Following a two-year hiatus, approximately 3,000 people were more-than-ready to experience the CWE’s 5th Cocktail Party on Saturday, June 11. The event has its origins in the discovery that a CWE resident, Clara Walsh, is on record as hosting the 1st-ever cocktail party in her Lindell Blvd. mansion 100 years ago.
According to proprietors of some neighborhood businesses, eager party-goers were stopping in early to shop long before they headed over to the event on Euclid, which was closed to traffic between McPherson and Maryland.
As in years past, the crowd included a mix of generations—parents with young children, new neighbors, couples of all ages, and groups of friends out to experience what has been described as “the best street party in town.”
One of the highlights of the evening was the cocktail contest where contestants use ingredients on hand to concoct the “best cocktail,” which was sampled and judged by volunteers shown seated at cocktail tables below.
For the first time, the contestants included a neighborhood resident, Eric Selig. Others competing for the title were Brennan’s Brandon Berkel, Salt & Smoke’s Parker Geisendorfer, Up Down’s Howie Howard, Patty Long Catering’s Katie Hoy, Edera/Brennan’s Megan Johnson, and The Bourbonaire’s Monica Morey.
Judged the “Best” was a drink concocted by Parker Geisendorfer from Salt & Smoke.
Businesses that were also mixing drinks included Salt + Smoke,
Brennan’s, Drunken Fish, The Vino Gallery, Patty Long Catering, Up Down, Taste of Lebanon and El Burro Loco.
A trio of aerial performers, Alexis, Lily and Ashley, drew rapt observers.
Musical entertainment featured Hillary Fitz and the Service, and Mo Egeston All Stars with special guest Coco Soul on the Main Stage. The South Stage featured Nick Pence at 5 and The Kullus at 8 p.m.
Thanks to the CWE North Community Improvement District’s Board of Commissioners and Executive Director Kate Haher and her team for continuing this great tradition.