In an effort to bring a vibrant sense of togetherness to our community… we hosted a Virtual Happy Hour last night on ZOOM!
During these strange & uncertain days, we feel that our community is longing for a sense of togetherness. While our favorite bars and restaurants are closed for gatherings, and local musicians are unable to bring the joy of live performances to our lives, and it has become increasingly difficult to socialize and connect with our friends, family & neighbors. We wanted to help fill that void…
The idea of our Virtual Happy Hour was simple— we brought everything that we love about The 203’s Bar and Restaurant Scene (Cocktails, food, live music & socializing) to our followers… virtually!
The event started at 5:15 with a fun, witty acoustic jam session by local musician, Hewitt Gaynor. He opened with his lighthearted new ‘parody style’ song, called ‘COVID-19 Blues’. You can see the recording of this song on our latest instagram post!
Next, we transitioned to a one of a kind cocktail demonstration led by Jesup Hall’s head bartender’s, Branden. He kept viewers entertained with a lesson on how to create gourmet ‘bar-quality’ cocktails from home, using One Part’s infusion blends. *You can find both of the recipes below. *You can also use the code CHEERS203 on our site to get a FREE sample of the infusion blends with all orders (while supplies last).
After the cocktails, one of our favorite locally loved chefs, Bill Taibe, of Jesup Hall, Kawa Ni and The Whelk, provided an energetic one-of-a-kind cooking demonstration for our guests. This segment was filmed live from Jesup Hall and included a behind the scenes ‘sneak peak’ of the kitchen. Bill joked that he chose healthy meals for the demonstration, because we all likely need a bit more veggies in our quarantined diets (and he’s not wrong). In classic Jesup Hall fashion, each of the dishes were unique, full of flavor, sourced from this season’s freshest produce, and all had their own ‘Bill Taibe’ spin. The dishes included a beat salad and a cauliflower creation that had our mouths watering and all the local foodies swooning. (Personally, we will be trying the cauliflower recipe this weekend.. that’s for sure!)
Our Happy Hour continued with one of the strongest elements of togetherness-- an epic live concert from a few of The 203’s favorite local musicians!
Fist, we heard vibrant rock-folk jams from local legend and lead singer of The Alpaca Gnomes, Benny Mikula. He played a mix of original songs (including the ultimate crowd pleaser, Honey) and a few covers. He had the crowd mesmerized by talent and many of his fans were singing along the entire time! **Benny was even rocking a 203 tee for the concert** For more information on Benny Miklua click HERE. To find Benny on Instagram Click HERE.
Next up was a captivating performance by the local pop rock musician, Drew Angus. He had the audience dancing, humming and singing along (virtually) as he played feel good cover songs. Drew filled the room with his energy and has us all blown away by his talent. He even offered up fun suggestion to the crowd— the idea of hiring him for a “drive by concert” in the back yard or driveway, or even for virtual custom ‘Mother’s Day Jingle’! Anyone looking to get in touch with Drew can get in contact HERE. To follow Drew on Instagram click HERE!
Our Happy Hour ended with a second round of music from our best friend, Hewitt Gaynor. This time, we put him on the spot & asked him to play a final song (or 2!) while guests were leaving the 'virtual room'. This was such a hit that most of the guests stayed and continue to listen to the music!
This Virtual Happy Hour was unlike any event that we have hosted or been apart of in the past- Yet, it truly was one of our favorites. We are used to ‘popping up shop’, hosting bar takeovers, and interacting with all of you on a weekly basis. During these strange days, it has become increasingly difficult for us to adjust to this ‘new normal’. We have been longing to socialize and connect with the community, and based on the turnout last night we know that we are not the only ones who feel that way! Thank you all for helping us create an unforgettable hour of happy, light hearted, fun and for bringing energy into the community!
TO SEE VIDEOS and behind the scenes from the event-- head to OUR INSTAGRAM page! We've created a saved story highlighting the entire event! :)
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