Hi Friends,
Hello from New Orleans!!
The weather wasn’t catastrophic enough in New York so I thought I’d literally go to the eye of the storm.
This week is Tales of the Cocktail, the spirits and hospitality conference that has been taking over New Orleans for almost 25 years. I have dipped in and out of the space for most of my career and always heard about the exceptionally bacchanalian celebration of booze-adjacent professionals. I’d assumed that as a marketing professional supporting spirits, it wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t fit in, and it’s too expensive.
To correct the record: It’s not that expensive. Only after convincing myself that this trip was a reasonable business expense did I think why it might be so inexpensive to go to New Orleans in July. Because it is New Orleans in July. It has been over 95F every day this week and today we’re expecting a tropical storm.
As for not fitting in - I don’t accept that any more. If people know more than me, if they do things differently, if their perspectives are different than mine, that means I have a lot to learn and, I hope, something to contribute.
I also wanted to see how these hospitality leaders helped people feel like they fit in. That is actually my reason for being here.
Can I show up alone and feel comfortable? Will the brands hosting these events facilitate connection between guests, or just to themselves? What does it take for something to walk out of an event feeling like they got something more meaningful than free swag?
The short answer: The brands and their experience designers don’t really care if you feel connected or comfortable. But the people do.
If anything, the hosts of these experiences put up some barriers to connection. They’re usually loud, crowded, and create a sense of scarcity as guests jockey for entry to exclusive events or primo merch. The wonderful people I have talked to during this trip made a conscious effort to overcome those obstacles to connect.
I have two days left at Tales (unless my flight gets grounded!) and I’m really hoping to see a connection-focused, community building event. Of course, I’ll be bringing back everything I learned to Makers & Lovers.
Sponsored by our friends at Boutique Wines, Spirits and Ciders
CATCH AND RELEASE WINES
In-CIDER info alert! For Makers and Lovers are the first to hear about these brand new Retro themed ciders releasing this Saturday July 25th in Fishkill NY.
Awestruck Ciders has created two throwback to your childhood themed flavors, exclusively for the taps at Boutique Wines, Spirits, & Ciders!
In the 90s Blue Raspberry was all the rage, but it has history going back to the 1950s. Airheads, Kool-Aid, Jolly Ranchers, Dippin' Dots, Blow Pops, and even a 711 Slurpee all did Blue Raspberry flavors in our youth. So for Boutique’s Retro tasting party, Awestruck made a cider with real Raspberries and Blueberries for natural blue color!
In honor of another icon of the past, we asked for a cider with orange, lemon, and lime. And so, inspired by the soda released in January 1997, Awestruck created a Hard Cider modeled after Surge Soda.
These two very cool limited edition Hard Ciders are on tap only exclusively at Boutique Wines Spirits & Ciders starting at 5pm on Saturday July 25th. Com down and join their Retro tasting party and take a taste, & buy a growler fill of your favorite!
Thursday, July 23
Night Shift: The Jiffy at Albany Institute in Albany, an after-hours evening at the Albany Institute with curator Diane Shewchuk on the 'Your Friend, Frederic E. Church' show, libations, and gallery time once the museum's closed to everyone else. 6-8pm, $25.
Foundations of Fermentation at Goshen Public Library in Goshen — You'll build a vegetable lacto-ferment to take home while digging into lactic-acid bacteria, acetic-acid bacteria, and yeast, plus get a look at their fermentation library. I have a friend who borrows cookbooks from the library all the time. Life hack! Free at the library, 5-7.
Late, Late 'Pickled' Snacky Hour at Kindred in Saratoga Springs — The Dishing takes over Kindred for a late-night pickle party: an Asian-inspired pickle plate (pickled watermelon, purple eggs), fermented-twist cocktails from Zach Wolfgramm and Tom Madarasz, and DJ TruMastr. Free Snacky Hour cocktail 9-10. Dammit we love pickled around here.
Friday, July 24
Borscht Belt Fest at Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville — The Borscht Belt Museum throws its annual fest in Ellenville -- a full weekend leaning into the Catskills' Jewish resort-era history with food, comedy, and programming that keeps the old borscht circuit alive. July 24-26.
