Before she entered politics, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn struggled with bulimia and alcoholism. Quinn opened up about those experiences in an interview with the New York Times, and is expected to talk about them publicly at Barnard College on Tuesday.

Quinn’s mother was dying of breast cancer when she was 16 years old, the speaker told the Times. Quinn spent every morning waking her mother, bathing her, making her breakfast and giving her medication. Her mother’s condition wasn’t improving, and when it was all too overwhelming for the teen to handle, she would binge on ice cream and corn muffins — and then make herself throw up.

The habit continued for 10 years until she sought help at the age of 26.

“I just want people to know you can get through stuff,” she told the Times. “I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.”

The speaker reached out to the Times to share her experience. She will also touch upon the issues in a memoir that is scheduled to be published next month.

Quinn also talked about how although her mother was diagnosed with cancer when she was in the second grade, she didn’t know about it until the eighth grade when a nun at her school told one of her classmates to be nice to her because her mother had cancer.

At this time, Quinn felt that she needed to be perfect — and thinner — in order to save her mother, the Times reports. Secretly eating sweets and then purging brought a sense of relief, she said.

“For a brief moment, you’ve kind of expelled from your being the things that are making you feel bad,” she said. Quinn also began going out and drinking with friends around this time.

Quinn was in her junior year of high school when her mother died. She continued to struggle with her bulimia and drinking throughout college.

Years later, Quinn got a job working as a campaign manager for City Councilman Thomas Duane. When Quinn opened up to Duane about her problems, he urged her to go to rehabilitation, and she did.

Quinn said she is proud of what she has overcome and does not want to hide it anymore. She added that she does not believe her openness about this part of her life will have an effect on the mayoral race, saying it feels “nonpolitical.”

The post Christine Quinn discusses struggle with bulimia, alcoholism appeared first on Metro.us.

With so many bars turning their attention to the craft of the quality cocktail, it can be easy to assume that the concept has saturated the bar market. That’s not true, sadly, and — depending on where you live — it can be hard to track down a well-made cocktail in your neighborhood. There’s no reason why you have to actually leave the house to drink in style, however. A new online teaching program called Drink Skool, created by some of the most respected names in the beverage industry, cuts out the middle-man and gives you the basics on how to turn your own bar into a craft cocktail haven. And unlike most DIY home-improvement projects, the worst that can happen here if you screw up is you get to make another cocktail. Sounds like a win-win.

Drink Skool is “definitely for consumers who have some enthusiasm and have some base knowledge about spirits and cocktails, or bartenders that are getting started, but not anything above that,” one of the partners, Doug Frost (also of the industry standard advanced training program Beverage Alcohol Resource — and one of the more renowned wine experts in the world) explains. “What we’ve tried to do, is distill it — sorry for the pun — into bite-sized chunks so people can go, ‘Ok I got that.’” As Frost points out, mixing a perfect cocktail isn’t exactly rocket science; it’s all about following a recipe and locking down a few standard techniques, all of which the — totally free — course walks users through online with a sense of fun and a sense of humor. “I would hope the outcome of what we’re doing is someone will go, ‘This isn’t that hard,’  buy a few a things and start making their own cocktails,” says Frost. “There’s no reason they can’t.”

Among the program’s lessons are the basics of mixing a cocktail, learning how to taste and appreciate the differences between types of spirits, and important bar techniques like muddling.

It’s an attempt to demystify the concept of mixology, Frost says. “I’m hoping that people will take some time to try a couple of techniques, at least for their favorite cocktails, and end up recognizing that there’s no great mystery in this,” he explains. “Instead it’s about measuring, buying better quality products, and using fresh ingredients. You don’t cook with canned stuff and expect it to taste wonderful.”

Get Skooled:

Right off the bat, there are two crucial things home cocktail enthusiasts need to learn, Frost says. First is the difference between shaking and stirring. Get a stirrer, he says, anything will do, but a nice long-handled spoon is best. “Learn to stir so you don’t break the ice up, and all you do is chill down the drink.” Shaking is for when you want a cocktail to be light and airy because it has bubbles in it; learning to know which recipe works best with either technique is a fundamental place to start. Also of primary importance, he says, is freshness — what he calls “the foundation of what has changed mixology in the U.S.” There’s no substitute for fresh juice, he asserts. “If somebody’s squeezing fresh juice, it’s mind-blowing what happens to flavor of that cocktail as opposed to a mix.”

