Dallas #BoozeNews: July 7, 2015

NEW OPENINGS

Lower Greenville got another new hotspot this week thanks to the opening of Rapscallion on July 7!  The bistro, complete with a raw bar, wood grill and rotisserie, and a full bar with carefully crafted cocktails and a 120+ bottle wine list, is brought to L.G. by the Anderson brothers who blessed Dallas with Veritas Wine Room and Boulevardier.

Addison will see another new restaurant opening in August with the opening of Ida Claire, which will mix up some “southern classics with influences from around the globe”.   Ida Claire will open at 5001 Belt Line Road for lunch, dinner, and brunch and will offer some remixed dishes like biscuit sandwiches, Front Porch Cake (sweet tea cake with honey mint buttercream and lemon meringue), and Cast Iron Okra finished with ponzu.

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Paul Martin’s American Grill will open this Thursday, July 9!  Dinner service will be available at the eatery located at 3848 Oak Lawn, Suite 210 with lunch and brunch offerings soon to follow.  Don’t miss their cocktail and their wine list boasting 100+ wines!

Wine Poste in Bishop Arts District

Design District wine hangout, Wine Poste, opened its Bishop Arts District location June 26!  Stop by and pick up a bottle of their carefully selected wines or a glass of wine to enjoy while trying out their new menu items.

The first Texas location of Matchbox Restaurant will open in Preston Hollow Village with a 8,250 square foot dining area and patio later this year.  Matchbox will offer wood-fired pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and more

NEW OFFERINGS

My favorite spot in One Arts Plaza, Proof + Pantry, has added some new DE-lish-sounding menu items for the summer season to its lunch menu.  Stop by to try the new offerings, including a Fried Oyster Roll (with celery root slaw and tartare sauce), Baked Eggs (with roasted cauliflower, ham, spinach, gruyere cream and tomato sauce), and Roasted Beets (with black plums, mixed radish and queson bores).

2015-07-07_21-36-22Yard House in Addison will add two new menu items to its menu–the Nashville Hot Chicken (a dish of skinless fried chicken with extra pepper served with sweet potato pancakes, pickles, ranch dressing and honey hot sauce) and Crispy Duck Wings (duck wings fried then tossed with a maple sambal soy glaze and toasted sesame seeds, served with an herb salad featuring cilantro, basil and mint with red onion).

WIN BIG

Vivo 53 is offering its guests the chance to WIN FREE PIZZA FOR A YEAR!  All you do to enter to win is take a picture while dining (or drinking) at the Italian eatery in Fort Worth, post it to Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram with the hashtag #LoveVivo53 before September 1.  Buona fortuna!

Celebrate Van Gogh Espresso Vodka’s 10th birthday by winning a home cocktail party!  Just take a picture of your toast to their birthday and post it to their Facebook app or get extra entries by posting pictures using the hashtag #vangoghshot before July 31!

LIMITED TIME OFFERINGS

Goose Island Mango pineapple burger

Goose Island Tropical Bacon Burger

Since when do cows, pigs, and GEESE get along?  Apparently since Hard Rock Cafe released their Goose Island Tropical Bacon Burger! (a handcrafted with a half-pound Certified Angus Beef® patty, brushed with Goose Island IPA glaze and topped with chili spiced bacon, grilled pineapple, mango salsa, chipotle puree, arugula and Cheddar cheese).
Available: through August 31

Keep the Fourth of July spirit going all month long with The All American Burger from Snuffer’s.   It’s one of their juicy 100% ground chuck patties topped with Applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, diced red onions, mayonnaise, and mustard and served with a side of good ole’ American chili.
Cost: $10.49
Available: through July 31

The Boardwalk Burger from Hopdoddy

The Boardwalk Burger from Hopdoddy

Get the Coney Island feeling at Hopdoddy with their Boardwalk Burger (a juicy beef patty, split hot dog, chili con carne, cheddar cheese, sliced tomato, red leaf lettuce, diced white onion, “Sassy Sauce”, and French’s Yellow Mustard on an Egg Bun).
Cost: $11
Available: through July 12

 

Topgolf Allen Summer Events

Last week I made the trek up to the great white north Allen to attend a Ladies Happy Hour at Topgolf Allen. I mean … it was a drive, but it was so worth it. If you’re not familiar with the Topgolf concept (where the hell have you been?), it’s a tech-forward driving range dreamt up by the Jolliffe brothers in Watfotd, England. Topgolf (Target Oriented Practice Golf) takes a traditional driving range and adds microchips to the golf balls and targets to the pins. The closer your ball gets to the pin, the more points you’ll get. You can find some extra background on Topgolf Allen in Brian’s recap of his visit.

