Tag Archives: event

Don’t Be a Square, Check out Full Circle Tavern

Last night I attended Full Circle Tavern’s cleverly named “360° One-Year Anniversary” party down in the Cedars area. Owners and winners of Food Network’s “Food Court Wars”, Lara Whittington and Jennifer Bonner, celebrated with an 80s cover band, prize giveaways and 360° drink and food specials, including $3.60 Stoli drinks, $3.60 Brooklyn Lager beers and $3.60 Full Circle sliders.

I arrived right after 5pm when the festivities were scheduled to kick off. They were still setting up the band and I couldn’t really tell if the event had started yet. Nevertheless, I grabbed a seat outside on their patio, which was very pleasant on a beautiful spring day.

I had a great server, Tamara, who was friendly and attentive. Even though I don’t normally drink vodka before sundown, I ordered one of my favorite vodka cocktails—Stoli Blueberry with soda and a splash of cranberry. I also ordered the Cheese Curds, a first for me. While I waited, Tamara brought me a bowl of their homemade chips, which was a nice touch. My cocktail was nice and strong and was delivered quickly, which was appreciated as I was parched. The cheese curds were, as promised, very tasty but I’m not a huge fried foodie, so I only had few. I was intrigued by their menu, which is pretty extensive and includes several gluten-free substitutions/options, (which I greatly appreciate since my husband has a gluten allergy).

In my opinion, Full Circle Tavern just makes sense. It’s located in South Side/the Cedars in the same complex as Bill’s Records and is next door to the NYLO hotel and down the street from Gilley’s.

Full Circle Tavern is comfortable, friendly neighborhood spot with what I found to be great people watching. It seems like a perfect spot for NYLO guests and South Side on Lamar or The Beat residents to kick back and enjoy happy hour or a lazy Sunday. Since it’s not close to my neighborhood, I might not necessarily go out of my way to return unless I have something going on down in that area, but when I do, what better place to grab a cocktail and fill up on some carbs before a concert than Full Circle Tavern?

Full Circle Tavern
1319 South Lamar Street
Dallas, Texas 75215

Happy Hours (as of 5/20/14)

Tuesday – Thursday (11:00 am – 10:00 pm)
Friday – Saturday (11:00 am – 12:00 am)
Sundays (11:00 am – 4:00 pm)

Kitchen closes 1 hour prior to closing times

Link

Cook for a Cause at Mockingbird Station featuring Smallcakes

Two of my favorite things at once, all while raising money for a local charity? Don’t mind if I do! Join me at Mockingbird Station‘s evening of gourmet cupcakes and champagne from its soon-to-open new cupcakery, Smallcakes.

The evening will feature a five-course mini-cupcake tasting paired with champagnes for 30 guests. There will be fabulous gift bags for attendees and all proceeds will go to the chef’s favorite charity, You Can. We invite you to enjoy a night of decadent holiday treats in support of a wonderful cause!

Buy your $20 ticket here and join me for the deliciousness!

» more details

This Thursday, June 6, 6-8pm, join me at Mockingbird Station for Art & Wine at the Station. Small bites and wine will be served while you browse artwork by Michael Cross and Jeff Parrott.

For more information and to RSVP, visit artandwineatmockingbird.eventbrite.com.

Dallas Margarita Meltdown Giveaway

We’re heading for a major meltdown! No, not Texas’ summer or an episode from working too hard, the Dallas Margarita Meltdown. More than 20 restaurants will come together on Sunday, May 26 (5-10pm) in the Bishop Arts District and make some margs to vie for the title of “Best Margarita in Dallas”.

SO you could buy a ticket now (online for $20*, or at the event for $25*) OR you could enter to win the set of tickets from me!

To enter to win, tell me which restaurant’s margarita YOU think should win as:

a comment on this blog post
a post on my Facebook wall
a tweet to @drinkdallas using the hashtag “#margaritameltdown”
an email to [email protected]

You may enter once on each channel. The winner will be chosen Wednesday, May 22 at noon.