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Let’s face it: Most New Yorkers use Cinco de Mayo as a (wonderful) excuse to drink margaritas. With the Mexican holiday around the corner, and the best spots to imbibe on the minds of many, let us not forget about tradition, culture and pride — as there are plenty of locals to remind us. “Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Puebla, which is one of my favorite areas in Mexico,” says Sue Torres, chef and owner of Sueños in Chelsea. “And, of course, the food of Puebla is key to the celebrations — reflected in dishes like mole poblano, tamales and quesadillas. It’s a great opportunity to revel in the cultural heritage of the great country of Mexico.” From molé to margs, read on for our picks on where to celebrate this weekend.

Sueños

In celebration of the restaurant’s 10th anniversary, Chef Torres and her team are unveiling, among other items, their first brunch menu and expanded mezcal and tequila selection. Beginning this Saturday, Torres will offer options that include coconut-habanero shrimp tacos (served with grilled corn on the cob, $17) and huevos rancheros (with refried beans, $12). Brunch menu served Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., full dinner menu from 5 p.m.

311 W. 17th St.
212-243-1333
www.suenosnyc.com

Gran Electrica

With a newly opened 50-seat garden overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, a mariachi band and a DJ spinning Latin tunes, the setting is picture perfect for an all-day fiesta. Just add this Dumbo spot’s signature margarita de Remolacha (made with fresh beet juice, Pueblo Viejo blanco tequila, Combier, fresh lime juice and simple syrup) and the full menu, including favorites like chorizo and potato quesadilla ($9).

Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
5 Front St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
718-852 2700
www.granelectrica.com

Empellon

At the West Village Taqueria, the folks at Empellon are offering a Cinco de Mayo menu featuring multiple courses of Alex Stupak’s cuisine and unlimited margaritas, beer and wine. Find it Saturday (dinner only) and Sunday (brunch and dinner), and at the east side Cocina on Sunday for dinner only. Multiple seatings, reservations required.

230 W. Fourth St.,
212-367-0999

105 First Ave.
212-780-0999
www.empellon.com

Rosa Mexicano is hosting a boozy Mexican brunch featuring cocktails like the smoky Mezcal Bloody Maria and the Pasion Picante (1800 silver tequila, passion fruit, fresh lime, ginger and habanero, served in a pitcher). Along with dishes like cinnamon-cascabel chili stuffed French toast and fried eggs and carnitas hash, there will also be a DJ, mariachis, sombreros and, yes, cervezas. Sunday, beginning at noon.

Multiple locations, see www.rosamexicano.com for info.

More Cinco Specials!

Cascabel Taqueria

Both of these uptown taquerias will feature a mariachi band (beginning at 1 p.m. with brunch service), along with handcrafted frozen margaritas ($6), and a special Fiesta Time menu (5 p.m. to midnight). Sunday only.

Cascabel East, 1538 Second Ave., 212-717-8226
Cascabel West, 2799 Broadway, 212-665-1500
www.nyctacos.com

El Café at El Museo del Barrio

Uptown museumgoers can start celebrating early: On Friday and Saturday, guests can sip Micheladas ($6) in the outdoor courtyard at the museum café alongside pan-Latin menu items including Mexican tamales and tostadas.

El Museo del Barrio
1230 Fifth Ave.
212-831-7272
www.elmuseo.org

At Luna Sur Latin Bistro in Hell’s Kitchen, happy hour will last all Sunday night in honor of the holiday. Specials include Tecate ($6), Corona ($4), margaritas and sangritas ($6), along with menu specials from Chef Isaias Ortiz.

802 Ninth Ave.
212-262-1299
www.lunasurnyc.com

Salvation Taco will open its rooftop at noon on Sunday with the start of their $5 Salvation Margarita special (which ends at 4 p.m.) Also on the menu: three al pastor tacos and a can of Modelo Especial for $10, (from 5:30 p.m. until they run out.)

