Tag: wine

Season 3, Special Events

Episode 062 | St. Augustine Craft Brewers’ Festival

The Boozy Blondes

On May 4, 2024, the St. Augustine Craft Brewers’ Festival celebrated its 5th Anniversary at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, Florida! This is basically a Boozy Blonde’s playground and the girls recap the event in this episode so you can plan for the 2025 fest!

The DOE is Dog Rose Brewing Lions Head Honey Sour which is very appropriate since Dog Rose owner Courtney Murr is the festival director! Lions Head Honey Sour (5.2%) is a Boozy Blondes favorite, and you can hear more about this beer and Dog Rose Brewing Co. in Episode 003!

The festival offers three different ticket types: General Admission, VIP and Designated Driver:

  1. General: (850)available, 1pm entry time, access to food trucks, live music and unlimited tastings – tasting glass provided by Ice Mule Coolers
  2. VIP: (100) available, get you early entry (12pm), private bathrooms, an air-conditioned pavilion and catering provided by Meehan’s Irish Pub, a local favorite. You get guaranteed parking and a private beer station plus access to everything listed in general admission ticket description.
  3. Designated Driver tickets: all proceeds benefit Epic Behavioral Healthcare, a non-profit specializing in the prevention and treatment of substance use and mental health disorders

There were almost 30 breweries on site at this event! The girls grabbed their tasting glass and tasting glass necklace (courtesy of Fishardy Fishing Carters) and took off running towards the closest brewery. They almost hit them all!

Dog Rose Brewing Co | hear Chrissy interview owner Courtney Murr in this episode who is also the Festival Director! Dog Rose is located in St. Augustine, Florida.

The Brewery at Jack’s | It’s the first St. Augustine Beach brewery!

Ancient City Brewing | Another hometown brewery with two locations – one downtown and one over by the St. Augustine outlets. You can hear more about Ancient City in Episode 003.

Ruby Beach Brewing | Located in downtown Jacksonville, the girls stopped here before a Jags game in 2023.

Hourglass Brewing | The girls interviewed Ashley aka FloridaHopMama in Season 2, and she gifted them a collaboration beer from here Episode 029. At the festival, Chrissy drank Macro-Dose and it was 19.2%! Molly had the Margs on Deck – a crushable summer gose with black sea salt, coriander, lime and blue agave nectar (6.4%).

Pareidolia Brewing | The blondes were so excited to meet owners Pete and Lynn! This brewery is located in Sebastian, Florida, so about 2 hours south of St. Augustine, and the girls recap their visit in Episode 020. At the festival Molly tried the Citra Surfer, Citra forward juicy IPA with notes of grapefruit and Chrissy had the Don’t Be Blue…Berry a 5.3% wheat beer, with blueberries obviously.

Cask | Cask was there – Cowford Ale Sharing Klub. This is a group open to all who are of legal drinking age and who wish to learn and share information about home brewing. They have monthly meetings at local breweries to share and sample their homebrews and even host their own competitions. The girls met some of the members at the Palatka Beer Fest in November 2023.

Bandwagon Brewing Co | Bandwagon came down from GA to attend the festival!

Cueni Brewing Co | Cueni is in Dunedin, Florida, and if you visit their taproom, you’ll see they have the best flight boards!

Fishweir Brewing Company | The girls love Fishweir. They stopped there on their first leg of the Jax Ale Trail (Episode 006)! Molly drank the Kush Terpene Hazy (with no THC) and Chrissy enjoyed the Gatorade Seltzer.

King Maker Brewing | Located in downtown Jacksonville, they were pouring High & Dry (5% dry cider), 100 Cursing Parrots (7.2% Cold IPA collab with Something in the Water Brewing out of Toronto!), 1913 (5% Czech dark lager) and The Wasserboy (5% Kolsch).

Reve Brewing Co | Reve is another Jacksonville brewery, and at the festival the blondes met the owner Eric who is also a brewer and Mike, another brewer and his wife Jennifer. They brought two beers to the festival: Light Into Ashes (6.2% hazy IPA) and Far Side of Fantasy (6% sour with cherry, lime and lactose).

Alcatraz Brewing | The girls were too late to sample their beer! So sad. They sold out quickly – another reason to get the VIP tickets. That extra hour really helps to give you a jump on all the tastings.

Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co | The girls visited Ivanhoe in Orlando, Florida, not too long ago – October 2023 and loved it! At the festival they came armed with four beers – Joyland (7% American IPA), Park Hopp’r, a 5% pilsner, Halftoberfest, a 5.42% Vienna lager and Guavacation, a 4% berliner weisse beer with guava and raspberry.

First Magnitude Brewing Co | The girls both had the Anastasia Sour here – it had the prettiest can! It was a sour beer with raspberry, hibiscus and vanilla. First Magnitude is out of Gainesville, Florida.

Walking Tree Brewing | Walking Tree is out of Vero Beach, FL, and they brought WTB IPA (7.1%), Landing Strip Lager (4.5%) and Maple Praline Brown (7%).

Old Coast Ales | This is another St. Augustine brewery you can hear more about in Episode 003. The girls love hanging out here and love Osprey Tacos next door too!

Bog Brewing Co | And Bog was also there rounding out the St. Augustine breweries! You can hear more about Bog in Episode 003.

3 Mavins Brewing | They are based out of South Florida and use simple clean ingredients in their beer like honey, agave nectar and maple syrup. They brought their Amber Lager (6.2%), Encore Session IPA (4.7%) and the Pink Lady (5.5% pale ale).

