All day, all night, Saturday May 15 – Tuesday May 18, Various locations

Oh we can’t even begin to describe some of the shenanigans in store..lunches, brunches, dinners, dances, workshops, panels, parties, feasts – there might even be a boat.  All going for $50 a pop.  Stay tuned.

11:00am – 9:00pm, Saturday May 15th – Tuesday May 18th, The Lounge at Astor Center

Join us at the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, where some of the world’s greatest bartenders will be crafting up special concoctions all afternoon long. Stop in to sample their wares, grab a snack, and refresh yourself in between sessions. Also a great opportunity to just kick back, relax, and catch up on cocktail recipes with friends.

Admission included with the purchase of any educational session.

11:30am – 8:30pm, Saturday May 15th through Tuesday May 18th, Astor Center

Tickets to each titillating seminar are $50 each.  That half-Benjamin (or a Grant, as some might call it) will also get you complimentary admission to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic.

Full list of seminars arriving shortly, fear not.

1pm – 3pm, Saturday May 15th and Sunday May 16th, Various locations

It just wouldn’t be a proper cocktail event if we never set foot in an actual bar! Spend a couple hours on a weekend afternoon at one of the fine establishments that has so defined New York’s cocktail landscape; meet the owners and head bartenders; hear their tales of trial and triumph; sip on some signature cocktails. These sessions will be extremely limited in size, so guests will truly have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the city’s greatest bartending talent.

Tickets $50 each.  Includes complimentary admission to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic.  Participating bars include:

Apotheke

Brandy Library

Clover Club

Death & Company

Dutch Kills

Employees Only

Flatiron Lounge

Little Branch

Louis 649

Macao Trading Co

Madam Geneva

Mayahuel

Pegu Club

PDT

It just wouldn’t be a proper cocktail event if we never set foot in an actual bar!  Spend a couple hours on Saturday afternoon at one of the fine establishments that has so defined New York’s cocktail landscape; meet the owners and head bartenders; hear their tales of trial and triumph; sip on some signature cocktails.  These sessions will be extremely limited in size, so guests will truly have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the city’s greatest bartending talent.  Participating bars will include PDT, Death & Company, Clover Club, Mayahuel, and many more…

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Archive

This is how it went down.

Verbatim.

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To the Editor of the Balance.

Sir,

I observe in your paper of the 6th instant, in the account of a democratic candidate for a seat in the Legislature, marked under the head of Loss,’25 do. cock-tail.’ Will you be so obliging as to inform me what is meant by this species of refreshment? Though a stranger to you, I believe, from your general character, you will not suppose this request to be impertinent.

I have heard of a jorum, of phlegm-cutter and fog driver, of wetting the whistle, or moistening the clay, of a fillip, a spur in the head, quenching the spark in the head, of slip, etc., but never in my life, though I have lived a good many years, did I hear of cock-tail before. Is it peculiar to this part of the country? Or is it a late invention? Is the name expressive of the effect which the drink has on a particular part of the body? Or does it signify that the democrats who take the potion are turned topsyturvy, and have their heads where their tails should be? I should think the latter to be the real solution; but am unwilling to determine finally until I receive all the information in my power.

At the beginning of the revolution, a physician publically recommended the moss which grew on a tree as a substitute for tea. He found on experiment, that it had more of a stimulating quality than he approved; and therefore, he afterward as publically denounced it. Whatever cock-tail is, it may be properly administered at certain times and to certain constitutions. A few years ago, when the democrats were bawling for Jefferson and Clinton, one of the polls was held in the city of New York at a place where ice cream was sold. Their temperament then was remarkably adult (?) and bilious. Something was necessary to cool them. Now when they are sunk into frigidity, it may be equally necessary, by cocktail, to warm and rouse them.

I hope you will construe nothing that I have said as disrespectful. I read your paper with great pleasure, and wish it the most extensive circulation. Whether you answer my inquiry or not, I shall remain, Yours,

A SUBSCRIBER

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RESPONSE:

As I make it a point, never to publish anything (under my editorial head) but what I can explain, I shall not hesitate to gratify the curiosity of my inquisitive correspondent: cock-tail, then, is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters – it is vulgarly called bittered sling, and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head. It is said also, to be of great use to a democratic candidate: because, a person having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.

- Edit. Bal.

The 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic will take over this fair city from Friday, May 13th, until Tuesday May 17th.  (The festivities will likely sprawl into the wee hours of May 18th as well, so plan your vacation days accordingly.)

Splendid. Now whereabouts will all of this take place?

Despite its rather misleading name (we couldn’t resist the pun), the Manhattan Cocktail Classic is in fact a city-wide festival, sprawling across the bridges, into the other boroughs – with events taking place in innumerable bars, restaurants, art galleries, libraries, barber shops, party boats, and just about every other sort of event space that’s amenable to the copious consumption of cocktails.  A good chunk of the educational activities will be held, as always, at our beloved Astor Center, located on Lafayette and East 4th Street – but that’s just one of many many locales.  Suggestions are most heartily encouraged.

Who’s going to be talking/presenting/making fancy drinks for me?

Our all-star advisory board will once invariably be making appearances leading seminars, opening up their cocktail bars, hosting extravagant parties, etc – but beyond that we’ll have a whole slew of national and international cocktail luminaries leading the brigade.  Stay tuned for the full line-up of seminars, events, and other sordid activities.

So who should come to this? Enthusiasts? Professionals? People who are neither professional nor enthusiastic?

All of the above, so long as you’re over the age of 21 and promise not to heckle (in excess).

I’m a bartender, and a jolly good one at that. Will this be fun/enlightening/professionally rewarding for me?

In addition to providing some pretty stellar educational content, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic will afford bartenders the opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded professionals from the community. Also, if you’re not already a member of the United States Bartenders Guild, now would be a very wise time to join. USBG members will receive discounts on tickets (in addition to the wealth of benefits offered by the organization). Lastly, if you truly feel you have nothing further to learn from the likes of Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, and the rest of the overwhelmingly knowledgeable spirits and cocktail gurus that comprise the advisory board, you can entertain yourself (and the rest of us onlookers) by challenging Gary Regan to a drinking contest (which you will lose, verily).

How can I find out more?

Email one or more of folks on the contact page depending on what specifically you’re looking for.

A major incentive not to get too horribly intoxicated on Saturday night, Sunday will offer even more terrific educational sessions by our all-star team.  A look at glassware with Dale DeGroff; a lively romp through the land of gin cocktails with Gary Regan and Audrey Saunders; rye, oh lovely rye with Allen Katz…

Just a little gathering of friends to conclude the weekend’s festivities.  No, we’re not spilling the beans just yet.  Details forthcoming.

You guessed it: more of the same here.  More bartenders, more cocktails, more time spent amongst friends.

A night to head out to some of this city’s most famed cocktail establishments, to let down your hair and kick off your heels.

Join us at the official bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, where some of New York’s greatest bartenders will be crafting up special concoctions all afternoon long.  Stop in to sample their wares, grab a snack, and refresh yourself in between sessions.  Also a great opportunity to just kick back, relax, and catch up on cocktail recipes with friends.

Saturday will offer an array of educational seminars presented by the advisory board members of Manhattan Cocktail Classic: from the ultimate crash course in Cognac & Armagnac with Paul Pacult, Charlotte Voisey, and Julie Reiner; to a panel discussion of agave-based spirits led by Steve Olson, to a look at New York’s storied history of imbibing with Dave Wondrich (and that’s just the beginning).  Rest up on Friday night, and eat a hearty breakfast in the morning.