Wednesday, May 1, 2024 May 1, 2024 InterContinental New York Barclay

Throughout American history, women have helped propel what we know as classic cocktails—the Martini, the Manhattan, the Old-Fashioned, and more—into popular culture. But, often excluded from private clubs, women introduced cocktails at home, in their cocktail parlors. Nicola Nice, author of the new book The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home, will introduce us to some of New York City’s most famous cocktail venues from the perspective of women who hosted in them. From the private women’s clubs of the Upper East Side in the late nineteenth century to the women-run speakeasies of Midtown in the 1920s, to the intrepid bartenders of today, she will reveal how New York women have not only shaped the city’s cocktail culture but have continued to fight for their right to inclusion along the way.
 
Dr. Nicola Nice is a sociologist, brand strategist, and founder of the Pomp & Whimsey gin company. Nicola has worked in spirits innovation for over a decade, and she has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and more.
 
We are delighted to host this program, as part of our countdown to celebrating our centennial in 2026. The hotel has an important place in cocktail history as the one-time residence of Perle Mesta, the original “Hostess with the Mostess,” the first female U.S. ambassador, and the inspiration behind the Black Russian cocktail; and of Pauline Sabin, who was instrumental in prohibition reform while she was a resident at the hotel. In honor of Perle Mesta, Black Russians will be served, along with tea sandwiches. 
 
Location:
InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel
111 East 48th Street at Lexington
 
Time:
6:30 pm: Reception, Gallery North
7:00 pm: Program, Empire Ballroom 1
 
Tickets:
Limited tickets available. Please register and pay in advance through Eventbrite: https://perlemestapaulinesabin.eventbrite.com
 
Members: $40
Nonmembers and Guests: $55
Full-time students with ID: $40