145 E. 39thSt.
212-865-5800
www.salvationtaco.com

In addition to their crispy fish tacos, Tacombi’s new brunch items include chilquiles verdes and huevos rancheros. Top it off with a spiked horchata and it’s a fiesta!

267 Elizabeth St.
917-727-0179
www.tacombi.com

Tequila Park Taqueria

At the brand new park space in the Hudson Hotel, this Cinco de Mayo, from 2 p.m. til sunset, the party is on. On tap: a live performance by City of the Sun and music by Elle Dee. Special menu items include street-style tacos (two for $8), fresh fruit margaritas and a 40+ tequila section.

Hudson Hotel
356 W. 58th St.
212-554-6000
www.tequilaparknyc.com

The Tippler

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the old-timey cocktail den in the subterranean space below Chelsea Market will be transformed into a fiesta – complete with sombreros, luchador masks, capes and a build-your-own margarita bar. Festivities begin Sunday at 4 p.m.

425 W. 15th St. (under OPEN sign)
212- 206-0000
www.thetippler.com

Willow Road chefs Todd MacDonald and Grayson Schmitz are teaming up with La Esquina’s and Gran Electrica’s former chefs to bring a one-night-only Mexican menu to the downtown restaurant. Among the deals: all-you-can-eat fare ($20), all-you-can-drink Labatt Blue ($10), and specialty margaritas ($5). Sunday from 11 p.m.-2 a.m.; no reservations required.

85 10th Ave.
646-484-6566
www.willowroadnyc.com

PLUS: a special offer for Metro readers:

Sprinkles Cupcakes is rolling out a margarita-flavored cupcake – available for a limited time in May. This “adult cupcake” is made with key lime tequila cake, topped with key lime frosting and dusted with salt. This Cinco de Mayo, Sprinkles is offering a buy one get a second cupcake free deal to Metro readers. Mention Metro to the salesperson at Sprinkles and the second cupcake is gratis.

Offer good all day Sunday for the margarita cupcake only.

780 Lexington Ave.
212-207-8375
www.sprinkles.com

The post Where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in NYC appeared first on Metro.us.

Community Board 4 has apparently initiated a midnight curfew on Sundays for Bushwick bars, according to a report from DNAinfo.

The board reportedly issued new liquor licenses with the rule this month for new bars and existing venues renewing their licenses.

The board’s district manager, Nadine Whitted, and the chair of the public safety committee responsible for the rule apparently did not provide comment to explain the decision, but a board member, local artist Deborah Brown, blamed a “dramatic influx” of area bars.

“I can’t go out on my street without seeing one,” Austin Martinez, another resident and board member told DNA. “They’re opening up everywhere.”

Bar owners are apparently criticizing the rule as “weird” and arbitrary.

“It would affect me significantly,” said Jeff Pan, the owner of a cafe and bar called Skytown. “The majority of our alcohol sales occur after midnight.”

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat.

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Bruce Willis admits he used to have a drinking problem, leading to a brief foray into complete sobriety, but he’s past all that now. “I had been sober [for a while],” he tells GQ magazine, explaining that he eased off his personal prohibition “once I realized that I wasn’t going to run myself off the pier of life with alcohol, drinking vodka out of the bottle every day.” As for his current drinking habits? “I have wine now, mostly when I eat,” he says. Of course, Willis is still facing the unstoppable march of time. “Nobody want to hear this bad news, but we’re all dying on some level,” he says. “I’m going to try to keep this machine moving forward as much as possible and not have to think about the eventuality of becoming more frail and less able to do the work. I know that I’m not going into politics. That’s not an option.”

Taylor Swift had more exes on her mind at the Grammys than just Harry Styles, whom she mocked during her performance of “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The lovelorn singer also made a point of avoiding ex-boyfriend John Mayer and his current squeeze, Katy Perry, despite being seated near each other, according to Us Weekly. And as for reports that Grammys organizers were ordered to keep Swift away from rival Carrie Underwood? “Taylor feels Carrie is always rude to her, so she steers clear of her,” a source tells the magazine, pointing out that “after Carrie performed, Taylor didn’t stand. Everyone else did.”

