The Who:
Cocktail fans and fellow bartenders cheered when it was announced Broken Shaker would open a New York location. This highly acclaimed cocktail bar is owned by Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi and first opened in Miami. Before Broken Shaker, the two restaurant and hospitality professionals teamed up to form Bar Lab, a management and consulting company created to help other bars and restaurants. From that, they spun out into the original Broken Shaker.

Another name that is important with this crew is James Beard. That is the name of  the prestigious award given out to the food and drink industry. Broken Shaker has been nominated twice.

The What:
After expanding this serious (but fun) cocktail concept to Chicago and Los Angeles, they have opened a casual rooftop bar on the top of New York's very trendy new Freehand Hotel.

The vibe is reminiscent of Miami with tiki-like cocktails, bartenders in Hawaiian shirts, and lots of bright vibrant colors. It can take a while to get through the line downstairs, but once you do, you're taken to an elevator and into this relaxing oasis.

And the drinks would fit right in on our Craft Cocktail Tour (too bad we don't visit the Flatiron neighborhood) with selections from the original Miami location and a few that were created specifically for New York. One particular crazy new drink that has been garnering a lot of attention is the Poppyseed Bagel Fizz that has gin and aquavit but also a homemade kvass made from Black Seed Bagels and is topped with bitter lemon soda and powdered cream cheese. 

The Why:
While the cocktail community in New York is a pretty tight-kint community, there is plenty of room for it to grow and expand and is welcoming to cocktail professionals from other cities. And why should Miami get all the fun? We're very excited to have another little tropical getaway with priceless views and Award-winning drinks.

The Where:
Broken Shaker at the Freehand New York
23 Lexngton Avenue
New York, New York 10010
(212) 475-1920

​​​Click on the title for more info.

Sunset Soirée on Governor's Island/ Tuesday, July 31, 2018 from 6-8:30pm
Don't miss this classy evening celebration on Governor's Island, an old military base that has been converted to a beautiful park. Take the ferry out for a magical night with craft cocktails and unbeatable views. Proceeds from the event go to support the Friends of Governor's Island.

​The Who:
Chef Anna Gordon comes from Silver Spring, Maryland where she grew up experimenting in the kitchen. When she moved to New York in 2006, she decided to take her passion for baking one step further and she went to the Institute of Culinary Education. After graduating, she worked in kitchens like Diner and Marlow & Sons. But soon the idea for The Good Batch hatched.

Her husband Steve Hartong now acts as manager, but he started out as cookie tester. Steve has a Juris Doctorate degree from Brooklyn Law School, but he and his family missed their favorite treat from their Native home of Holland: the stroopwafel. This Dutch treat is a caramel syrup sandwiched between two thin waffle cookies. It's so good (and ties into the first European settlers in New York) that we give it out as a first tasting on our Tenements Tales and Tastes tour. Anna decided to start making them for Steve and his family and that was the start of something great.

The What:
Anna grew her business at Smorgasburg by selling stroopwafels, cookies, and Vendy Award winning ice cream sandwiches. You can always find the Good Batch stand because of the long lines every weekend. 

While the treats are still available at some of those outdoor markets, Anna and Steve expanded the business into a brick and mortar bakery in 2014. At the neighborhood spot in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, they bake all their goodies and serve Counter Culture coffee.

The recipes use high quality ingredients and local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. Anna also makes custom ordered cakes for weddings, parties, or a family dinner. You can also find The Good Batch treats at coffee shops and grocery stores around the city. 

The Why:
We have been enjoying Anna's cookies and stroopwafels from the early days and we love to see a small family-owned local business grow. Her original Dutch cookie also relates to the very beginning of New York back when it was called New Amsterdam. Those early Dutch settlers were probably not eating stroopwafels, but after tasting Anna's and visiting the bakery, we have no doubt they would have been big fans.

The Where:
The Good Batch
936 Fulton Street 
Brooklyn, New York 10036
(718) 622-4000

​​​Click on the title for more info.

Sangria Workshop/ Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 6:30pm
Before the summer ends, try your hand on perfecting your sangria recipe and variations on it. Astor Center instructor Tess Rose Lampert will give you an opportunity to create Spanish-style sangria along with lessons on its history, key ingredients, and tasting notes. Bread and cheese will be served.

Fish, Brew, & BBQ/ Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 6-9pm
Do you miss fishing in the big bad city? Well, grab a rod and target some largemouth bass in Prospect Park. Rods and bait will be provided at this summery event hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance. American roots music will be performed by the Third Wheel Band and drinks and BBQ will be provided. 

Tastes of Brooklyn/ Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 2-6pm
Hit up a number of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill's best and most iconic eateries. This is the area we explore on our Brownstone Brooklyn tour but today make your own tour by purchasing four or eleven tastes. Then stop into participating restaurants, like Emma's Torch and Avlee Greek Kitchen, Donations go to Seeds in the Middle.