AWESOME ALERT: Free Iced Tea Today at Teavana

It's hot out there and iced tea sounds like the perfect refreshing drink to tame your dehydration. So why not stop by Teavana today and get some FOR FREE!?

To celebrate National Iced Tea Month (who knew right?), Teavana wants to give you a free 16 oz. Pineapple Berry Blue iced tea (no purchase necessary!). Just stop by one of their 3 NYC stores TODAY June 10:

• Greenwich Village (63 E. 9th Street)
• Upper East Side (1291 Lexington)
• Upper West Side (2261 Broadway)

One free tea per customer. Enjoy!

Party with DoNYC and Jack Daniel's Tonight!

DoNYC and Jack Daniel’s have teamed up to host some awesome events lately and their last and 4th one is tonight, Thursday, May 14th!

Doors open at 8pm for live performances by SKATERS, Team Spirit, and The Bergamot, plus a DJ set by Justin Miller, amazing custom video-mapped art installation by Rhizome NYC, and photo booth by the Self-Portrait Project.

Must be 21+ with valid ID for entry. RSVP here for location details.

Get Your Tickets for Thrillist's Taco Knockout this Saturday--Unlimited Tacos, Cervezas and Churros!

Still looking for ways to fill your Cinco de Mayo weekend? I know a place where you can stuff your face with tacos, cocktails and cervezas in addition to help select the next belt-winning taco chef.

Thrillist is hosting their annual Taco Knockout this Saturday May 2 from 2-5 pm at Tequila Park Taqueria at the Hudson Hotel (356 W 58th Street @ Columbus). There are 2 ticket options: general ($65) which comes with unlimited tacos, cervezas, and churros as well as 1 custom cocktail and especial ($80) which adds on early entry (1pm) as well as one additional custom cocktail. Pretty much no matter how you shake it, it's an amazing deal.

Last year's event looked like a fine fiesta--and featured taco flavors like sriracha lamb and duck chorizo--so I can't wait to see what they cook up this year. I'll be there with my taco hat on so come say hi if you decide to spend your afternoon feasting al fresco with Thrillist!

Sip for St. Jude

The Frying Pan is one of my favorite local drinking spots for spring and summer evenings. It's positioned perfectly on the Hudson to watch the sun set and take in a good beer and perhaps some pre-dinner snacks.

On Tuesday June 9, you can join the friends of the St. Jude Steering Committee for their annual young professionals event benefitting cancer research exclusively on the Frying Pan.

Tickets are $75 until 3pm on the day of the event, when they go up to $85, and are available here. You'll be served beer, wine, and light apps, and if you arrive by 8pm, you'll be entered to win free admission to the organizations annual winter gala.

When: Tuesday June 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Frying Pan, Pier 66 @ West 26th Street

Why: To raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Tickets: $75 in advance

Coney Island Brewery Celebrates Brooklyn History With New Beers

If there are 2 things we love around here, New York City history and alcohol that goes along with it are high on the list. Luckily, the Coney Island Brewing Company took it upon themselves to combine these awesome things.

The brewery was founded in a 2007 by Jeremy Cowen of Shmaltz Brewing Company. Jeremy brewed award-winning lagers under the Coney Island Craft Lager label, all designed with in-your-face artwork featuring iconic imagery and capturing the spirit and flavor of Coney Island.

Inspired by Brooklyn's history, Coney Island Brewing recently launched 2 new beers and we got to try them!

1609 Amber Ale pays tribute to those bold pioneers whose ventures laid the foundation to "The Playground of the World," as 1609 was the year that explorers first set foot on the massive dune along the Atlantic that eventually became Coney Island. They created a bold beer, which they describe as a deep amber ale with a full malt, slightly nutty character and strong citrus hop nose. 

Overpass IPA recognizes the artists, musicians and renaissance souls that staked claim and built DUMBO. Coney Island Brewing created this creative beer to embody by the juicy citrus and tropical hop aromas in a deep golden, richly aromatic IPA.

IPA's aren't usually our first choice, but Overpass is smooth and enjoyable. As for the 1609, it's comforting and perfect for a winter night in (or out!). We also loved the super fun, colorful artwork.

To try both of these beers yourself throughout New York City--on tap and bottled--click here and cheers to history!

Full Disclosure: Coney Island Brewery sent us complimentary beer, but all opinions are our own.