Lady Gaga has postponed her next four concerts because a joint inflammation condition called synovitis has left her unable to walk, she revealed on Twitter. “I’ve been hiding a show injury and chronic pain for sometime now. Over the past month it has worsened,” the singer tweeted. “I’ve been praying it would heal. I hid it from my staff, I didn’t want to disappoint my amazing fans. However, after last night’s performance I could not walk and still can’t.” Makeup dates for the canceled shows — in Chicago, Detroit and Hamilton, Ontario — have yet to be announced.

Steve Martin reportedly became a dad for the first time when his 41-year-old wife, Anne Stringfield, “had a baby” in December, according to the New York Post, but the real story is that the 67-year-old comedian has managed to keep the story under wraps. “How they kept it a secret nobody knows,” a source says. “Steve’s very private. They are thrilled. They worked hard to have the baby.” The pair was recently spotted with a baby in Los Angeles.

When reports went out late last month that Alec Baldwin‘s wife, Hilaria Thomas, is pregnant, his reps shot them down, saying, “When and if they have news they want to share, they will share it.” Well, now they have news they want to share. “My wife is pregnant,” the “30 Rock” star posted to Twitter this week. “To celebrate the announcement, she is teaching yoga.”

The post Gossip: Bruce Willis cops to a former drinking problem appeared first on Metro.us.

Somehow, Lindsay Lohan got pulled into a recent Vanity Fair story about the Church of Scientology auditioning actresses to be Tom Cruise‘s girlfriend before he married Katie Holmes, and Lohan just wants everyone to know she has no idea what the magazine is talking about. “Lindsay met with Tom before he met Katie,” a source tells the Huffington Post. “At first, she was super-excited to work with Tom and thought it was about a role in ‘Mission Impossible.’ It soon became clear that he wasn’t looking for an actress but something very different.” Looking to clear her name, Lohan was quick to take to Twitter to post, “I just want everyone [and Tom Cruise] to know, that I have/had NO part in the VF story — nor has anyone in my life, personal and work-related.”

In news that will likely come as a surprise to no one, actress Amanda Bynes has been charged with two counts of hit-and-run for two separate incidents, according to TMZ. If convicted, Bynes faces up to a year in prison and a $2,000 fine. In both incidents — one in April and one in August — Bynes allegedly fled the scene after striking another car with her car. The actress has long maintained her innocence.

It’s getting tough for folks to keep up with Katy Perry‘s romance with John Mayer. Two weeks ago, the pair was supposedly off when Mayer dumped Perry after a couple of months of “casual dating,” but that doesn’t explain why Perry and Mayer have been spotted together twice in the last week, according to X-17. First, they hit up a Labor Day weekend music festival in downtown L.A., and then just a few days later they were spotted sneaking out of a restaurant after having dinner together. People who have recently broken up don’t usually spend that much time together.

Bradley Cooper says he’s been sober for eight years, staying away from drugs and alcohol after overindulging in his 20s. “I was at a party and deliberately bashed my head on the concrete floor — like, ‘Hey, look how tough I am,’” Cooper remembers from his wilder days. “And I came up, and blood dripped down. And then I did it again. I spent the night at St. Vincent’s Hospital with a sock of ice, waiting for them to stitch me up.” Part of what led to so much reckless behavior, he admits, was worrying about his acting career, which was stalling at the time. “I was so concerned what you thought of me, how I was coming across, how I would survive the day. I always felt like an outsider,” he explains. “I just lived in my head. I realized I wasn’t going to live up to my potential, and that scared the hell out of me. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m actually gonna ruin my life; I’m really gonna ruin it.’”

The post Thursday gossip roundup: Robert Pattinson might need rehab appeared first on Metro.us.