St. Augustine Home Brewers Club | This group was back passing out beers in the backyard! The blondes saw them at the Palatka Beer Fest in November as well.

Southern Swells Brewing Co | The girls visited Southern Swells on leg 3 of the Jax Ale Trail and you can hear all the details about this brewery in Episode 050!

Southern Philosophy Brewing Co | The Boozy Blondes really connected with Gallagher and Nicole at Southern Philosophy. They are located in western Georgia, and the girls really wish they were closer! They brought four beers with them: The Lagoon (4.1% lactose free sour conditioned on coconut with pineapple, clue curacao, Sicilian lemon, lime and tangerine puree), Cinco de Mustache (5.5% Mexican lager), Chipotle Smoked Porter (6.5%) and Sowega Honey Haze (8.3% IPA).

INK Factory | Another favorite of ours – you can hear all about Ink Factory in Episode 050 Jax Ale Trail Volume 3, including the amazing burger from Hard Pressed that was on site when we went. They had two beers at the festival – Surfadelic, a hazy pale ale and Triple Whip Volume 7, a smoothie sour with pineapple, mango, key lime and white chocolate!

Azalea City | Another Boozy Blondes favorite, out of Palatka, Florida. Molly had one of her faves, Fresh Squeeze Hazy IPA, and Chrissy had the Irish Coffee Stout. You can hear from Azalea City’s owner Andrea Canover in a behind the scenes interview Episode 035.

Dees Brothers Brewery | The girls were so excited to see Dees Brothers at the festival! They are located in Sanford, Florida, and the girls had just been there a couple weeks before the festival for Sanford’s Mini Masters event. And you can hear bout Dees Brothers in Episode 034 Sanford Breweries and Bars). Dees Brothers is a great brewery with amazing beer and equally amazing food. They brought Thunder & Lightning (7% American IPA), Dees Bier (5.6% Hefeweizen), Lakeside Pilsner (5.2% Czech style pilsner) and Aquadnauts (10% Belgian-style Quad).

De Bine Brewing Co | The blondes loved Zak. Zak is the head brewer and operations manager and De Bine which is located in Palm Harbor, Florida. They brought four beers with them: Safety Glasses (5% hazy IPA), Czechered Past (5.1% pilsner), Fire the Cannons (5.4% Red Ale) and Wappy Sprayberry (Mixed Berry Wheat 6-ish%).

Bold City Brewery | This brewery is in downtown Jacksonville, and brought great beer – Beer Bong Pilsner (4.4%), Jowl Blaster Fruited Sour (6%), Bold City IPA (7%), and Right on Rosselle (6% hazy IPA).

Aardwolf Brewing Co | Aardwolf is another downtown Jacksonville brewery! They brought some Star Wars themed beers with them for the event – Princess Leia Cake (vanilla and lemon hazy IPA), The Power of the Darkside (Empire stout with coconut, banana and peanut butter), C3Pilso (just beer) and This is the Way (pistachio coconut sour).

Wulfhaven Brewing Co | Wulfhaven is out of Tampa, and the girls met Joseph and Veronica. Joseph started the brewery with his dad and Veronica is the General Manager. They brought Leaning Tower of Pilsner (5.4% pilsner), Par-Tee in Paradise (6% IPA), Amaiz’n (5% Mexican Lager) and Spring Fling (5.5% Florida White Ale).

Whew! Be sure to start looking for tickets in March 2025. This beer festival lives up to the hype. It’s in a beautiful location and hosts A TON of amazing breweries serving up great craft brews! Don’t miss it!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 061 | New Orleans, Part 3 – Hidden Gems

The Boozy Blondes

The Boozy Blondes are still taking you through one of their favorite cities, New Orleans, and this week they are sharing some hidden gems in the city. While some may be more popular now, if you find yourself off of Bourbon Street, you can dive into the Crescent City culture and take in the “locals” experience.

For the DOE, the girls chose Happy Thursday, a fizz-free spiked refresher with a variety of flavors like Black Cherry and Mango Passionfruit. At just 4.4% they are crushable choice, especially on a warm day – or a day talking about the hot and humid Big Easy!

To start this journey the girls begin at one hole-iest of hole in the walls they can think of: Coop’s Place. Coop’s Place in the heart of the French Quarter on Decatur Street. This 1983 staple hasn’t updated much since they opened and their slogan is “Where the not-so-elite meet to eat.” It’s a fantastic no-frills watering hole with down home prices where you can experience the true taste of New Orleans while sucking down an ice cold beer straight from the bottle. When you visit, be sure to go all in with the sampler platter. But definitely bring some tissues along, because it’s so spicey, your eyes and nose will most definitely be leaking!

From here, the blondes take you to one of their all time faves, Bacchanal’s Wine Bar. This place is definitely one of a kind. It’s part wine cellar, part grocery store, part restaurant, part jazz club and part backyard party. It’s known for its charcuterie boards, and you can browse the huge selection of wine, then take a bottle with you to the courtyard tables where you can enjoy the live music. They also have a treehouse bar that serves some pretty great cocktails.

Bacchanal is strictly 21 and up, and they don’t do reservations. They have Happy Hour and free wine tastings on certain days of the week, they also offer a wine club, gift cards, and a full menu for dine in or take out, plus they have live music every day. Be sure to follow them to keep up with all the great happenings at this (not so much anymore) hidden gem.

