Today is...

National Martini Day

Today is National Martini Day! Although the exact origin of the martini is unknown, this iconic drink has earned a permanent place in the pantheon of classic cocktails. The first printed recipe for a “Martinez” cocktail appeared in a bartending manual published in San Francisco in 1887. However, historians disagree over whether the beverage actually originated on the West Coast. In 1911, a New York City bartender named Martini di Arma di Taggia began serving a cocktail made with gin, vermouth, orange bitters, and an olive garnish. The martini gained widespread popularity among Manhattan socialites, and has been associated with New York ever since.

Today, 50% of all cocktails are served in a martini glass. Some of the most famous (historical and fictional) martini lovers include: John D. Rockefeller, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway, and James Bond.

To celebrate National Martini Day, enjoy a refreshing martini in the company of friends. Mix up the classic or try this lemon basil martini recipe. Cheers to that!

Today is also Juneteenth

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

mages and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for June 19  1586 - English colonists sailed away from Roanoke Island, NC, after failing to establish England's first permanent settlement in America. 1862 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln outlined his Emancipation Proclamation, which outlawed slavery in U.S. territories. 1910 - Father's Day was celebrated for the first time, in Spokane, Washington. 1973 - Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) got his 2,000th career hit. 1976 - Wild Cherry released "Play That Funky Music." _________________________________________________________ "As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge." --Henry Van Dyke