Paper Whiskey

New Orleans Bar Blog

Archives for August 2016

Let me out of here: Austin Road Trip

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Firehouse Lounge. Pull the bookcase to enter this speakeasy.

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Baptist cocktail from Firehouse Lounge: bourbon, lime, ginger beer, bitters.

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(L) Tsukemen and Tonkotsu Orginal from Ramen Tatsu-Ya. (R) Kimchi fries from Chi’Lantro.

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Everything was gucci at Uchi.

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Best pasta: Patrizi’s food truck.

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Butterfly Bar interior.

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Butterfly Bar cocktails. (L) Lillete’s Cup: Hendrick’s gin, rose syrup, cucmber, strawberry, lemon, and topo chico. (R) Texas Ginger: Texas-blended whiskey, ginger beer, lime.

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Gibson Street Bar. Too crowded to stay. But looked like a good time.

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Eight-bit space invaders at Kung Fu Saloon, an arcade bar. But only the skeeball is free.

Title of post dedicated to Michelle who pulled a calmer version of Amy Poehler. We roadtripped to Austin last month with Ly’s new Mini Cooper! To open the car door, you have to double pull the handle. Michelle thought it was child lock and Ly’s all like That’s weird, it’s not on child lock. So Michelle would say Let me out of here! to remind Ly to open the door for her. We finally figured it out.

I won’t look any further than my own backyard

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It’s 4 p.m. on weekday. I get a text from Michelle: Come to happy hour at Brisbi’s. I’ve heard of the place and live in the same neighborhood, but have never been.

Flashback to a few years ago when I was living in Virginia. My parents were visiting, so I took them to the National Mall. My then roommate, a lifelong VA resident, remarked that it was his first time seeing the monuments. First time! The monuments! I feel bad enough about not going to established restaurants like Commander’s Palace and Emeril’s.

It happens. You take for granted of what’s in your backyard. Such was the case with Brisbi’s. It’s not a national treasure like Lincoln Memorial but it does offer cold beer and a beautiful sunset.

Vibe: sunsetty, breezy, casual
Happy Hour: $1.75 domestics, $3 premium drafts/import bottles, $5 house wines
Food Favorites: food was gone by the time I arrived

Title of post credited to L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz.

Monday Meetings with Dana Tanamachi

Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin started Movement Mondays on her Instagram to garner support for working Latino actors. She points out that studios feel more confident in hiring Latino actors for high-profile roles if the numbers back it up. TV shows and movies with Latino actors need to pull in higher ratings and more revenue.

This approach is the same for all minorities and extends beyond the acting community—into all aspects of creative professions. Inspired by Gina, I am starting the series Monday Meetings to highlight Asian movers, shakers, and makers. We should be seeing them and hearing from them more often—not just sporadically.

♦ ♦ ♦

Meet Dana Tanamachi, whose work has spawned the ubiquitous chalkboard lettering. Like most things that are meant to be, it seemingly happened by chance. She decorated a friend’s wall at a party, which became such a big hit that she was asked to design the backdrop at other parties. Soon businesses in town discovered her work through Facebook pictures and friends of friends. On her last day at her studio job, Oprah Magazine gave her the official seal of awesomeness and commissioned her for their cover page.

Dana is a true example of how you can spin straw into gold; she only needs a tape measure, rags and dollar-store chalk to create her masterpieces. Let’s add insane talent to that recipe of greatness. Since we’ll never be on her level, you can own one of her amazing designs here and ask yourself what you’ve done with your life by looking at her other work here.

Top photo by Sharon Radisch for Trouve Magazine. Bottom photo from Tanamachi Studio.

Watch / Read / Listen (No. 4)

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Watch:

  1. Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. I feel too old for high school stories, but this one is heartwarming without being cheesy. Extra credit for the occasional graphics and the wallpaper scene.
  2. The Real Reason Your Food Takes So Long. I was a waitress for a few years so I can attest this video is 100% accurate.

Read:

  1. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. David Sedaris always provide the best summer reads: insightful, quick, and funny.
  2. Just Friends. Very similar to The Wedding Date, but more realistic. Can we finally concede that guys and girls (past the age of 12) cannot be strictly platonic forever? Feelings are inevitable.

Listen:

  1. Mura Masa. The sickest beats I’ve heard in a while. “Lotus Eater” and “What if I Go?” are certified bangers.
  2. Snakehips. I like to think of them as a more chill version of EDM. “All My Friends” is the song of the moment.

Don’t Let the Darkness Fool You

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A bi-weekly series of libations with Becca-approved design or flavor. Perhaps both.

Name: Reasonably Corrupt
From: Great Raft of Shreveport, LA
Type: black lager
Pair it with: A long day of work
Emphasis on: both!

Jabba the Pub

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Jabba the Pub is the name of the pub that I will open with my friend Ly, probably never but maybe one day. For now, here’s an actual bar named Sovereign Pub.

I came out here with my boyfriend and a few of his friends and the conversation led to what it always lead to: Tinder profile pictures. They wanted a girl’s opinion, so here is my take:

  • Gym pics, shirtless selfies, and duck faces decrease your chances by 99%.
  • Adventure/sport pics increase your chances by 75%.
  • Snuggling with a dog is an automatic right swipe.
  • Smoking is an automatic left swipe.
  • Don’t make them all group pics. How are we supposed to know which one you are?
  • Include one group pic. We need proof that you have friends.
  • Funny biographies are bonus points but will not guarantee a right swipe.

