Bar Flyby

by A.D. Amorosi

What the hell’s going on? News anchors Dawn Stensland and Larry Mendte became heavily made-up Letterman-like pranksters at the Byko roast. (OK, only Mendte was caked.) Comcast SportsNet’s Dei Lynam did Vagina Monologues at Atlantic City’s Resorts. And now WPVI-TV’s Cecily Tynan and Monica Malpass, WCAU-TV’s Alycia Lane and WB-17’s Toni Yates are pouring drinks. Thankfully, this is all for the good cause of the Variety Club’s eighth annual Young Variety Celebrity Bartenders’ Night, which raises money and distributes information for the club’s camp in Montgomery County, offering children everything from after-school programs to overnight camps. Young Variety board member and event co-chair Brian McGeehan says the event has grown in location (from Manayunk spaces to McFadden’s) and its number of participants. "Last year, [the Eagles’] John Runyan planted himself at the front of the bar and poured beers and shots all night; [the Eagles’] A.J. Feeley and [former Charge defender] Heather Mitts joined him up front; Cecily Tynan had a blast and has been promoting it this year, recruited Monica Malpass and [Action News’] Gary Papa to join her this week," he says. "Last year we doubled our money to the charity with over $10,000 net in one night." Smartly, McGeehan remains civilly mum on the potential debauch of newscasters let loose behind a bar. "I’m not sure of anything crazy, past or present. It’s always a good time, always full of single men and women, 400 or 500 of them." But I like to think crazy. And drunk. So for those women behind the bar looking for something cool, innovative and potent -- try a Green Lizard. It’s colorful (1 ounce of Chartreuse, perfect for that Irish bar), it’s strong (an ounce or more of 150-proof rum) and could, if imbibed properly, knock some visiting Eagle, like Freddie Mitchell, on his ass.

For those who like their ass-knocking done by professionals, The Book and The Cook's "Cocktail Classic" finds the top names in Philly bartending tackling the toniest of choice, clean vodkas, Ciroc, in the clearest of glassy super-structures, the National Constitution Center, aiming to come up with the finest vod-cocktail. The end result? The night's winner will be feted at 32¡ with The Book and The Cook's 20th Anniversary Signature Cocktail crown; that is, unless you're too drunk to say that.

The Young Variety Celebrity Bartenders’ Night, Thu., Feb. 26, 6-10 p.m., $20, McFadden’s, 461 N. Third St., 800-553-7806. The Book and The Cook’s "Cocktail Classic," Mon., March 1, 6:30 p.m., $45, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215 545-4543.

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