Around this time back in 1972, Bernice Gera became the first female umpire in pro baseball history...and then immediately resigned. Learn why she took herself out of the ballgame, then steal home to mix an All-American cocktail.
drinks
The Messy Mystery of Sloppy Joe History
Dive deep into the complicated origin of the sloppy sandwich, which involves one of the greatest literary figures in history. Then wash it down with a tart drink.
From Genoa to Nimes: The Brief History of Jeans
This week back in 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis landed a patent for what may be the best-known item of clothing ever -- denim jeans. Learn about the surprisingly international history of All-American blue jean, then salute your shorts with a custom cocktail.
Twister’s Tangled Origin Tale
Around this time in 1966, two guys in the Twin Cities dreamt up a party game that had people falling all over each other. Connect the dots in the history of Twister, then gingerly sip on a colorful drink.
The ‘Macbeth’ Rivalry That Inspired a Riot
Around this week back in 1849, New Yorkers rioted... over Shakespearean acting. Seriously. Learn about the ruckus, then smash down a custom, era-appropriate cocktail.
The Mystery Behind Beethoven’s Famous Piece, ‘Für Elise’
The origins of the classic tune, butchered daily by novice pianists everywhere, is a bit of an enigma and may have been created out of heartbreak.
Opening Pandora’s Inbox: The Birth of Spam
Back in 1994, two Phoenix-area lawyers hit upon a new way to advertise their legal services: auto-send thousands of emails to chat groups. Hear about their recipe for spam, and then check your inbox for a custom cocktail.
The Biggest Heist in U.S. Art History, Still a Mystery
Find out about the most costly property theft in US history: the 1990 Isabella Gardner Museum art heist in Boston. Our bartender -- himself a former art guard -- mixes up a drink that's laced with bitterness.
Picking Through the Story of a Historical Brainstorm
The story of a clever businessman mass-produced toothpicks and popularized them using intimidation tactics that, remarkably, had nothing to do with shaming people for food caught in their teeth.
History Throw-back: How Frisbee Came to Be
in 1957, the Wham-O Toy Company bought the rights to an invention which would become its most famous product, the Frisbee. You might say the invention was easy as pie. Or a piece of cake. Or both, really.