3 Cocktails/24 Hours

The industry the most affected by the pandemic has been the performing arts.

But it seems like not all that far behind it has been craft cocktails. While we've been able to go to taprooms and huddle around firepits and such, it's been a l-o-n-g time since we have bellied up to the bar at Lawless or Stilheart or Martina or Colita or Bar Brigade or any of our other favorite places and watch the bartenders we have grown to know and love create their magic. Literally all of our favorite places have closed — either temporarily or permanently — or at the very least have new bar programs. We've made some good cocktails at home (I am sure you all remember a rash of French 75 pictures from over the winter), but it's not the same; the alcohol equivalent of watching live theater on Netflix.

So we knew we needed to rebuild our game, but it was hard to know where to start, especially with limited hours and days open at places.

Friday night, after an early-ish ending to the pool party, we realized that Norseman was still open. I'd had their gin before, though, and liked it, so we headed out. The minute we found a place for the car among the parked trucks on Taft Street and walked up the stairs to their big, open, loading dock patio space, we knew we were in for a good time. We sat outside (though the candlelit inside space looked great too, but the bar is still not open to sit at) at a  cozy, hip little table, and had lovely drinks — a strawberry rhubarb gin drink for me (very tasty) and a Bartender's Choice (kind of a Mule but with Aquavit) for Patrick, which blew it out of the park in tastiness. Staff was friendly, the drinks good, as we'll be back.

I said our favorite places were not open, but I lied a little. Yesterday afternoon, we were sitting at home working, about to leave for a meeting, when Patrick looked at his Instagram and gasped. Lawless was open, for just a few hours. We immediately dropped what we were doing and rushed out the door.

It was not "open" open — service was out on their patio rather than the full bar, and the menu was limited. But my boozy sangria (served in a red solo cup for full 4th of July glory) was full of traditional Lawless flavor. It was great to talk to Mark (the server) and other Lawless regulars. And it's hopeful to know that they plan to re-open in late August, with Stilheart opening soon as well. Definitely our happy place.

By the evening, we decided to go for a goal of 3 cocktail places in 24 hours, so headed over to Meteor. Meteor had opened to great acclaim at the tail end of 2019, but we had not made it over (probably too busy at Miracle at Lawless). And then, the pandemic. So, as we bellied up to the long, shiny bar last night, we did not know what to expect (besides "Old Ass Bar with Good Ass Drinks"). Turns out that's exactly what it is.

Over the next 2 hours or so we had fantastic cocktails. The current menu is named Episode IV - A New Hope, if that gives you an idea. We met people at the bar and chatted to the great bartenders about pets and crazy shifts and who makes good fermented bevs (3Leches, of course). We got to see the "Hidden Tiger." I had a "bramble" for the first time. We left feeling like we had a new place to hang — assuming it's not normally too crowded.

It was a highly successful 3/24. Tell me about your favorite places to drink!