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The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York
City’s first-ever multi-day celebration of all things
cocktail-related is set for May 14-18, 2010. Most events will take
place at Astor Center. Part festival, part fete, part conference,
part cocktail party, the Classic celebrates the history,
contemporary culture, and artful craft of the cocktail.
“The dramatic success of the Fall Preview
proved that New Yorkers have an unquenchable thirst for cocktail
knowledge…and for cocktails,” said Lesley Townsend, Founder and
Director, Manhattan Cocktail Classic. “Our May festival is the Big
Kahuna. It’s bigger and brassier. It’s cleverer and quirkier. It
will feature not only the world’s top-flight mixologists and spirits
gurus, but a lot of spectacular up-and-coming talent as well.”
Events include
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More than two dozen seminars at Astor
Center, among them “Cocktails for the Home Cocktail Party” with
Sasha Petraske; “When It’s Cocktail Time in Cuba” with Phil Greene
and Charlotte Voisey; “Drink Punch and Be Merry” with David Wondrich;
“Bar Myth Busters” with Don Lee and Alex Day; “The Agave Session:
The Magical Elixirs of Mexico” with Steve Olson; and “Glasses &
Tools: How Do You Choose the Right Glass for a Drink” with Dale
DeGroff.
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The Official Bar at Astor Center will
be the place to kick
back and relax with a good cocktail (and perhaps a glass of water)
in between all the other seminars and events. Guests will sample
cutting-edge concoctions from some of the world famous bartenders,
rub shoulders with the presenters and panelists.
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Well known bars will participate in
Stories from Behind the Bar, uncloaking the mystery behind their
elusive owners and nocturnal bartenders, with f drinks included.
Confirmed establishments include PDT, Death & Co, Mayahuel, Clover
Club, Flatiron Lounge, Pegu Club, Employees Only, Macao Trading
Company, Louis 649, Raines Law Room, Brandy Library, Apothéke,
Double Crown/Madam Geneva, Little Branch and Dutch Kills.
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The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is
exploring the “Google approach to festival planning,” effectively
allowing anyone or any company to conceive of and produce their own
off-site events. Possibilities
are cocktail-fueled sunset harbor cruises, cocktail pairing dinners
at some of New York’s finest restaurants, exclusive tastings of
exceptionally rare and hard-to-find spirits, ice-carving workshops,
and more.
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Friday Night Gala, kicking
off the festival this year, will take over the New York Public
Library with a cocktail party where tuxes and top hats will be
de rigueur (along with feather boas, tap shoes, and 1800’s clown costumes).
Visit
www.manhattancocktailclassic.com.
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