*A portion of proceeds will benefit La Voz del Anciano, a nonprofit organization that helps enrich and improve the quality of life for elderly Latinos in Dallas County.

Participating restaurants: La Duni, Mesa, Whiskey Cake, Sunset Lounge, Iron Cactus and many more.

Spring and Summer Events and Activities

OUTDOOR MOVIES AT THE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE
screenings begin around 8:30pm, doors open at 6:30pm | Alamo Drafthouse Richardson parking lot
FREE

July 13 – “Dazed and Confused”
July 20 – “The Lost Boys”
Come to the movie early (4-6:30pm) and give blood to the American Red Cross, and get a free ADH movie pass. Walk-ins are welcome or RSVP at redcrossblood.org & use the SPONSOR CODE: adhdfw
July 25 – Double feature: “Shaun of the Dead” & “Hot Fuzz”
July 27 – “The Goonies”

THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE at the DMA
Every Thursday through July 25, 5-9pm | Dallas Museum of Art
FREE
Live jazz music. Cocktails and dinner. Artful conversations. Activities in the Center for Creative Connections and more.

ROCKWALL CONCERTS BY THE LAKE
Weekly, May 9 – August 8, 5:30-7:30pm | Rockwall Harbor
FREE
Weekly concerts beside the lake and sponsored by the City of Rockwall.

May 9 – Josh Weathers Band – Fort Worth Weekly 2012 Music Awards Winner “Best Blues/Soul” & “Best Male Vocalist”
May 16 – Me & My Monkey – Beatles Tribute
May 23 – SoundHouse – Classic Rock
May 30 – Escape – Journey Tribute
June 6 – Live 80 – 80’s Hits
June 13 – Petty Theft – Tom Petty Tribute
June 20 – Moving Colors – Rhythm and Dance
June 27 – Walkin’ The Line – Johnny Cash Tribute
July 11 – Chinatown – Pop Variety
July 18 – Hanna’s Reef – Texas Beach variety
July 25 – Big Mouth – Rock Variety
Aug 1 – Blaze of Glory – Bon Jovi Tribute
Aug 8 – Hunter Sullivan – Big Band

CONCERTS AT THE ARBORETUM
Twice weekly, April 16 – July 4 and September 5 – October 31 | Dallas Arboretum
$25/person ($10 children 3-12)
Concerts each Tuesday and Thursday (concert lineup) … bring your own blanket, food, and SHORT chair (and plastic bottle of wine)

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDENS CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN
Various dates, June 7-July 6
$13-50 | Tickets
Summer concerts in the beautiful Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. Get there early, wear sunscreen and take bug spray, and don’t take any glass.
SCHEDULE

GRANADA THEATER & CHEVY MUSIC SHOWCASE
Monthly, April 25 – July 25 | Sundown at the Granada
FREE

Burning Hotels – 4/25
Larry g(EE) – 5/30
Somebody’s Darling – 6/27
Josh Weathers – 7/25

THIRD-ANNUAL MARGARITA MELTDOWN
March 26, 5-10pm | Bishop Arts District
“We’re bringing the best margaritologists together to crown the best margarita in Dallas at the 3rd annual Dallas Margarita Meltdown.”

DESIGN DISTRICT MARKET
May 30, 6-10pm | 300 block of Cole Street
“Live music will be provided by The Venetian Sailors and Catamaran. Food trucks present will include Yellow Belly Food Truck, Pompeii Food Truck, and Eat Jo Dawgs. There are 40+ local vendors setting up shop.”
More info

PATIO SESSIONS
Every Thursday through May 30 | AT&T Performing Arts Center
FREE

“The shows are expertly curated with top local acts like Daniel Hart, Ryan Thomas Becker and many others, performing in front of the huge reflecting pool located on the Center’s lawn. The series invites you to bring the kids, a blanket, a bottle of wine or two and enjoy the agreeable weather even if it only lasts for a few weeks.”

