Author Archives: Susie O

Craft Cocktails of Texas

Have you heard?  The bartenders are coming!  One (shot) if by land and two (shots) … just because.  Join some of the most revered (see what I did there?) cocktail concontion-ists from all over our fair state for Craft Cocktail Texas.  

Events June 14-17 will show you how to throw a killer cocktail party, teach you the intricacies of bitters, and everything in between.  Local barkeeps like Eddie “Lucky” Campbell and Rocco Milano will join forces with other cocktail educators from Houston, Austin, and San Antonio to bring us lucky locals some serious pointers, demonstrations, and tastings.  A full pass will even get you into a pool party with your favorite bar(wo)men … talk about adding a splash!

To make things more fun, join thirty bartenders on Saturday in Main Street Gardens for a cocktail mix-off.  The bartenders in the competition will be serving samples of their craft cocktails, but if you want to really wet your whistle, the barkeeps from The Usual in Fort Worth will be opening a pop-up bar to serve everyone deliciousness (believe it).  If you’re worried about being in the Texas sun with nothin’ but a tent and some booze, fear not, food trucks will be serving up hot (err… cold) deliciousness to keep your tummy happy (happier?).

See a full schedule of the Craft Cocktail Texas classes and festivities here: http://www.craftcocktailstx.com/schedule.php
“Like” them on Facebook for updates and news: https://www.facebook.com/craftcocktailstx

As if the mere idea of having a weekend chock full of bar learnin’ wasn’t enough, the wonderful people over at Craft Cocktails Texas have been nice enough to offer up to my fans TWO sets of TWO tickets to TWO events for next weekend’s boozy festivities, the VIP kick-off party at the Stoneleigh and the USBG Competition and Festival.

TO ENTER, by noon on Tuesday, June 12 (my birthday!):
– Tweet me (@drinkdallas) and include a mention of @CCTXDallas — make sure you say which event you want tickets to (one tweet per event, please)
– Write on my Facebook wall and mention the event you’d like to go to
– Comment on this post and tell me which event you’d like to attend.

The winners will be chosen randomly, so don’t worry about putting a bunch of effort into your entry (though I’ll still read it so feel free).  Two entries per person per platform will count.  I will be giving two pairs of tickets to each the kick-off party ($300 value per pair) and the USBG Competition ($80 value per pair).

Summer Activities and Events

Beat the heat with these cool events! (So cliché, but I had to!)

3RD ANNUAL HOMEGROWN MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL | live music in the park from Ben Kweller, Eisley, Octopus Project, Black Joe Lewis, and many more!
Where: Main Street Garden Park (Downtown)
When: Saturday, May 26
Time: 10 a.m. and onnnnnnnnn
Need to know: tickets from Prekindle.com for $18.75

2ND ANNUAL DALLAS MARGARITA MELTDOWN | margaritas … lost of margaritas.
Where: Bishop Arts District (Oak Cliff)
When: Sunday, May 27
Time: 3 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Need to know: tickets from Prekindle.com for $27.25


TASTE OF ADDISON | delicious food and live music from Mat Kearney, Wade Bowen, Rhett Miller, and The Dirty Guv’Nahs
Where: 
When: May 18-20
Time: Friday 6pm-midnight, Saturday 12pm-midnight, Sunday 12-5pm
Need to know: tickets here or at area Albertsons stores, $5-15, enter to win a free gift basket from Taste of Addison —- look at my newest posts to find out how!!

SUMMER BLOCK PARTY | activities, live music
Where: Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher
When: June 15


TASTE OF DALLAS
Where: Fair Park (3600 Grand Avenue)
When: July 13-15
Time: Friday 4-11pm. Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-9pm
Need to know: tickets here or at area Albertsons stores, daily admission $8 at the gate (children <12 are free), parking $12 with trams or take the DART Green Line, no pets allowed (womp)


ONGOING EVENTS


LIVE AT FIVE* | live music and signature drink specials
Where: Galleria Dallas (between The Grill and Townhouse)
When: Thursdays through May 31
Time: 5-8 p.m.

MOVIES UNDER THE MOON* | Family-friendly movies
Where: The Shops at Park Lane
When: Fridays in June
Time: movies begin at 8:30 p.m.
Need to know: June 1 (“Secretariat”), June 8 (“Toy Story”), June 15 (“Remember the Titans”), June 22 (“Happy Feet”).  Gordon Biersch will have food and drinks for purchase.  Bring your own chair/blanket/picnic/etc.