Apple Barrel Bar is up next on the list, the smallest bar in New Orleans! Don’t let that fool you. They know how to pack in big fun. Located below the beloved Adolfo’s Restaurant in one of Frenchmen Street’s historic buildings, restaurant owners Adolfo and Kim had their first date at Apple Barrel in 1990. The bar still holds true to their vintage 90s charm with classic cocktails, cold beer and great bands. The girls have a great time every time they venture in!

Apple Barrel is 21 and up only, and cash only. Remember that – cash only! They have live music 7 nights a week and you can check out the band schedule on their website.

Pro tip…if you go Thursday thru Monday, you can hit up the Frenchman Street Art Market next door to Apple Barrel.

No trip to New Orleans is complete for the Boozy Blondes without paying their respects at a favorite local haunt (literally), Laffite’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. This bar is located on the corner of Bourbon & St. Philips in the French Quarter. Named after the famed privateer turned pirate, Jean Laffite who may have once hid out here, the establishment is one of the oldest buildings used as a bar in the United States, dating all the way back to 1722!

Today you can find a full liquor bar and lively atmosphere in the dimly lit historic space that transports you back in time. With indoor and outdoor seating, and late night piano music, this bar is a must stop on our list.

The next bar is nestled inside the amazing World War II Museum, American Sector. Their slogan is “Freedom tastes better here,” and they’re open to the public without requiring admission to the museum 7 days a week from 11am to 4pm.

There are two entrances, one on Magazine Street and one on Poeyfarre Street, or you can enter through the museum like the girls did. They mix up patriotic themed cocktails, and the food is really good too.

The American Sector Bar & Restaurant offers reservations online and they even cater and host events in their private dining room. If you have the time, pay a visit to the World War II Museum; it will not disappoint.

Another hidden gem on the list is Backspace Bar & Kitchen. This tiny, cozy, eclectic bar on Chartres Street has brick walls, an old fireplace, some soft seating and bar seating. The drink prices might be some of the best in the French Quarter with $2 PBRs and $3 lite beers. And they have a killer selection of local brews and a great comfort food menu. They offer different daily specials, happy hours and seasonal items follow them on Instagram to stay connected and informed.

Those bars wrap up the hidden gems the Boozy Blondes have enjoyed together. Chrissy has explored many more over the years and takes listeners through an eclectic collection of local haunts and boujee bars around the Crescent City:

  1. Napoleon House in the French Quarter on Chartres Street.
    Built in 1797 this place offers an unbeatable French Creole ambiance. They’re famous for their Pimm’s Cup & Muffuletta. Go for lunch for some excellent Happy Hour specials in a gorgeous historic building.
  2. Effervescence on North Rampart StreetGorgeous upscale champagne bar, great food. Hit up happy hour b/c it can be pricey. Cutest web address – Nolabubbles.com!
  3. The Country Club on Louisa Street in the Bywater.This boujee old mansion/turned restaurant has a pool, which is key in the hot summer months. You can get a pool pass for the day for around $20 and enjoy great cocktails and food poolside or inside if that’s more your speed. They also do Drag Brunch on Saturdays. Pool is 21 and up only.
  4. Arnaud’s – Richelieu Bar
    One of the oldest bars in NOLA, this speakeasy-esque bar specializes in obscure creole cocktails made with lost recipes from a bygone era. Ask a server to take you to the Richelieu Bar. If it’s open you might get the bartender to share the history, ghost stories and all, on your visit.
  5. Turkey & Wolf
    Funkiest 80s throwback nostalgic bar/restaurant with concoctions you could never dream up on an acid trip. Must try: The fried bologna sandwich. They have wine, beer, canned boozy beverages and cocktails.
  6. Hot Tin Rooftop & Bayou Bar on St. Charles
    This 1940s artist loft penthouse/turned rooftop bar in Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District, with great view of the city and craft cocktails. Don’t miss the historic Bayou Bar downstairs too.
  7. Pluck Wine Bar
    Located on Girod Street in the Warehouse District, Pluck offers upscale wine in a casual environment, welcoming all price points of world-class wine away from the tourist crowds. They have a food menu as well. Don’t miss the addicting Plucky popcorn!  
  8. Elysian Bar
    Find this sister restaurant to Bacchanal in the Peter & Paul Hotel in the Marigny. It’s located inside an old church rectory. This place has it all: café, breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and the space is divided into so many beautiful little parlors, atriums, courtyards and gardens. Chrissy’s favorite is the iconic Jewel Box Bar. Snag a seat at the bar and experience true mixologists at work. Their cocktails & James Beard nominated menu are excellent.
  9. Bar Marilou
    This tiny, boujee, speakeasy on Carondelet Street serves up out of this world cocktail concoctions, hosts live jazz and even does High Tea with cocktails served in teapots on certain days. Definitely make reservations!
  10. Vessel – in Mid City on Iberville. One block off the Canal Street Trolley stop.
    It’s inside a 1914 church where the ceiling is modeled after a ship’s hull.  “Vessel” is more than just a name; all drinks are served in the proper vessels they were intended to be served in. Pro Tip: Make a reservation for happy hour and enjoy the happy hour food and drink menu.
  11. Cane & Table
    Cane & Table serves some of the most unique Cajun-Cuban influenced tiki cocktails in the world. Named one of the “Five Best New Cocktail Bars in America” by Bon Appétit, Cane & Table offers an outstanding cocktail menu with an extensive collection of unique & obscure liquor. Amazing food too!
  12. Jewel of the South
    This classy southern tavern won Tales of the Cocktail Spirit award for best cocktails in 2022. It is also listed as one of the top 50 bars in North America; the cocktail menu is out of this world! With inventive and world class techniques blending ingredients and flavors you won’t find anywhere else, these cocktails are truly unforgettable. Chrissy still dreams of the Carrot Colada cocktail she had there.