SUNSET MOVIES ON THE PATIO
Weekly, April 7 – May 19 | Central 214 at Hotel Palomar
FREE
“Central 214 is bringing back its popular ‘Sunday Sunset Movie Nights on the Patio’ for the spring. The restaurant will offer a variety of patio food and drink specials, including Amber’s DIFF cocktails for Sundays, April 7 and April 14. Arrive early for the showings starting each Sunday at dusk (around 9 p.m.) The lineup of classic films includes:

April 14 – “Pan’s Labyrinth”
April 21 – “All About Eve”
April 28 – “Slumdog Millionaire”
May 5 – “The Godfather”
May 12 – “My Fair Lady”
May 19 – “Gladiator”

MANY MANY more events to come…

These events have ended:

KENTUCKY DERBY EVENTS | May 3 & 4

CINCO DE MAYO EVENTS | May 5

CELEBRATE UPTOWN | April 24-26
Prices vary | West Village
“…a three day event that celebrates the best of Uptown Dallas and attracts all Uptown enthusiasts including residents, employees and patrons. This year’s shopping, dining and concert events will benefit Katy Trail, McKinney Avenue Trolley, W. B. Travis Vanguard & Academy and Notre Dame School.”

Dine ($45), April 24th, 7pm
Two-course meal for $45 at participating restaurants. Tickets here.
Sip, Shop, Stroll, April 25th, 6-8pm
20% off at participating retailers, live music by Recycled Photographs, gift bag for first 100 shoppers
The Spazmatics Concert ($10-40), April 26th, 5-10pm
6:30PM – John Lefler, 8PM – Spazmatics
Tickets here.

Derby Day Drinks, Events, and Recipes

This year I’ll be muddling juleps at Polo on the Lawn, benefiting Project Transformation Join me for a good cause … I’ll make you your first cocktail.

THE STANDARD POUR | May 4, 2-6pm
$5 juleps, $20 julep pitchers, long stem roses for every woman
$100 for biggest hat

YELP | May 19
The Village Country Club
RSVP: yelp.com Derby Listing
“food, bevies, and entertainment!”

SEERSUCKER AND SUNDRESSES at the MASON BAR | May 4, 11am
$3 Mint Juleps, $2 Miller Lights, $20 Derby Punch Pitchers
“Want to win a Derby hat? RSVP at http://www.themasonbar.com/forms/derby2013 to get $4 U Call Its & $4 Beer ALL NIGHT LONG!”

RECIPES

THE EQUESTRIAN (available at Central 214 through May 4)
$1 will be donated to Project Transformation for each one of these drinks that is purchased.

THE MINT JULEP JOLT

Ingredients

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sparkling ICE Lemonade
4 Mint Leaves
2 Sugar Cubes
Crushed Ice

Place the mint leaves at the bottom of a glass and crush (for real authenticity use a julep cup). Pour in the Bourbon and Sparkling ICE Lemonade. Add in the crushed ice and stir. Garnish with mint sprig

WAGERING WHISKEY POP

Ingredients

1 Sugar Cube
4 drops of angostura aromatic bitters
1/2 shot of bourbon whisky
Top it off with VOGA Sparkling

Polish the sugar cube with bitters and drop it into the glass. Pour bourbon whisky into a chilled glass. Top it off with VOGA Sparkling

RACING RASPBERRY TEA

Ingredients

1 bottle of Black Raspberry Sparkling ICE
4 mint tea bags
5-6 limes
Mint sprigs
Honey or agave nectar (optional)

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 4 bags of mint tea. Steep for 10 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator for about 3 hours. Approximately 8 teaspoons of lime juice, also chilled. Mix 1 cup of the chilled mint tea with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the lime juice in a chilled glass. If you would like your tea extra sweet add in some honey, agava nectar, otherwise skip to the next step. Add ¼ cup of chilled Black Raspberry Sparkling ICE to fill the glass. Add crushed ice and stir. Add a lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

