It’s Post Time and Party Time in NYC!
As New Yorkers, we may be pretty far from Churchill Downs, but we sure know how to party and will use any excuse to get dressed up and have a good time, and the Kentucky Derby is the perfect excuse.
Before we get into party mode though, we have to start with a little history lesson for those uninitiated to the sport. The Kentucky Derby is a horse race and the first leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes (our local race!). It’s held the first Saturday in May in Louisville, Kentucky and is a 1.25 mile race that’s often referred to as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports.” If you hear someone talking about “The Run for the Roses” this week, they’re talking about the Derby (the winner of the race is draped in a blanket of roses). Of the 3 Triple Crown races, the Derby is the only race to have been run every consecutive year since it’s inception in 1875. To win the Triple Crown Trophy, a horse must win all 3 races, and only 11 horses have done so in the history of the competition.
Now that you’re a Derby expert, you’re probably ready for the fun stuff and are wondering how to actually go about celebrating the event in NYC. If you’re like me, you’re lucky enough to have a friend who’s big into horse racing and has an annual event to celebrate the Derby. As with years past, this years Derby party will be held at The Mad Hatter in Murray Hill, and the dress is “Traditional Derby Attire”, think spring dresses, pastels, blazers, hats, fascinators, etc. Mint Juleps, the official drink of the Derby, will be on special, and commemorative beer koozies will be available.
The Kentucky Derby
If you don’t have a party already on the books, the city always provides. There are a number of establishments in our fine city that are prepping for some Kentucky Derby shenanigans. Pork Slope in Park Slope will be showing the Derby on 4 flat-screen TV’s and providing their own take on the Derby’s favorite cocktail with Mint Julep Slushies from Kelvin Natural Slush Co. The always classy Maison Premiere in Williamsburg will be offering 6 different takes on the Julep, including one that’s champagne based with an oyster-stout reduction and a jazz band and competition for best dressed. Named after the birth place of bourbon (and covered in giant horse paintings), new Gramercy restaurant Maysville will be throwing a quintessential Kentucky Derby party replete with a broadcast of the race and strong @$$ Mint Juleps. If you’re looking for a posh party experience, Tipsy Parson in Chelsea is throwing its annual party, tickets are steep at $150 but include an open bar and southern delicacies as well as a gift bag, photo booth, and live bluegrass band.
The Mint Julep
If you’re still unclear on what to wear when you head out to celebrate the Derby, just remember, floral dresses, blazers, pastels, big hats.
Kentucky Derby Attire
There are plenty of places to celebrate the Derby in NYC, with my friends and I in Murray Hill or at any of the other great locations listed above, and if you plan to celebrate the only things to remember are, dress to the nines, bring friends, and drink a lot of Juleps.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Fashion, Food, New York City Events, Public Relations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
