#happy-hour--drinks

#happy-hour--drinks

"I grew up in that bar. I spent more time there than I did in my own home." Rick Figari reflects on his deep connection to the Ha-Ra Club, where his parents met and where he has countless memories.

We [were] very determined to make a product that was consistent, safe and performed well. And that's what we've ended up with.

Temple Bar is going full throwback this April with a two-night '90s takeover that leans all the way into downtown nostalgia, transforming into a 'living time capsule' with low lighting and oversized martini glasses.

There's no shortage of discounted drinks and snacks (even on weekends) at these Cuban cafes' happy hours. Try a piña colada or daiquiri for $8. Snacks like goat-cheese croquetas and guava barbecue chicken sliders are $8, too.

Golden Child aims for a polished yet social atmosphere, resembling a members' club vibe without the exclusivity, making it accessible to all guests.

It's been wonderful to watch our industry blossom and come into its own. We started out with a handful of small cocktail-focused bars sprinkled throughout different pockets of the city that were trying to stand out among longstanding dive bars and bustling restaurant bars. But they've now burst onto the national map. My favorite thing, though, is that all of this growth still has something very beautifully Philadelphia to it.

For the past few years, we've been rounding up the best new restaurants in New York City as they open, with the sentiment being that anyone visiting the Big Apple can get a glimpse of our vast and diverse culinary scene by dining at a younger spot or two alongside the old-school institutions.

But then the playoffs arrive, and you and I are reminded of what makes twilight football-outdoors and on grass-special. You start off in broad daylight as both teams fuck around for a quarter or two. Then the sun slowly begins to bleed away, taking all distractions along with it as it sinks below the horizon. Now we're in primetime, when everyone is watching. Now every player on the field is in the spotlight, and you, the viewer at home, are dialed in.

This spectacle of a drink-which comes in a swiveling glass on a bed of moss under a smoke-filled cloche-is part of a new lineup of "multisensory" cocktails created by Jeremy Le Blanche, known for avant-garde creations at Fantom in New York. But the earthy and bright combination of tequila, amaro, matcha, cardamom, lemongrass, and lime is stunning even without the theatrics.

Used to strain ice and other ingredients out of shaken cocktails, a Hawthorne strainer is a small, flat, spoon-like gadget with holes plus a coiled spring around the edge. You simply fit it over the rim of a glass or shaker tin before pouring liquids through. It's essential for cleanly separating the cocktail from the ice without spilling or creating a mess during the pour.

The latest crop of bars are doing all of the above and then some, putting an emphasis on zero waste, housemade distillates, off beat wines, and immersive vibes. What's also clear is the geography of drinking culture: its clear epicenter is Lower Manhattan, with a few exciting entries in Brooklyn and one in Long Island City, Queens.

While one of the bartenders at the legendary Connaught Bar in London mixes your martini tableside, you're invited to choose your bitters to complete the drink. Lavender, perhaps? Or would tonka, coriander, or cardamom please you? Oh, what about the house-developed Dr. Ago's? Whatever your choice, you feel special for having collaborated on your order. But in truth, the selection process is so carefully planned by the Connaught that they're still behind the wheel. It's customization and control in perfect balance.