Yesterday was both National Fruit Cocktail Day and World Cocktail Day. I am not quite sure what they have in common, but I will raise a glass of either to all of you, our patrons!
I have always thought the word “cocktail” was a strange word to describe a drink. The first written mention of the word was in 1803 when it appeared in the “Farmer’s Cabinet,” a New Hampshire newspaper. A bartender’s guide, published in 1862, called “How to Mix Drinks,” included recipes for ten cocktails.
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The term “cocktail party” was coined in 1917 when Mrs. Julius Walsh invited friends to a high noon party where she used the term. Cocktail parties soon became immensely popular in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
Zoom Talk on Old Mission Pioneers
Speaking of immensely popular, Tim Carroll , Jackie Thomas and Bob Dean will gather on Tuesday, May 18, at 2 p.m. via ZOOM to talk about Old Mission pioneers who are mentioned in “Sprague’s History of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw (sic) Counties.”
The historic book is a compendium of early settlement, development and the people of this beautiful place we call home. Call the library, (231) 223-7700, for login information.
Editor’s Note: The photo at the top of this story is the Brinkman residence (Jackie’s kin), located on Woodland Avenue in the village of Old Mission. Date unknown. -jb
Craft Bags for Kids and Grownups
We have a beautiful craft bag for adults. Using vintage seed packets, we invite you to make a swag for a mantel or door arch. Kids may pick up a “Bee Kind” craft bag beginning Monday. Both are available while they last.
Men’s Group meets May 19 at 7 a.m., and Pageturners Book Club on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. These groups are currently meeting via ZOOM, so call for info!
Check our website for all our programming!
Shaken, Not Stirred
Cocktails declined in popularity in the 1960’s until pop culture embraced the idea of a five o’clock hour reserved for escaping from the stresses of the day. We are all familiar with James Bond’s perfect martini, “shaken, not stirred.”
Young adults today have revived the cocktail hour big time with the art, science and skill of Mixology and craft cocktails. Whatever your favorite, Fruit Cocktail or a Cocktail with a punch, I leave you with this toast:
“Some ships are wooden ships, but those ships may sink. The best ships are friendships, and to those ships, we drink.”
Have a happy Happy Hour!
So exactly where was that Brinkman home on Woodland Avenue? Curious minds want to know…
I asked Jackie Thomas during the History Talk, and she said it’s where Paula Kelley’s house is now. The original Brinkman house burned down in 1927, I think she said, and the house that’s there now was built at a later date.