By Marcus Schwartz
You have to be Nuts to produce the 1st Annual Bartender’s Ball – the People’s Choice Awards for the city’s nightlife industry – which was hosted by the elegant Liberty Grand on Thanksgiving Day. Dinner guests enjoyed gourmet cuisine and the Canadian Draughts Master Final Award presented by Stella Artois where they pronounced the Canadian Regional winner who will be eligible to compete in Belgium for the Stella Artois World Draughts Master Award. ( I learned that the type of glass and temperature affects the taste of the draught beer !).
Michael Landsberg (host of TSN’s “Off the Record”) set the record straight acting as MC for both awards. The 600 competitors for the Bartender Awards were voted by veterans and the public alike online over a 4 week period for a variety of categories.
Cheers to the best – Club Owner of the Year: Nick Di Donato; Lifetime Achievement: Charles Khabouth & Nick Di Donato; New Club: Lucid; New Dance Club: Boa;Alternative Venue: Gypsy Co-op; Lounge: Cache;Resto-Lounge: Ultra; Patio: C Lounge; Adult Club:Brass Rail; Event Spaces: Liberty Grand; Hotel Bar/Lounge: Drake Hotel; Live Music Space: Phoenix;Ongoing Event: Definiti; Promoter: ZRF; Manager: Jude from Budo; Female Bartender: Vivi from C Lounge; Male Bartender: Adam Lee from Lucid; Doorman: Earl from Inside; Urban Night: Fluid; House Night: Boa; Local DJ (house): Kenny Glasgow; Local DJ (alt): Steve Byfield;Local DJ (urban): Starting From Scratch; Nightclub Website: Hype Multimedia; Graphic Design: Maud Street; Design Company: Precipice; Sound & Lighting:Westbury
The after party held in the adjacent room featuring a fashion show of the hottest club wear, and entertainment by Richard Humphrey Vissions, Junior Sanchez, DJ Jazzy Jeff & Baby Yu.
So who are these Nuts ? None other than 1.Michael Henry -a 10 year veteran party goer; 2. Everton Hird – Columbia U’s marketing grad, B-boy; 3.Byron of fabulous hair & hip phenom; 4. Miro, Canadian entertainment lawyer of Goodman & Carr. I’d definitely give them 4 nuts………and a bolt for their eventful day of giving thanks.
