ACBP, E, F, G...

Okay, so maybe that's not  how the alphabet goes, but who cares? 

Today we are talking about a bar where the owners are known as "the beer whisperers," the Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor.The thing that's so special about this bar is exactly what's in the name, great beer and great art. While it is a beer bar, it still has a far better selection of wines than most other beer bars. It also has great bar food! Who doesn't love a steaming hot soft pretzel? 

Now this beer is amazing, as we've already clarified, but why? Well,  Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor has a high tech subterranean beer cellar right under your feet!. This "Bugatti of beer taps," makes absolute sure that the beer you're drinking is always served at exactly 32 degrees. There's nothing more refreshing than a nice cold beer on a hot summer day.The cellar also features a custom-made chill room for their kegs and bottles to keep them at the perfect temperature.

Now for info on the beer! Don and Bob (our beer whisperers), always make sure their bar features 24 great tasting beers on tap and are always very knowledgeable and able to help you find the perfect beer for you, as is their great staff. If beer is your thing, go ahead and do the "run of the board." which is a tasting of all 24 beers on tap. If beer just isn't your thing however or you're too scared to try the run of the board,  try a tasting flight: your choice of either 6, 12, or 18 different beers. They also have growlers to go if you don't want the party to end when you head home.

They have up different art exhibits as well and they change every few months or so. So you should definitely hit up this bar and go try some beer!

Ten Movies You Probably Didn't Know had a scene in Washington Square Park

Let's face it... we New Yorkers love our city. One thing we do not love though, is the price of some things. For example, $15 for a movie ticket in Manhattan? You're kidding me, right? For being in an apartment with no AC on what is the hottest day of the year.... I think I would still rather sweat it out here than to go to the movies. So instead, let's talk about some NYC movies that have filmed scenes in Washington Square Park.

10) Hackers (1995)

A young boy is arrested by the U.S. Secret Service for writing a computer virus and is banned from using a computer until his 18th birthday. Years later, he and his new-found friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus. 

9) Kids (1995)

A day in the life of a group of teens as they travel around New York City skating, drinking, smoking, and deflowering virgins.

8) Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993)

A prepubescent chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

7) My Sassy Girl (2008)

A sweet Midwestern guy with his life planned out for himself is wooed, groomed, and ultimately dumped by a complicated, elusive gal.

6) Fresh (1994)

Michael (or Fresh as he's well known) is a 12-year-old drug pusher who lives in a crowded housing project with his cousins and aunt. His father has become a street bum, but still meets with Fresh on occasion to play chess. Fresh is rather quiet in a crazy world. Fresh's sister is a junkie who sleeps with the dealers who Fresh sells for. As the story progresses Fresh realizes that he doesn't want to sell drugs anymore, he wants out. 

5) The Visitor (2007)

A college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment.

4) When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Harry and Sally have known each other for years, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin the friendship.

3) Bad Company (2002) 

When a Harvard-educated CIA agent is killed during an operation, the secret agency recruits his twin brother.

2) Ghostbusters II (1989)

The discovery of a massive river of ectoplasm and a resurgence of spectral activity allows the staff of Ghostbusters to revive the business.

1) I Am Legend (2007)

Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.

All bios, links, and posters courtesy of IMDb.com

Fridays Featured Cocktail: Kalimotxo

The Kalimotxo- red wine mixed with Coca-Cola or white wine mixed with Sprite. Best served on the rocks. We found this gem in the east village at a Basque inspired Spanish restaurant called Huertas. This drink is very popular in Basque culture. It has a very unique flavor, so if you're feeling adventurous or have to find a wine to drink red wine without it being too dry, this is your best bet.

According to their website, "The name Huertas translates to orchards, or small gardens. These orchards dominate the landscape of northern Spain". 

