The Holidays Are Going To Be Nuts!

Tomorrow's episode will show you many ways to cope with the nuttiness of the holiday season, but here are a few cocktails from the booklet Create Intrigue...Taste The Possibilities, from Frangelico, the hazelnut liqueur of which I'm a big fan, to get the party started! I expect to taste the possibilities many times over the holiday season! Who's ready for a cocktail?

Taking Positive Action

This is not a page for politics. However, I feel a tremendous need to take positive action today. There are some things I've been meaning to do and I may have just had the kick in the pants I needed to get moving.

First of all, I've long wanted to expand the charitable component of what we do. Last year we raised money for AIDS Walk New York by creating cocktails for our sponsors. If you sponsored us for $100 or more you got to choose the theme of one of our episodes. I definitely anticipate doing that again next year, but that's still months off. Right now it's time to donate to another of our pet charities, Toys For Tots. If you're interested, here's the link. I'm also looking into charities that seek to end hunger, particularly in children. I'm still researching how this could work in terms of getting the show involved, but just writing about it here is a step.

I'm also working on ways to grow our audience. There is a world out there that really needs a drink right now and I'm determined to give it to them.

Finally, I'm planning to sign up for self-defense classes. Grab my you-know-what at your peril. I just hope Paul is there with the camera when someone tries.

AIDS Walk New York 2016

Election Night Punches, 1970s Style

We'll be shooting three "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episodes here tonight, so our lovely libations will take care of themselves. However, if you're looking for something to take the edge off of election night, here are a few punches from Anchor Hocking's 1970s (no date, but I'm going to confidently say "bicentennial era") pamphlet, Americana Punch Recipes. I'm even including one with no alcohol, just in case you feel like showing up for work tomorrow!

I'd go with the Liberty Bell Bracer or Log Cabin Cooler. They're the booziest!

How long does it take to create an episode?

We're often asked how long it takes to create a "Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en" episode from start to finish. Sometimes people are surprised to learn that it's not just three or so minutes, since that's what you see on the screen! The answer is, it varies tremendously. On the short end it might be a couple of days. Currently, we have one in process that we've been working on since summer (and I'm determined to finish it this year)! Most fall somewhere in between.

Every episode starts with an idea. I'm not ashamed to say that some of those ideas are pretty mediocre and get tossed! Once we have a good idea, the recipe testing begins. Depending on how quickly we need to get that particular episode online, this could take from a day or two to a month or more. Once we have the recipes, I write the episode (which typically takes an hour or so), then a day or so later I shoot the food shots and our green screen backgrounds, if we're using them.

Floating cheese doodles. I was proud of my makeshift doodle mobile!

Green screen background for our Nightmare Before Christmas episode. You should have seen my "tripod!" :D

If there are any special costumes to be made, I typically make those a day or two before we shoot, though I've been known to make hair accessories minutes before!

An offering from the costume closet

If we're shooting at home, it takes about three hours to get ready to shoot an episode, between setting up lights, arranging the ingredients for drinks and the bar top, makeup and hair, etc. It takes a lot of makeup to look like you're only marginally made up!

Shooting at a location can either increase or lessen our shooting time, depending on a number of factors, like how long it takes to get there, what we're using for equipment and so forth. If we're just using our portable light or available light, we can actually be pretty quick if we need to.

On location at Otto's Shrunken Head

Once the shooting is done, Paul dons his editor hat and takes the reins. He often, though not always, edits the episodes on his train commute!

I guess my performance didn't keep him awake that day!

Once it's edited and we're both happy with it, it's time to upload to YouTube, Facebook, REVRY, Instagram and anyplace and everyplace else! I maintain our website, which is the last step in the process. You can find all of our recipes there!

That's the process in a nutshell! We're always open to episode ideas, cocktail suggestions and anything else you'd like us to cover on the show, so be sure to let us know what you'd like to see!

FOOD Exhibition at the Smithsonian

We just returned from a weekend in Washington, DC, where we attended the Smithsonian's Food History Weekend and saw, among other fabulous exhibits, the FOOD: Transforming The American Table 1950 - 2000 exhibition. If you have any interest in mid-century American culture, particularly food and drink, do try to get to the National Museum of American History for this fabulous experience! Besides being greeted by Julia Child's intact kitchen, which you can view from many angles, there is everything from a Trader Vic's cookbook and tiki mugs to the first frozen margarita machine to Cheez Whiz! Here are a few of my favorite photos. Admission to the museum is free. While you're there, don't forget to check out Dorothy's ruby slippers, Archie Bunker's chair and the "The Star Spangled Banner" - the flag that inspired the national anthem!

7-Eleven ad: Leave The Youngsters In The Car? I don't think you could do that today and not get arrested!

What will they think of next?

Fast Cheese

Cooking with Fritos

World's First Frozen Margarita Machine, from Mariano's Mexican Cuisine in Dallas, 1971

I think this speaks for itself!

Tiki at the Smithsonian!

Cocktails for Coping: Laurice's Choices

Yesterday we asked what everyone is drinking to cope with election anxiety and, as I expected, we got some fabulous responses! Laurice even got us some shots of her choices, so, without further ado, here are two easy cocktails for coping!

Kamikaze

1 1/2 oz vodka

3/4 oz orange liqueur (Laurice has gone with Cointreau - nice choice!)

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass!

Black Russian

2 oz vodka

1 oz coffee liqueur

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass or do like Laurice and serve on the rocks.

Thanks, Laurice! Now, what are you drinking?

What are you drinking to cope?

We received a message from our very sweet friend Michael a couple of days ago, who said that he had voted earlier that day and had prepared himself a  Bombay gin and tonic with pink grapefruit juice to help wash away the sourness and bitterness that has come with this particular election. It got me wondering what everyone else is drinking to cope? Judging from the crowds I've been seeing in the liquor stores lately, people are drowning their sorrows. If you're among those folks, please let us know what you're imbibing in the days leading up to the election. Snap a photo and we'll feature it here! We could even create a cocktail guide! It would be a public service.

A patriotic pink grapefruit gin and tonic