Top Golf has really upped its game … not just its literal game (which it has), but its food, drink, and hospitality game, too. To start off our happy hour (hosted by me, Staci from 7onashoestring, McKinney Moms Blog, and the Dallas Blogger Collective). After introductions and a few words from some of the Topgolf peeps, we were treated to a “speed” wine tasting lead by a very knowledgable teacher. We tasted fives wines–(some seriously grapefruit forward) whites, roses, and a Layer Cake red (one of my favorite budget-friendly wines).

After the wine tasting, they opened up the floor to ceiling glass doors and let us take over the range. (Ok, not the whole thing … but we had room to spread out.) Even though I don’t know much about golf, I could tell this was an impressive driving range with modern facilities, Ace Driving Range Netting and plenty of golf balls to go around! Our group all had some natural ability (some more than others), so we grabbed the drivers and started the game. (I’d like to note that Brittany (pictured below) and I were neck-and-neck … though she did win. It really made me think about getting a golf simulator so I could get some practice in before our next golf outing.)

The gracious Topgolf team plied us with more of their delicious offerings–chicken & waffle sliders, s’more sandwiches, Green chili mac & cheese, and more. I like to think I’m more qualified than most Texans to identify good green chili menu items from bad (my sister and her husband live in Albuquerque and EVERYTHING is green chili-flavored), Topgolf’s Green Chili Mac & Cheese is damn good–just enough flavor to make it distinct, but not enough to smoke your taste buds. Everything was fresh and delicious with some seriously fun flavors and unique offerings. (I mean … who doesn’t want a chicken and waffle slider?)

Beyond delicious food, great service, a fun atmosphere, and a great game, what more could you want? Well … beyond live music and fun contests from time to time, they have Golf Bags. (And what driving range isn’t more fun after 30oz. of booze in a light-up novelty cup with crazy straws for just $15? I went with the Pineapple Express (Malibu Coconut Rum, 99 Bananas, DeKuyper Peachtree, orange juice & pineapple juice) and it wasn’t a mistake.

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They’ll be hosting two similar events later this summer, one for moms and another catered to couples. My advice? Go to one (or both) of them. Stay tuned to their channels to find out about these FREE events!
TOPGOLF – ALLEN
www.topgolf.com/us/ALLEN
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
1500 Andrews Parkway, Allen, TX 75002
(469) 675-9730

HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 12:00am
Friday: 9:00am – 1:00am
Saturday: 8:00am – 1:00am
Sunday: 9:00am – 12:00am

Corner Bakery’s UnFlat Event & Giveaway

Corner Bakery is one of my personal favorites for a quick, wholesome breakfast or lunch, so I was very excited when they invited our team in to check out their new menu offerings: a series of breakfast and lunch “flats”, that are anything but; hence the name of this event, Corner Bakery’s “UnFlat Event”. This place is simply fantastic, but I must say that using a marketing agency like whitehat would be useful for reaching out further to more clients and customers. They deserve as many customers as is humanly possible!

Corner Bakery has added three new breakfast flats and four new lunch (or dinner!) flats to their sandwich lineup. Each variety is loaded with fresh and flavorful ingredients stuffed into a pillowy grilled flatbread, and awesomely enough, they all boast a calorie count under 330 calories. I had the opportunity to try several varieties at this very tasty event, prepared fresh by Chef Ric Scicchitano, the EVP Food & Supply Chain- and they were ALL delicious! I know that everyone in the bakery is trained in baking so you know that the food will be good. A baker should always go through professional training like doing the courses at Bakerycourses.in if they want a successful business. Otherwise, they may end up disappointing the customers with low-quality food. But low-quality food would never happen at the Corner Bakery!

