These photos don’t really tell you much about anything that happened during the event — which was essentially a room full of tasting tables. They  just came out pretty, so I thought I’d share.

For Portland Cocktail Week, back in October, we split our hotel time between the historic Benson Hotel, and the hip Ace Hotel. If we go back next year, I’ll definitely skip the Ace. For the same price as the Benson, we downgraded to a dorm-size room with paper thin walls, and a rough bed wedged under the window on the floor. Not so good for sleeping and hanging out in the hotel. Damn hipsters.

The lobby on the other hand, was fantastic! Loved the quirky details, honest Pacific Northwest color palate, the adjacent Stumptown coffee shop, and ultra-comfy couches. Perfect place to grab a coffee and refuel between events.

Is that not a picture of pure light and innocence? Love.

Addie Broyles wrote up a great First Look at the new Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden, which opened late January. I hit up the media preview night as well, to check out their drinks program.

I suppose I should have expected that it would be a lovely space (based on the upscale diner chic look that it’s sister restaurant, 24 Diner brought to the previous Waterloo Icehouse space on West Sixth), but I will admit I was taken back by exactly how delightful the interior design was.

The interior was designed by local (via Los Angeles) decorator and designer Veronica Koltuniak. Koltuniak also did 24 Diner. I won’t get into too much detail on why everything works so well, because you can read Nicole Villapando’s story on the design on Statesman.com.

In the article, you’ll discover that the gem of the San Antonio cocktail scene is the gorgeous Esquire Tavern, which re-opened this year after a four year hiatus. I could spend days shooting photos in there (the interior design is just so drool-worthy), but due to time restraints, I just had enough time to snap some iphone pics for your viewing pleasure.

What a sassy fox!

I love the vintage saloon feel the bar boasts, with tattered taxidermy perched in most corners, vintage light fixtures jutting out from weary wallpapered walls, and rich wooden booths adding weight and structure to the room.

The cocktails are nothing to laugh at, either. bartender Jesse (above) deftly mixed me up a Piloto Borracho — the drunk pilot — which is a play on the classic Aviation cocktail. Instead of gin, Esquire uses tequila and mezcal. One might think the combination of agave spirits would be overpowering in an otherwise traditionally delicate blend, but I thought the balance was impeccable. A true delight to drink, and perfect to kick off my long drinking streak while in the city.

Sometimes, mistakes precede great discoveries. Or some inspirational bull like that. Basically, I fucked up by scheduling a cocktail photo shoot at an outdoor venue for 5:3a couple of weeks ago. Which otherwise wouldn’t be an issue, except we’re back on “it gets dark unnaturally early” time, and the sun was starting to set as soon as I showed up.

What could have otherwise turned into an epic photography fail and cowardly reschedule, the situation  pushed me to work a little harder to capture what I needed. It was a welcome, refreshing challenge. It’s been awhile since I have had to shoot in difficult circumstances, and I think (hope) I did OK with that I had to work with this time around (no tripod, no flash, no sun).

In other news, the drinks you’re feasting your pretty eyes on are the brainchildren of Houston Eaves from Contigo. Houston took over the bar manager position after working at the East Side Show Room for some time. You can read more about the drinks and find recipes on Liquid.

Bored. Played with Photoshop. Volstead does looks this vintage in real life, though. Read about Justin’s cocktails and see recipes on Liquid. Cheers.

Jason Stevens, I salute you. You can get the recipes and read more on Liquid.