A few years ago, I randomly stumbled across a low-key annual tradition that originated in Hurley NY and honors local history + architecture annually on the second Saturday in July: it’s called Stone House Day. And I’ve been adding it to my calendar ever since as a reminder to shout out a true community treasure: the The Old Stone House of Brooklyn (aka OSH)
So Happy Stone House Day❣️… to MY favorite stone house (and I’d bet yours once you know of it) — which is cosmically just a stone’s throw from my own household (and TFG HQ here in Brooklyn, NYC). OSH is rightfully considered to be the heart 💜 of our Park Slope community for a host of reasons too long to list…
🗓️ Check out their 👉🏽 amazing weekly (sometimes daily!) arts and community events 👈🏾 that take place on and near the OSH Grounds, including the Sunday Park Slope Farmers Market on 4th Street (Sundays, 9am–2pm via Down to Earth Markets).
**🎭🎪🎤 ATTEND MAZING EVENTS ALL THE TIME at OSH !**
In fact: 🟢TODAY Sat. July 12th there’s a Summer ☀️Gardens Tour 🌼 🌷on the OSH grounds from 1:00pm - 2:00pm and 🟢 TOMORROW Sun. July 13th, 2025 from 12:00pm - 4:30pm is an Open Hearth Baking Day 🍞🥖🍕🥧 🪵 at the Old Stone House’s Hearth 🔥… AND… 🟢 be sure to check out their Battle of Brooklyn EVENTS SCHEDULE, where you can register for and mark your calendars with so many exciting events happening throughout the month of August that explore the history of the Old Stone House and Brooklyn during the American Revolution.
As the Resident Food & Public History Advisor for OSH, I’m delighted to share highlights herein from one of their most amazing annual events which is usually held in early to mid June of each year…
For this year’s soirée, I was delighted to design a craft custom cocktail (hey, some folks bake special-occasion cakes — I create special-occasion concoctions 😉) in support of the theme that the OSH team festively titled:
🌟 Rock the House 2025: A Grown-Up Benefit Party for the OSH Gardens and Playground! 🌟
Inspired by the reality of bumble bees as the big time garden pollinators - AND the 1920s classic cocktail called the “Bee’s Knees” 🌼🐝 — for this modern remix, I initiated a radical change of spirit to better reflect today’s roaring Twenties a century later. Basically I swapped out the traditional Prohibition era gin with an award-winning Mezcal Artesanal called Eléctrico 🏆⚡️: a timeless, subtly smokey spirit, beautifully crafted in San Baltazar Guelavila, Oaxaca by the Maestro Mezcalero, Cirino…. and lovingly brought to America by artist- entrepreneur, Kathleen Blackwell of Project Eléctrico, along with her partner and husband, Arthur Edstrom…
This drink update is also a nod to the dynamic migration patterns in recent years and decades, and the positive impacts of Mexican people, culture, culinary and cocktail traditions in, around and throughout NYC. These hardworking individuals and families , in tandem with immigrants from many nations and others of countless cultures have been serving as the backbone of the restaurant and hospitality industries. including influential roles like chefs, managers, proprietors, bartenders, and food/drink artisans who’ve helped shape and co-create an even more flavorful, inclusive, and spirited food and drink scene here in NYC.
In tune with OSH’s fundraising focus to sustain their gorgeous Garden Grounds, I named the night’s unconventional concoction Eléctrico’s ⚡️ OSH Garden Glow 💐🌙 — See also below for the Spanish-language-influenced labels I constructed for the “Cocktail Coloring Bar” portion…
Based on the 1920’s classic “Bees Knees” cocktail, my more unconventional concoction swaps out the gin for an amazing mezcal ….
TFG STORYTELLING Sip by Sip:
For the drink’s narrative I also connected some cosmic dots between mezcal making and beekeeping traditions: the use of calming “white smoke” 💨 in hives echoes the gentle, artful smoke stage of making real mezcal. A perfect pairing of nature, craft, and celebration.
✨ Guests also enjoyed the “Bloom Your Buzz” Cocktail Coloring Bar I created and set up for optionally adding-in all-natural hues (some with subtle flavors ) — as an engaging play on the “Grown up Party at the Playground 🛝 “ theme so attendees could personalize their refreshments and bring to life the vibrant tints and tastes of OSH’s Gardens in their drinking glasses🌸🌿✨🌺🌷🪴🍃.
The All-Star 🌟Line-Up of All-Natural Cocktail 🍹 Coloring Options:
🟡 GARDEN GOLD : this subtly spiced, slightly citrusy stir-in further illuminated the evening’s Eléctrico Glow custom cocktail…
🔴 FRESA FRAGRANTE (Fragrant Strawberry) aka “Fresa Fields Forever": super fun with fruity floral notes that helped selectees feel young again as they segued seamlessly from Spring to Summer — right when the vivid colors of bright red fruits & veg 🍓🍒🌶️ 🌺 🍅 🍉 are most abundant!…
[hearing of the hint of mint influenced this attendee’s cocktail color choice…]
🟢 VISTA VERDE: A green kiss from the garden – a variety of verdant plant elixirs plus a hint of mint made magic when they met Eléctrico mezcal…
🔵 BLUE BUTTERFLY: smooth and serene… this ethereal blue add-in made you want to rename the drink to : “The Bees Ease”…
🟣 VIBRANT VIOLETA (aka “Play Ground Purple”): a splash of citrus to the above mentioned “Blue Butterfly “aka “Bees Ease” became a mystical color long considered to be spiritually sacred throughout Mexican folklore, history and culture – a violet hue signifying strong connections to the divine and the ancestors…
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🔍 Public History’s Always in Action at OSH !
At OSH I also get to collaborate ongoingly with Executive Director Kimberly Maier, Education Director Maggie Weber, and Scholar-in-Residence , Dr. Dylan Yeats on essential projects like:
Uncovering the Legacy of Slavery at OSH — exploring what happened to those enslaved here and their descendants, and how to better commemorate this important and inclusive history.
If you’re interested in supporting this meaningful work, drop a comment or make a donation to OSH and earmark it toward public history programming.
💸 Why Your Support Matters:
OSH depends on community contributions—both local and virtual—to fund its:
Historical and cultural programming
Environmental education & public art
Maintenance of the lush and diverse gardens
JJ Byrne Playground and Washington Park stewardship
🎁 Your Donations help keep the good growing 🌱 . DONATE Today — it’s Stone House Day! https://theoldstonehouse.org/donate/
For info on strategic giving or sponsorships, contact Executive Director Kimberly Maier at 718-768-3195 or kmaier@theoldstonehouse.org
🎙️ BONUS: TFG Messages from the OSH Grounds
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