Snow or No Snow, Hot Chocolate is the Key

The end of January is near and that can only mean one thing: THE CITY BAKERY HOT CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL IS BACK!

Awesome favorites from the past have been the caramel and darkest dark hot chocolates. But the great thing about this festival is that you can technically go back every day and try them all! Don't forget to add a handmade marshmallow. If you're looking for something to nibble on as well, we highly recommend the peanut butter cookies and the pretzel croissants.

City Bakery is located at 3 W. 18th Street, near Union Square. The festival starts Sunday 2/1 and continues through the rest of February.

Join Argo for a ChariTEA event in Flatiron

Nothing beats a warm cup of tea on a cold day and our friends at Argo Tea want to make sure you have your fill! All company-owned cafes will be hosting host special holiday fundraising events benefiting Habitat for Humanity with live music, passed drinks and treats on Wednesday 12/17 from 7 - 9pm. The Flatiron location (949 Broadway) will be hosting a flagship event featuring tea cocktails and exclusive giveaways. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds go to a good cause!

In addition, Argo will donate a portion of net proceeds from its seasonal signature drink (White FrosTea Chocolate -- rich white chocolate, mint and white tea and steamed milk) to Habitat for Humanity. Other winter specials include: 

• Snowflake White Tea – heavenly blend of white tea, apple, sweet pink pepper, and seasonal spices
• Winter Spice – featuring orange flowers, cassia, cocoa shells, orange peel and almonds  

Argo is offering special gift sets for all the tea lovers in your life.

Belay and [Adult] Beverage

Now here's a fun event combination for you. Flavorpill is taking over the Tuesday night group belay class at Brooklyn Boulders next week for some rock climbing followed by partying with Mike's Harder Tea + Lemonade and Mike's Harder Tea + Peach Lemonade to cool down.

You must be 21 to participate and RSVP here as space is limited (they'll confirm attendees via email).

Deets:

• What: Go HAM with Flavorpill & Mike's Harder
• Where: Brooklyn Boulders (575 Degraw St, Brooklyn, NY)
• When: 12/9, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• Price: FREE

Better Than All The Rest

The best. It's what everyone strives to be, right? So would a celebration of the best be, well, the BEST thing ever? 

Join Thrillist in toasting to the Fest of the Best, a tasty event featuring the best of NYC restaurants in 2014. Participating restaurants include: Bacchanal, Blenheim, BLT Fish Shack, Blue Water Grill, Crave Fish Bar, Emily, French Louis, Margaux, Monarch Room, Randolph, and Seoul Chicken.

It's al going down ​on Saturday, ​December ​6th from 1-​4​ PM at Villian (50 N 3rd St between Kent and Wythe, Brooklyn). ​Samsung will be on hand to host a "Food Porn Lounge," complete with food stylists who will teach everyone how to properly style their #foodporn shots. Guests will additionally enjoy unlimited specialty cocktails provided by Grey Goose. At the end of the night, one restaurant will be crowned with the People's Choice Award for "Best of 2014."

Early bird tickets are available at this link for a discounted rate of $55 (for a limited time)​. General Admission tickets will then go on sale for $65.

Good Things Come in Smaller Batches

Artisanal is all the rage these days. The smaller the better. In her new book Small Batch, NYC-based author Suzanne Cope celebrates the local pickle briners, chocolate temperers, and whisky distillers who have changed the climate of food consumption as we know it. To celebrate its publication, she's throwing a party (why not?!) and there will be plenty of "small batch" food and drink stuffs to sample and purchase.

Deets:

When: Wednesday, November 5, 6-8pm
Where: jimmy's no. 43 (43 E 7th St, New York, New York 10003)
What: Tastings! Cocktails! Door prizes! Celebrate the publication of SMALL BATCH by Suzanne Cope and chat with local artisans whose goods will be available for sample and purchase.
Attendees include: Brooklyn Delhi, Plate & Pencil, Sans Bakery, Crock & Jar, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Farm to People, Divine Brine Foods Inc, Anarchy in a Jar, A&B American Style, Salty Road, & more!

Want Some Stink With Your Cider?

Cider week is upon us! Having just returned from the Basque region of Spain, I'm newly educated in the intricacies of cider making (and drinking!) and have a whole new appreciation for this beverage. It's more than Martinellis y'all!