One of the things this restaurant is known best for though, is their hot dogs window. Hot dogs made with chistorra sausage, a variety of pork sausage seasoned with paprika. These things are mouth watering and delicious. So start your weekend right and go check out Huertas, grab a Kalimotxo and a dog and pig out. 

Cubism at Its Finest

Well look at this adorable...thing.

Calling all artists: first one to name this gets bragging rights!

...give up?

This sculpture, located right in between two gorgeous NYU dorm buildings, is a large Picasso statue made of stone using cubism. Considered one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century, cubism artwork is when objects are analyzed, broken up, and then reassembled in a very unique and abstract form.

This statue however, is a reinterpretation of Picasso's original work, "Portrait of Sylvette" and the whole thing, dorms and sculpture included, have now been considered a landmark and has achieved many architecture awards as well.

Macaron or Macaroon? The never ending debate

So... for all of you who guesses macaron, go grab yourself a cocktail and enjoy your reward while you read on! For those of you who guessed macaroon.... read on and educate yourself. Okay, you can grab a cocktail too. The actual way to pronounce macaron is "mah/kah/roh." These sweet little pastries often get confused for another because of the pronunciation and call them macaroons, but let's not get started on that rant.

Today we are talking about Bisous, Ciao Macarons!

As popular as the macaron is with the french, it was actually invented circa 1533 in Italy by a woman who ended up marrying the King of France and the rest is history.

Macarons are basically elegant sandwich cookies whereas macaroons are chewy and coconutty. Personally, the macaron is way better and anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Anyway, back to these delicious treats! Anyone whose ever had one of these knows how amazing they are!  No other treat can compare. This store is so cute and  you can't miss it. The flavor they have range from the classics such as vanilla, salted caramel, and raspberry and to the seasonal flavors like cherry blossom and passion fruit. Mouth watering, right? Well go try some for yourself! Or if you're too lazy, admit it, we all are, they deliver! 

Blind Tiger Ale House: Cask Beer Vs. Regular Beer

The Blind Tiger Ale House is one of the best beers bars we've found in all of NYC with over 50 different bottled beers, 28 beers on tap, and some great wine. However, they're very known for their cask beers, which aren't easy to find in the city. Cask beer AKA 'real ale,' is unfiltered and unpasteurized, brewed from only traditional ingredients and is able to mature naturally, but it still contains live yeast. This is definitely not even close to your average beer. It's served nice and cool while being hand pumped into the glass instead of from a keg. Back to the bar,  it's spacious yet has a very cozy feeling. There's great options of drink and food, including the grilled cheese. The bartenders are all very friendly and are willing to help find that perfect tasting beer just for you. Located at 281 Bleeker St, it's open every day from 11:30am to 4am.

Friday's Featured Cocktail: Hell-Or-High-Watermelon

Hey everyone, TGIF! So this week our featured cocktail is actually a beer, but a very in season one at that. As everyone is still nursing their hangovers from the fourth of July,  others would rather choose to take "The Hair of The Dog" path. Well, this refreshing beer is a great way to do so!

Hell-Or-High-Watermelon is a wheat beer that is very light in its looks and its taste. The first sip you take leaves you feeling like you just bit into a fresh piece of watermelon, but without the seeds! Not much to complain about there, right? It's crisp and refreshing while not being as filling as a regular beer, which leaves you plenty of room to drink more!

This beer can be found at The Writing Room on the Upper East Side, The Well in Williamsburg, or even as a six pack at your local bodega.

Is This Tea or Is This...?

Happy Tipsy Tuesday! Thirsty? Just imagine how the people during the Prohibition felt! They were probably desperate for some libations. So much so that along with the Prohibition came the introduction of Speakeasies.  If you've downloaded our app, hopefully you'll understand why we're giving you this little history lesson.

The Tea Room in the village, owned by Henry and June Miller was one of the many speakeasies found in New York City. This one in particular was located in the basement of their home at 106 Perry St. in what is now known as the west village. It opened in September of 1925 but was out of business around December of that same year. Unfortunately, the not-so-happy couple drank all their profits. Seems they were pretty thirsty as well.

