Are you an adventurous-minded individual hell-bent on drinking this weekend? We have two unique boozy events guaranteed to please everyone from the Hollywood-crazed to the supporters of Maplewood Days.
On Saturday, actor Dan Aykroyd will be in town on a mission … to sell you vodka. “Yeah, yeah, vodka,” you say. “What’s so unique about that?” Well, Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka was awarded a double gold medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To get the smooth taste, Crystal Head is quadruple distilled then filtered seven times. Three filtrations go through polished crystals known as Herkimer Diamonds, quartz formations mined in Herkimer, N.Y. Those who are into the crystal thing (and can recite lines from Ghostbusters) may already know that, as Aykroyd explained to me, “The new age belief system claims that Herkimer diamonds emit positive energy.” Keeping with the spiritual theme, the vodka comes in a bottle shaped like a human skull. “My great grandfather was a correspondent with Arthur Conan Doyle, who was an author involved with the mediums and channeling activities that were going on at the same time,” Aykroyd explained. “The crystal that we use is the perfect medium to showcase our pure, premium spirit.”
Aykroyd will be signing bottles on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sam’s Club at 4512 Lemay Ferry Road. After you get yours signed, you can emulate the actor and enjoy it in a Cranium cocktail – Crystal Head Vodka, cranberry juice and a splash of grenadine – or use your own head to think up a drink. Not a Sam’s Club member but still dying to show off your Ghostbusters jumpsuit? Don’t fret; the event is free and open to the public.
Unmoved by the psyche of the crystal skull? Desperate for a drink sooner rather than later? After tonight’s Food Truck Friday, head to downtown Maplewood from 6 to 11 p.m. where history will be in the making as the municipality holds its biggest Let Them Eat Art celebration yet. The self-guided evening of Maplewood-style entertainment will include demonstrations by more than 40 artists, live music and, of course, food and drink specials by Maplewood purveyors. Among the 19 bars and restaurants participating, thirsty adults can try blueberry-tequila push pops from Water Street Café, the vodka-based Metrosexual cocktail at The Crow’s Nest, a rum punch called The Salivation Dalí at The Post Sports Bar & Grill, a twist on a bloody Mary at Orbit Pinball Lounge and Maya Cafe’s secret concoction, Maplewoody.
This article appears in July 2012.