Thursday, August 4

Devour Downtown Signature Drink Competition 2011

DEVOUR DOWNTOWN 2011
DRINK SIGNATURE CONTEST WINNERS

                                                GREY GOOSE
Winning Drink: Peach Paradise Froth
Bartender: Kenny Gardner
Restaurant: Tavern on South
Recipe
1 1/2 oz Grey Goose, 1 oz St. Germain, 3/4 oz Lime Juice, 3/4 oz Pasteurized Liquid Egg White, 1/2 oz Simple Syrup, 2 slices of peach
In a shaker muddle 2 slices of peach with simple syrup. Add Grey Goose, St. Germain, Lime Juice, Egg White, and a scoop of Ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a large rocks glass. The egg white will rise to the top to make a froth on top of the cocktail. Garnish with an orange peel.

2nd Place
Bartender: Candace Anastasio
Restaurant: St. Elmo Steak House
Strawberry Basil Cooler
Recipe
Grey Goose Orange 1 ½ oz, Fresh Strawberry puree ½ oz, Fresh Basil (crushed/ rolled) Fresh Sweet Sour 1 ½ oz
Over ice in a High Ball
                                               3rd Place
                                               Bartender: Brooke Showalter
                                               Restaurant: shelBi street caFe & Bistro
                                               Golden Goose
Recipe
2oz Grey Goose, 3/4oz Ginger Brandy, 3/4oz Mango Puree, 1/4 Fresh Lime, Barritts Ginger Beer (or Gingerale)
Chill a Cocktail Glass. In a shaker of ice add Grey Goose, Ginger Brandy, Mango Puree, and squeeze 1/4 of a fresh lime. Shake until chilled and strain into cocktail glass. Top with a good splash of Ginger Beer (or Gingerale). Garnish with a lime.

HENDRICKS GIN
                                          Winning Drink: Scottish Right      
                                          Bartender: Amy Marie Fischer
                                          Restuarant: Scotty's Brewhouse
Recipe
2 oz. Hendrick's Gin, 3 Lime wedges, 6 Mint Sprigs, Simple syrup, 1 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice, 1 1/2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
Muddle limes, mint & simple syrup. Add all other ingredients with ice. Shake in tin, pour in a highball glass. Enjoy!

2nd Place
                                                       Bartender: Chris Nelson
                                                   Restaurant: Severin Bar and Grill
                                                    The Hendrick's Experience
Recipe3 oz Hendrick's Gin, 6 leaves fresh basil, 6 slices cucumber, 2 lime wedges, 2 lemon wedges, splash of 7up
In a mixing glass combine 6 leaves fresh basil, 5 slices cucumber, 2 lime wedges, and 2 lemon wedges. Muddle. Add 3 oz Hendrick's Gin and a scoop of ice. Shake until well chilled. Double strain into a chilled martini glass. Top off with splash of 7up. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

3rd Place
                                                      Bartender: Robert Young
Restaurant: McCormick & Schmicks
                                                             Strong Hendricks
Recipe
3 cucumber slices, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 3/4 oz Hendricks gin, 1 oz Rodney Strong sauvignon blanc
muddle 2 cucumber slices, add 1/2 oz simple syrup, 3/4 oz Hendricks gin. Shake vigorously. Strain into martini shell. Fill with Rodney Strong sauvignon blanc .

KNOB CREEK
                                           Winning Drink: Bitter Creek
                                           Bartender: Ruth Flores
                                           Restaurant: Elbow Room Pub
Recipe
1 1/4 oz knob creek, 1/2 oz orange liquer, splash Bitters, splash of sours, garnish with orange sliceAdd each ingredient in a mixing glass, shake and pour over the rocks

2nd Place
Bartender: Eleisia Rock
Restaurant: Harry & Izzy's
Honey Bee

Recipe
8 grapes, 1/2 oz. honey simple syrup,  1 1/2oz. Knob Creek, 1/2 oz. apple juice
muddle 8 grapes with 1/2oz. of honey and a splash of simple syurp.  Add Ice add 11/2oz. of Knob Creek, add 1/2oz. of apple juice. Shake, Strain in to a martini glass. Garnish with two frozen grapes cut in half dip cut part into sugar and put on skewer.

