Last Man Standing
A Contemplative Cocktail for a Rainy Friday
Birthday Shenanigans
In my Wednesday Birthday dispatch I truly meant it when I said celebrating my birthday was typically a mostly solo, contemplative routine of morning pastries from a favorite bakery, lunch at McSorley’s, taking in a matinee, a cocktail or two, then a low-key dinner with a few friends. This year, on account of my current Wednesday Residency at Caffe Dante’s Aperitivo Hour, it was a bit more spirited (quite spirited), public-facing affair, filled with friends and more merriment that I’m used to.
I woke up 4:00 a.m. (as I’ve been trying to do as a new experiment in productivity) to write until 10:00 a.m., then my dear friend and associate (and Wednesday Residency “body man”) Benny, came by my apartment to help me carry two totes filled with some amaro bottles from my collection. But first he presented me with a bottle of Petrus Boonekamp and a string-tied box from Morrone Pastry Shop & Cafe on Arthur Avenue with a little cream-cheese-frosted carrot cake (as a loving nod to my late mother who, for years made or gifted me a carrot cake on my birthday due to a one-time misunderstanding when she thought it was my favorite cake in the world—it isn’t).
Per tradition, I went to McSorley’s for a round of two and two and Feltman’s hot dog chili dogs (an unsung hero of their chalkboard menu), a liverwurst sandwich, and french fries (just perfect—hot to the touch, crispy exterior, creamy interior). We had passed a window cat from the Uber on our way there but didn’t have time to walk the two blocks to take a picture as we had to get to Dante to set up for the Wednesday Residency.
I knew we would have a decent turnout at this week’s event as people said they would be stopping by on account of my birthday, but it was a day of surprises, surrounded by so many kind people.
The Dante team had brought in Chino Pons, a singer, bandleader, and composer, considered to be one of the leading New York City-based Cuban musicians who, with his trio entertained the room through the afternoon. And as Aperitivo Hour commenced, the Brad Corner was quickly taken over by guests the room filled with friends,
Substack readers, writers like Toby Cecchini, Michael Ruhlman and Ann Hood (check out their Substack), and a who’s-who of my favorite bartenders and bar owners (representing Rolo’s, Katana Kitten, The Long Island Bar, Maison Premiere, Dante/Dante West Village, Superbueno, Mister Paradise) and notable producers and brand contacts (Campari, Fernet-Branca, Rémy Martin, Forthave Spirits, Faccia Brutto Spirits, Doladira, Adriatico, Seedlip Drinks, Banville Wine Merchants) who mixed and mingled with each other over Negroni Sbagliatos.
I was incredibly moved when Chino Pons and the band left their station to join us at the back bar to serenade me with a lively extended cut of “Happy Birthday” as Dante’s Rodrigo Leme held a candle-lit cake. It was the longest version of “Happy Birthday” I had ever experienced. Each time I prepared to start clapping another rousing verse would appear. I only wish they entrusted me with the maracas.