🏳️🌈 Drink Seco: Pride Month Edition 🏳️⚧️
The disappearance of lesbian bars, the rise of listening bars, queering the map, food tourism, the ultimatum, beer glasses, weekend cocktail recipes, Tulum Retreat and more!!
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
Hello! We are well and truly into Pride Month now, lots of celebrations and joy all around. Kate and I celebrated our 4-year anniversary the other week too, so it’s extra love in the air!
On a personal note, growing up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, being gay - while safer than decades previously, was still taboo and it was incredibly hard to meet other women. I never really thought I would find such an incredible match to do life with. So, let me take this time to thank Kate for finding me, for traveling the world with me, for always being down for my many adventures, for supporting my countless business ideas, and for always being the warmest and cuddliest gal around.
Because it’s Pride Month I figured it’s only right to really lean into the queer content this newsletter. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Moby Dyke- Where are all the lesbian bars?
Bars in revival
The at-home experience
Queering the Map
Food tourism
Ultimatum Queer Chaos
Wedding time!
The Ultimate Beer Glass
Weekend Cocktails
Tulum Retreat
Moby Dyke- Where are all the lesbian bars?:
What better way to start off this newsletter than the middle of the Venn Diagram? Lesbians + Cocktails.
You might remember Krista Burton from her seminal old blog Effing Dykes, well she is now paving the way for queer culture again in her new book Moby Dyke as she goes on a road trip to the last 20 Lesbian/Queer bars in America! I know! Only 20 left in the whole country.
Interspersed with the history, stories, importance, and culture of these surviving bars Krista ruminates on why they’re closing down. She discusses the difference between gay male communities and bars, the gender pay gap, lesbian bar’s shifting role throughout the decades, and personal stories, and Maxine Wolf traces Lesbian use of bar environments in the U.S. to the late 1800s and the existence of bars used exclusively by Lesbians to the 1920s.” In 1987, there were 206 of them in America, today there are only 27.
Let’s not forget while they were historically incredibly radical and important spaces, they were also predominantly white middle-class lesbian spaces.
If you’re curious as to where those remaining 27 are, check out The Lesbian Bar Project for the list.
In the meantime, here’s a heart-warming lesbian bar scene from the great tv show A League of Their Own.
Bars in revival:
While lesbian bars might be an endangered species, as I mentioned last week, listening bars are having a revival!
Since many of you are based around the world, or travel a lot, here’s a great list of listening bars around the world you can visit.
The reality is, most of the ways we listen to music these days don’t allow us to experience the full mastered recording. Songs are compressed in streaming services or our speakers don’t have good enough sound quality to fully experience the music.
Listening bars play music on vinyl through high-quality speakers, in a specifically acoustically designed room, changing the entire experience.
Studies have shown that the louder and livelier music is in a venue, the faster and more people eat. In the face of this, listening bars by nature radical, challenge our ultra-consumeristic, capitalistic, culture.
Then again, you don’t have to read too far into it… sometimes good music is just good music.
The at-home experience:
So on this, I thought I’d give you an album pairing for this week’s newsletter! And of course, to create your own little listening bar experience at home, a wine paring to go with it.
This week, I’m recommending Lucy Dacus’s album Home Video! Lucy is such a talented songwriter and this is such a beautiful, poetic album. It seems rare these days we listen to albums in order, but this album is such a beautiful body of work, headphones and shuffle playlists don’t seem to do it justice.
You might recognize Lucy Dacus’s name from boygenius who I mentioned a few weeks ago,(obsessed with them all and ‘the record’ is also brilliant).
Now, the wine I’ll be pairing with this album for your listening experience is:
Queering the map:
Queering the Map is “a community-generated counter-mapping platform for digitally archiving LGBTQ2IA+ experience in relation to physical space.” It was started in 2017 by Lucas LaRochelle and now holds thousands of queer confessions, memories, secrets, and musings from park benches to the middle of the ocean.
Our histories, realities, love, and existence are continuously being erased and invalidated, Queering the Map provides a beautiful, interactive, evolving place to archive, record, and contest that. This map is a manifestation of queering the archives, queering time, queering technology, and community building .
If you’d like to see some highlights check out their instagram.
Also, speaking of travel, a little reminder my Tulum cocktail retreat is coming up! Who knows, maybe you’ll make some memories to put on the map!
Food tourism:
Speaking about traveling, and community, a few newsletters ago I spoke a little about culinary appropriation and colonization. It’s such an evolving and important conversation so when I saw Alicia Kennedy (who teaches a Culinary Tourism class at Boston University’s Masters of Gastronomy program) had shared a resource list to learn more I thought I’d share it with you guys too!
The Foundational
Culinary Tourism, edited by Lucy M. Long
Exotic Appetites: Ruminations of a Food Adventurer by Lisa Heldke
The Tourist Gaze by John Urry
Tourism and Development in the Third World by John Lea
Culinary Capital by Peter Naccarato and Kathleen Lebesco
Foodies: Democracy and Distinction in the Gourmet Foodscape by Josee Johnston and Shyon Baumann
The Specific
Eating Puerto Rico: A History of Food, Culture, and Identity by Cruz M. Ortiz Cuadra
Food in Cuba: In Pursuit of a Decent Meal by Hanna Garth
London Feeds Itself, edited by Jonathan Nunn
On Colonialism
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
Resisting Paradise: Tourism, Diaspora, and Sexuality in Caribbean Culture by Angelique V. Nixon
Cooling the Tropics: Ice, Indigeneity, and Hawaiian Refreshment by Hi'ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart
What Is “American” Food?