Which of these hidden gems have you visited? Share your thoughts with the Boozy Blondes! Send them an email or DM them on Instagram!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 060 | New Orleans, Part 2 – Breweries

The Boozy Blondes

Welcome back, lushes! Today the Boozy Blondes are taking you on a tour of the brewery scene in the Crescent City! They have visited 10 breweries over the years and are giving you a behind the scenes look on this audio tour through NOLA.

The DOE is Birthday Stache Sour from Port Orleans Brewing (one of the breweries on this 10-stop journey)! This is a 7.4% sour over-loaded with birthday cake and raspberries.

Keep reading to learn about all the breweries the blondes visited:

Brewery Saint X | “With a sleek interior, an excellent menu, and lots of beer to try out, this is great for a date night, pre-gaming, or just exploring the latest in New Orleans’ culinary scene.” This brewery opened in March 2023 and is located at the Girod & Loyola. It’s a state of the art brewery, bar and restaurant that captures the innovative spirit and history of craft beer alongside a robust wine list, cocktail program and food menu. The BBQ restaurant on site is Devil Moon BBQ offering quite the selection of smoked meats and, of course, Mac & Cheese.

Molly drank Blueblood Fruited Sour (5%) aged on massive amounts of blueberry and blackberry purée then finished with cacao nibs. Chrissy had the Sunny Shine sour, also 5% brewed with a tangy, juicy blend of citrus fruit (2 types of oranges tangerines and lemon) and a touch of Madagascar vanilla beans to balance out the acidity.

Saint X is within walking distance to the Superdome and Smoothie King Center. They offer pregame zones for you and your party to reserve: Loyola Porches or Devil Moon Beer Garden for $75 and $65 per person respectively for 3 hours. Follow them on Instagram!

Urban South | Urban South is housed in a giant warehouse with bright colors and long German beer hall style tables everywhere. It is the largest brewery by volume in New Orleans, and the second-largest in Louisiana. It is dog friendly and you can expect to find a food truck outside.

Chrissy drank the Rocket Pop gose (5.2% blue raspberry, cherry and lime sour) while Molly sampled around with a flight: Polyjuice Potion (5% Smoothie sour with cherry, raspberry, blackberry & black currant), Oh The Humidity (6.6% sour with cantaloupe and mango), Balancing Sheep (7.5% rum-aged, glutton free pineapple, coconut cream and tangy lime sour)

In addition to their beers, they make hard seltzers – and CBD infused hard seltzers. They also have a tap room in Houston and a sister company, Perfect Plain in Pensacola, Fl. You can join their Flight Club and be sure to follow them on Instagram to keep up with all the fun events! (This is Chrissy’s favorite brewery in New Orleans!)

Shout out to Amber, aka hoparoundnola, and Josh, aka joshkeytobetterbeers, two members of the Urban South team!

Port Orleans Brewing Co | This dog friendly brewery in uptown NOLA offers great food and cold beer, hosting tons of events and nightly specials like AVO TACO Tuesday’s and Wing Wednesdays and crawfish boils on Saturdays! AVO Taco is the restaurant on site.

Molly got a flight again here. 3-Day Weekend Summer ale (4.5% blend of 1/3 sour base with 2/3 traditional ale with hibiscus and lime), In a Jiffy (6% peanut butter and plum jelly sour) and Fruit Punch Tart Ale (6% sour). Chrissy drank the Birthday Stache Sour (the DOE) since it was her birthday!

NOLA Brewing & Pizza Company | Located in Irish Channel, NOLA Brewing opened its doors in 2009. They were the first to produce craft beer in the city after Dixie Brewing closed their facility in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Today, NOLA brewing & Pizza Co, now offers wine, liquor, and champagne in addition to their craft beer. What’s unique about this brewery is the full bar, onsite pizza kitchen and large event space. They have 20 beers on tap, NYC style pizza, Buffalo Wings, heroes, and salads. And it’s dog friendly outside.

Miel Brewing | Miel Brewing opened in 2016 donning murals everywhere and while they don’t have a kitchen, there’s usually a food truck on site. They are dog friendly, and Chrissy loves the creative beer concoctions here with gummies or cereal toppers! Follow them on Instagram to drool over the beers and keep up to date with all their fun events!

Brieux Carre Brewing Company | This is Chrissy’s second favorite brewery in the city. It’s located on Decatur and Frenchman with indoor and outdoor seating, a small beer garden out back, and a bar snack menu. It’s also dog-friendly outside. They do an annual membership for locals call the Brieuxminati where members get great beer deals all year long. But in the summer they do “Summer of Suds” memberships, where you get a 20oz beer mug and 1 free beer everyday from June 1st to Aug 31st for only $50!

Parleaux Beer Lab | They opened in 2017 as a destination neighborhood taproom and brewery. They make high quality, small batch, locally produced beers inspired by iconic beer styles. They normally have 14 beers on tap, they also have house made sparkling water, N/A Beer, Mocktails, a small selection of sodas, and juice boxes.

Parleaux has an incredible beer garden and they channel the funky spirit and playfulness of New Orleans. The inside is small but super welcoming. It’s family and dog-friendly. They don’t have a kitchen but they have bar snacks and food trucks. Follow them on Instagram to find out what beer they are serving and what events are happening!

