Marvin Allen has seen it all. As head bartender at one of the premiere bars in the French Quarter, can you imagine the stories he has to tell? If you want elaboration, you’ll have to make your way to the Carousel Bar (214 Royal St) in New Orleans’ historic Hotel Monteleone. As for now, I’ll just tell you about the cocktails.

Italy is a proud land steeped in serious tradition. Berkeley is an ever-evolving town determined to break the rules. The two seemingly incongruous cultures find their common ground in a mutual admiration for great food and drink. Build (2286 Shattuck Ave.) is at the crossroads.

New Orleans is known for great music, strong cocktails and insanely rich cuisine. Bourbon street, whiskey drinks, candied pecans and everything in between. The Crescent City brings it all together, which is precisely why it’s my favorite place on Earth. When I can’t be in the Big Easy, I need to find a way to weave all these magical elements together in a fitting homage to glorious excess. The surest way to do this: quality booze.

Derby Day is almost upon us and while that means Mint Juleps for many of us, remember that there are still plenty of other classic Bourbon cocktails to enjoy. But before you can get to building your masterpiece, you need to sort out the foundation. One of my all-time favorite Kentucky whiskeys, both for sipping and mixing, remains Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey. From the color, to the finish, right down to the old-time packaging, it is a gem. Their green labeled Rye is also worthy of admiration. I’ve been sipping on them both for quite some time, but as of late I’ve decided to tinker with a few mixed concoctions. Allow me to share some of my favorites… The Kentucky Cutter Ideal for Derby Day, this Bluegrass beauty combines an ounce of Bulleit Bourbon, 1/2oz. of triple sec, 1/2oz. of lemon juice and 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Shake it all [...]

Down in San Diego, California, they have a well-designed stadium called Petco Park. It’s home to the Padres of the National League. Opened less than a decade ago, it’s new, sleek, with great sightlines and an awesome location right alongside the bay. A lot of ballparks across the country share these characteristics. But Petco remains the only ballpark in the United States directly connected to a hotel, The Omni (675 L Street). This might not seem that special until you consider the deal they’re offering this season…

There is still space available for this evening’s Beer Dinner at The Federal Bar (5303 Lankershim Blvd) in North Hollywood, California. The event is being hosted by Stone Brewing Company and will feature 5 of their beers, paired alongside specially-designed food courses. Dr. Bill, Stone Brewing’s Craft Beer Ambassador will also be on hand hosting the festivities.

Let’s take a scenic voyage to the land of the Blarney Stone, shall we? But for this adventure, you needn’t head to the airport, merely your local package shop.

Add this to your list of must attend events: SF Vintners Market on April 13th and 14th at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, CA.