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This cocktail competition is pouring one out for Flaco the owl
Flaco the owl was one of those stories that captured the heart of New York. In February of 2023, the Eurasian eagle owl escaped from Central Park Zoo. Who shredded open his mesh enclosure is still a mystery. Because it’s particularly hard to capture a winged creature, the zoo and all of New York kept tabs on the freed bird, catching sights of his 6-foot wingspan flying across Central Park and snapping pictures of him perched on AC units. Unfortunately, just a little over a year later, the majestic owl took his last flight and died after striking a building on the Upper West Side. To commemorate his tale, a handful of bars across New York are pouring one out to honor the majestic beast.
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On July 30, six bartenders from across New York will gather for a spirited cocktail competition to honor the spirited animal. The Midsummer Night’s Bartender Cocktail Competition, hosted by El Buho Mezcal, will feature cocktail shakers from La Contenta (Lower East Side), Mezcali (Financial District), Mayahuel (Astoria), Tabu (Williamsburg), Oxomoco (Greenpoint) and Invito Restaurant (Elmsford, Westchester). Gathering at La Contenta, each bartender will present their cocktail creation to the judges. The winner will go home with a cash prize. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the NYC Bird Alliance.
El Buho Mezcal, which is also Spanish for owl, will also be onsite selling merch in the form of wooden, handcrafted Flaco keychains. An iconic NYC keepsake, only 386 keychains have been, honoring the 386 days Flaco roamed free. End the month by pouring one out for one of New York’s most iconic birds.
Check out the sleek new OMNY cards that will offer NYC students free rides
Here’s some news that will get NYC public school students excited about the upcoming year: city officials just announced that they will be distributing sleek new green OMNY cards to eligible pupils, granting them free subway trips throughout the week.
Replacing the school-issued MetroCards that have been issued since 1997, the new passes will be valid for 24 hours a day, 365 days a weeks. In total, each card holder will be granted four free trips daily, including weekends.
That’s a big change from how things have been handled until now: the older MetroCards offered students three free rides daily between 5:30am and 8:30pm, only when classes were in session.
Authorities are clearly making it easier and more affordable for school-aged children to take public transportation—and we are here for it.
“These expanded student OMNY cards are a game-changer for families across New York City, particularly for working-class families that need just a little more help to afford our city — families where older siblings pick their younger brothers and sisters up from school, or where kids have after-school and summer jobs to help make ends meet,” said Mayor Eric Adams during an official press event regarding the changes. “This builds on the work we’ve done to make our city more accessible, particularly for young people and low-income New Yorkers. From our subways, to our ferries, to our greenways, we’re making it easier and more affordable to get around New York City.”
In terms of specifics, the OMNY cards—which certainly look cooler, sleeker and more “avant-garde” than MetroCards—will be valid on all subway lines; local, limited and Select buses; the Staten Island Railway; the Roosevelt Island Tram and the Hudson Rail link. Free transfers from one mode of transportation to another will be part of the program as well.
Suddenly, we miss being students in this great big city of ours.
Popular L.A. bar Desert 5 Spot is transforming Williamsburg into a “raucous Western haven”
Country music and the Wild West aesthetic had a big moment this year after Beyoncé dropped her latest album Cowboy Carter—but the obsession with all things country has now extended to nightlife.
The best example? A new desert-inspired bar and music venue that will make you feel like you got teleported to the depths of old Arizona: Desert 5 Spot, which opened in Williamsburg this week by way of Los Angeles.
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Desert 5 Spot is inspired by Cosmic Americana, 1970s Palms Springs and the rustic allure of Pioneertown.
Inside the bar, you’ll find a false storefront that resembles a Pioneertown motel, an area near the stage dubbed “Dolly’s Corner,” which pays homage to the inimitable Dolly Parton via pink suede wallpaper and photos of the country legend, a DJ booth created from an old Chevy truck and cowhide rugs.
The venue’s best feature, though, is a custom-made mechanical bull that lets you test your grip strength and determine if you have what it takes to survive a Spaghetti Western.
The furniture is on-point as well, featuring pieces hand-selected by designers Bernadette Blanc and Wade Crescent and sources from vintage dealers and thrift stores around the Western U.S.
But the destination is much more than a concert venue and bar, offering a community space of sorts for Western enthusiasts.
Among the on-site programming offerings will be line dancing, two-step classes, cowboy karaoke and much more.
“Desert 5 Spot was born out of our love for country music and a desire to create a space where cell phones and Instagram take a back seat to allow people to just drink and have unadulterated fun with their friends,” said Dan Daley, Ten Five Hospitality Managing Partner, in an official statement. “My partners and I spent the majority of our careers in New York, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Desert 5 to the city we still call home.”
Let’s not forget about the food: tacos, chips and guac, nachos are to be washed down with cocktails primarily made with tequila and mezcal. Don’t forget to order a slushy as well, but be warned: it will likely be overflowing with booze.
If Desert 5 Spot sounds familiar, that’s because it has already built a solid reputation in L.A., where it’s hosted country legends like Kane Brown, Dasha, Orville Peck, Midland, Green Day, Noah Cyrus, and many others. The Brooklyn location is the venue’s second-ever address, so we do expect similar world-class acts to grace the local stage.
You can visit the newly opened Desert 5 Spot at 94 Wythe Avenue in Brooklyn Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 1am; Fridays from 5pm to 2am; Saturdays from 2pm to 2am; and Sundays from 2pm till midnight. For updates and more information on upcoming events, follow the venue on Instagram.