Second Line Brewing | Second Line Brewing was founded in 2014 by a group of friends wanting adventure and the chance to share the joys of craft beer with their community. The brewery is a great space to host a large event. They can accommodate 200 people between the indoor and outdoor seating areas. They are family and dog friendly and host a great assortment of pop up food trucks. Follow them on Instagram to keep up with all the daily fun!

The Courtyard Brewery | The Courtyard Brewery is a family-owned nano-brewery with experimental brews made in-house and a wide selection of craft beer from around the world. With 25 beers on taps they have something for everyone. The Courtyard Brewery hosts tons of community events like live music, trivia, and food trucks. Follow them on Instagram and you’ll be drooling over beer, ice cream and burger pics!

Faubourg Brewing | What started as Dixie Brewing in 1907 is now Faubourg (fow·boo·er) Brewing Co. — and it’s been a part of the New Orleans story for 115 years and counting! The 80,000 square foot facility sits on 14 acres and boasts an outdoor brew park with picnic tables, the great lawn, a beer garden and 2 story taproom. The outdoor area features a 9-hole disc golf course, three bocce ball courts, corn hole and yard games. It’s dog-friendly and Parish Third, the brewery restaurant is on-site open on Thursdays and Sundays.

That concludes the 10-brewery tour on this episode of the Boozy Blondes podcast! Have you been to these watering holes? Message the girls which is your favorite on Instagram!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 059 | New Orleans, Part 1 – Jazz Parade

The Boozy Blondes

Settle in, lushes. The Boozy Blondes are about to take you on a “jazz parade” through the Crescent City – New Orleans, Louisiana! This is Chrissy’s favorite city in the country, and admittedly, Molly has warmed up to it over the years. In this episode the girls take you on a tour around town, dropping it at different hotel bars to listen to some great jazz music! Chrissy dubbed this tour a jazz parade, hence the episode title. (There is no traditional parade referenced at all!)

The DOE is a New Orleans classic – Romas Gin Fizz. This drink is delicious but very labor-intensive. It combines gin, citrus, simple syrup, egg whites, heavy cream, orange flower water and club soda. The original recipe called for 12 minutes of shaking! (Molly thanks Chrissy for all her hard work making this masterpiece!)

The parade started at the Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons. Chrissy drank an espresso martini, Molly and Phil had the World’s Fair Fizz (gin, lemon, wildflower honey, egg white, butterfly pea flower tea and Champagne), and Rainer enjoyed a glass of Reposado. This is a fairly new bar which seats 85. Visit the website for special events and experiences like “celebrate like a local” and “Oysters Take Flight.”

The second stop was not at a hotel, but at the Mahogany Jazz Hall. The bar offers live jazz music 7 nights a week! The bar is very small and intimate and hosts pop-up Burlesque shows. This place also serves Absinthe in the traditional French style!

Next on the parade was the Sazerac Bar in the Grand Roosevelt Hotel. Each one in group ordered the New Orleans classic Sazerac. The bar is very small and doesn’t offer reservations, so it can be tricky to get a table here. If you visit, ask to speak with Russ Bergeron, the mixologist/historian on site. He helped reopen the Sazerac Bar following Hurricane Katrina. Fun fact – they serve about 40,000 Sazeracs each year!

The group moved on to the Davenport Lounge in the Ritz Carlton from here. This was definitely a group favorite! The lounge is named after its resident musician Jeremy Davenport and his band. The piano bar lounge is the perfect place to listen to favorite sing-a-longs, sip craft cocktails and enjoy mouth-watering munchies! Chrissy drank an Aperol Spritz and Molly sipped on Prosecco.

The final stop on the parade was the Polo Club at Windsor Court Hotel. It’s another great place for food, cocktails and live music. The ambiance is reminiscent of of a private English club boasting an aristocratic charm and the old fashioneds are fantastic!

These five stops were perfect for a night out sampling hand crafted cocktails, New Orleans classics and delicious light bites. This sampling is a tiny piece of all the jazz clubs NOLA has to offer, but it was a great start for the Boozy Blondes! Do you have a favorite jazz bar in New Orleans? Share it with the girls!

Season 3, Special Events

Episode 058 | Magic Hideaway Interview with Bill Abbott

The Boozy Blondes

The Boozy Blondes love magic. If you listened to Episode 054 | Nashville, Part 2 – House of Cards, you heard them gush about just how much they love it! In this episode the girls fill you in on all you need to know to see an amazing magic and mind-reading experience hidden right in their backyard!

The girls each have a different DOE. Molly is drinking a Blood Orange Creamsicle (learn how to make it here or beg Chrissy to do it for you!) and since Chrissy smashed her Creamsicle before recording, she opted for a mimosa. Both great morning drinks!

Bill and Rebecca Abbott are your hosts at the Magic Hideaway in the Casa Monica Hotel in the heart of St. Augustine, Florida. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Bill Abbott is an entrepreneur, magician and showman. He has performed over 5000 shows in 11 countries and is the creator of magical illusions seen on America’s Got Talent, Good Morning America and The Steve Harvey Show! Before his residency, he and his wife Rebecca frequently visited St. Augustine, and a few years ago they decided to make this beautiful city their home and opened the Magic Hideaway in the Casa Monica.

There are two shows on Saturday nights starting at 6pm or 8:30pm. The experience lasts two hours and tickets are $125 per person. With your ticket, you get

  • Complimentary cocktail
  • One-on-one magic with Bill in the Cobalt Lounge before the main show
  • Hour long magic and mind-reading show in the intimate Magic Hideaway room
  • Post show photo and autograph opportunity with Bill

The first hour is cocktail hour and one-on-one magic with Bill, then the second hour is the performance in the Magic Hideaway. When the girls arrived they were greeted by Rebecca who performed a magic trick for them. She escorted the girls to their cocktail table in the Cobalt Lounge, and a server came over to take their order. Before the show you can order food and drinks here, but the girls just enjoyed a drink. Pro-tip: order an additional drink before you enter the Magic Hideaway for the main performance. Once it starts, you can’t leave. Do this at least 20 minutes before the main show start time.

