It's not a new product, but for the first time Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction's signature liquor, Root, is available outside of creator Steve Grasse's home state of Pennsylvania. Art in The Age, which hosts a retail store in Philadelphia, is a brand named after Walter Benjamin's landmark 1936 essay, "Art In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction," the themes of which Grasse tried to incorporate into everything he produces, "Emphasizing a pre-industrial ethos, before mass production turned everything crappy", he says.

Nothing screams “Hallelujah! It’s Thursday happy hour” quite like a nice beverage and donuts.

Last Friday, Jen and I went to check out the Federal Donuts event at Art in the Age (creator of Root, Snap and Rhuby). If you’ve read much on this site, you’ll know that not only are these two of our favorite things in Philly, but we love combining them too! Needless to say, we were pretty excited to see what they came up with.

One of the things that I remember best of my childhood was the scent of brown butter and ginger and the trays of spicy, crisp and savory ginger snap cookies baked at home.  Our governess was from Germany and she loved to bake these savory treats whenever the opportunity arose.   It’s funny to look back and remember the first time I tasted a ginger snap cookie.  In my mind’s eye I can picture the flat shape, the golden brown color of the dough and the spicy aromatics of the toasted ginger filling my grandparents home.  This aroma still haunts my imagination whenever I smell ginger.  It is a good feeling and one that I like to call back on when given the opportunity.

It's a Date
Bellwether and Richlane make for quite the pair

It being Monday, it means the time has come to decide what you'll be eating on Friday.

Drinks: When you’ve finished dinner, march yourselves across the street to Richlane. The simple wood-focused design lets the drinks stand out. Nightcaps are made of Maiden’s Milk ($10). Magically rich, the steamed whole milk, pear nectar, old-fashioned bitters, Snap gingersnap liqueur and a grating of cinnamon is served in a little china cup. 595 Union Ave. (at N. 11th St.), Brooklyn; 347-422-0617
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For the Spring and Summer growing season, we bring you a new feature at Beekman 1802, the Soused Gnome.  He’ll teach  you how to “gartend”–create perfect seasonal cocktails using fresh ingredients from the garden.