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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Orchid Evenings: Don’t Forget Your Cocktail Umbrella!

Posted in Programs and Events on February 26 2014, by Lansing Moore

Orchid_Tumbnail_230x246With the debut of The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary comes the much-awaited return of Orchid Evenings. To enjoy the kaleidoscopic display of orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with music and drinks in the soft evening light is one of the most exciting ways to experience the Garden, and beginning next Saturday, March 8, we will kick things off with the first in a series of signature cocktails. The first is called “The Ariana,” and it is an original creation from our friends at Jack from Brooklyn.

Evenings run from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and MasterCard holders can purchase tickets to attend a champagne pre-party at the Shop in the Garden, where a variety of orchids will be available for purchase. Afterwards you can enjoy a fine Italian dinner at any one of our partner restaurants in the neighborhood. Click through to find out what the exclusive cocktail recipe will be, and of course who will be DJing our first Orchid Evening of 2014!

I was intrigued when I heard the name of our first specialty cocktail. “The Ariana” is a twist on the mimosa by the mixologists at Jack from Brooklyn, who spice up a flute of prosecco with a splash of Sorel. Not any old drink will do during Orchid Evenings, and Sorel is a liqueur imbued with Moroccan hibiscus and accentuated with nutmeg and ginger. The warmth and potency of the Sorel with the sweet crispness of prosecco will be a delicious treat for guests who come to admire the modernist design of The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary. The hibiscus has a long history of medicinal use, so we like to think of The Ariana as a fun twist on an old tradition. Apparently the minds at Jack from Brooklyn named the recipe after one of their favorite spirit buyers. High praise indeed!

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With a colorful array of orchids bursting forth from all sides, the atmosphere promises to be truly whimsical. Music is a must, naturally, and we are pleased to welcome DJ TMIC as our DJ for the first three Orchid Evenings. Better known to some as Tim Michaels, he is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music who honed his craft as a DJ in Cape Town, South Africa.

You are sure to build up an appetite, so we have partnered with several eateries in nearby Little Italy on Arthur Avenue where guests can enjoy further discounts on their meals. All Orchid Evenings run from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and tickets are available for entry at either 6:30 or 7:30 p.m. Explore the full list of partner restaurants, as well as upcoming dates and signature cocktails here. Come start your spring early!