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The new breakfast flats include:

  • Avocado and Spinach Power Flat – scrambled eggs with fresh avocado and spinach, and cheddar & Parmesan cheeses in a grilled multigrain flatbread.
  • Applewood Smoked Bacon Power Flat – scrambled eggs with applewood smoked bacon and cheddar & Parmesan cheeses in a grilled multigrain flatbread.
  • Ham and Spinach Flat – scrambled eggs with smoked ham, cheddar & Parmesan cheeses, and fresh spinach in a grilled multigrain flatbread

The new lunch/dinner flats include:

  • Southwest Chicken – all-natural grilled chicken, zesty slaw, corn and tomato salsa, house-pickled jalapeños and avocado ranch dressing
  • Chicken Caesar – all-natural grilled chicken, romaine, bruschetta tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing
  • (my personal favorite..) Caprese – fresh mozzarella, bruschetta tomatoes, arugula and Parmesan cheese
  • BBQ Pork – pulled barbecue pork, tangy slaw, house-pickled red onions and avocado ranch dressing

One of the things I love about Corner Bakery’s menu is the way they really give you the ability to mix things up with all of their combos. The lunch/dinner flats can be ordered with your choice of two Grilled Flats (served with baby carrots), as a Corner Combo (pairing one Grilled Flat with a cup of homemade soup, Caesar Salad or Mixed Greens), or as part of The Trio (where guests can personalize their own meal, choosing from more than 5,000 combinations of specialty salads, homemade soups and now Grilled Flats). Personally, I am making it my goal to try them all. I was talking to a friend about other bakeries are run and they often make sure they have the best business energy deal through websites such as Usave to make sure they can focus on making quality treats, similar to those on show today!

Make it your goal to try them all, too! We’re giving away $25 to Corner Bakery! Just tweet @drinkdallas and tell us which flat you’d like to try! We’ll pick a winner on Tuesday, June 30!

The Corner Bakery
www.cornerbakerycafe.com
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

**Corner Bakery sponsored this giveaway.**

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Dallas #BoozeNews: June 25, 2015

Grey Goose is offering you the chance to win a trip to France … seriously.  All you do is record the highlight of your Summer Soirée (5-15 seconds) and post to Instagram or Twitter using #SummerSoiree.  It’s that easy!  (A panel of judges will select the winning video.) RULES

Celebrity Cafe & Bakery is now under new ownership, will be opening additional locations, and is moving its Highland Park Village location to the Shops of Highland Park (4260 Oak Lawn Ave).

NEW OPENINGS

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Lisa Garza | Photo by Elizabeth Lavin

Lisa’s doing it again!  Sissy’s Southern Kitchen creator, Lisa Garza-Selcer, is joining forces with Patton Robertson of Five Sixty to open a new concept in Downtown Dallas (1525 Elm Street), Shelby Hall.  It’ll feature “Mississippi Delta and Lowcountry, and a bourbon-heavy beverage program.  The beverage program will be anchored by signature Jim Beam white and brown bourbon barrel-aged cocktails, and a curated wine and beer list.”  (OMG now all I want is fried chicken.)

The Omni Dallas Hotel is making some moves. Last week they started construction on their two new concepts to join Bob’s, Texas Spice, and The Owner’s Box–Dallas favorite NY-style pizza joint, Coal Vines, and a new German-style beer garden concept, Biergarten.  Both will open August 10 and will offer lunch, dinner, and brunch!

Hey, Uptowners … ready to get your neighborhood back from the congestion from the new Whole Foods development on McKinney?  Good news … the 38,000 square foot Whole Foods Market Uptown will officially open August 12 at 8am!

Del Frisco’s Grille opened its 4th DFW location in Plano at The Shops at Legacy on June 21 to bring Collin County residents their creative comfort food.  Stop in for lunch or dinner or join them on weekends for brunch!

