Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/326040
20 / the tasting panel / june 2014 NEW YORK CITY SIPS . O ur dizzying round of fancy events this month (okay, well, only three) brought us to eat and drink at a couple of the city's most iconic places. The Manhattan Cocktail Classic celebrated its fifth birthday this year with nearly 100 events over five days including the two-day seminar-driven Industry Invitational. We attended the opening gala on Friday—the only night of the year visitors to the flagship New York Public Library don't have to shhhh. The New York Spirits room, with 34 stateside producers was the hometown favorite. Running a close second was the Hangar 1 Vodka's "Craft in a Glass" Lounge, presided over by six star female bar- tenders. Guests took the hanger concept to another level by stringing their Instaprint selfies up to dry. We ran into Leblon founder Steve Luttman at the gala, wearing the signature yellow of his cachaça brand and prepping for his Sunday event, the World's Largest Hand-Muddled Caipirinha, made by ten "World Cup" bartenders, and which made short order of more than 1,000 limes. (Lime shortage? What lime shortage?) We had hardly put away the party dress when Tavern on the Green invited us to its relaunch party on Monday, a black-tie fête that welcomed back the classic eatery with a refreshed mission and menu from new owners Jim Caiola and David Salama of the Philadelphia-based Emerald Green Group. The once-tired tourist trap—at one time the second-highest-grossing independent restaurant in the United States— had been closed since 2009. Now, the Tavern features an open kitchen organized according to cooking surface: from the Grill, the Hearth and the Plancha. Under Executive Chef Katy Sparks (a Quilted Giraffe and Bolo alum), the restaurant will serve an updated menu of small plates, ceviches and heritage meats. Iconic Manhattan by Lana Bortolot Steve Luttman of Leblon isn't the only one hanging around at the MCC gala. Hangar 1 Vodka ambassadors man the "Selfie Station" in its lounge at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Not all the bearded bartenders are in Brooklyn: Robert Mack, of Speakeasy 518 in Albany, NY, pours for Albany Distilling Co. The open kitchen at the newly reopened Tavern on the Green. PHOTO: LANA BORTOLOT PHOTO: GABI PORTER PHOTO: LANA BORTOLOT PHOTO: LANA BORTOLOT TP0614_001-33.indd 20 5/23/14 8:29 PM