The water might still be a little chilly this start to summer, but the shoes at the beach are certainly hot!
All is fair in love and wine.
In celebration of the summer solstice yesterday, BLACKBARN hosted a happy hour featuring unique cocktails and their exciting upcoming seasonal menu.
BLACKBARN is an American restaurant situated right by Madison Square Park, home to some gorgeous views overlooking the park. Madison is one of my favorite parks in the city, and it’s a hotspot for the city’s cutest dogs, which makes this restaurant the perfect spot for soaking up the summer sun and adorable pup watching. But that’s only the beginning of what BLACKBARN has to offer – their farm-to-table menu delights clientele with local ingredients, artisan flavors and techniques, and a cozy “modern barn” interior that feels like a special treat and makes you feel right at home.
Chef and Owner John Doherty and Executive Chef Brian Fowler gave us some of the inspiration behind their new menu – they love to cook together and test out new flavors on classic warm-weather dishes. We got to see that first hand in some of the samplers during the night. Imagine the quintessential New England summer fare, the lobster roll, eaten sitting by a pier and listening to the songs of seagulls. The chefs gave it a twist by covering it in a red curry glaze and serving it with gazpacho. Now picture a grill party or long afternoons spent by the pool – wedges of watermelon are served at every chance, the perfect refreshment to quench your thirst in the heat. This summer staple was grilled and cut into bite-sized pieces, and served on a mini skewer with halloumi cheese and heirloom tomatoes.
Our favorite dishes were the grilled tomahawk steak, the lobster roll, and the prawns with corn and tomato salsa served in a lettuce wrap. Some of the other delightful dishes we got to try from their summer menu were the chicken milanese slider, roasted carrot and papadum cracker with green pea hummus and za’atar, cucumber and tomato labneh salad. For dessert, we tried their chocolate-cherry sundae which featured an orange homemade marshmallow, and their passionfruit sorbet bathed in a lemon balm broth. Both were impressively creative and also delicious!
The unique cocktails mentioned earlier were some of the evening’s highlights. The Porchlight, a rose and jasmine tea cocktail with sorbet, was a refreshing, tangy, and perfect for unwinding on a summer Friday. The root beer float with rum takes you back to childhood vacations, frothy and sweet. BLACKBARN’s was finished off with shavings of chocolate. The coffee ____ was a slushy-frappuccino, and offered the perfect option to switch up your espresso martini order for the warmer weather. Finally, the matcha cocktail was surprisingly cooling with notes of cucumber and mint.
BLACKBARN truly captures the spirit of American summer, with a modern twist. For those who love to experiment with modern flavor, but also love the feeling of indulging in comfort food, make your reservation at BLACKBARN asap to try out their new seasonal menu!
A swimsuit from MOTSI is a must-have as we roll into Summer 2022. MOSTI is a black-owned fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brand.
Spring is here and what better time for a Soiree, on a rooftop, with views of the sunset casting down over the west village.
Socialization is officially back with rooftop conversations and refreshing drinks, Velour Medical is the one to thank for such a spectacular evening, hosted on Wednesday, May 25th 2022.
Co -founder and cosmetic injector, Sari Katz PA-C and her husband Ryan lynch
Velour Medical is a luxury company that provides many services such as cosmetic, medical treatments and personal care. They are known all around New York for providing an experience that will have you leaving pampered than before, bringing that confidence up to a 10. I had the pleasure of meeting the Co-founder Sari Katz PA-C and her husband who welcomed me with a warm embrace to the Velour family. Consumers want to be treated more than just an ordinary customer, so I admired how each member of Velour was so personable. The soirée was quite the experience. Velour offered a “make your own” perfume area where guests could mix and match scents to their liking and be entertained by a magician who would blow your mind. There was a fabulous open bar, fresh catering of mouth watering finger foods and music that kept me dancing for the whole evening. Dancing aside the most entertaining founder, Dr. Michael Kennis and Co-founders made my whole night; everyone was laughing and letting loose from a long day at the office. There was an amazing speech that the founder hosted midway, and it was great to speak with him and hear the story of Velour.
“The event space that we are in, is near and dear to my heart because for 6 years I lived down the street and I would look up and these lofts and think something cool must be going on up there. Velour started in that apartment down the street, and it started with an idea. That idea was to bring luxury concierge medicine to the comfort of your own home. Our promise to you is to always keep bringing the most intimate and advanced medicine to New York City.” – Dr. Michael Kennis
Guests who attend events like such always wear the most fashionable looks; from floral prints, light fabrics and casual jeans it was like a runway show. Although everyone had amazing outfits, my mouth dropped when I noticed the 1996 vintage Jean Paul Gaultier suit that an icon, such as Robin Williams, once wore. The Red X-ray style shirt has such a subtle but bold pattern of a person’s body, which has definitely been trending lately with brands such as Balmain, Jaded London, and more.
Overall I had such an amazing time at the event and experienced the luxury that Velour has to offer, providing all the details needed to make an event spectacular, and to top it off I even left with a goodie bag! It was filled with a Velour T-shirt, QR code for the services and discount, playing cards, a magazine and a beverage. 10/10!
Bronya Shillo had her “aha” moment in her mid twenties when she decided to clean houses and bartend to fund and create, the drink getting all the buzz, Fishers Island Lemonade. Shillo told her story on May 18 while celebrating the launch of Fishers first ever variety pack.
Festivities took place in New York’s Five Iron Golf, very on brand considering Fisher Island Lemonade (FIL) is enjoyed, mainly, on golf courses. However, Shillo began to notice the drinks popularity when it would sell out every weekend at the bar in her family-owned business, The Pequot Inn, Fishers Island, NY.
The canned cocktail was inspired by the signature house cocktail at the Inn, where the Salve Regina alum whipped up her first batches of lemonade. The recipe was finalized in 2014 and FIL was in the hands of consumers by Memorial Weekend. “Our mission is really to be the best tasting sprit based, canned cocktail out there,” Shillo said during her story. “I drink this, almost everyday; maybe every weekend?” she admitted, “So does my family, and I take a lot of pride in the ingredient base and the quality that we put in the can.”
Fast forward to 2021, Fishers released a cranberry based cocktail called the “Pink Flamingo,” a “Spiked Tea” and a sparkling “Fizz” drink to join the “Original” cocktail. Now, the company is “looking forward to our eight Memorial Day as a brand,” since their launch; according to Chief Marketing Officer, Russell Pareti.
FIL brings the sweet without the sour and is also very refreshing! All four flavors can be enjoyed in the variety pack this summer; with the brands delicious Frozen Spirit Pops.
It was a lovely afternoon with Sipsmith Gin.
On Saturday, July 31st, Australian designer Camilla Frank held her Summer Soireé at the Infinity house in South Hampton. The pool-side event with celebrities and influencers alike sipping on Calirosa tequila and dancing to the perfect summer mix by DJ Luda.
Raise your glasses to summer.
This weekend Montauk had a stylish celebration with Sperry.
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