Archive for May, 2010
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
The Gasolina!
Jenn Sharon
Last month my friends recently come back from Puerto Rico brought back possibly one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. The Gasolina! This pre-made cocktail comes in a juice pouch, you know like the one’s for kid’s lunchboxes with the straw on the side and everything. But the stuff inside is not for kid’s. No sir. It is labeled as a high octane rum cocktail with rum, tequila, fruit juice and natural flavoring. Very mysterious, indeed.
The color of the gasolina is red and it is sweet, but not too sweet. The taste of cinnamon opens this drinks profile, then you taste orange (juice?) and then tequila. And so on, with the rest of the rummy juice flavors falling behind that. 200Ml and it’s 11% alcohol– not bad at all! It’s perfect for those long Puerto Rican days lounging on the beach.
Why am I telling you readers about this drink? I mean, you can’t even buy it in the U.S.A. The answer is I just thought it was cool! I’ve never seen anything like it before and I couldn’t find any real information on it on the world wide web.
The Gasolina goes down so smoothly and inoffensively that I can guess this drink can get vacationers and residents in a lot of Puerto Rican trouble.
There is a cocktail out there called the Gasolina, but believe me it’s not the same at all. Not even close. The Gasolina is so deliciously unique that if you or your friends ever find yourself on that island territory– bring some back for me!
{ED NOTE: there’s been talk around Art in Bars of this being the “Summer of Rum” where we take this oft maligned ingredient and try to discover why it holds such sway. Look for more rum-centric updates in the weeks to come.}
Tags: at home with jenn, Jenn, rum, weird
Posted in At Home With Jenn, Blog | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Politics and art actually mix rather well – we can all instantly come up with examples of politically charged art, from historic, to well regarded, to really, really bad. Get me drunk and I’ll babble till the cows come home about either subject. But it’s generally not considered polite conversation subject matter. So let me just say this – vote today. I know it’s a piddly little local primary election, but those are the ones that decide the people in the big elections. ALSO: there are measures you can vote for as well as candidates. Really. I know no one ever talks about them until they pass, but it’s genuinely something we the people decide to make law or not. It would be crass of me to impose my political views on you, and I know it’s difficult to be informed about the myriad people running, their shifting positions, and the pros and cons of the candidates. Suffice to say, it is possible to educate yourself, and align your morals with the options. I firmly believe the right to vote is one that should be appreciated and always acted upon, even, and some might say especially, in the “unimportant” elections. So take the time today. Make it happen in your schedule. I promise the lines won’t be long.
Tags: babbling, politics, public service announcement
Posted in Blog | Comments Off
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Pineapple Lavender Margarita
Jenn Sharon
It occurred to me too late that this recipe would have been good for Cinco de Mayo. Oh well! Summer is on its way and when the warm weather arrives– there isn’t anything better than a lovely margarita. This drink requires a bit of prep unless you have a store bought lavender syrup.
Remember the At home with Jenn where I told you how to make simple or flavored syrup? Make yourself a quick batch of Lavender syrup (1 cup water, 2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup lavender, fresh or dried. Simmer, cool, ¬Ω oz of lemon juice). After that bit of prep, you’re on your way to this delightful concoction. You need tequila, pineapple juice, triple sec, lemon or lime juice and your lavender syrup.
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz triple sec
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz lemon or lime juice
- ½ oz  lavender syrup
From there you can serve it over ice or blend it up. Put in your glass and enjoy this drink with friends. This cocktail is light and fruity with a floral whisper. Still not zazzy enough? Freeze some chunks of pineapple for about an hour and put them in your cocktail with your ice! It’s sure to be a hit!
Tags: at home with jenn, cocktail, drink, Jenn, lavender, margarita, pineapple, summer
Posted in At Home With Jenn | Comments Off
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Art Star Craft Bazaar
First of all, tomorrow May 15th is my marvelous partner’s 29th birthday. Hoo-ray! Happy Birthday, lovely cohabitational life partner! Mmmmwa! We’ll be going out for beers with a mess of his friends who also have a birthday near by that date. But that’s in the evening. What to do with the day. Oh yes, the Art Star Craft Bazaar. You may have heard of it. Taking place this Saturday, May 15th as well as Sunday, May 16th from 11 A.M. – 6 P.M. at the Penn’s Landing Great Plaza, the bazaar will feature over 100 craftspersons and artists as well as live music.
In case you’ve missed it, the Art Star Craft Bazaar is an outdoor retail craft show juried by Art Star Gallery & Boutique, so they’re going to showcase the twee crafty things that they love. The bazaar is going down rain or shine, and it is always free to attend. There will also be free silkscreened tote bags designed by Julie West for the first 250 shoppers each day who show up at the Art Star tent.