In what doctors are calling a “dangerous new trend,” teenagers are drinking the gelatin substance to get drunk. At first, this story sounded so moronic that we were convinced it was a hoax (like when teenage girls were inserting tampons soaked in vodka), but six teenagers ended up in a Southern California ER with alcohol poisoning from the stuff — so we know at least six teens are stupid enough to do this, in California (big surprise). Not to mention, a quick YouTube search turned up a handful of videos showing kids egging each other on with bottles of hand sanitizer. What happened to keg stands and shot guns?

Hand sanitizer is 62 percent ethyl alcohol and makes a 120-proof liquid, as reported by KTLA. That’s comparable in proof (and taste, probably) to actual hard liquor.

“All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager,” said Cyrus Rangan, director of the toxicology bureau for the L.A. County Public Health Department.

“It is kind of scary that they go to that extent to get a shot of essentially hard liquor,” he added.

Other adjectives we’d use to describe this trend: baffling, preposterous, inconceivable. But alas, cough syrup, vanilla extract, and mouthwash are so passé. Kids these days, right? Always have to be the trend-setters….

The post ‘Let’s get drunk on hand sanitizer,’ say idiotic teenagers appeared first on Metro.us.

Drinking: Alcohol (or drugs, for that matter) on campus or in public might get you expelled or arrested. Be careful not to become intoxicated to the point of getting sick or doing anything stupid. Alcohol poisoning is a potentially life threatening condition, and can result in stupor, seizures, slow and irregular breathing or vomiting. Because the gag reflex is depressed by alcohol, you could aspirate (inhale) anything you vomit while unconscious, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the brain and coma or death.

The effects of alcohol poisoning are unpredictable in any one person, but you need to recognize common signs and symptoms. Anyone who has passed out from drinking could be in danger, as alcohol continues to be absorbed from the stomach long after drinking has ceased. If you suspect someone is in trouble, call 911 to have your unconscious buddy brought to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

If you decide to drink, limit intake to one alcoholic beverage an hour (or less!), don’t drink on an empty stomach (food slows alcohol absorption), and drink a 12-ounce glass of water for every alcoholic beverage. Don’t drive a car, steal stuff, vandalize other people’s property or do anything else that will endanger or draw attention to you and your crew.  Law enforcement is not sympathetic to intoxicated minors. And try not to engage in intimate activity that you’ll later regret while your ability to discriminate is compromised. Broadcasting your bad behavior on the Internet isn’t funny to future employers or graduate school admission officers, either.

Eating: The four basic food groups are not caffeine, nicotine, cholesterol and alcohol. Do your best to eat three square meals a day. Missing breakfast actually promotes weight gain, as your body thinks it’s starving and conserves fat. If you have to grab something on the fly, keeping a supply of fruit, nuts, carrot sticks, yogurts and granola bars is much better than a meal of Cheese Doodles, Snickers and Mountain Dew.

— Mark Melrose, DO, is a board-certified emergency physician at Urgent Care Manhattan. E-mail him your questions at askdrmark@metro.us.

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages.

The post How to stay healthy on campus appeared first on Metro.us.

According to The Telegraph, The University of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council (where else would this study take place??) found that substances in grapes protect skin cells from damage.

Apparently, the flavonoids in the fruit can prevent a chemical reaction that causes cells to die. Before you go splashing your face with pinot grigio, consider this: Marta Cascante, the research project director, says the findings might be helpful in developing skin creams and other products.

“This study supports the idea of using these products to protect the skin from cell damage and death caused by solar radiation, as well as increasing our understanding of the mechanism by which they act,” she told the Telegraph.  

But still, drinking an extra glass might not hurt.

The post Study: Drinking wine could help prevent skin cancer appeared first on Metro.us.

We’ve
had a lot of research since 1993. Binge drinking rates have remained
stable; at the same time, we’ve had a massive increase in programming to
reduce it. The other significant trend is an increase in the number of
abstainers — those that don’t drink at all. But, interestingly, we’ve
also had an increase in frequent binge drinkers.

Sounds like behavior is moving to the extremes.

That’s a good way to put it.

Should campuses be alcohol-free?

I
don’t think it’s possible to eliminate drinking and keep enrollment
where it is. But I don’t think we should anyway. Students wouldn’t be
doing this if there weren’t positives to it. It’s not all negative
outcomes: getting sick, getting arrested and burning couches. There’s a
lot of bonding, mutual affection and social support that emerges from
the drinking scene.