LTO SPECIALS

Hopdoddy Black+Blue Burger

Hopdoddy Black+Blue Burger

Hopdoddy’s newest special is the Black & Blue Burger (Black Angus Beef, Blue Cheese, Black Pepper Aioli, Apple Wood Bacon, Fig and Onion Marmalade, Brioche Bun).  I mean … I can’t eat it because I’m allergic to blue cheese, so who’s gonna tell me how delicious it is?
Cost: $11
Available: through June 28

They’re also getting into brunch in a serious way with their Brunch Burger (Spam Patty, Swiss Cheese, Fried Egg, Avocado, Tomato, Sassy Sauce, Egg Bun).
Cost: $7, $10 with a mini brunch cocktail
Available: at McKinney Ave location only on Saturdays & Sundays from 11am-2pm (until they run out daily)

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RECENT POSTS

Caledonia Spirits

I recently attended an event highlighting Caledonia Spirits and have been intrigued by the brand since. Each of their spirits is crafted in small batches with Vermont honey. (And this honey is le-git! I was given a jar of raw honey to take home and taste and I don’t think I will be able to go back to honey as I knew it. This raw, unfiltered honey has never been heated so it has traces of pollen, propolis, and beeswax.

Barr Hill Gin (90 proof) is handcrafted in small batches. Raw honey is added just before bottling with a finishing taste of juniper berries. Barr Hill Gin has a gold medal and “Gin of the Year” at the 2013 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition and it won the a double gold meal at the 2012 New York International Spirits Competition.

Tom Cat Barrel-Aged Gin (86 proof) is aged for four to six months in new, charred American White Oak barrels. It has whiskey-like notes of oak and spice with a finish of juniper and honey.

Barr Hill Vodka (80 proof) is handcrafted in small batches completely from raw honey. It has notes of honey, flowers, and vanilla and has a very smooth finish and was (way too) easy to drink.

Oh, and all three of these products are gluten-free and kosher … so that’s neat.

CALEDONIA SPIRITS
www.caledoniaspirits.com
Facebook | Instagram

If you are ever in Vermont and want to check out the distillery:
46 Log Yard Drive
P.O. Box 1249
Hardwick, Vermont 05843

Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 11am-3pm (July-December)

 

Let’s Get (Pepper) Smashed

I’m a big fan of the “fancy” cocktail. Don’t get me wrong … there is a time and a place for a good ol’ plain Jane vodka soda. (Usually that time is whenever I am on a diet, and that place is wallowing in a pool of sadness…just kidding! …kind of.)  But, if I really want to savor what I’m drinking, I enjoy seeing what happens when bartenders are allowed to flex their mixology muscles and craft drinks that stretch beyond the realm of classic cocktail offerings. If you’ve never been to Pepper Smash at The Shops at Legacy in Plano, believe me when I say that “creative” is their thing. I am still trying to figure out whether their cocktails are more aptly described as “art,” or “science,”- but whatever the case may be- they are mixing up some mighty delicious libations.

Pepper Smash graciously invited me in to check out a few of their new menu offerings, and of course to reacquaint myself with a few of their delicious signature cocktails.

We kicked off the evening with one of Pepper Smash’s most popular cocktails: the Fire Smoked Dr. Pepper ($11). As the name suggests, this cocktail is quite literally smoked before your very eyes, infusing Maker’s Mark with a smoldering oak essence created with a nifty apparatus apparently designed for this very purpose (though it vaguely looks like something Walter White would have stashed in his RV). Imperial sugar Dr. Pepper is add to the mix, giving the cocktail a delightfully familiar sweet-smokiness.

Smoked wood chips are impressive, to be sure, but you aren’t really winning at craft cocktails until you throw a cotton candy machine into the mix. That’s right, Pepper Smash keeps a cotton candy machine behind the bar for the sole purpose of crafting one drink: the Cotton Candy Martini ($10 — Absolut, lemon juice, vanilla syrup, champagne, and you guessed it: cotton candy). I had a hard time conceptualizing how this cocktail would “work”, so I had to order it to see for myself. A familiar fluffy cloud of pink cotton candy is served in a martini glass, and the liquid ingredients are then poured over the cotton candy, which dissolves amidst a fleeting instant of melancholy. But, you can still taste it. Not shockingly, this cocktail is on the saccharine side and reminded me vaguely of a boozy Orange Crush. Definitely an interesting selection.