GIDDY UP

Ingredients

3-4 fresh figs, sliced (or 1 cup dried figs)
1-2 fresh gala apples, sliced
1 cup of cherries
2-3 oranges, sliced (not peeled)
1 lemon, sliced
2 bottles VOGA Italia Merlot
3 cups sparkling apple cider
1 cup orange juice
½ cup brandy
½ cup dark spiced rum
4 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves

Slice apples and insert whole cloves directly into the fruit. Combine all fruit slices in a glass pitcher and slowly pour in brandy and wine. Cover and chill from 2-24 hours (the longer, the better!). Before serving, add sparkling cider and orange juice. Stir gently and serve over ice.
Makes about 15 servings

DERBY DAIQUIRI

Ingredients

1.25 oz. Rum
1.25 oz. Sparkling ICE Kiwi Strawberry
3 oz. frozen strawberries
1 cup crushed ice

Add Rum, Sparkling ICE Kiwi Strawberry, frozen strawberries, and crushed ice in a blender. Blend until smooth and pour into glass. Garnish with strawberry

Cinco de Drinko Events and Recipes

EVENTS

CINCO IN THE CITY | May 4 at 2pm through 2am that night
FREE before 6:00PM; $5 after 6:00PM | El Fenix Downtown (parking lot)

Dos Equis, Red Bull, and ILiveInDallas.com are teaming up with the Infinite Agency to host the most epic Cinco De Mayo party you’ll go to this year!

Live Bands: 6:00 pm -10:00 pm.
Food & Drink Tickets: $2.50 for each ticket
The official sponsor is Dos Equis, which there will be plenty of to drink.
Official Twitter Hashtag: #CincoInTheCity

SFUZZI | May 5
$3 Mexican beers, $3 tequila shots
DJ on the patio from 3-7pm.

BOCA CHICA | May 3, 4, & 5

MOCKINGBIRD TAPROOM | May 5

SHERLOCK’S BAKER ST. PUB & GRILL | May 5th, 4 p.m. – close
$10 | 9100 N. Central Expressway
All-you-can-eat crawfish boil, music by DJ Gruve at 4 p.m. and live music by Anybody’s Guess at 9:45 p.m.
The pub will also feature happy hour drink prices all day.

URBAN TACO | May 4
Select margaritas and beers for $5, select tacos for $2, mariachi band/live DJ, random swag, paletas

VELVET TACO | May 4 & 5
$4 signature 16oz margaritas

COCKTAIL RECIPES

The Freshest Margarita
A margarita is the most traditional of all tequila cocktails and you cannot celebrate Cinco de Mayo without one.

Ingredients:

2 parts Milagro Silver Tequila
¾ parts Milagro Agave Nectar
1 part Fresh Lime Juice

Combine all three ingredients in a shaker. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a thin lime wheel. Salt optional.

Veracruzana
This cocktail is an ode to Mexico’s oldest and largest port, and is also home of the sweet Veracruz pineapple.

Ingredients:

2 parts Milagro Reposado Tequila
¾ parts Milagro Agave Nectar
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
4 Pineapple Chunks
2 Basil Leaves

Muddle pineapple and basil leaves in a Boston shaker glass. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice and garnish with pineapple and basil.

Carpe Dia

This is an inspiration to “sieze the day” with this fruity and fresh cocktail.

Ingredients:

2 parts Milagro Añejo Tequila
¾ parts Milagro Agave Nectar
1 part Fresh Lime Juice
5 Blackberries
2 Sage Leaves

Muddle fruit and herbs in a Boston shaker glass. Add other ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice and garnish with blackberry and a sprig of sage.

FORTY-THRITA FOR CINCO DE MAYO
This Cinco de Mayo don’t settle for a typical margarita with sweet and sour mix and a salted rim. Try a Forty-Thrita with a smooth citrus and vanilla hint from Licor 43 that will make your toast to Mexico mas suave.

