One of the most acclaimed movies ever, was made under some of the worst conditions ever. Produced in France amid WWII, "Children of Paradise" made it to American cinemas in November 1945.
A History Lesson With Booze ®
The Sistine Chapel’s Unwilling Artist
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel might be Michelangelo's most iconic masterpiece, but when he was first offered the commission, he absolutely did not want the job. Learn all about it, and a fortifying drink to serve with it.
Cooking’s New Wave: Microwaves Arrive
In the autumn of 1939, a device was invented that changed the world's kitchens. Maybe not for the better, but certainly for the faster.
Foul Play at Wrigley Field, and a Drink You’ll Love to Hate
On October 14th, 2003 one of the most infamous errors in baseball history took place. And it wasn't made by a player.
The Eerie End of Edgar Allan Poe’s Own Story
This week back in 1849, the great gothic horror writer Edgar Allan Poe headed off on his last business trip. What happened after that remains a mystery... except for the fact that he died. Concoct your own theories after sipping an appropriately dark cocktail from Baltimore's Poe-themed bar.
Inventing the Typewriter (and Beginning the ‘Hunt-and-Peck’)
Christopher Latham Sholes' "literary piano" led to the 1868 invention of the typewriter -- and, along with it, the QWERTY keyboard layout. Learn about some of the quirks of Sholes' device, and then try to type the alphabet while drinking this cocktail.
A Not-So-Random Lottery – With Serious Consequences
In 1969, a draft lottery was instituted to send young American men to war. Due to an unfortunate glitch in the government's system, it turned out not to be as fair as they planned.
Telephone Switchboards Get Their First Female Voice
Telegraph offices were staffed by young boys - but as telephone operators... they were less than a perfect fit. So in 1878, the first woman became an operator, and changed the face - and voice - of an industry.
The Birth of Swing and the Hep Benny
When Benny Goodman first played swing music, audiences threw bottles at him. We celebrate the moment the crowd came around by getting out some bottles of our own - to make a cocktail.
The Daguerreotype’s Moment in the Sun
In the 1830s, French artist-chemist-inventor Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre developed the Daguerreotype, a major advancement toward modern photography.