What can colleges do to make drinking safer?
 
For starters, we can definitely do something about the heavy drinking that occurs on 21st birthdays. There’s a sort of cultural mandate to get the birthday boy or girl staggeringly drunk. This is often facilitated by local bars. Colleges should start communicating with these establishments immediately. We also need to institutionalize and strengthen some of the informal social support that’s already there. For instance, we need to teach bystander intervention techniques.

The post Keeping the party fun — and safe appeared first on Metro.us.

“In the first quarter of 2011, it surpassed even reisling in sales,” she says. “And in 2010, it’s gone up 124 percent. By way of comparison, malbecs, which is considered another hot variety in wine, was up only 6.4 percent.”

Gallo attributes their Moscato’s success to the low price point, as well as a younger generation of wine-buyers. “People between the ages of 25 and 43 are discovering it because it’s such a very versatile grape. They are really responding to the tropical notes.” Women also seem to be snapping it up. “It’s lighter and some would say it’s sweeter,” she admits. “But when I serve it to men, they like it too.”

What to pair with Moscato

“It pairs really well with sharp and strong flavors. From an entree standpoint, I love to pair it with something spicy, such as Indian or Thai food. The flavors marry really well,” says Gallo.  “It’s also great with dessert. One of my personal favorite recipes is Moscato with strawberry shortcake. The two really complement each other.”

The post A light wine is coming in strong appeared first on Metro.us.

Philly Beer Week and the With Love Beer Garden
Now in its fourth year, Philly Beer Week features 10 days of tastings, visits from revered brewers, pub crawls, beer dinners and hundreds of daily events (June 3-12). New for 2011, the pop-up With Love Beer Garden, sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), serves as the unofficial headquarters for this year’s festivities. Beer fans can head to the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia’s courtyard each night from 4 – 8 p.m. to mingle with brewers, sample their suds and enjoy light fare. June 6-10; 215- 985-2106, phillybeerweek.org.

Summer Love Ale
A huge success in 2010, GPTMC and Victory Brewing Company will re-release the wildly popular Summer Love Ale this summer. After tripling batches of the golden brew last year, Victory will now distribute the ale in 29 states nationwide. New this year, Summer Love Ale will be available for purchase in bottles, so customers can enjoy the Chester County-brewed beverage at home. victorybeer.com

New Beer Gardens
’Tis the season for dining and drinking outdoors, and two new Fishtown beer gardens allow Philly residents and visitors to do just that. Memphis Taproom recently debuted its much-anticipated beer garden, a picnic table-clad spot serving up gourmet hot dogs and canned beers. Also new to the scene is Stephen Starr’s Frankford Hall, with seating for up to 240 people outside. The space is simple by Starr standards, complete with exposed brick walls, reclaimed materials and ping-pong tables. Classic German foods are available at a walk-up counter, as is a hefty beer menu. Memphis Taproom, 215-425-4460, memphistaproom.com; Frankford Hall, 215-634-3338, frankfordhall.com.

Eat, Drink & Go Foodspotting in Philly
Residents and visitors now have a new way to eat and drink their way through Philly, and that’s by using Foodspotting. On foodspotting.com/visitphilly, users can access a dozen guides created by GPTMC, including the “Beer Lover’s Breweries” guide featuring 10 must-try local beers. Once followers have “spotted” the items in the guide, they receive a customized Visit Philly badge for their profile.

Brewery Tours
Beer buffs can tour a local brewery any time of year to see how water, barley, hops and yeast are combined to make the perfect pint. Most breweries offer tours on Saturdays, and most tours are free. Worth checking out: Yards Brewing Company, Philadelphia Brewing Co. PBC, Victory Brewing Company and Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery. Yards, 215-634-2600, yardsbrewing.com; PBC, 215- 427-BREW, philadelphiabrewing.com; Victory, 610-873-0881, victorybeer.com; Sly Fox, 610-935-4540, slyfoxbeer.com.

The post Philadelphia, the city of brewer-ly love appeared first on Metro.us.