Bill performs magic tricks for each table during the cocktail hour and engages with the attendees. Before going into the Magic Hideaway he gathers everyone together for a group trick. Photography is allowed during the cocktail hour, but not during the main performance (the Boozy Blondes had an exception because of the podcast).

Rebecca leads each group to their assigned tables inside the Magic Hideaway right before the show. The room is small and intimate, so there isn’t a bad seat. The performance is about 60 minutes and is interactive. Be prepared to be involved – the girls both participated in multiple tricks! Because of the small group size, almost everyone, if not everyone, was involved at some point during the performance.

The girls don’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll have to visit for yourself. Be sure to get your pictures with Bill following the show; it feels like a red carpet moment! The Boozy Blondes had an amazing evening and would definitely go back for another show. They were lucky enough to have a few minutes to interview Bill and Rebecca after the show, so be sure to tune in to this episode to hear what they have to say about the best magic tricks and how they ended up in St. Augustine, Florida!

Here’s a recap of what to remember:

  • Dress to impress. The Casa Monica is swanky, and this is an opportunity to sparkle and shine!
  • Remember photography is only allowed during the cocktail hour.
  • Order an extra drink before you go into the Magic Hideaway room.
  • Be prepared to be engaged.
  • Be prepared to be captivated and amazed!
  • Secure your tickets and get more details here.

Share your thoughts and photos with the girls at boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com if you attend, and when you check in, be sure to let Rebecca know the Boozy Blondes sent you!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 057 | Nashville Part 4 – Bonus Episode

The Boozy Blondes

Just when we all thought the Nashville run was over, the girls actually returned to Nashville and have more fun tips and tricks to share with you! While the original 3-part Nashville series was airing, the Boozy Blondes were back in Nashville checking out new honky tonks, creating new adventures and of course, visiting some favorites from the first three parts. Tune in to listen to the fun and for tips on your next trip to Music City!

The DOE is Georgia Aviation, a lavender gin ready to drink cocktail from Moonrise Distillery in Clayton, Georgia. Chrissy picked this up for Molly during her time in Georgia, because Molly loves gin and lavender!

So this bonus trip was technically a work trip for both the girls, but they managed to squeeze in the fun every chance they got – sometimes independently, and sometimes together. This blog entry will map out the spots they hit so it’s easy for you to read more them and plan for your next trip!

SATURDAY

Renaissance Nashville Hotel | located behind Fifith + Broadway, this hotel is in one of the best locations in the heart of downtown. The girls checked in Saturday night and had dinner and drinks at the Bridge Bar on the third floor. The bartenders mixed some great cocktails and the musician was great! And it was much safer here, just an elevator ride away from their room as opposed to braving the crowds outside! (The blondes hate to admit it, but they are getting old.)

SUNDAY

The Twelve Thirty Club | just steps away from the hotel on Broadway, The Twelve Thirty Club has three levels: the honky tonk, the supper club and the rooftop. There is also an honorary membership program that offers access to a members lounge and exclusive privileges.  About 8 of us met for brunch on the first floor, the honky tonk level, and had a great meal and heard great music! Music starts at 11AM on Sundays during brunch.

Drusie & Darr in The Hermitage | this classic, historic hotel is a staple in Nashville. Chrissy went here to work and enjoyed espresso martinis and a black garlic and truffle pizza. Be sure to check out one of the world’s most Instagrammable bathrooms while you are here!

House of Cards | Molly returned to House of Cards and a fabulous experience again! She saw different magicians, and you can learn more about this exclusive speakeasy/house of magic in Episode 054 | Nashville Part 2 – House of Cards (listen here)!

The Stage | the Boozy Blondes’ favorite Nashville honky tonk! Check out Episode 053 | Nashville Part 1 – Honky Tonks (listen here) for details about 6 Broadway bars, 3 rooftop bars and 1 adult playground bar!

MONDAY

Little Fib | Located on the main level of the Renaissance Hotel, Little Fib became Chrissy’s home (office) away from home (office). Her daily routine included her laptop, Aperol Spritzes and Nashville Hot Chicken Soup.

Ember’s Ski Lodge | This ski-themed bar was pretty unique to find in the heart of Nashville, but Chrissy loved the Apres ski specials and shot-skis!

Black Rabbit | Chrissy made it here in Printers Alley during Happy Hour. You can enjoy music, craft cocktails and great eats in the 100 year old building full of Prohibiton era vibes!

Sinatra Bar & Lounge | About a block from Black Rabbit, this is a popular spot! Reservations are highly recommended no matter what time of day. Also be sure to visit the website and check out the dress code. Sinatra’s boasts an intimate and elevated dining experience serving some of Frank’s faves!

General Jackson Showboat | This three hour river tour takes guests up the Cumberland River with beautiful views of the neon lights of Broadway. Board over by Opreyland and enjoy food, drinks and entertainment during your time on board.

Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar | Located in Printers Alley, the spirit of New Orleans is at the forefront of everything here! From the wrought-iron balconies, Cajun & Creole food, cold beer, and signature cocktails like the Big Easy Hurricane, you’re transported to another Boozy Blondes’ favorite city!

