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CHEERS!
Arizona Cocktail Week-End moves to Phoenix
Arizona’s biggest and brightest salute to spirits and the local cocktail culture is back for its seventh year with some major changes. Arizona Cocktail Week-End, formerly Arizona Cocktail Week, is shaking up its format by squeezing in all of fun from previous years – along with some new surprises – into 72 hours over Presidents’ Day Weekend. In addition, all of the major festivities surrounding the event will now take place in Downtown Phoenix. The move from Scottsdale to Downtown is meant to create a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly event lineup, while showcasing the area’s red-hot cocktail scene and exciting new venues. As in year’s past, Arizona Cocktail Week-End will kick off with a big, opening night party. But, as with the rest of the event, it has a wholly new look, location and feel. “The 2018 Arizona Cocktail Week-End kicks off on Saturday, February 17 with The Cocktail Jam,” says Arizona Cocktail WeekEnd co-founder, Damon Scott. “Hosted at Downtown’s hottest new music hall, The Van Buren, The Cocktail Jam will pair trending spirit brands and amazingly crafted cocktails with live music by the Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra to create a one-of-a-kind experience in the Valley.” According to Scott, the festivities will then go full steam ahead the rest of the long weekend. Top Bars, the annual showcase of pop-up versions of the hottest local, regional, national and even global bars, is back on Feb. 18 and will be hosted by The Croft, a historic warehouse in Downtown Phoenix that has been transformed into a hip music venue. Previous Top Bars participants include a who’s who list of iconic and award-winning mixology hotspots such as Singapore’s The Manhattan Bar, London’s The Savoy, and New York City’s The Dead Rabbit. The cost to attend this event starts at $40 in advance. Furthermore, starting Saturday, Feb. 17 through Monday, Feb. 19, the top lounges, bars and restaurants across Downtown will be hosting AZCW events, dinners and
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY LISA OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
exclusive cocktail tastings. Just some of the venues with tastings, dinners and special events in the works include: Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour; Blue Hound & Luster Rooftop Pool Bar; Chico Malo; Nook Kitchen; The Arrogant Butcher; The Breadfruit & Rum Bar; and Bar Bianco. “Most importantly, the Arizona Cocktail Week-End is also dedicated to giving back to the local community, including its own 501(c3) charity, The Jupiter Foundation, which is focused on providing a safety net for all industry professionals, including assisting with medical bills or helping in time of need when they have no other options available,” Scott says. “We’ve also partnered with the Local First Arizona Foundation and Child Crisis Arizona, two local organizations that are helping to make our Valley a safer, healthier and more prosperous better place.”
IF YOU GO… What: Arizona Cocktail Week-End When: Feb. 17 to Feb. 19 Where: Downtown Phoenix (multiple venues) Tickets: Starting at $40 Information: www.arizonacocktailweek.com
Uptown February '18
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