Vibe: British, no fuss, old school
Drink menu: draft beers, bottled beers, big selection of whiskey
Food Favorites: n/a
Address: 1517 Aline St.

I’m not crazy about reality

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… but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.” —Groucho Marx.

Speaking of decent meals, or lack thereof, this was the week of wings and gravy fries from the bar in lieu of a real dinner. It made me want to load up at Whole Foods and eat only vegetables for the next month. Just kidding. Nothing has ever made me want to do that.

So what makes a decent meal? The Jennifer Aniston method. Realistically speaking: Chipotle.

Spot: Prytania Bar
Vibe: mellow, local, casual
Specialty: iced Irish coffee
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m., $1 off draft beer, liquor, wine, & champagne
Address: 3445 Prytania St.

Monday Meetings with Two Champions

Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin started Movement Mondays on her Instagram to garner support for working Latino actors. She points out that studios feel more confident in hiring Latino actors for high-profile roles if the numbers back it up. TV shows and movies with Latino actors need to pull in higher ratings and more revenue.

This approach is the same for all minorities and extends beyond the acting community—into all aspects of creative professions. Inspired by Gina, I am starting the series Monday Meetings to highlight Asian movers, shakers, and makers. We should be seeing them and hearing from them more often—not just sporadically.

♦ ♦ ♦

Meet Bao Nguyen (left), the first Vietnamese-American mayor of a major American city (Garden Grove, CA). He won by 15 (!!!) votes. “I want to fight to make sure people have a place at the table. That people’s voices and stories are told, because policies should never be based on special interests and lobby groups. Policies should be based on serving the people.”

Meet Hoang Xuan Vinh (right), an army colonel who is the first Vietnamese (ever!) to win a Gold Olympic medal. “On the last shot I don’t think gold or silver. I think only ‘try.'”

Photo of Nguyen (right) by Courtney Lindberg for the Los Angeles Times. Photo of Vinh (left) by Danilo Borges for brasil2016.gov. Emoji illustration by emojistickers.com.

Tête-à-Tête (No. 3)

I tried that Japanese decluttering trend where you hold each thing you own, and throw it out if it doesn’t give you joy. I threw out all my vegetables and the electric bill.

—Mindy from The Mindy Project

Image by The Mindy Project.

Watch / Read / Listen (No. 3)

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Watch:

  1. Short Term Twelve. Brie Larson, who is consistently exceptional in all her roles, is the ultimate mentor to neglected kids in this indie flick.
  2. Watchtower of Turkey. An insanely beautiful video by Leonardo Dalessandri. The transitions are so seamless and dreamy you can see how much thought and work went into editing.

Read:

  1. When Breath Becomes Air. Heartbreaking memoir about Dr. Paul Kalanithi who is diagnosed with lung cancer during his last year of residency. He provides an eloquence and calm to the sadness.
  2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. WWII based on two French sisters, both fighters in different ways. Be warned some parts are painful to read, not because of the writing, but events that take place.

Listen:

  1. Vicktor Taiwo. First discovered his song “Curse” during an episode of “Girls.” Lends a soulful, and silky voice to R&B. Good with wine and a rainy night in.

The Fun Has Arrived

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A bi-weekly series of libations with Becca-approved design or flavor. Perhaps both.

Name: Yuengling Traditional Lager
From: D.G. Yuengling & Son of Pottsville, PA
Type: american amber
Pair it with: that last-minute beach trip
Emphasis on: flavor

PSA: Yuengling is now available in New Orleans!

Baseball is like church

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Many attend, few understand.*

Another bar from my trip to Virginia. Janet and I went to watch the Nationals, my first MLB game. We knew we had to stretch out expensive stadium beer for nine innings, so we hit up Blue Jacket beforehand.

Apparently when I was younger, I was really into baseball. I’m pretty sure it had something to do with trying to impress a boy in fifth grade. It scares me how young I was when I took an interest in boys. But at least the interest in typography started early, practicing my block text and using stars as serifs.

Vibe: spacious, loft goals, polished
Beer to try: Duchamp, Goldfinch
Food Favorites: wings, loaded potatoes, fries
Address: 300 Tingey Street SE | Washington, DC 20003

*Title of post credited to Leo Durocher.

And after the party, it’s the hotel lobby

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When I was finally legal to drink in public, a hotel bar was never a planned outing but a random convenience (clean bathrooms). The scene was of solo travelers, limited beer selection, and the same colorful carpet that ran throughout the hotel. Then the hotel industry itself evolved, becoming Instagrammable. I’m not an authority on things but I hear it’s a thing now to meet up at hotel bars.

I was in Northern VA for a mini vacation, walking around Tyson’s Corner with my cousin Van (rhymes with fun, which she is). We didn’t want to shop and already ate, and there it was, an ad for happy hour. A sign from the old and new gods.

I thought Barrel & Bushel was a standalone bar, but it was part of the Hyatt hotel. No carpet? Huge draft selection? And what was that? 2-7 p.m. happy hour? The gray clouds parted and the sun emerged. The odds were ever in our favor. Next time I’m visiting VA, I’ll be sure to purposely wander here.

Vibe: airy, bright, modern
Specialty: draft beer
Happy Hour: Daily 2-7 p.m.
Address: 7901 Tysons One Place | Tysons Corner, VA 22102

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