Because cotton candy machines and booze smoking apparatuses apparently aren’t enough, Pepper Smash offers two cocktails that are frozen with liquid nitrogen: the Pineapple Express ($11 — Bacardi Pineapple, ginger, pineapple juice, champagne) and the Triple M’s Explosion ($12 — pineapple and strawberry infused vodka). The presentation of this duo is dramatic to say the least, as wisps of “smoke” dance atop your cocktail glass  when it is placed in front of you.

Liquid Nitrogen

“But, what is a Pepper Smash,” you may wonder? I’m glad you asked, because I simply can’t visit without ordering one. The cocktail kitchen’s namesake, the Pepper Smash ($10), incorporates a bold blend of Tito’s vodka, red bell pepper, jalapeno, onions marinated in 100 proof vodka agave, and lime juice. Spicy and robust with just a hint of sweetness, this unique savory cocktail is probably my favorite one on the menu. (I recommended it to the guy seated next to me at the bar, and he ended up drinking three.)  I say the Pepper Smash is “probably” my favorite, because I have a hard time dismissing Eden’s Garden ($12 — Plymouth gin, elderflower, cucumber, basil, mint, jalapeno, lime juice- as a close second).

Pepper Smash Signature Cocktail

Pepper Smash Signature Cocktail

With so many creative, tasty cocktails to focus on, it would be easy to overlook the food at Pepper Smash. Don’t. Everything I have ever sampled from their kitchen has been seriously delicious. Sometimes, I find myself day dreaming about their Smokey Mac & Cheese ($9 — cavatappi pasta, sharp cheddar, gruyere, smoke). Everything I sampled on this visit was equally as tempting.

We started out with the Pimento Cheese ($8), which was topped with bacon jam, and accompanied by buttery grilled sourdough and blistered shishito peppers. Holy new favorite appetizer. If there is something in this world that cannot be improved upon by bacon jam, I want to hear about it.

Pimento Cheese

Pimento Cheese

Pepper Smash always hits it out of the park with their flatbreads, and this visit was no exception. We sampled the Al Pastor ($12 — cider braised pulled pork, sweet onion puree, pineapple, jalapeño, and lime). The toppings were generously portioned, with a little taste of every ingredient in every bite. If you are a fiend for spicy dishes, this flatbread is definitely for you; loaded with fresh jalapeños, this dish definitely woke up my palate.

El Pastor Flat Bread

El Pastor Flatbread

When it comes time for dessert and the manager asks, “Wanna try something weird?” there’s clearly only one correct response. We were presented with a liquid nitrogen frozen ice cream concoction- incorporating Licor 43, vanilla ice cream base, basil, and fresh strawberries. I love unexpected flavors in desserts, and the basil was an awesome addition. This was an off-menu delight, but I feel confident it can be snagged upon request.

TLDR: the next time you feel inclined to treat yo’self to an incredibly unique, seriously indulgent cocktail experience (yes, it really is an experience), + some killer eats, head on over to Pepper Smash at the Shops at Legacy. (And probably plan on Ubering it because the urge to try all of the cocktails on the menu is pretty overwhelming.)

 


PEPPER SMASH
www.peppersmash.com
Twitter | Facebook
7200 Bishop Rd, Plano, TX 75024
(972) 943-0499

Happy Hour: 3-6pm Daily
$3 beer | $3 wells | $6 domestic wines

HOURS OF OPERATION:
MON – THU 3 PM – 11 PM
FRI – SAT 11 AM – 1 AM
SUN 11 AM – 11 PM

 

Table 10 (Las Vegas, NV)

Las Vegas has a little bit of everything.  It seems one of the first stops for chefs after their home city.  Luckily, Emeril has more than one concept in Sin City from bank-breaking chef’s tables to more reasonable options.  Anyone who has set foot in Las Vegas knows that, while drinks are (sometimes) free, it can be an expensive city.  For that reason, I was delighted to enjoy a meal at Table 10 in the Palazzo and was pleased that they have a four course meal option for just $48.

