Take a little gin, a bit of Crème de Violette, freshly squeezed lime and top it off with some Sierra Mist and you have a Romeo & Violet. That is just one, albeit simpler than most, of the many cocktails to be served at the upcoming Midtown Cocktail Week. The week’s sixth year kicks off on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and runs through through Sunday, Aug. 25. And following the cancellation of San Francisco’s Cocktail Week, this may be Midtown’s year to shine.
According to SF Eater, the organizers of SFCW found scheduling conflicts with the America’s Cup Finals, an international yacht racing competition being held in the city and decided to call it quits this year. San Francisco’s loss could be Sacramento’s gain as sponsors and vendors have flocked to MCW with the Bay Area version cancelled.
Tashina Brito, events manager for the Midtown Business Association, has high hopes about MCW and what it could mean for Sacramento’s Midtown as a whole. “This is a chance for the event to be open to more regional and national recognition,” she said.
MCW has partnered with the Citizen Hotel to have a space for the classes and lectures. One of the highlights includes a lecture by Amy Stewart, the author of The Drunken Botanist on Friday, August 23. She will be discussing her New York Times best-selling book about plants and other natural ingredients that are often used in cocktails.
All of MCW’s events are for 21 and over. Below are some highlights for the week, and the full schedule can be seen here.
Wednesday
Kick off 6th Annual Midtown Cocktail Week and Vendor Expo
Metropolitan Terrace at The Citizen Hotel
Noon to 6 p.m.
Features tastings and booths from various liquor companies. This event is free. Attendees must be 21 or over and register via the Eventbrite page.
The Big Show at LowBrau
6 to 9 p.m.
Six local bartenders will compete in a cocktail competition. Each contestant will be making a cocktail for the a three-judge panel. Attendees will also get to sample the drinks and tally their score to help chose the People’s Choice, which will be turned into a batch cocktail for all to enjoy. Admission is $10.00 and includes six cocktail tastings.
Thursday
The Kabuki Show at Hook and Ladder Manufacturing Company
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Japanese tapas and Japanese Whiskey and Sake cocktails with a Taiko Dan Performance. Admission is free. Drink Specials starting at $6.00.
Friday
The Best Damn Show at Grange
6 p.m. to close
A gatsbyesque dance party featuring Hollywood’s pin-up dancers The Satin Dollz, a whiskey tent revival show by The Silent Comedy and beats courtesy of DJ Shaun Slaughter. Admission is free. Dress classy and vintage, like you just walked off the set of The Great Gatsby movie.
Saturday
The West End Art Show at Blackbird Kitchen + Bar
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Take a walk through 1950s Sacramento by experiencing the original hotspot of midtown – the West End. This event will feature the art and photography from that era, along with demonstrations by local artists from Exhibit S, music and, of course, cocktails. Admission to this event is free.
Sunday
Best in Show at Red Rabbit
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Finish out Midtown Cocktail Week like a champ at Red Rabbit, where top prizes will be awarded during a fair-inspired celebration, complete with whole-roasted pigs, photo booths, carnival games and bourbon cocktails. Admission is free.
Overall, the celebration of mixed drinks is meant to be much more than just people drinking booze. As Brito puts it, MCW is a way to get a “comprehensive look of Midtown.”
SacPress Staff Lauren Ogle contributed to this piece.
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