NEW ORLEANS – The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, hosted its ‘Stormin’ of the Sazerac,’ celebration Friday, September 23, 2016. The one-of-a-kind event pays tribute to the women who stormed the Sazerac Bar in 1949 demanding to be served, rendering the Sazerac Bar to be the first bar in New Orleans to allow women to publically imbibe on days other than Mardi Gras.
Education activist Kira Orange Jones was honored as the first ever “Reigning Spirit of the Sazerac,” an award that pays tribute to exemplary women embodying strength, determination and courageousness similar to the women in 1949 who stormed the Sazerac Bar to change social culture.
“Stormin of the Sazerac” encompassed libations, cuisine and entertainment, including a three-course ladies-only luncheon, pop-up fashion shop, live entertainment and a juried best-dressed competition, all taking place in the hotel’s famous Blue Room. Following the Blue Room festivities, Orange Jones led attendees in a second line to “storm” the world-renowned Sazerac Bar, where the spirited day continued with Sazerac cocktails in-hand.
Emcees WDSU-TV anchor Charles Divins and New Orleans’ cocktail historian and founder of Drink and Learn Elizabeth Pearce, “Reigning Spirit of the Sazerac” and Senior Vice President and Regional Field Executive of Teach for America Kira Orange Jones and a spirited New Orleanian strike a pose at The Roosevelt, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s annual Stormin’ of the Sazerac, on Sept. 23, 2016.
A winner of the best dressed competition walks the runway in 1940s sailor attire at The Roosevelt, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s annual Stormin’ of the Sazerac, on Sept. 23, 2016.
Spirited women and men second-line down The Roosevelt, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s block-long lobby ready to “storm” the Sazerac Bar at the annual Stormin’ of the Sazerac, on Sept. 23, 2016.
Rita, who “stormed” the Sazerac Bar in 1949, poses with New Orleans’ cocktail historian and founder of Drink and Learn Elizabeth Pearce before “storming” the Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s annual Stormin’ of the Sazerac, on Sept. 23, 2016.