CONCERT IN THE GARDEN | hang out on on a blanket, eat a picnic, and enjoy music from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.  I have been going to this since I was a wee one, and it’s a wonderful experience.
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
When: various nights June through July 4
Time: 8 p.m. (gates open at 6:30 p.m.)
Need to know: FIREWORKS AT EVERY CONCERT, tickets are $16-43, parking $10-25 (valet available), no animals allowed

LATE NIGHTS AFTER HOURS MUSIC SHOWCASE | live music on the lawn, contests at some concerts
Where: Dallas Museum of Art
When: every third Friday (after Late Nights at the DMA)
Time: 10-11 p.m.
Need to know: this series is an addition to Late Nights at the DMA

PATIO SESSIONS* | live music on the lawn
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center
When: every Thursday through May 31 (there may be more after…)
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Need to know: BYO food, no alcohol

CONCERTS AT THE ARBORETUM | live music on the lawn, contests at some concerts
Where: Dallas Arboretum
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 31 and Thursdays through October 25 
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Need to know: BYOB, short chair/blanket, and food – buy your tickets way ahead of time because they’re selling out!

BAREFOOT AT THE BELMONT | live music on the lawn
Where: Belmont Hotel
When: select Thursdays through August 9 (schedule)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Need to know: tickets from Prekindle.com for $27.25, FAQ

JAZZ IN THE ATRIUM | live music in the DMA Atrium
Where: Dallas Museum of Art
When: Thursday in June, July, and August
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.
 

MORE TO COME (hopefully):

  • Main Street Gardens movie series*
  • Park Lane Movies Under the Moon*
  • Palomar/Central 214 movie series*
  • Fairmont Summer Dive-In Movies*
  • Belmont Hotel dive-in movies*
  • Half Price Books movie series*

*FREE EVENTS

Taste of Addison GIVEAWAY!

Don’t miss the yearly haven of food and drink, luckily scheduled before the REAL Texas heat begins.  Lucky for you (and thanks to Taste Addison), I’m giving away two packages for you to get into Taste Addison with three of your besties.  Then, you can pick one of those besties to take to brunch for some hair of the dog the next day (of course you can take more than one, but that’s all you’ll get in fo’ free).

  • Blue Mesa brunch for two
  • Four passes to Taste Addison

So, do you want some free awesomeness?  There are three ways to enter to win one of the two packages (must be done by noon on 5/15):

  1. Comment on this post
  2. Tweet me (@drinkdallas) with the hashtag #TasteAddison2012
  3. Post on my Facebook wall and tell me which concert you want to hear or  restaurant you want to try at Taste Addison

The winners will be chosen randomly, so you don’t have to write me a poem or do anything ridiculous.  One “entry” per platform will count.
 

FOOD

Obviously, you’ll have to eat something in order to Taste Addison, so they’ve set up 60+ vendors to give you a taste of Addison’s best fare.  Complete with cooking demos, cook-offs between football players including Jason Witten (see Albertsons’ Cookin’ with the Gridiron Greats), and more.

To see the lineup of food-related activities, go ahead and click your little mouse here. 

MUSIC/Entertainment

Last year, they brought you Third Eye Blind.  This year, they’ll feature music from Mat Kearney, Wade Bowen, Rhett Mill, The Dirty Guv’nahs, Carolina Liar, and the Casey Donahew Band.

They’re also featuring bartending exhibitions (think Tom Cruise in “Cocktail”), a carnival, family fun zone, and plenty of other kid-friendly stuff.  However, I’d recommend hiring a sitter, buying some extra beer tickets, and taking a cab home.
 

Website for more information:  www.addisontexas.net/events/TasteAddison

Where: Addison Circle Park

When: May 18-20

Time: Friday 6pm-midnight, Saturday 12pm-midnight, Sunday 12-5pm

Need to know: tickets here or at area Albertsons stores, $5-15

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/227717663911619/

YOU DOWN WITH OTB?

HEY, YOU!  Yes, you. Come happy hour with me tomorrow (Thursday) at On the Border.  Margaritas, queso, and burrrrritos … what more could you want from a Thursday?

On the Border is celebrating its upcoming 30th birthday (damn, OTB is old!) and wants you to join for the last “installment” of their Thursday Patio Parties.  SO – they’re kicking off their Cinco de Mayo celebration a little early.

