New York City’s hottest event of the season, Secret Summer, is set to return this Sunday, August 12th. In case you didn’t know, Secret Summer is a fun-filled “Farm-to-Bar” cocktail festival and garden party. Farm-to-bar uses the same ideology that the farm-to-table movement has brought to our food where cocktail ingredients are prepared with only raw, peak-season ingredients sourced from local farms and paired with the best quality spirit brands on the market. Secret Summer is a celebration of sustainable mixology, fresh eats, music, art, dance, fashion and more. The one-of-a-kind party is produced by Tyler Hollinger, Andy Maturana and Allison Du Val will showcase and serve up drinks from the world’s most prominent spirits brands. Those brands include Suntory Whisky Toki, Hangar 1 Vodka, Brockmans Gin, Blue Point Brewery, Tanteo Tequila, and, Austin Eastciders.
Since it’s all about the cocktails, let’s talk about what guests can expect; Hangar 1 Vodka will have a hanging herb wall where guests can pick their favorite herbs to complete their cocktails. Suntory Whisky Toki will be serving up a classic highball. The Blue Point Brewery Toasted Yacht will be on hand so guests can sip on Blue Point Beer cocktails from a boat located in the middle of the venue. Tanteo Tequila will be partnering with Blue Point Brewery and Austin Eastciders, and will be creating a spicy margarita. Brockmans Gin will be immersed in a Juniper Forest where revellers can taste, smell and experience while getting lost in an atrium filled with foliage. Top beverage curator, Alli Torres, will be sharing some of her delicious creations at the Brugal 1888 rum tasting experience. Our favorite from the three Brugal cocktails was the Spicy Mai Tai which consists of 1.5oz Brugal Extra Dry, 75oz Lime Juice, 75oz Homemade Almond Orgeat, Finger Lakes, NY Syrup, .25oz Andrew’s Rooftop Honey, a dash of Shaquanda’s Hot Sauce, and Brugal 1888 Float.
Where there are cocktails, there must be food right?! Areppas, The Choripan, Sophie’s Cuban, San Matteo and Wisefish Poke will be at Secret Summer to offer their delicious food. For a sweet treat, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream will offer seasonal flavors. We must say, San Matteo has some of the most delicious pizza we’ve tasted in a long time. The crust was so soft that it melts in your mouth. Be sure to try their spicy pizza!
Entertainment will be top notch this year; there will be a guest appearance from The Travel Channel’s Man v. Food host Casey Webb, who will judge the best cocktail. Secret Summer musical performers will include Sitar & Tabla, Hungry March Band, DJ Kieren Taylor, Kaoro Wantanabe Taiko Drums and Moon Hooch. The Uprooted Flower Truck will be onsite to sell their hand-crafted real flower crowns.
It all goes down in Long Island City (LIC) at The Foundry. The Foundry is a fully restored 19th-century building and boasts 3,000 square feet of raw space with a lush outdoor courtyard. It is very spacious and roomy so guests won’t be on top of each other as temperatures rise. The Foundry has amazing views of NYC as well.
Tickets for Secret Summer can be purchased by visiting www.secretsummernyc.com.
Cheers!
[gmap-embed id=”61258″]Photos: Travis W Keyes Photography and XOJOHN