(more…)
Tags: 2010, Amanda Mello, Art, Art Star, craft, craft market, Gretchen Diehl, Maria Eife, Maureen Duffy, May, Penns Landing
Posted in Weekend Arty Things | Comments Off
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Stoudts
Hey there lovelies. I’m feeling queer these days. As in, Victorian definition of the word, not the contemporary parlance. It’s been a weird past couple of weeks for me professionally, personally, and can we talk about this weather? So I’m always on the lookout for cheap / free art and bar things, and lo and behold one pops up on the book of faces. It’s an opportunity to try some beer and take home a pint glass, at a location that loves beer and serves art. Ah, but not in NoLibs as per usual. Get thee out of the center city! Philly’s big and it’ll be a lovely night. Head up to Mt. Airy. You’ve got to love it when a brewery loves beer so much they let another brewery hock their wares. Earth Bread + Brewery is hosting a Stoudt’s Brewing Promo tonight, Thursday, May 13th, with a sweet, sweet take home pint glass. You can also check out works by the Mt. Airy artist collective members Todd Matte and Mark Mattson. Because, you know, art in bars.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Stoudt’s beers, mostly because when the partner and I did the brewery tour it was lead by Mr. Stoudt himself, and he told us that he drinks five pints of beer a day for his health, and we should too. I try Mr. Stoudt, I try.
Earth Bread + Brewery 7136 Germantown Ave.
Tags: beer, brewery, Earth Bread and Brewery, Mark Mattson, Stoudts, Todd Matte, u keep the glass
Posted in Something To Do | 1 Comment »
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Memphis Taproom Handmade Market
It’s lamely exciting to me when I can go into the image archive for an annual event, because it means the blog’s been tracking this sort of thing for over a year now. Began last summer, the Handmade Market at Memphis Taproom is still looking for venders for their festival of local and handmade art and crafts. Email leigh@memphistaproom.com if you’re interested in vending your wares. There’s no application fee and a limited number of spaces.
The market will take place Saturday, July 17 from 11 A.M.- 3 P.M. with a rain date of Sunday, July 1.
Tags: 2010, call to artists, craft, Handmade Market, July, Memphis Taproom, opportunities
Posted in Opportunities | Comments Off
Friday, May 7th, 2010
Hey ya’ll. Spring is here and the weather is perfect for a marathon of art. Go see some shows, stop, have a drink, walk to the next one, when it feels too claustrophobic move on. May and September are top months for shows because the weather generally puts people in the mood to go out to galleries. So follow the seasons, dear reader, and get your art on this First Friday. As always, there are the well documented free wine affairs in the standard galleries. But this site is about art outside of the gallery scene. Let’s see what’s on my radar this month.* (more…)
Tags: 2010, Adam Parker Smith, Ashley Wituschek, Benjamin Contois, Beth Beverly, Box Brown, Carolyn Salas, Chris Gauvain, Derek Frech, Geoff Bucknam, Hawk Krall, Ian Harker, James Shuster, Jim Garvey, John Mutone, John Schenk, Jon McCoy, Kaitlin Mosley, Kent Latimer, Lance Hansen, Lauren Herzak-Bauman, Lauren van Haaften-Schick, listings, Marshall Kavanaugh, Matthew Froatz, May, Norman Fetter, Pat Aulisio, Rebecca Pulver, Rebecca Suss, Regina Williams, RJ Thornburg, Robert Larson, Rosali Middleman, Sam Cusumano, Scott Bickmore, Sebastien Leclerq, Seth Darnall, Shawn Thornton, Shoog McDaniel, Timothy Buckwalter
Posted in Monthly Listings | Comments Off
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Hey everyone. I’m working for the man / doing my civic and or patriotic duty this week / being a schmuck. I thought it wasn’t going to interfere with my precious blogging of all things bars and art, but then lo and behold, my competence was observed and rewarded with more work. I was asked to instruct a version of the class I participated in last week. Without going into details, it’s been dramatic and time consuming. I hope to have the listings ready to go for first Friday, but planned content for this week wasn’t developed – the days I usually devote to creating copy and researching were usurped. (Sorry, Niki Bombshell and The Last Minute Art Show – I was trying to create something about you guys, and as you know it didn’t happen.) Excuses, excuses. SO: very quickly, in case this is the only chance I get this week: (more…)
Tags: 2010, Bridget Foy's, Cantina Dos Segundos, cinco de mayo, Ladder 15, May, Sequoia, Updates
Posted in Something To Do | Comments Off
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
It is a life goal of mine to attend the Kentucky Derby. Mostly because I love outrageous hats. And gambling on horse races. But the third reason I would like to attend is of course the cult of the particular tipple the Mint Julep, which now a days is neglected all year long save for today. I know someone who’s been to the derby before and the stories she tells are a-maz-ing. (Well, all the stories she tells are amazing, but the derby ones are particularly a hoot and a half.) Alas, it is a dream deferred for now. Chances are, you may have just found out that it’s derby day, and are wondering how you can get into the spirit. I suggest smashing up some mint and getting smashed at home, as it’s a lovely day for hanging out on stoops, roofs, or back yards. But if you’re feeling social, or not in a self bar tending mood,¬† lots o’ places around town are celebrating by breaking out specials on Mint Juleps. If you are an ambitious drinker, you could plot your course and be thoroughly trashed today. But that wouldn’t be very genteel. (more…)
Tags: 2010, Abbaye, Bridget Foy's, cocktail, goat races, hats, horse races, Kentucky, May, Mint Julep, Philadelphia, Sly Fox, special, spring
Posted in Drinking | 3 Comments »