DEETS
Location: OTB on Knox Street (Dallas)
Date: Thursday, May 3
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Perks: The first 20 guests get a $10 OTB gift card, free dessert (with a the coupon from here), and $8 deliciousness (aka  Mercedes Margaritas made with 1800 Reposado Tequila, fresh agave sour, and Grand Marnier)

So, shall we margarita?

FACEBOOK EVENT

Is one party not enough for you?  You insatiable, little nugget!  Party with OTB in Addison on May 5 for the mother of all Cinco parties.  Details from OTB below:

On Cinco de Mayo, On The Border is inviting the neighborhood to Cinco like they’ve never Cinco’ed before, while celebrating the 150th year of the holiday and our upcoming 30th anniversary (in June) with a party that makes the fiesta last all day — guests can come in, enjoy our signature margaritas and Mexican beer, freshly made dishes and festive atmosphere, and are free to stay until we close. The Addison location will have live music/deejays.

Cinco de Mayo/Derby Day Parties

May 3

What:On the Border Happy Hour hosted by ME!
When: 6-8 p.m.
Where:On the Border (location TBD)
Perks: $10 gift cards for attendees, drink specials

What:Dallas Wine Talk – Times Ten Cellars Wine Meet Up
When: 7-9 p.m.
Where:Times Ten Cellars (Lakewood)
Perks: Wine, appetizers, and door prizes 

May 4

What: Cinco de Mayo at The Quarter
When: 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where:The Quarter Bar (Uptown)
Perks: $3 Mexican beers and margaritas


May 5

What: Frankie’s Cinco de Mayo
When: 
Where:Frankie’s Sports Bar (all locations)
Perks: 1/2 price quesadillas, $3 Mexican beers, the ticket broadcasting live (FW location only)

What:Rucas Cinco de Drinko
When: 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Where:Rucas Sports Cantina (10319 Finnell Street, Dallas)
Perks:  Margarita machine, Irish meltdowns, live music, 
Biggest Sombrero & Best Moustache Contest, Mexican beer specials

What:  The Dallas Wine & Food Festival 
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Mockingbird Station (Midtown)
Perks: Free wine seminars, happy hour events, samplings, “swag”, etc.
RSVP/Tickets: Mockingbirdstation.com/events

What: Cinco de Mayo at The Quarter
When: 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Where:The Quarter Bar (Uptown)
Perks: $3 Mexican beers and margaritas. free nacho bar starting at 4pm

What: Los Ringos Cinco de Drinko Fiesta
When: 3 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: Ringo’s Pub (The Shops at Legacy)
Perks:  Margarita machine, Irish meltdowns, live music, 
Biggest Sombrero & Best Moustache Contest, Mexican beer specials

What: 3rd Annual Boil for the Brave
When: 12-6 p.m.
Where:The Foundry Bar (2303 Pittman, Dallas)
Perks: All-you-can-eat crawfish and fixins, live music, silent auction
Price: $20 at the door 

What: Sissy’s First Annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Watching Party
When: 4-7 p.m.
Where:Sissy’s Southern Kitchen (Henderson)
Perks: $5 select drinks (juleps, Kentucky Punch, Presbyterian Bourbon Press, and Alabama Sunset), the Derby on big screens, and best outfit award
RSVP: Reservations are encouraged – call 214.827.9900

What: Wild Salsa Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Where:Wild Salsa (Downtown)
Perks: Live music, $4 El Jimador margaritas, Brugal mojitos, and Terradura tequila shots, $10 bucket of Coronitas, $10 bottomless mojitos (11am-3pm)
 

May 6

What: YELP Hangover Helper Elite Event @ Club Dada
When: 2-4 p.m.
Where:Club Dada (Deep Ellum)
Price: Suggested $5 donation for Deep Ellum Mural Project**
Perks: Complimentary Mimosas, Tito’s sponsored Bloody Mary bar, Spicy bites, some mitigating mantras and exercises, Henna tattoo artist, tweet Booth, Day of the Dead Face paint, Live music by Datahowler, Raffle for Homegrown Arts & Music Festival Tickets, And much more!
RSVP/Tickets: For the newbs, here’s how to RSVP to any events posted to the Elite-only Calendar:
1. Click on your ‘12 Elite badge which will take you to the private Elite Event Calendar
2. Click “view full calendar” to the far upper right hand corner of the page
3. Read all the juicy deets
4. RSVP by clicking on the yellow with red text “RSVP” button
5. Await your official RSVP confirmation