¾ oz Licor 43
¾ oz Tequila
1 ½ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz simple syrup

Shake and strain over ice and garnish with lime wheel.

St. Patrick’s Day 2013 Events and other Malarkey

March 16

PARADE INFO | The artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg is playing!!!!!

BBC | Balloon drop and toast at midnight along with a bagpiper to officially signal it’s St. Patrick’s Day, live music, other fun surprises, no cover

CEDARS SOCIAL
Irish breakfast will be served from 8am-3pm. See the menu and info here: Facebook Event

DRAM + CANDLEROOM

JACK’S SOUTHERN COMFORT (Lower Greenville)

GIN MILLDUBLINERCAPITOL PUB

GOODFRIEND

THE HUB (4145 Beltline Road, Addison)
11 a.m. – 2 a.m. | They’ll be serving $4 Jameson and $4.50 Guinness, along with bangers and mash, corned beer and cabbage, and Shepherd’s Pie for $7.99 (each plate)

MOCKINGBIRD TAPROOM/PARK TAVERN
To buy tickets … click the prices below.

PRIMEBAR

THE OLD MONK | Opens at 10am, brunch served until 3pm

SUNDOWN & GRANADA THEATER AFTER PARTY

10am-7pm | $10 cover (includes: fantastic food (we’ll be serving brisket and veggie tacos along with brisket sandwiches), porta potties, live music all day, and phone charging station)

10 a.m. – noon Live DJ
noon – 1:00 p.m. Bum Lucky (Reggae)
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. I Drenz Reggae
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p. m. Preston Hall & DF Dub Allstars (Reggae)
4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Melody Memory (Reggae)
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Ugly Lion (Reggae)
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Oil Boom
9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. The Roomsounds
12:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Taddy Porter

March 17

BBC

BLACK FRIAR

GIN MILLDUBLINERCAPITOL PUB

IDLE RICH PUB

RENFIELDS CORNER

SHERLOCKS BAKER STREET PUB (Dallas, Addison, Arlington, and Fort Worth)
Green beer, live music, bagpipes, and giveaways starting at 11am

TEN BELLS TAVERN (Bishop Arts District)
Drink specials, great food, and stuff … FACEBOOK EVENT

Cocktail Recipes

Leprechaun Mix (recipe by SHOREbar in Santa Monica)

Kiwi
1oz Lime
0.25oz St.Germain
0.5oz Simple Syrup
2oz Gin

Build in shaker. half a kiwi, lime juice st.germain, simple syrup muddle and ice shake and strain into a coupe glass garnish with a kiwi wheel

IRISH KENTUCKY JAVA
Recipe created by Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru

6 ounces brewed, strong coffee
2 ounces John B Stetson Bourbon
1 ounces white crème de cacao
0.25 oz. maple syrup
1/4 cup whipped cream
Fresh mint leaves and ground cinnamon for garnish

Add the coffee, Stetson Bourbon, creme de cacao, and maple syrup together into a large, heat-safe carafe. Stir briefly to incorporate. Divide the coffee mixture among 4 mugs. Top off each of the mugs with whipped cream, mint leaves, and ground cinnamon.

Kiss Me I’m Irish

2 ½ oz VOGA Sparkling
1 oz Midori melon liquor
1 oz vodka
1 ½ oz lemonade

In a shaker, combine ice, vodka, Midori, and lemonade. Stir gently and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with VOGA Sparkling. Garnish with lemon slice.

Hot Patty (recipe by SHOREbar in Santa Monica)

basil
Jalapeño
1oz Lime Juice
0.75oz Agave
2oz Tequila

Build in shaker, 3 basil leaves, 1 jalapeño, lime juice, agave, muddle add Tequila add ice shake and fine strain over a couple glass garnish with basil leaf and jalapeño

Sparking Shamrock