TUESDAY

Ryman Auditorium | Called “Music’s Most Iconic Stage,” Chrissy caught a jazz musician outside of the Ryman then took time to visit the gift shop. Pro tip – visit the gift shop and get a coupon for a tour of the Ryman.

Boqueria | Located in Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway, this tapas bar has locations around the country. Chrissy enjoyed wine and some Spanish small plates.

Friends in Low Places | One of Nashville’s newest Honky Tonk’s Garth Brooks opened this bar in early March of 2024. This bar has four levels including the rooftop “Oasis” complete with palm trees!

WEDNESDAY

Casa Rosa | “Tacos, tequila and tufted pink booths” – Miranda Lambert’s Cantina on Broadway is adorable! The girls enjoyed dinner at this “little taste of Texas in Tennessee.” They say everything is bigger in Texas and this is definitely true for the food portions! There was a band on the first floor, and the restaurant is on the second floor – there are four floors total here.

Pins Mechanical | Another Boozy Blondes fave! You can hear all about it in Episode 053 | Nashville Part 1 – Honky Tonks (listen here)! This time the girls tried their skills at duck pin bowling and it was a hit! They ran around the bar playing all their favorite games like pinball, garbage can beer pong and skee ball. And of course, they took turns going down the slide!

EXTRA

Earlier this year the girls visited The Graduate Hotel and had brunch at White Limozeen, a Dolly Parton themed bar. They didn’t mention it in any other episode, but they wanted to let you lushes know how adorable it is! It’s covered in pink – definitely gives Casa Rosa a run for its money! Inside is mostly soft seating and the outside patio has a larger than life statue of Dolly’s head!

The girls love Nashville so much, and there is so much to explore here! Hopefully there will be Part 5 in the near future, because the girls already miss the Music City! Share your pictures with them if you’ve been to any of the above mentioned places (boozyblondespodcast@gmail.com) or send them a message on Instagram them know where else they should visit in this amazing city! Cheers!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 054 | Nashville, Part 2 – House of Cards

The Boozy Blondes

There is one thing the girls love almost as much as a great drink – and each other – MAGIC! ✨ Did you know there is a underground, super exclusive speakeasy/house of magic in downtown Nashville? Tune in to hear all about House of Cards, the hidden gem underneath the Johnny Cash Museum – but don’t worry…no spoilers. You have to experience the magic for yourself!

The DOE for this episode is rum and ginger beer – a Boozy Blondes favorite!

So again, House of Cards is an exclusive speakeasy-esque bar/restaurant/house of magic in downtown Nashville. It’s located UNDER the Johnny Cash museum around 3rd and Broadway. Once you arrive at the museum, there is a doorman who will direct you to the private entrance to House of Cards. You go down a secret tunnel and enter into a whole other world. There’s an amazing hand-crafted bar that offers one of the largest liquor selections in the region, there’s a multimillion dollar collection of art, European antiques, and ancient magical artifacts. There are no windows, tons of red velvet curtains draped all around, old magic show advertisement posters and tall columns throughout the space.

Once we checked in we were greeted and offered a tour of the dining room. Our guide showed us where the main magic show was held, where the floating magicians would be performing, he pointed out artifacts and pointed us in the direction of the courtyard which features a 19-foot waterfall.

They will take a group photo for you inside since photography is not allowed – except in the bathroom and in the courtyard.

Reservations are highly recommended, and the dress code is strictly enforced. At the time of this recording, you can book your table no sooner than two weeks in advance. So set your alarms and calendar reminders because tables fill fast. Dress code is dress to impress and if you don’t abide by it, they will not grant you access:

MEN: Sports coat or dinner jacket and button up dress shirt is mandatory. Dress pants suggested, dress shoes required. No light or torn jeans.

LADIES: Cocktail or formal dresses, elegant skirt and blouse, dressy rompers or dressy tunic (hip-length) and slacks combinations, and pant-suits (matching blazer and pants) with dress shoes is required. No denim of any kind, nor casual wear.

The food is phenomenal. Menu selections include octopus, beer tartare, foie gras, steaks, elk, lamb, porkshops, sea bass, etc, etc. Complimentary tickets to the main magic act are included with an entree order, but you cannot purchase tickets separately to this show. Then there are rotating magicians on the floor which you can go see at any time. We waited until after dinner to do all the magic, but you can go see the magicians on the floor while you wait for your dinner to be prepared.

House of Cards is 21 and over, except during Sunday brunch when all ages are welcome.

The girls include some tips for visiting House of Cards:

  • Set a reminder to make your reservations. This place is extremely popular, so 14 days out, secure your spot. They do accept walk-ins, but you’re taking a chance there will be availability.
  • If you don’t get a reservation, you can try to get in to enjoy cocktails on the patio or at the bar. You’ll be able to see the roaming magicians, just not the main act. Dress code still applies.
  • Dress to impress. The dress code is strictly enforced so use this as an opportunity to get all dolled up.
  • Bring cash to tip the magicians and the photographer. The group photo is complimentary, so it’s nice to tip the photographer.
  • Arrive early and enjoy a drink out on the patio before dinner and stay late to enjoy the magicians and an after-dinner drink or cigar.
  • Be prepared to be engaged. There is a lot of audience participation.

The magicians we saw were Mark and Shadow. You can follow House of Cards on Instagram. Please message us on Instagram if you’ve been to House of Cards and share your experience with us!

Cheers!