The Taste of America by John L. and Karen Hess
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Changed American Cuisine by Mayukh Sen
The Role of the Restaurant
The Ethnic Restaurateur by Krishendu Ray
Gastronativism: Food, Identity, Politics by Fabio Parasecoli
Global Brooklyn: Designing Food Experiences in World Cities by Fabio Parasecoli and Mateusz Halawa
The Ultimatum Queer Chaos:
Okay, it would be remiss of me to not talk about The Ultimatum Queer Love. Absolute chaos. Also further proof that if a show has queer people in it, we will watch literally anything. Where do I begin? So many thoughts.
For those who didn’t watch, The Ultimatum Queer Love is a reality tv show where someone in a couple has given an Ultimatum, “either we get married or we break up”, then in a completely normal fashion, they are all given ‘Trial- Wives’ (someone from the other couples) to live with for 3 weeks to either fall in love with or send them running back to their real partner.
The show also had its fair share of faults, I think it covered every lesbian stereotype in the books (I mean the show is literally U-hauling) and it wasn’t even a good show, not to mention all the contestants also all need serious therapy. Alas, it was enjoyable regardless, also gotta love any show that brings the queer community together on this scale. Queer people’s Succession? (kidding, I love Succession)
Wedding time!
Speaking of marriage let’s switch to an actual wedding and genuine love, Beanie Feldstein and Bonnie Chance got married. We saw their beautiful wedding pics and since Pride Month is all about Queer Joy despite having no reference to cocktails I thought I’d give them a mention.
And our fav queer iconic couple attended. I couldn’t not include this cute photo.
The Ultimate Beer Glass:
Back to the world of cocktails and alcohol, as it’s warming up the craving for a cool beer after a long day is growing. A practice that seems fairly universal wherever I travel. What isn’t universal though are the beer glasses. It’s gotten me thinking, what’s the ultimate beer glass for your knockoff?
Specific beer glasses have been designed for different types of beer, and the type of glass significantly impacts the aroma (and therefore your taste and drinking experience). There are a lot, so I’ll just cover the basics, but a beer glass can be as important as a cocktail glass.
Let’s go through a couple:
The Willi Becher (aka the Pint):
Your standard glass, honestly if you’re taking one, it might as well be this one. A classic pint.
Beer Mugs:
Who doesn’t love a handy handle on the side, it’s great for lower-ABV styles, and the handles can help keep the beer cool in summer. Although whenever I see them I think of Octoberfest vibes haha.
The Tulip:
Usually for Belgian ales, a very elegant beer-drinking glass, and pretty versatile for beers, it’s been particularly popular with IPAs and sours. They’re great for capturing the aroma of malty, hoppy beers.
The Pilsner glass:
Tall, skinny glasses, great for lighter beers (and Pilsners of course), they’re great for holding the head of a beer.
The Goblet glass:
Perfect for your Game of Thrones night. Goblet’s wide mouths are great for heavier malty and bitter beers.
Cocktail Retreat!
In case you missed it last newsletter, join us in Tulum for an unforgettable weekend of classic cocktail theory and the art of crafting extraordinary drinks. From July 21 to July 23, immerse yourself in the Mexican sunshine and embark on a journey of mixology mastery! I’m so excited to be finally sharing this with you guys, it’s been in the works for a while and I just know you’ll love Tulum as much as Kate and I.
We’ll be covering cocktail theory, making, and mixology secrets. And if that isn’t exciting enough each cocktail will be perfectly paired with delectable, mouthwatering Mexican cuisine. From zesty salsas to savory tacos, experience the true essence of Mexican gastronomy while sipping on your meticulously crafted cocktails!
🌟Some quick notes and logistics:
Your fee covers your accommodations, all food and beverages, including in-class and out-of-class alcohol and mixers, all equipment needed to make cocktails, dinners out in town, and all lessons on mixology. Airfare and personal transportation not included, but we are here to help if needed!
🥂 All-Inclusive Weekend Experience
We've taken care of everything for you! Your weekend package includes all food and drink, ensuring you can fully immerse yourself in the cocktail journey without a worry. Simply arrive, indulge, and create lasting memories with fellow cocktail enthusiasts. Please note that airfare is not included.
🍹Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, create, and bask in the beauty of Tulum. Spaces are limited to 8 people, so secure your spot now for a weekend of pure cocktail bliss! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced mixologist, this retreat is tailored to elevate your skills and ignite your passion for mixology
To reserve your spot or inquire for more information, call us at 757-343-5740 or visit our website at www.secococktails.com. Join us in Tulum this July and let the sun, sand, and cocktails be your guides to an unforgettable experience!
Weekend Cocktail Options:
I thought I’d send you off with three cocktail recipes to start the week! (It’s Pride Month, I’m feeling generous). It’s getting warmer and poolside weekends are kicking in so naturally you need an equally refreshing cocktail to keep you company.
NORI DAIQUIRI
1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
2 ounce of nori infused Diplomatico rum
6 drops of Japanese bitters
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake, strain from ice in a chilled coup.
or, if you’re feeling a little more classic, you can never go wrong with a Hugo Spritz:
HUGO SPRITZ
.5 oz elderflower liqueur
.5 oz fresh lime
4 oz prosecco
mint for garnish
GARDEN GIMLET
1 oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz basil simple syrup
2 oz garden elixir
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain from ice into a chilled coupe with a floral ice ball and garnish with fresh herbs from the garden.
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading!
Looking forward to seeing you in Tulum! I’ll end with some of the pics from the iconic Miriam Margolyes’s recent Vogue cover. A national treasure.
Carlie xx