Our friends at Stinky Bklyn--in Chelsea--and Back Label Wine Merchants (107 W 20th Street) are celebrating in the best way possible...with a stinky cheese pairing class! On Saturday 11/1 from 4-5pm you can join them to taste a selection of handpicked ciders and cheeses for only $40. The best part is that you get a $20 voucher for anything in the store at the conclusion of your class.

If you want to sip your cider in Brooklyn, the flagship store (215 Smith Street) will be hosting several FREE classes for the duration of the week:

• Victory Brewing Co. Tasting, Thursday, October 23 @ 6-8 pm: Draft and bottle tastings from Pennsylvania's famed Victory Brewing Company. Beers featured will include Wild Devil, a Brett-fermented IPA, and Storm King, a bittersweet Imperial Stout. They'll also be offering 20% off growler fills!

• Wolffer Estate Cider Tasting, Saturday, October 25 @2-4 pm: Hailing from the Hamptons, Wolffer Vineyard and Cidery will be in-store with samples of their Dry Rose and Dry White ciders. Borrowing fermentation techniques from their wine production, their ciders are crisp and refreshing, and are great in lieu of wine for your dinner or cheese board.

• Cider Mimosas, Sunday, October 26 @ 1-3 pm: Say what?? Cider Mimosas? That's right, they're mixing up fresh, tart cider from Champlain Orchards in Vermont with NY's own Critz Farms Rippleton Original Sparkling Hard Cider. It'll become your new Fall brunch libation of choice.

• Virtue Cider & Crown Finish Caves Cheese Tasting, Saturday, November 1 @ 1-3 pm: They'll be pairing a variety of Virtue ciders with cheese from Crown Finish Caves in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. One featured cheese will be the Humble Herdsman, washed in Virtue's Red Streak. Our beer buyer Aiyana Knauer both suggested and ordered the Red Streak for washing to Benton of Crown Finish Caves, so this tasting will bring all elements of the cheese (and cider) full circle!

• Guerrilla Hot Sauce Tasting, Saturday, November 1 @ 3-6 pm: Go sample fresh, local hot sauce made by Stinky Bklyn's own cheesemonger Brendon Doyle!

For more NYC Cider Week events, please click here. Happy sipping!

A Buzzworthy Happy Hour

Don't get your beans in a bunch, but Monday 9/29 is National Coffee Day! So prep your percolator, clean your Chemex and be ready to celebrate and enjoy some delicious brew (preferably while reading a novel in a cozy wingbacked chair under the comfort of a fuzzy blanket and curled up with a golden doodle...just sayin').

If a fuzzy blanket is not in the cards for you on Monday, the second best option would be to check out the Coffee Happy Hour being hosted by Hudson Valley’s own Crown Maple syrup and Irving Farm at the latter's Grand Central Terminal kiosk from 7-9am.

For $2, they will be serving The Crown Maple Medicine Man--named for a classic cocktail, the drink will include a blend of Crown Maple, lemon and sage and Irving Farm’s Los Lorios coffee blend. The drink will be available after 9am for $4.

Get Your Pink On

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to kick things off right STK is throwing the perfect party for you to get your drink and your pink on, all while raising money for a good cause!

On Tuesday September 30, the steakhouse will teamed up with The Global Party for a night of donating, dancing and a specialty “drink pink” bar featuring the STK signature Strawberry Cobbler composed of Belvedere Vodka, freshly muddled strawberries and finished with a graham cracker crust. Guests are encouraged to donate $20 upon entry to the VIP cocktail party.

Here are the deets:

Where: STK Midtown (1114 Avenue of the Americas)

When: Tuesday 9/30, 6:00-8:00pm

Attire: Business/Casual, Cocktail (wear pink!)

RSVP: Jennifer@thisismission.com

In addition, during the month of October, all STK locations across the globe will be donating 100% of the proceeds from their Strawberry Cobbler cocktail to breast cancer research so guests can continue to help such a worthy cause all month long.

An Awesome Birthday: Tips to Help You Plan a Large Gathering in the East Village

I celebrated a birthday last week and wanted to plan a night out including dinner and drinks with friends and my Dad who was in town. I quickly learned that it is near impossible to plan an outing for more than 8 people in this city without a restaurant forcing you do pay for a $40 and up price fixe meal that doesn't even include alcohol. I love you NYC, but sometimes you are so gosh darn ridiculously expensive!

However, my hours of research and some bar scoping paid off and I of course wanted to share my insight with you in case you are looking to plan a similar event.