Free Music on the Belle: Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount — Lara Hope & the Ark-Tones bring their rockabilly ruckus up the mountain for a free outdoor set on the Belle at Belleayre. 6-9pm.
Larry Campbell & Theresa Williams: Maverick Friday Nights at Maverick Concerts in Woodstock — Larry Campbell & Theresa Williams play Maverick Concerts, the oldest continuous summer chamber music series in the country, in the woods outside Woodstock. So serene. 8-10pm.
Live Sounds, Slow Music at 27 Cafe in Catskill — WGXC's 'Slow Down, Tune In' pledge drive lands at 27 Cafe with sets from Dani Derks, Grayson in the Mirror, and Kenji Garland & Jimmy Garver. Music, drinks, and a night that keeps freeform community radio on the air.
DJ Harlan at Urban Cowboy Lodge in Big Indian — Harlan Lev sauntering into the last weekend of July at Urban Cowboy Lodge with an all-vinyl set of funk and disco heaters, 7-10. Do absolutely check out the bowling alley pizza parlor at the bottom of the hilll.
The Pinhook Stakes across Saratoga Springs — Eight Saratoga bartenders each build a cocktail to mark Pinhook's 'Saratoga Allowance' bartender blend, and every drink is a horse in the race. Taste your way around town and vote for your winner - voting runs July 24 through August 21.
Los Hermosos Pop-Up at Meat Wagon in Kingston — Los Hermosos brings its pop-up to Meat Wagon in Kingston, one stop on a summer tear through the region's breweries and bars.
Saturday, July 25
Big Indian Native American Cultural Center Cultural Event at Pine Hill Community Center in Pine Hill — A cultural day hosted by the Big Indian Native American Cultural Center at the Pine Hill Community Center -- Indigenous history, craft and community, 11am-5pm.
Cirque Du Creep: Invasion of Camp Cryptid at The Yard in Beacon — 90+ artists and vintage vendors, plus fire and sideshow acts, contortionists, and haunt actors playing aliens and cryptids working the crowd. Free shuttle from Metro North, and kids 15 and under free (children and weekenders!! Horrifying!) $12 advance/$15 door.
Growing Together: A Tour of Mid-Hudson Gardens across the Mid-Hudson — A free, self-guided tour of eight historic and community gardens from PK to Tivoli,from the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield and Bard's Blithewood to Clermont and Wilderstein. Demos, give aways, and confirmation that we live in the most beautiful place on earth.
Moths Take Over the Lawn at John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary in West Park — Naturalist Mathew Rymkiewicz leads a look at what comes out after dark at the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary in West Park, part of the summer nature walk series. Around 8pm, free, registration required. Please click the link and meet this fuzzy guy.
Walkway at Night at Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie — The Walkway opens the old rail bridge after dark for a walk 212 feet above the Hudson, with the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association bringing telescopes if the sky cooperates. 8:30-10pm, $5, kids under 12 free.
Queer Honky Tonk Campout at Stable Gate Winery in Castleton-on-Hudson — Stable Gate and Kerhonkson Road House throw a queer honky-tonk campout -- Pretty Pig BBQ, New Scotland Whiskey tastings, burlesque, freak show rodeo, DJ Lemonade and line-dancing lessons with Catskill Line. All ages. (If your kids can hang with the freaks, strippers and whiskey enthusiasts?)
Ten Mile Table 1st Birthday in Wassaic — Ten Mile Table turns one with a free afternoon party -- music, food, wine, flowers, art, cake and, per the flyer, surprises. We love Erika and are very proud of her. Go boogie.
Clearwater End-of-Season Celebration at Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston — The sloop Clearwater wraps her 58th season before heading into an eight-month hull restoration, so this is your window to see her afloat at the Rondout. Live music, Land to Learn and For the Many tabling, and Zack Munsell of Friendly Banjos doing kid-friendly sets at 4 and 5.
Long Light: Live Music at Art Omi in Ghent — Art Omi's third Long Light concert puts Stroma (a shoegaze and noise-rock three-piece) and GARY out in the Sculpture & Architecture Park, with Chatham Provisions bites and drinks at the cafe. Free, all ages, doors 5 and show 6. (If your children are more shoegaze than boot scoot, I guess.)
