Oriental Charm at Mandarin Oriental Miami

The Egret

The Great Egret, also known as Great White Egret, Common Egret, Large Egret or Great White Heron. Oh wait, this isn’t national geographic, let’s try this again.

The Egret, an extraordinary cocktail made with NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin now coming to you from Brickell’s Blackbird Ordinary. Much Better.

…

I’ve never been much beyond Tequila for a straight up cocktail.  This is mainly a result of the gag reflex that instinctively protrudes from my esophagus when I smell and taste vodka.  And because I am a petty fool, I grouped every other spirit into the Clear Club. No bueno por BrickGals unless mixed with some fruity juice or spritzy soda.

That is, up until last week, when a new-found-friend hooked me up with a NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin straight up, Paula Abdul-style.  Chilled of course, and with a lemon twist, it was like seeing baby Jesus for the first time. Heavenly. Cool and crisp, I was no longer greeted by the “Sick.”

After one, two, buckle my shoe, three – OK I stopped the straight up gins after my third (or did I?), I asked the bartender to make me a little something-something that featured this special NOLET secret sauce without covering up the intricacies of the beverage.  And thus the Egret was born… ok not really it was already on the menu but it was born to me…  So now I passeth on to you my friends. Drink On. Happy Thanksgiving.

Egret (Created by Fraser Hamilton of Blackbird Ordinary)

Drink Egret, not to be confused with bird egret. Image c/o Jessica Kassin

 

2 oz. NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin

½ of a Lime

6 Mint Leaves

.75 oz. Simple Syrup

1 oz. Fresh Pressed Apple Cider

Club Soda

 

Muddle lime and mint leaves in a mixing tin. Add NOLET’S, simple syrup, apple cider and shake. Strain over fresh ice and top with club soda.

 

 

Pay Tribute Mother F-ers, T Rd Turns 100

(Sorry for my curse word, but I had to get your attention!)

There are some things that we, Brickellites, have come to expect as residents of this neighborhood.  For example, the rise and fall of wannabe Irish pubs that charge $16 for a drink. Hate. The flooding at the 13th St/Coral Way/Brickell Avenue intersection. Hate.  The police that park their crotch rockets on the corner of 8th and Brickell ready to give you a ticket for “blocking the box”. Hate.  But Happy Hours with deals too good to pass up. Love.

While Brickell may have many happy hours and great bars to have a good time, the one place I always find a chill atmosphere is Tobacco Road.  When I was on my quest to meet a lawyer and never have to work again fall in love, the Road was where many a romances began.  When I was experimenting with Halftime Speed Dating, the Road welcomed me.  When I hated this annoying bitch who lived down the block, the Road let me throw tomatoes at her.  And when I had $5 left to my name until payday, the Road still let me take on the party with $1 drinks.

So now it’s time to pay tribute to my old friend.  While T Road has survived (some would say been blessed) with only 1 decade of my presence, Miami’s oldest bar has been serving Brickell and her people for 10 decades.  On Saturday night (November 17th), Tobacco Road celebrates 100 years of business with their biggest bash yet.  The event will be hosted by Mark Weiser and DJ Oski and will featured live music from Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Heavy Pets, Iko-Iko, Spam All Stars, DJ LA Spam, Locos Por Juana, Artofficial, DJ Smooth. Drink Specials  sponsored by Bacardi all night long and your favorite bar food from the kitchen and 5 of Miami’s favorite food trucks are on tap.

The party is 21 & up and costs $10 to attend. For my Brickell BALLLERSSSS, their are $75 VIP Tickets that entitle you to open bar.  Party starts at 6 pm.  You can purchase your tickets online at www.tobacco-road.com or at the door.

****  BrickGals is running a contest for 5 tickets to Tobacco Road’s 100th Anniversary.  Tweet us at @BrickGals that you want to win tix to @TobaccoRoadBar 100th Anniversary and link to our post on BrickGals and you could win.  One winner will receive 5 general admission tickets. ****

Fifty for NFTE!

I mean, seriously, how long have you been waiting for me to inform you about another D4C?  I can imagine it’s been quite awhile.  I can also imagine that due to the election being over this weekend you’ll have plenty of free time  since you won’t have to come up with interesting and humorous Facebook posts.

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (aka NFTE) South Florida is launching their Young Professional (YP) Division this Friday with a kickass Bingo party at Club Fifty (or Fifty Ultra Lounge for those who actually think it changed).  NFTE’s mission is to inspire young people from low-income communities to stay in school, recognize business opportunities, and plan for successful futures. Basically, the organization funds entrepreneurship programs in underprivileged schools. 350,000 young people have been served worldwide since 1987, including South Florida’s own Ms. Popsy Cakes, Jessica Cervantes.

From 6:30-9:30 p.m. this Friday, this is not your typical bingo night at the local community center.  NFTE South Florida YPs have gone all out bringing in DJs, the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, some successful NFTE kids from SoFlo and banging prizes.  Just imagine winning some tix to the Miami Heat or Dolphins; beautification treatments at Blo Blow Dry Bar, Brickell Nail Spot, Viceroy, Soho House, 1160 Hair, South Beach Dermatology, or The Standard; a sick pair of RayBans; a week of gym time at Streamline Vibrations; and, dining at T Rd, Brother Jimmy’s, Soyka, Fado, Open Kitchen, Serendipity3 and Edge Steak + Bar.  Keeping with the trend of the night, an entrepreneurial spirit can win a month free at the new Brickell Pipeline Office Space.  Finally, one lucky winner will be picked at the end of the night during the finale raffle to win a three-night all-inclusive stay at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, just awarded the #1 All Inclusive Resort in the Caribbean as well as the Top 100 Hotels in the World, valued at over $5,500!

Grand Velas Riviera Maya Resort

Tickets are $50 a head of time which includes 2 premium drinks and 3 bingo cards.  Upon registration, for each additional $20 donation, 3 more Bingo games can be purchased.

I’ve heard from event staff that tickets are almost sold out, so make sure to get your ticket asap at NFTE South Florida’s Fifty for NFTE site.  Make sure to confirm your attendance at on the Facebook event page.