Cool, right? Well if you're itching to learn more about tea rooms or have worked up a thirst yourself, download our app from iTunes! We all know that there's tons of stuff to learn about NYC, but learning is always better with a few drinks along the way!

Download our app here: http://tinyurl.com/onzsscs

A Great Review from ART NERD NEW YORK!

"Art Nerd New York is a guide to cool, hidden, and unique New York City art and art history," and we're thrilled that Art Nerd New York is a fan of Cocktails & Curiosities self-guided walking tours of New York City's Greenwich Village.

CLICK HERE TO READ ART NERD NEW YORK'S REVIEW

Keith Haring's mural is a featured stop on Greenwich Village Walking Tour #2 available on both iTunes and Google Play. 

Friday's Featured Cocktail: Schöfferhofer Grapefruit

Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is the world's first Hefeweizen grapefruit beer.  Produced by the acclaimed Radeberger Gruppe, Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is the perfect summer beer.

As the name implies, the wheat beer is  a 50/50 blend of Hefeweizen and carbonated grapefruit juice, best served cold.  With an ABV of only 2.5%, Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is the perfect choice when hot weather may lead to generous consumption.  

It's available in a bottle, can, or on draft.  Here in New York City, Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is currently on tap at Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor in Greenwich Village.  It's also available at Fairway.  

Summer Arrives: The Boat Basin Café is OPEN!

New Yorkers know summer has arrived when the Boat Basin Café opens for the season on Manhattan's Upper West Side.   

Located on the Hudson River in Riverside Park at the end of 79th Street, the popular bar & restaurant overlooks the West 79th Street Boat Basin Marina.  

Nachos, burgers, onion rings, brats and grilled chicken -- the menu is basically a copy of your backyard BBQ.  

The Boat Basin Cafe does not accept reservations, so be prepared to drink a beer or three while you wait.  It's worth it. 

CHEERS TO A FANTASTIC SUMMER! 

Friday's Featured Cocktail: Bronx Moonshine!

Friday's Featured Cocktail is Port Morris Distillery's delicious moonshine, make in The Bronx, New York.  

We sampled the 92 proof Shine at the FLUX Art Fair in Harlem.  It mixes well with just about anything.  From PMD's website: 

“Our 92 proof Pitorro originates from The Lush Mountains of Guayama, Puerto Rico. “Pitorro” is puertorriqueños version of “Moonshine”. Our Master Distiller Tio has created this process making changes throughout the years perfecting it to his liking. With his ingredients and preparation he has created a clean version of Pitorro. What makes our Pitorro distinct is our preference to prolong the fermentation process & turn the mash into a beer/wine consistency giving it 14 to 21 days to cure. This process helps with preventing the hangover factor and gives our Pitorro a glassy look similar to perlas (pearls). The history behind Pitorro & its perlas for most Pitorreros (Moonshiners) on the island is that without the perlas the Pitorro is not of good quality.”

Where to buy PMD Shine?  CLICK HERE 

Banh Mi Bonanza!

Combining the best culinary traditions of Vietnam and France, we are obsessed with the uniquely delicious banh mi sandwiches at Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli!  

Located at the nexus of Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho in downtown Manhattan, Saigon has been selling "Vietnam's favorite export" since 1988.  

The classic banh mi, #1 on the menu, starts with an oven-warm French baguette.  Saigon's secret home-made pâté is spread on the bread and custom-filled with grilled pork, crisp strips of cucumber,  cilantro and shredded pickled turnip radish and carrots.  We order the #1 "spicy."  Then we order a 2nd one to take home.  

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli is located at 369 Broome Street and is CASH ONLY.  

Friday's Featured Cocktail Crabbie's Ginger Beer

Friday's Featured Cocktails is one of Cocktails & Curiosities' co-author Ted Scofield's all-time favorites:  Crabbie's Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer from Scotland.  

