Speakeasy Walking Tour


Society members Angela Grande and Bob Pisani are pleased to offer their 12th Annual Walking Tour, this one dedicated to the “Speakeasies of Manhattan.”

Ever wonder what an old speakeasy might look like? What kind of drinks were popular in the 1920s? Here is your chance.

The History of the Speakeasy

The Volstead Act came into effect on January 16, 1920, enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States.

• It remained in effect until December 5, 1933, when the Twenty-First Amendment repealed Prohibition.
• This era, known as The Roaring Twenties, saw economic and stock market booms, followed by a crash that triggered modern criminal enterprises catering to the demand for alcohol.
• Speakeasies were illicit establishments that sold alcohol. Some were underground versions of existing bars, while others operated in hidden tenements and back rooms.

Very few 1920s speakeasies are still in existence today, but we will visit them on this tour.

Our Guide: Diana Pittet

For our tour, we are fortunate to have Diana Pittet, an expert on New York bars and Prohibition.

• Teaches a graduate course at NYU on the history, culture, and politics of drinking.
• Runs Night Owl Hospitality, a cocktail catering and spirits education company on the Jersey Shore.
• Leads a monthly whiskey club.

Diana will lead our walking tour of speakeasies, educating us about Prohibition and the birth of the American Cocktail.

Lunch, Prosecco, and Cocktails at Pete’s Tavern

We begin our tour at noon at Pete’s Tavern, one of New York’s oldest bars, established in 1864.

• General Manager and Partner Gary Eagan has managed Pete’s for over 35 years and is a wealth of knowledge on New York bar history.
• During Prohibition, Pete’s was partially converted into a flower shop, while another section remained a speakeasy.
• Gary will show us how the building was partitioned and share historic photographs from that era.

Lunch will be enjoyed upstairs, paired with Prosecco and cocktails.

Pete’s bartenders will serve five Prohibition-era cocktails:

• Pete’s Old Fashioned
• Bee’s Knees
• White Lady
• Vieux Carré
• Corpse Reviver #2 (a classic “hair of the dog” hangover cure)

Wine and beer will also be available.

The Speakeasy Tour

After lunch, a minibus will pick us up for a guided tour of historic speakeasies.

Stops include:

• Temperance Fountain in Tompkins Square Park – A symbol of the temperance movement, erected in 1888 to provide clean drinking water as an alternative to beer.
• PDT, Holiday Cocktail Bar, St. Marks Theater, Julius, and Stonewall Inn – Sites associated with Prohibition and early LGBTQ+ activism.
• The former site of “Jack and Charlie’s” – Founded in 1924 in Greenwich Village, it moved uptown in 1929 and became the most famous speakeasy of all – the now-shuttered 21 Club.

We will stop for a brief tour and drink at McSorley’s Old Ale House, one of New York’s oldest bars, which remained open during Prohibition by serving “near beer” and leveraging political connections.

McSorley’s remained men-only until 1970, when a lawsuit by the National Organization for Women forced them to allow women inside.

Dinner & Cocktails at Bathtub Gin

We will conclude our tour at Bathtub Gin, a modern speakeasy hidden behind a coffee shop on 9th Avenue.

• Opened in 2011, Bathtub Gin replicates the feel of a 1920s speakeasy.
• Offers live jazz, burlesque shows, and a DJ for an energetic nightlife experience.
• Bartenders will serve classic Prohibition-era cocktails, including:
  • Sidecar
  • Negroni
  • French 75
  • Gin and Tonic

Diana will discuss the history of these cocktails, and wine and beer will also be available.

This is the 12th Walking Tour that Bob and Angela have organized, following past tours of:

• Arthur Avenue
• Harlem
• Brooklyn/Williamsburg
• Wall Street
• The Lower East Side
• The High Line
• Chinatown
• Central Park
• Broadway
• Underground New York

IMPORTANT:

This is a walking tour, and there will be some limited stair climbing.

Please dress appropriately and consider any physical constraints.

MENU

Pete’s Tavern

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres

• Grilled Salt & Pepper Naan
• Bao Buns with Pulled Beef
• Cocktail Franks

Entrée Choices

• Beef Wellington
• Ahi Tuna
• Chicken Thai Spring Rolls
• Mushroom Risotto Arancini with Truffle Aioli

Bathtub Gin

Appetizers

• Charcuterie and Cheese Board
• Red Bean Hummus

First Course

• Arugula Salad

Entrée

• Fried Chicken Sliders

Dessert

• New York Espresso Cheesecake
• Gin-infused Strawberry Gelato

📌 Note: Menu items are subject to slight variations based on product availability.

Event Logistics

Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM SHARP – 7:00 PM
Location: Meet at Pete’s Tavern, 129 East 18th St. at Irving Place | Concludes at Bathtub Gin, 329 9th Ave (between 18th and 19th Sts)
Dress Code: Casual with name tag

Contribution:

• Members: $385
• Guests: $395
• (4% surcharge applies if paying by credit card – Zelle or check preferred)

The Society thanks:
✔ Angela Grande and Bob Pisani for organizing this tour
✔ Diana Pittet for her expertise and guidance
✔ The staff at all the speakeasies for hosting us

Seating is limited to 25 members and guests.

We urge you to log in to reserve your seat or contact Rose Clemson at ro**@***ny.org or 908-719-0550.

In wine, food, and friendship,

Jack A. Gordon
President
Wine and Food Society of NY