Zardetto Prosecco Brut
At just $10, this fresh, floral prosecco makes an amiable companion to spicy Indian and Thai or a fruit-based dessert. Prosecco is produced mainly in the Veneto region of Italy; adding peach puree yields a pretty and delicious Bellini cocktail.

De Chanceny Brut Cremant De Loire NV
This is a steal at $13, especially consid­er­ing the tiny, tight bubbles (called mousse) and blend of Chenin Blanc, Char­donnay and Caber­net Franc grapes that give this dry sparkler structure and lasting fruit notes.

Chandon Blanc de Noirs
Domaine Chandon was the first French wine-making house to venture into California’s Napa Valley to grow the traditional grapes of Champagne. Blanc de Noirs, meaning “white of darks,” presses red-skinned grapes into pale salmon-colored wine with dark berry flavors ($19).

Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Rose
Rose petals and raspberries shine through this pink bubbly from the Piedmont region of Italy. Ideal for newbies and those who prefer a sweeter wine, $13 scores an ideal aperitif, or an elegant pairing for chocolate dessert.

Ho Ho Shu Hana Rose Sparkling Sake
Travel much farther east than France for this fizzy pink sake, brewed from rice and infused with rose petals and hibiscus. $16; serve chilled with sushi.

The post All celebrations call for a little bubbly appeared first on Metro.us.

10 Downing mixologist Sparks Grassly stirs champagne, gin,
grapefruit juice, bitters and muddled basil for his new creation, the
Middleton Royale, in honor of the royal wedding. Those ingredients, he
says, “evoke the harmony of spring and warm New York nights.” Macao
Trading Co. bartender Dushan Zaric is serving two new cocktails that
he guarantees have “the taste of spring in one sip.” The Cicinho Sour
contains Leblon Cachaca shaken with lime juice, and their No Mames
features tequila shaken with honey liqueur and lime and grapefruit
juices.

But it’s Johnny Swet, owner of Hotel Griffou, who has the
craziest spring fever. Twelve of the 16 cocktails on their revamped
drink menu are new. Their Sweet Pea cocktail — gin, elderflower liquor,
lemon, champagne and a spring pea puree — tastes like spring. “I triple
strain the  peas so it’s like water,” he says. “It’s amazing.”

Tequila everywhere!

Tequila is a popular ingredient on spring drink menus, and nowhere is
this more evident than at Paramount Bar in the lobby of Midtown’s
Paramount Hotel.

The drinks at this intimate Old Hollywood-style bar have some bite,
thanks in large part to entertainment director Senem Sozen’s
predilection for Tanteo Jalapeno tequila. The liquor makes three
appearances on the bar’s new cocktail list, most charmingly in the
coolly refreshing Pepino Diablo (with lime juice, agave nectar and
muddled cucumber). –Nate Jones/Metro

The post New York City has spring cocktail fever appeared first on Metro.us.

Drunken-driving arrests, disorderly conduct and underage drinking are running rampant below Houston Street, officials say.

Since September, more than 1,100 summonses have reportedly been handed out for “quality of life” offenses like carrying open alcohol and disorderly conduct.

“There are always girls hanging out of cabs throwing up,” said resident and artist Johnny Wickson, 23.

But the revelers aren’t just causing problems on the sidewalk — police are also catching them driving drunk.

The number of DWI arrests in the Lower East Side has tripled since last year.  As of March 27, officers busted 65 people for DWI, compared with 23 during last year’s first quarter — the highest in Manhattan, according to the New York Post.

Businesses are also suffering, as popular watering holes Gallery Bar, Los Feliz and Mason Dixon were all closed in the past few months for serving underage patrons.  

Cops are even targeting bouncers, vendors say, closing bars where bouncers allegedly took bribes to let in younger crowds. Gallery Bar owner Josh Boyd, 36, had to fire his entire security staff — and close for six days — after an NYPD bust, which he said cost $40,000 in lost revenue.

“They [the police] put us in the hole for a good two months,” he told Metro.

Meanwhile, locals say the night scene can be wild, but some don’t mind.