Invented by a Scottish merchant named John Crabbie in 1801, Crabbie's tastes like ginger ale but packs a bunch, with a 4.8% ABV.  It was first sold in the US in 2012.  

Properly served over ice with a wedge of lemon or lime, Crabbie's is the perfect warm weather beverage.  

Many thanks to Two Roads Brewing Co. for sponsoring the Cocktails & Curiosities Art Exhibition Opening!

Based in Stratford, Connecticut, Two Roads Brewing Co. makes an excellent assortment of craft beers, and we were thrilled and honored that Two Roads sponsored Christi Scofield's Cocktails & Curiosities art exhibition opening event at Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor in NYC's Greenwich Village.  Thank you, Two Roads!  

INTRODUCING COCKTAILS & CURIOSITIES NEW YORK CITY WALKING TOUR APPS

NEW YORK CITY WALKING TOURS JUST GOT A LOT MORE FUN!

THE FIRST COCKTAILS AND CURIOSITIES GREENWICH VILLAGE WALKING TOUR IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR IPHONE AND ANDROID
PRLog - April 21, 2015 - NEW YORK -- Icebreaker Entertainment, LLC, a multi-brand consumer products company based in New York City, today announces the release of its first Cocktails and Curiosities app for iPhone and Android.  More...

Cocktails & Curiosities Art Series Opens in Greenwich Village!

Ten new artworks from Cocktails & Curiosities creator Christi Scofield debuted last week at Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village.

The works present iconic Greenwich Village locations using mixed media on 18" x 24" board.

"Today is also the launch of my first Cocktails & Curiosities app, a cultural walking tour of Greenwich Village that stops at notable bars along the way," Scofield said from her Manhattan studio. "Each of the artworks showcases things people see and experience on the tour, from Cherry Lane Theatre to White Horse Tavern to the Friends building."

Located at 26 West 8th Street in the heart of Greenwich Village, Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor is a cultural center featuring artisanal American craft beers and regular art exhibitions. ACBP hosts monthly tastings and lectures ranging from art, to fine wine, to, of course, craft beer.

Christi Scofield's Cocktails & Curiosities exhibition will be on view until May 31, 2015.  For more information and visuals, please visit www.christiscofield.com.

Friday's Featured Cocktail: Mario Batali's "Red Beer"

Mario Batali

Today's featured cocktail is one of Mario Batali's favorite "hydration beverages," as he recently described it in the New York Times Magazine. The Red Beer:

• Put two ice cubes in a highball glass.
• Add 4 shakes of Tabasco, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 3 ounces of V8 juice.
• Squeeze in half a lime.
• Fill the glass with a cold pilsner beer.
• Shake some saltinto the foamy head.
• Finally, as Mario says, "Commence hydration."

Two more great quotes from Mario:

"Although the skills aren't hard to learn, finding the happiness and finding the satisfaction and finding fulfillment in continuously serving somebody else something good to eat, is what makes a really good restaurant."  -- Mario Batali

"I really want to be a rock star."  -- Mario Batali

Friday's Featured Cocktail: Gallia Paris

Gallia Paris Logo

Brewed in Paris from 1890 until 1968, Parisians mourned when the Gallia brewery closed. After all, Gallia Paris was once the city's ubiquitous brew.  It won the gold medal at the Paris World Fair in 1900 and its brewery in the 14th arrondissement was the largest in the capital.

Enter two 20-something entrepreneurs, who, with the backing of the original brewer's family, resurrected Gallia Paris in 2010.   Today, Gallia is once again available across Paris, on draft at bars and from retailers like Monoprix, Lafayette Gourmet and LaGrand Épicerie du Bon Marché.

Gallia Paris is a lager-style beer, 5.5% ABV and well-balanced.   We look forward to its arrival in the US, but for now we must be content to enjoy it France and the U.K.