DINNER

Tree Bistro

190 1st Avenue between 11th and 12th streets

(212) 358-7171

Tree has been a longtime favorite of mine for their year-round garden, outstanding service, and simple yet elegant food. They could not have been easier to work with and assured me that they accommodate large parties often. They even do weddings! As such, I simply made a reservation for 18 people via email (which changed to 15 the day of with no penalties) and they allowed us to order off the menu--no required price fixe and no deposit whatsoever. It was like living in event dream world! 

As for food, I'd highly recommend the "Sunday Morning" flatbread ($16), duck meatloaf ($22) and Cookies and Cream Panna Cotta ($7).

Here we all are at dinner:

DRINKS

The Summit Bar

133 Avenue C between 8th and 9th streets

(347) 465-7911

For after dinner drinks I wanted to find someplace close to the restaurant without the college and post-college vibe that plague many East Village bars (not that there wasn't a time and place for that in years prior!). A friend and I did a Monday tour of 4 bars in the area and settled on The Summit Bar for it's clever but not rip-roaring expensive cocktail menu, the friendly bartenders, and (again) the ease with which it was to make a reservation. The long, skinny bar can section-off either the front or back areas, and I chose to go with the front because it is surrounded by tables which makes it semi-private and is close to the bar. All I had to do was call up a couple weeks in advance and let them know how many people--no deposit necessary and no penalties. 

I would highly recommend both the Sutter's Mill ($12 - Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cinnamon Agave, Pineapple, Lemon) and The Guv'nor ($12 - Famous Grouse Scotch, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Toasted Cardamom Infused Agave, Japanese Yuzu Juice, Orange Juice) cocktails.

Move Over Coconut Water

With my recently increased fitness regimen and the soupy air we've been swimming to work in lately, staying hydrated has been no easy feat. I've been minorly obsessed with coconut water for some time, but I was recently invited to try something new that I wanted to share with you. Introducing: maple water!

DRINKmaple is a new player on the post-workout hydration scene, and I suspect they are about to be the new "it" thing, especially given that many people don't like the taste of coconut. Maple water is sourced by sustainably tapping a maple tree in the same way as is done to make maple syrup, but instead of putting the sap through a refining process to create that sticky sweetness we pour over waffles, the "water" is simply packaged and ready to go. Each serving has only 20 calories and 4g of sugar. It also contains 46 naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and prebiotics.

I sampled maple. after a Spin class and was intrigued by its earthy, almost woody flavor. It's less sweet than coconut water, but equally refreshing, and I loved the hint of maple flavor that was most apparent in the aftertaste.

You can find maple. in retailers all over the city including at Hu Kitchen, Westside Market, Feel Food, and O Cafe.

Where Drinking and Sword Fighting Go Together

Well, not quite sword fighting.

Stand back everyone, because you are about to learn how to impress all your friends with a new party trick. Champagne sabering is an age-old tradition of opening a bottle of bubbly with one fell swoop. For $50, the folks at LIC bar The Baroness will teach you all you need to know about wielding the sword and you get to drink the Champagne. Or, you know, you could share it with a friend.

The swashbuckler in me is super intrigued, so I'll keep you posted if I decide to take the slice, but if anyone beats me to it, please comment how it went!

AWESOME DEAL: Wine and Mixology Classes at Back Label Wine Merchants

Summer is just about here and that means it's time to stop drinking alone in the doldrums of your apartment. Back Label Wine Merchants recently posted part 1 of their summer wine and mixology class schedule and at $40 a pop (you get a $20 voucher to buy anything in the store after), each one is a steal!

Here are the deets:

• Wine 101- Nature vs. Nurture - Thursday 6/5, 7pm - 8pm

Join us for an introduction to how wine is made and why it’s so darned enjoyable. This class will cover the basics of viticulture and show how farming plays a huge role in shaping what you experience in the glass.

• Austria 101! - Saturday 6/7, 4pm - 5pm

In a world where minerality is provocative and Rieslings are as dry as they get, join us for a tour through the great Austrian countryside and their commitment to exceptional farming and viticulture. Austrian wine specialist, Jodi Stern, will lead us on our journey and some of the greats Austria has to offer!

