Archive for the ‘repeal day celebrations los angeles’ tag
Happy Repeal Day!
Today is the 75th anniversary of the death of the 18th Amendment, otherwise known as Prohibition, and celebrations are ringing out across the land.
But first some history:
Prohibition began on January 16, 1920, when at the stroke of midnight, all of America became a dry county. The government’s intention was to end crime and drunkenness, but instead the 18th amendment crushed the country’s spirits industry, uprooted vineyards, and put the “organized” in organized crime. To enjoy a sip of alcohol, formerly law abiding citizens turned to gangsters, smuggled it in from Canada, or made their own (with ingredients like turpentine no less).
Prohibition ushered in the birth of the dive bar and the death of mixology. (Actually, mixology didn’t die — it’s like it pricked its finger on an enchanted FBI agent and fell into a deep dark sleep for decades.) Bartenders like Harry Craddock (of Savoy Cocktail Book fame) and Fernand “Pete” Petiot (an architect of the Blood Mary), who had been lauded as artisans, became drug dealers overnight. Suddenly making a gin and tonic didn’t just break the law, it violated the Constitution. Drinking was forced into back rooms and basements as the country’s watering holes were shut down — and shut down hard. To make a living top bartenders fled to Cuba or Europe (creating a pretty nifty cocktail culture in their wake). The next time you have a Harvey Wallbanger in Paris, thank Prohibition.
Prohibition turned ordinary citizens into criminals for 13 years, and echos of that ill-fated amendment exist today in the form of “blue laws”. Laws (usually socially or religiously motivated) that restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol. Try to purchase beer before noon on Sunday (or any day in most of Utah) and you’ll see what I mean. Seems that Americans still love righteousness and liquor in equal parts. One can only hope that we’ve learned our lesson about making changes to the Constitution based on religious outrage….
Sorry — I just cracked myself up….
To celebrate Repeal Day:
At Home:
-Wine from California, Oregon, or Washington.
-Leopold’s Gin, small batches and American made
-Hudson Whiskey, New York’s first Post Prohibition Whiskey.
On the town:
New York
This city is chock full of bars infamous, famous, and old. To me, this is the center of all things Prohibition. Click here for a list of the oldest bars in New York.
Chicago:
You can’t throw a bottle cap without finding a speakeasy in this city, but I recommend you head straight to The Green Mill. One of Capone’s guys owned a stake in this place so it was open for business during most of the 20’s. I used to live around the corner from this bar, and miss it more than you can say. They can fit an entire jazz band on a stage that is the size of a small living room, and somehow there is still room for dancing. If you go (and you must)sit at Capone’s table (the booth with its back to the wall, and a view of all the doors) and have a gimlet for me.
Los Angeles
The Golden Gopher has had an active liquor license since 1905. It seems the Feds overlooked the liquor license for serving spirits to go when the confiscated the one in the bar…. Today they are celebrating Repeal day with 75-cent Dewar’s cocktails.
The Edison Downtown has a lovely celebration planned for this evening. It will include a batch of their own special Woodford Reserve Bourbon Mixture and a midnight toast to the Women’s Temperance League. Nice Touch. Click here for my review of their cocktail hour.
New Orleans:
Well—as you can imagine—there are multiple bars celebrating this day. Click here for an informative article, as well as a list of Nola watering holes.
Cheers.
