Day One
Tight Spot
Getting to our target destination safe and sound (with a little help from numerous Tanqueray Red Snappers along the way), we found ourselves facing the first tight spot of the journey. Our table reservation at Keens Steakhouse was only hours away, and we knew, without the ultimate aperitif, the success of our quest was at stake big time.
Kenta’s Aperitif Spectacle
The more than charming barkeeper at Pegu Club, Kenta, in a motherly way, recognized the panic in our eyes as something serious and never even hesitated for a second before hooking us up with an aperitif tour-de-force that saved the night (try the Manhattan Cocktail with Cynar - or just try the whole menu). If you ever need being adopted, go talk to Kenta.
As we all know, a city (especially one like NYC) is not just ONE city. In actuality, a city contains a multitude of micro-cities, optional cities, possible cities, probable and improbable cities, invisible cities, past cities, never-to-be cities, and so on.
In a place like NYC, this infinite bunch of internal cities behaves like an insane gang of out-of-control Russian dolls, discarding layer after layer, with all of those dashing around simultaneously in a 12-dimensional Escher staircase drawing.
Make a long story short: We needed some kind of control. We either had to tame those dolls or just run with them. After a good dinner and lots of pondering, we came up with a third option: Champagne.
Snow Angels
With almost Ulysses-scale luck on our side, a heavy snowstorm drove us right to the wine bar Jadis (42 Rivington St.), and into the arms of the loveliest lady in all five boroughs, Brooklyn socialite Edit L.D.
Chilled and wet to the bones and almost dehydrated, we were brought back to life with the warmth of our host and the innumerable bottles of bubbles on our table.
When leaving the place invigorated, the world outside had turned into a winter wonderland, a night to die for (thanks, lil’ hun), or at least pull down one’s pants and make snow angels in the street, right there on Rivington.
Day Two
Bootie Soft Shake
Memory fades, images remain. The best place to witness the Bootie Soft Shake (don’t miss it!): Coffee Shop, Union Square.
Day Three (or Two, or Four)
On Day Three (or Two, or Four), having seen pretty much everything, Manhattan started to bore us - just a little. We decided to take it to Queens.
Almost Lost One In Queens
In a rather deserted, industrial setting, we had the pleasure of visiting one of the gems of New York cocktail bars. Not very easy to find, but worth the effort, we made it over to Dutch Kills. Abraham, our man behind the bar and probably the hottest babe across the East River, spoiled us with drinks that melted in our mouths. If it hadn’t been for a certain photograph of a beloved one, somewhere on a bed frame, we might had lost one of us right there.
Being out of town anyway, we continued south to Brooklyn’s Clover Club, chucking back Katie’s deliciously yummy signature drinks. We almost lost two more over there.
Late at night, walking the Bridge with a six-pack is recommended; a visit at Nublu (Avenue C / 4th Street) as well.
Day Four (this is a wild guess)
After a banging night, the best place to damage control the new day is probably Chez Lola on Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn. Their brunch menu is fabulous and the house Bloody Mary got voted best Bloody Mary west of Berlin-Schöneberg. Gulp down a couple of those in a laid back atmosphere, maybe with a garnish of steak & eggs, and you’ll feel fresh as a bagel.
We Come In Peace
The night of approximately Day Four, we were allowed to fix drinks at the delicately stylish bar PDT, located in the East Village. Invited by our host Jim, and helped by John and adorable Anja of PDT, we were able to stir and swizzle up concoctions for our downtown celebrity parade of guests. The welcoming crew at PDT made us feel at home instantly. Whenever there should be a U.F.O landing in the Nevada desert, just send the PDT bunch to greet them. Send Gary, too.
As Dirty As It Gets
Tucked away in a back street on the Lower East Side, Milk & Honey provided the perfect setting for our well deserved Feierabend Getränk (drinks were outstanding!). Make sure, you’ll have the waitress recommend a Dirty Martini. Many songs have been written about stuff like that.
Day Five (must have been)
(No) Panic On The Dance Floor
Born and raised in the streets of Harlem (we didn’t know that before, neither did he), our own man Gonçalo was in charge behind the control panels at Pegu Club, serving the International Who is Who in Advanced Positive Drinking (IWWAPD). Tag-teaming with Del of Pegu Club, whose expertise on the Berlin soccer club Herta BSC was as exquisite as his Champagne Cocktails, the two of them turned the remaining night for everybody involved into an enchanted blur. Imagine riding a Yellow Cab driven by a mad-as-a-hatter Pakistani cabby on Japanese amphetamines, cutting through a psychedelic landscape at hyper-speed, then looking out of both side windows at the same time, and you’ll get the idea. Well, after a few more hazy stops (dance floors were involved), the night and this journey came to an end eventually, and we already started wondering about how to declare a Nebukadnezar-sized hang-over at customs back in Berlin.
Special Thanks to our Guests, Hosts, and temporary Colleagues:
Sam, Katie, Martin, Sandy, Naren, Dale, Audrey, Abraham, David, Paul, Gary, Christina and Greg of Cocktail Kingdom, John, Michael, Karen, Anja, Del, Kenta, Edith, and Jim.
P.s.
For our loyal and regular reader, finally, the answers to Phase One (pre-existing questions / in order of appearance):
- nada
- no and yes
- see on top
- remains a mystery
- yes and no
- way into the future / massive dehydration
- the latter
- definitely not
- he saved himself
- censored
- kind of
- you bet
- yes, sir
- approximately 3200
- don’t think so
- einiges
- way to risky
- certainly
For all other uncertainties and needs, go to:
www.CocktailKingdom.com
www.villagevoice.com/savagelove
Please feel free to contact us.
