If you’re a hardcore Passenger and/or Columbia Room fan, better gulp it up now. A rep tells us that the conjoining Seventh Street bars—owned by brothers Tom and Derek Brown—will close temporarily this month.
The occasion is Tales of the Cocktail, the boozy convention held each July at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Along with seminars, tasting events, and other stumble-inducing events, the conference hosts an important industry awards ceremony known as the Spirited Awards. This year, Columbia Room is a contender for Best American Cocktail bar, competing against Anvil Bar in Houston, Clover Club in Brooklyn, and Los Angeles’s the Varnish. When the winner is announced on Saturday, July 28, nearly 20 Passenger/Columbia Room staffers will be in NOLA cheering on the little libations lounge.
Both bars will be closed starting July 25, reopening on the 29th. In an unrelated honor, Columbia Room was counted among Playboy's Best Bars this year. “Owner Derek Brown is one of the friendliest and smartest barmen ever to shake one up,” says Playboy. Cheers to that.
Related:
The Passenger Has Installed a Fernet Branca Tap
The Columbia Room May Still Be the Best American Cocktail Bar
Columbia Room (Full Review)
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