“I see mayhem all the time,” said 21-year-old artist Jared Kaminski, but added, “This neighborhood is what it is.”

Follow Emily Anne Epstein on Twitter at @EmilyatMetro.

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Self-proclaimed master alchemist Alex Ott, 37, is unveiling his alleged cure today — aptly called Mercy — at select venues throughout the city, including Juliet Supper Club and Greenhouse.

Mercy — a carbonated, citrus drink made of a blend of amino acids, vitamins and lemongrass — is being marketed as a mixer, meant to be combined with vodka or other spirits.

But doctors are concerned that the drink will harm more than help. “If you take the hangover away, you create a dangerous situation,” cautions Stephen Ross, director of NYU’s Center of Excellence on Addiction. “More people are going to overdose.”

“This would be something that would further encourage college students to binge drink,” adds addiction specialist Arnold Washton.

And New York is a city that loves to drink. Nearly 74,000 people were hospitalized in 2009 for booze-related reasons, compared with just 22,000 in 2003, according to the city’s Health Department.

“This is a wild claim,” said Dr. Steven Park, a Midtown-based surgeon. “People have been coming up with cures for decades; they better have a money-back guarantee.”

Follow Emily Anne Epstein on Twitter at @EmilyatMetro.

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“We’re trying to make this a big craft-brew hub, to make it a destination for people to come from out of state,” says Rich Sobotka, brewmaster at Great South Bay Brewery in Bay Shore. Sobotka and his team are currently at work assembling a 30-barrel brew house (slated to open in April) to replace their current one-barrel system, but there’s no need to wait to get a firsthand look.

Blue Point Brewery opened in 1999, and until recently was the only microbrewery in Long Island. Blue Point co-founder and brewmaster Mark Burford suggests stopping by on Saturdays for a tour and  trying their new Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, a dark beer.

Blue Point, however, is no longer the only game in town, as new breweries like Barrier Brewing, Greenport Harbor Brewing and Long Ireland Beer have sprung up over the last few years. Both Barrier and Greenport Harbor welcome visitors to stop by on the weekend for a tour and tasting. Additionally, brewpubs like Black Forest Brew Haus in Farmingdale and Brick House Brewery in Patchogua are restaurants that brew their own brands on premise.

Burford doesn’t look at the new breweries as competitors, but as partners in raising awareness of craft beer. “We’re certainly happy to blaze the trail for everybody coming up behind us,” he says.

What to expect on a tour of the Blue Point Brewery

Visit the tasting room, where you can try 17 brews for free or buy a half-gallon growler to go (they even have beers not yet commercially available). It’s open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Breweries

Blue Point Brewery
Tasting room: Thursdays and Fridays, 3-7 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-7 p.m.
161 River Ave., Patchouge
631-475-6944

Barrier Brewing Company
Growler fills and tours: Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.
3595 Lawson Blvd., Unit E, Oceanside
516-316-4429

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
Tasting room: Friday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
234 Carpenter St.,Greenport
631-477-6681

Brewpubs

Black Forest Brew Haus
2015 New Highway, Farmingdale
631-391-9500

The Brick House
Brewery
67 W. Main St., Patchogue
631-447-2337

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The blog, which trawls through the data of thousands of its users, says beer-lovers are 60 percent  more likely to be okay with sleeping with someone on the first date.

Only 40 percent of all women said they would consider having sex on a first date — but that figure went up to nearly 70 per cent when the beer question was included. 

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Southampton Town police arrested three intoxicated motorists within a little more than an hour shortly after the start of 2011. The drivers were stopped after being seen tailgating, driving without lights, and making a wrong turn.

Nassau County police tallied 40 arrests between 9 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 8 a.m. on Jan. 3. Suffolk County police reported 31 from 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 3.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department stopped 400 drivers at their checkpoints, and arrested six for DWI. “It wasn’t exceedingly busy. That was somewhat encouraging,” said Chief of Staff Michael Sharkey. “[But] every one is bad enough.”

Sharkey said authorities would maintain active DWI patrols, but stressed the holiday required extra attention due to the high number of social events and people indulging.

State police numbers were not available yesterday.

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