Resources and Ridiculousness, Season 3

Episode 052 | Boozy Blondes Happy Hour, Volume 4

The Boozy Blondes

The Boozy Blondes have been apart since January 30, 2023, and in this episode they take time for a happy hour call! Listen in to hear about how the first part of the year has been for these booze travelers.

Settle in with your favorite drink and eavesdrop on the Boozy Blondes’ call. Chrissy is drinking the Boozy Blondes’ favorite morning drink, rum and ginger beer, and Molly is sipping on South Beach Brewing Strawberry Orange Mimosa beer.

This year Chrissy has been covered up in work and projects – she is just starting to have some well deserved time for herself! She’s been in North Georgia since the beginning of 2024, and recently she’s ventured to Currahee Tap Room in Clayton, Georgia, Stonewall Creek Vineyards and Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Tiger, Georgia, Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, Georgia and CeNita Vineyards in Cleveland, Georgia.

Molly has been busy traveling around Florida in Tampa, The Villages, Orlando and St. Augustine. Some of her favorite stops have been Forgotten Tonic‘s Miracle Christmas Bar in St. Augustine, Downtown Beer Hall in Marble Falls, Texas, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, The Edison, Raglan Road and STK in Disney Springs and Universal Orlando.

Get details on the best drinks from all these places, and hear shout outs to the Boozy Blondes’ favorites over these travels – Ryan at Currahee and Gonzo at STK.

Cheers!

Season 3, Travel - Where to Drink

Episode 051 | Beer Spa

The Boozy Blondes

Check Beer Spa off the Boozy Blondes’ boozy bucket list! (Then add it again 1000 more times because the girls want to go back again and again and again!) Since the Boozy Blondes Podcast inception, the girls have wanted to visit the Beer Spa in Orlando, Florida, and now they are dishing all the details and pro tips to make the most out of your visit.

The DOE is beer of course! The girls are enjoying Sour Me Gummy Bear, a 5.5% sour ale from Duclaw Brewing.

The Beer Spa offers rooms to accommodate 1 - 4 adults. Each room has a (or two) soaking thermal tub(s), which is a bath of Beer Spa’s signature beer treatment, infrared sauna, chill hay lounge, full bathroom, and complimentary, unlimited self-serve beer. Beers from Ivanhoe Park Brewing in Orlando were on tap when the blondes visited, and for a $10 up-charge you can add sangria, wine and Prosecco to your experience. The girls brought boozy bros along for this adventure, so they reserved the two-tub, four-adults room, and added the sangria to their experience.

They reserved the room for 60 minutes, and Beer Spa staff recommends you soak for up to 45 minutes, then enjoy the sauna and/or hay bed for the remaining 15 minutes. Some benefits of the soak are:

  • beer yeast: considered an extremely healing ingredient and contains B vitamins and saccharides, which help exfoliate, purify and renew the skin while locking in moisture
  • hops: a natural sedative plant brimming with antioxidants, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory properties
  • hydrotherapy: soaking in warm water allows your pores to open to enhance skin absorption, it can improve your mood and increase positive emotions, it gets the blood moving increasing circulation and relaxing tight muscles.
  • aromatherapy: the smell of hops treats insomnia and has an anti-anxiety effect in the body

If you enjoy saunas, there are many benefits to spending time in there. It enhances collagen production strengthening and rejuvenating skin complexion. It improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. It detoxifies and relieves joint pain and muscle soreness and helps the body release endorphins!

The Boozy Blondes share some pro-tips from this experience during the episode too:

  • Go! Enjoy it!
  • Wear your bathing suit under your clothes
  • Add the extra 30 minutes (60 minutes flies by and the girls wish they had more time to experience all the room had to offer)
  • Don’t be surprised when you pull up the building – it’s in an unassuming strip mall
  • Bring cash to tip the Beer Spa team
  • Shower while you are in your beer spa room (even though they advise you wait 2 hours to shower)
  • If you’re not a beer drinker, add the wine and sangria option for $10
  • Don’t forget about your wet bathing suits after the trip – they will smell like an old bar mat in the plastic bag if you leave them in there too long

There are plenty of photo ops and Instagrammable places in Beer Spa, so prepare to have some extra time to take fun pictures! We got our custom swimsuits at Rave Suits.

You can hear the Boozy Blondes’ friend Florida Hop Mama gush about Beer Spa in Episode 029 (Behind the Booze Interview with Florida Hop Mama)!

Share your experience in the comments below if you’ve been to Beer Spa – especially if you have additional tips! Cheers!

Foundations, Finales and Fuddled, Season 2

Episode 048 | Boozy Blondes Season 2 Recap

The Boozy Blondes

Listen here!

The Boozy Blondes did it! Season 2 is in the books. It was full of special guests, amazing travel destinations and so much fun!

The girls celebrate this milestone with, what else, Champagne as their DOE! They reflect back on the 2023 season and highlight their guests, top moments, struggles and wins.

Those Boozy Blondes sure had a great group of boozy friends joining them in Season 2:

One of the blondes’ most favorite parts of creating and hosting this podcast is connecting with and meeting other amazing people passionate about the beverage industry! They are incredibly grateful for the time and enthusiasm all their guests provided this season (and in Season 1) for the Boozy Blondes Podcast!

Tune in to this episode to hear Chrissy’s favorite moments from this season (running the gamut from Paris, France to the Jax Beach Waffle House!) and how well Molly did meeting the goals she set for herself in Season 1.

The girls look forward to Season 3 and have fun libation vacations planned already! They are sending you a big cheers and thank you for reading this blog and listening to their ridiculous, yet resourceful, podcast. CHEERS!