Sunday, July 26
Silver Brothers x Bimi's Canteen: Field to Glass Dinner in Old Chatham — Silver Brothers Distillery and Bimi's Canteen team up for a five-course Friend of the Farmer: Field to Glass dinner. Two seatings, 5pm and 8pm, $100 on Resy. Eat some low-risk local lettuce.
First + Adams Pop-Up at Whiskey Pickle in Troy — First + Adams pops up at Whiskey Pickle for a Sunday session. A quick-hit collab worth catching if you're in the Troy orbit.
Monday, July 27
Every End Is a Beginning: URSULA at Lil' Deb's Oasis in Hudson — Round two of Lil' Deb's guest-chef farewell series, with URSULA taking over the kitchen for a conceptual menu honoring the end of the Oasis run.
Dewey's x A Tiny Literature Shop Tiny Bar Pop-Up in Hudson — A Tiny Literature Shop turns into a tiny bar for the night: Dewey's wine (Ten Mile Table pouring), good books, and a low-key Warren Street hang from 4 to 9.
Tuesday, July 28
Cory Hanson + Dominick & the Family Band at Tubby's in Kingston — Cory Hanson of Wand brings his solo project -- string-laced, heavy-guitar 'I Love People' songs that don't sound like the band -- to Tubby's, with Hudson Valley favorite Dominick & the Family Band. Trending toward a sellout.
Jubilee at Mirador Kingston
Confession: I love drum and bass. It's my guilty pleasure and I am not ashamed of it. Amy is out of town this week and the neighbors three houses away can definitely hear Shy FX and Benny Page rattling their windows. So a week with actual dnb in my backyard should have me over the moon. And I am! Kinda! There's just a small logistical wrinkle I have to walk you through.
This Saturday, Mirador in Kingston hosts Asoleo Nº3 with Jubilee, Nigelthreetimes, and Freakout Rob. It's a vinyl night because DJ Harlan, who throws these, is a vinyl guy. Jubilee's coming off headlining Supernature the same weekend, so Kingston is the little sister gig on a Hudson Valley farm-party swing, which is already funny. I was texting with Jess last night and she told me the only records she owns that aren't in a storage unit are hard drum and bass. Which means Jubilee, a DJ who could flatten any room on earth off a thumb drive, is digging out her heaviest wax and hauling it upstate. And if you've ever been to Mirador's backyard, you know it is a rosé-at-golden-hour situation. A lovely, chill, dappled-light kind of place. It is not a place that wants to get run over by amen breaks and sawtooth basslines.
So anyway, I had to stop myself from a rant today. (This is already a rant, babe. - Ed.) I had the cannon loaded: how the wedding-industrial complex has poisoned the well up here, how DJing got folded into the same farm-to-table racket as wooden lawn games and letterpress invitations, how vinyl stopped being a musical choice and became an aesthetic you can photograph. I was going to burn it all down. And then I remembered that Harlan actually throws these parties and he's the real deal, and that Rob owns a shop full of punk oddities and for him the records genuinely are the whole craft. I realized I was about to knife two experts over what is, at the end of the day, a gear situation. So I'm not going to do that. (Though, between us: the well is a little poisoned.)
Because here's the thing that actually has me giddy. Twenty years ago I DJ'd with DJ Icey at Sullivan Room in the Village, and the next morning there was a message on the Breakbeat Science board from someone calling themselves my new biggest fan. That was Jubilee. She has since surpassed me in every possible way: biggest clubs in the world, her own label, an Essential Mix, won a whole Red Bull Culture Clash, you name it. She'll be doing it on hard d&b vinyl in a rosé garden, and it's going to be gloriously, perfectly wrong. Nigelthreetimes, Rob and Harlan round out a bill that makes no sense and total sense at once. Go. Bring earplugs and a sherry.
MAKE LOVE THIS WEEK
Did you know you can get group rates on tree removal? You can, if your neighbors are equally sick of losing power and band together. Give it a try.
Cheers,
Amy
A Maker and Lover