3rd Place
Bartender: Michael Gray
Restaurant: Turner's at the Canterbury
Wayworn Road
Recipe
.25 oz. Black Pepper Corn Syrup, 3-4 dashes Jerry Thomas Bitters by Bitter Truth, Snapped Thyme Sprig, 2 oz. Knob Creek Bourbon, Topped with Sparkling Water Peligrino (preferred)In shaker Snap 1 sprig of thyme, add 3-4 dashes of Jerry Thomas Bitters by Bitter Truth, add .25 oz. Black Pepper Corn Syrup, add ice and 2 oz. Knob Creek Bourbon. Shake well and strain into Old Fashioned glass full of ice. Top with Sparkling water, Peligrino is preferred. Garnish with a thyme sprig and lemon twist.


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Wednesday, August 3

Taste of Downtown Street Festival 2011 August 6

Easley Winery's
8th Annual
Taste of Downtown
Free Street Festival
Saturday, August 6


Press release***
Indianapolis, IN - On Saturday, August 6, from 4-10 pm, Easley Winery's Taste of Downtown free street festival returns to 
N. College Avenue between Ohio Street and New York Street for its eighth annual event. With estimated attendance of 6,000-9,000 attendees, guests can marvel at the beauty of car design, with more than 50 highly collectible vintage and classic cars, tour a full production "grape to glass" urban winery, sample and purchase wines made on site, and enjoy music from top local talents.
    
Taste of Downtown will feature three great funk, island, and cover bands. Visitors can view and buy local art, eat great food from Indy's best food purveyors, and grab a cold bottle of award-winning Easley wines.
This year, "Taste of Downtown" is giving event-goers the opportunity to win a chance to sing with The Tides, the featured band for the 8th annual "Taste of Downtown." The interactive singing opportunity begins at 4 pm with the Reggae Guy Smart Phone Scavenger Hunt. Quick Response codes (QR codes) will be posted throughout the event and must be discovered in order to find the next clue via your smart phone.  There will be three lucky scavenger hunt winners who can sing or swing a tambourine with the band. Winners will also receive a custom tie dyed "Raise the Reggae" shirt.

Featured restaurant fare will include: pulled pork, ribs, grilled hamburgers, brats, 1/3 beef hot dogs, Jamaican patties, fruit smoothies, pizza, and more provided by restaurants including Dick's Bodacious BBQ, Da Blue Lagoon, Emkay Catering, and Byrne's Grilled Pizza.
Taste of Downtown is a free street festival, where the only admission is a requested food donation benefitting Gleaners Food Bank.
Musical acts include: Toy Factory, 4-6 pm; Goodnight Gracie, 6-8 pm and The Tides, 8-10 pm.
Various street exhibits will include featured work by local artists and promotional giveaways from travel companies and local businesses.

Winery tours are free and are conducted every half hour, beginning at 4pm.

Easley Winery has been located in Downtown Indianapolis since 1974, and all wines are made at the 205 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis location.  Regular winery hours for wine tasting and education are Monday-Saturday: 9:00am-6:00pm and Sunday: 12:00-4:00pm, with free tours on Saturdays and Sundays starting at noon.
For information, directions and schedule, visit www.EasleyWinery.com
Photos provided by Easley Winery

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Wednesday, July 27

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Brickyard 400 2011 Schedule of Events



All DayCamping Lots Open
5 PMHauler Parade




Chevy Day at the Brickyard
All DayVintage and Stock Car Show                
10:10 AM - 11:35 AMDriver Autograph Session                   
10:00 AM - 12:00 PMDriver Q & A Session                  
3:15 PMPractice Session II                              
5 PMRichard Petty Driving
Experience Rides 

 *Subject to change



Inaugural Brickfest 
All DayVintage and Stock Car Show
10 AMPractice Session
11 AM - 3 PMKids Club Event
12 - 12:45 PMAutograph Session I
1 - 1:45 PMAutograph Session II
2:10 PMQualifying
4:30 PMHinder Concert Begins



 
All DayVintage and Stock Car Show
9:30 AMJustin Moore, The Band Perry, Thomas Rhett
& Brantley Gilbert in concert

Pre-Race20th Anniversary of Desert Storm Salute
Pre-Race Thunder Alley
11:45 AMRascal Flatts
12:50 PM "America The Beautiful" by Reba McEntire
In-Race Beach Bash
1 PMNational Anthem by Rascal Flatts
1 PM Green Flag for the 2011 Brickyard 400
Schedule, ticket, directions, and information: IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.