• Champagne 101 in 3 Parts – Part 2 “Champagne & Cheese″ - Thursday 6/12, 7pm - 8pm

There’s nothing like bubbles and cheese especially those from Champagne and our friends at Spoonwood Cabin Farm (Jacksonville, Vermont). The great cheeses of Spoonwood Cabin Farm are tiny-production, artisanal French-style, semi-soft cheeses that aren’t readily available in this country. This class is not to be missed! Call today to sign up and reserve your seat!

• 8 Kickass Grapes you’ve Never Heard of and Why They Matter - Saturday 6/14, 4pm - 5pm

There are so many grapes out there and so little time it feels like, at least to us.  The odds are you have actually tried some of these and wines and don’t even know it! If in fact that is not true, this is the perfect moment to come on in and start a new wine adventure. Guest Speaker – Evan Spingarn

• True Wine Connoisseurs: Where Wine and Music Meet - Thursday 6/19, 5pm - 8pm

5 years ago Will Tell played a joke on his friend Sadat X by placing in his hands a bottle of wine instead of cognac while in the studio.  From that moment there was no turning back, the result was nearly 70 videos, a great love of wine and a lot of laughs.  Together they’ll put on a class that will not quickly be forgotten.

• Mixology 101 - Saturday 6/21, 4pm - 5pm

Rock star bartender Robby Haynes, owner of the new and popular Chicago bar Analogue, will be here while in NYC to lead this badass class involving the dos and don’ts of mixology and what inspirations lead to world class cocktails! Robby is best known by Chicagoans as the star bartender of Wicker Park’s Violet Hour.

• Champagne 101 in 3 Parts- Part 3 “Cote des Blancs″ - Thursday 6/26, 7pm - 8pm

The Cote des Blancs is a unique and very special place within the renowned region of Champagne. This class will cover just how special it is showcasing its soil types, climate and decadent expressions. Want to really learn about Champagne? We triple dog dare ya! Ouch.

• Summer Single Malts - Saturday 6/28, 4pm - 5pm

Single Malt Scotch is not just for the colder months. Join us as we explore the finer and lighter side of this classic Scotch whisky!

To book a class, call (212) 229-WINE or order online at backlabelwine.com.

Happy Moscato Day!

Burgers may have claimed the whole month, but today is all about Moscato, the sweet and flavorful wine we all love with a little dessert (or all on its own!).

To kick off the celebration, Gallo Family Vineyards sent me a bottle of their red Moscato, which was very exciting to me as I didn't even realize it came in any varietal besides white! It was a refreshing, easy-to-drink wine that would definitely go very well with some ice cream or cheesecake--nothing too fancy because sometimes you don't want to do any thinking when you're drinking. Am I right?

Follow Gallow Family Vineyards (@GalloFamily) on Twitter today at 7pm EST and use the hashtag #moscatoday to join the party! You can also "Moscato-fy" yourself with a quiz to determine which Moscato best fits your personality. Happy Moscato Day!

Welcoming Astoria's Newest Flea

The Astoria Flea and Food Market opens today at Kaufman Astoria Studios from 10am-6pm! Affiliated with the well known (and Awesome in New York approved!) LIC Flea, this aggregation of artisanal soda syrup makers, vintage jewelry purveyors, and samosa fry-ers (just to name a few) is sure to please.

The market will be held every Sunday for 8 weeks on the recently enclosed Kaufman Astoria Studios back-lot. Check it out and report back your favorite finds!

Rioja, Rioja, Rioja!

If mint juleps and margaritas aren't your thing this weekend, might we suggest some wine? Rioja to be exact. Spain's most renowned wine region is putting on a party tomorrow and you're invited!

The inaugural Rioja Wine and Tapas Festival will be held in Brooklyn at the newly opened, award-winning Weylin B. Seymour’s (formally the Williamsburgh Savings Bank) at 175 Broadway, Brooklyn, tomorrow, 5/3 from 1-6pm.

Tickets are $55, with proceeds benefiting culinary scholarships at the James Beard Foundation, and include more than 200 tastings of wines from the entire region. Over 40 top Rioja winemakers and representatives will be on hand to speak about the wines, while 25 notable US chefs, from New York restaurants and beyond, will create their interpretations of Rioja-inspired tapas. You can visit the Paella Garden, sample delicious hams at the jamón bar and savor some of Spain’s best cheeses in the cheese cave. As a plus, all ticket buyers will be entered to win a 126-bottle cellar. Ole!

Since tickets are officially sold-out, click here to sign up to volunteer and maybe they'll let you take a few sips and nibbles here and there (and after your shift!).