the girl with a flask walks into a bar…

Don’t worry.  It’s not the start of a bad joke.  It’s far too early in the week for that.  BUT – it’s definitely not too early for you to start your weekend planning.  Especially if you’re planning for Friday night!

Here at martinis for breakfast, Friday night can be a bit of a, well, big deal.  You’ll remember a couple of months ago how we were talking about the benefits of going to a local neighbourhood bistro for drinks and appies during happy hour.  AND – how the Dark ‘n’ Stormy is the only reasonable choice to get you through the ‘waiting time’ associated with homemade pizza dough.

This Friday night, I am happy to say that I won’t be waiting for the pizza dough to rise/washing my hair/sorting my sock drawer or drinking alone.  This Friday I will be going to a book signing and cocktail tasting with cocktail historian Christine Sismondo.  Christine is the author of the 2011 book entitled:  America Walks into a Bar – A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops.

A history book about the bar!  That is my kind of ‘required reading’!

While I routinely rely on the Jock (with a B.A. in History) to fill in or explain a fair number of historical references in many movies or television shows we’ve watched together (I slept through most history classes and pretty much always miss the historical references), I suspect that this particular history book will capture and keep my interest.  And I’m sure that Christine would practically expect her readers to have a cocktail in hand while reading along (an activity that my high school teachers would likely not have endorsed).

I haven’t had the chance to look closely at her book, but will this Friday.  I was invited to attend this event as a guest and was provided a $49 ticket that includes a copy of Christine’s book, some creative classic cocktail samples (made by the historian herself), and some nibbles.  It’s on Bank Street at @The Space here in Ottawa, starting at 6 pm.  You can find out more about the event here.  Maybe I will see you there!

In lieu of sleeping through this particular history lesson, I promise to act with decorum, and will refrain from asking Christine about Chuck Bass’ Speakeasy on Gossip Girl.  Unless the cocktails get to me first.

T.G.I.F!  T.G.I.F!