After a long evening of shopping (one word: Barney’s) and five (or just one) Coffee Bean Ultimate Iced Blendeds, a relaxing evening at Table 10 was just what the doctor ordered.  The staff was incredibly welcoming and the atmosphere was relaxing thanks to the low lighting and dark furniture.  I sat in the dining room, but if I ventured in again alone I’d sit at the Food Bar, no question.  It gives diners a view of the action in the kitchen and shows just how well the chefs know their craft.

I started my evening with a Lagasse Lemonade (Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Southern Comfort, vanilla & pomegranate syrups, and fresh lemon juice) when my waiter told me it’s the most popular drink.  I enjoyed it, but it was a bit sweet for my taste so I got a bit of club soda to mellow the sweetness.  (Win.)

LAGASSE LEMONADE (Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Southern Comfort, vanilla & pomegranate syrups, fresh lemon juice)

LAGASSE LEMONADE
(Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Southern Comfort, vanilla & pomegranate syrups, fresh lemon juice)

Before ordering dinner, I wanted to be good and prepped, so I ordered an Emeril’s Passion (Emeril’s Eagle Rare bourbon, passion fruit puree, Luxardo liqueur) as my second drink.  It packed a punch and, while still nicely sweet, wasn’t overwhelming.  It was JUUUUUST drinkable enough.

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For dinner, I opted for the four course menu which offered some traditional American dishes from seafood to steak and Pea Ravioli.  I started with the seasonal soup, Lobster Bisque with melted truffle butter which was incredibly rich without being overpowered by truffle.  My appetizer was the easiest choice I made all night … Candied Farm Bacon served with warm maple syrup cured in a 10 year old bourbon barrel.  Seriously … that stuff was unreal.  It was all … BAM.  (I just had to.)

I was craving steak that day (I mean … I kind of am every day.) so I ordered the 6 Ounce Filet which was served a perfect medium with light vegetables.  I was so full so it took every bit of my strength not to stuff myself silly … because I wanted to.  Dessert was a tough choice, but I went with the White Chocolate Malassadas coated with cinnamon sugar and filled with white chocolate served with raspberry sauce to accompany my perfectly crafted latte.

Table 10 offers happy hour daily and live music in the bar on weekend nights.   Sit in the large bar area for a lively atmosphere or sit in the dining room for a more intimate meal.  Table 10 also offers a private dining room with the badass glass that frosts with the touch of a button.  (So cool.)


TABLE 10
www.emerilsrestaurants.com/table-10
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
The Palazzo 3327 Las Vegas Blvd South, Suite 2900, Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 607-6363

Jameson Irish Whiskey Cocktails in Dallas

So … I’m a whiskey fan.  If you’ve read a lick of anything I’ve written, you’ll know that.  I like most (good) whiskies, but one of my absolute favorites is Jameson Irish Whiskey.  I mean … for starters, it’s Irish. (And who doesn’t love Irishmen … err Irish things?!)  But for real … it’s some damn good stuff.  Jameson is a traditional Irish whiskey with a peppery but sweet nose and a smooth taste with a nice balance of spicy, nutty, and vanilla notes thanks to the sherry casks used for aging.

If the extent of your enjoyment of Jameson is a shot with a pickle back, shame on you.  (Kind of.  Ok, not really … I’m not mad at it.  You just have a lot more to enjoy from this spirit.)  I was given the chance recently to spend an evening with Dallas’ Jameson ambassador, Darren, at Henry’s Majestic trying some of the amazing things that their bartenders are doing with Jameson beyond traditional whiskey treatments.  The pictures below pale in comparison to how they actually tasted.  From sweet cocktails with fresh fruit to more traditional whiskey cocktails with bitters, they were all amazing.  (Well … except one, but it was totally the grapefruit’s fault.  Damn that icky grapefruit.)

Stop in to Henry’s Majestic and see them and challenge them to wow you with Jameson … you won’t be disappointed.

(Another note: go see Stephen H. at Parliament and ask him for a Jameson Black Barrel Manhattan or let him go crazy and do his own thing.  He knows how to make Jameson sing.  Example: the unreal cocktail he made me where he SMOKED Jameson.  I kid you not.  Proof below.)

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Thanks again to Darren for the fun night and the badass swag!