Fourth of July Cocktails: Red, White, and Booze

[Jasper Johns]

Those who do not work in the service industry (our sympathies to all the dandiacal lifeguards!) should already have an unforgettable holiday weekend underway, full of schmoozing and tasteful boozing. Here are three cocktail recipes to help make your Independence Day truly fabulous.

Red

The Seabreeze

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1 part vodka

2 parts cranberry juice

1 part grapefruit juice

Build over ice, garnish with lime wedge.

Also: Classic Bloody Mary

White

The Classic Mojito

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1.25 oz spiced rum

1 oz lime juice

5 torn, but not shredded, mint leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

2 oz club soda

Combine ingredients over ice, shake if desired.

Muddle mint leaves to release flavor.

Garnish with mint, lime.

Also: White Peach Bellini

Blue:

The Blue Bermuda

• --

• 1 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur

• 1 oz Light Rum

• 3 oz Pineapple Juice

Mix over ice.

Garnish with a slice of pineapple.

Also: The Blue Bastard

Enjoy!

Summer Trend: Army Jackets

Olive drab army-inspired jackets are becoming one of the summer's biggest trends--see some of the best looks at Glastonbury 2010 for evidence of this season's penchant for utility. One of my favorite jackets is an light olive jumper I bought two years ago in Georgetown--this color ages so well!

Here are a few pullovers that can be layered, rocked with accessories (bangles, dogtags), or simply be appreciated for their structured, all-weather charm.

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Peace Corps Vintage Army Jacket (Topman)

Actually second-hand from the Italian army!

Wear with skinny jeans.

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Caldwell Jacket (Guess)

Light, distressed field jacket.

Wear with vintage aviators.

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All-Son Basin Military Jacket (Urban Outfitters)

Mao collar, clean lines.

Wear with a casual shirt and tie.

Welcome!

Everyone can be a bit of a dandy.

After all, who doesn't love a good time? Material pleasures? Self-betterment? Watching a great film, or tasting something delicious?

These things are not superficial indulgences. Au contraire! They are the things which make us who we are and shape our experiences. As Baudelaire said, small decisions we make every day are means to the end of "cultivating the idea of beauty in [our] own persons, of satisfying [our] passions, of feeling and thinking."

The internet is full of people telling you what to buy, where to buy it, what to make, and how to make it. This blog, while somewhat meta in its undertaking, will humbly suggest things to enjoy. So be prepared for the ribald and the refined, the chic and the cheeky.

Best,

FHW