High Museum of Art Atlanta -Highball Event
A Love for Atlanta that Continues to Grow
Your Blissfully Single Girl loves living here in Atlanta!
There are so many fun things to do in Atlanta, there’s no way you can be bored. From the great restaurants to events that target beautifully single folks like me in my 40’s – there’s a program to fit whatever you’re trying to get into.
My only regret about my current situation living here is that I didn’t move to Georgia sooner.
Do you know how many bored weekends I had to struggle through on Long Island? Brutal. It didn’t have to be this way!
Weekends at the High Museum of Art Atlanta
This weekend at the High brings Highball!
I was so excited to attend the High’s Mixology event that I purchased two VIP tickets. Highball VIP tickets include early entry and a seating area. Glad I purchase as early as I did, the event was sold out by the time the event came around.
I used to work for the High Museum and while working there, I help select the venue at the Foundry at Puritan Mill. By the time I accepted another position, I already knew I’d be attending and fully support at the highest dollar amount.
Plus, since the ticket purchase benefits the High Museum, you can write the cost off on your tax return, so this is a plus!
High Ball Mixology Event
Every summer, the Hight Museum of Art hosts Highball.
High Ball is a fundraising mixology event where 16 bartenders come together with their drink creations.
Atlanta’s best bartenders compete and stretch the very limits of their imaginations to display and let us sample their most creative cocktails. After attendees have sampled all drinks, we get to vote to select the top three bartenders and they in turn can win a cash prize and trophy.
This year’s theme was Fairy Tales and Story Books, so every cocktail had a lovely story behind it that ties back to the charm and whimsy of fantasy and folk tale.
Highball Event Logistics
My career has been nestled in Corporate Events for years and I can’t turn off the event planning piece when attending an experience outside of work. Highball is no different.
I have to say though; the planning for Highball was damn near perfect; but again, I used to work with the show hosts, I didn’t expect anything less than.
The Foundry at Puritan Mill venue was ideal for an event of this scope. A wide-open space framed with beautiful, exposed brick, both the aesthetic and functionality worked exceptionally well for Highball.
The food was vegetarian and vegan friendly, which, as a pescatarian, I appreciated. However, I do notice there aren’t any charcuterie boards. A good charcuterie board is really the standard fare for events involving cocktails. To me this was the only miss. However, the food displays were gorgeous and neat.
In an effort to make Highball a environmentally friendly event, the High Museum partners with CompostNow to reduce waste at the event by collecting food scraps and using compostable cups. Excellent cause, I wish though, there were more accessible compost bins.
From what I could see, there’s one compost bin and it was a bit of a walk to get to it. Having a few composts bins in areas that were easier to get to would result in more compost collection. I had on four inch platforms, I wasn’t walking more than I had to, so most of my cups went into regular trash.
DJ Dmark was great.
He spun tunes that I love and from my generation…late 90’s and early 2000’s R&B and Rap. Again, not only did his music target our grown and sexy folks in our 40’s -but as Black people; we were considered, even recognized in selecting a DJ. This is a SHARP contrast from life on Long Island (suburban NY) where going to an event means you’re listening to music you aren’t even remotely interested in.
I looked at my date for the night exclaiming, “I can’t believe they are playing Mary J. and Biggie!” Music was relatable and very much appreciated.
The Highball Bartenders
Each bartender had their own table where they can display art or signage promoting themselves and their creations. Listening to the stories behind the drink, I am simply in awe of the creative energy these mixologists wield when concocting these delectable drinks.
Highball Drinks and Tales
Ingredients Sourced from Haiti
Something else that stuck out and as a Haitian American woman, and I simply adore, is that more than one bartender used raw materials from Haiti. Jasmine Goldstein’s (Bar Politan) uses oranges specifically from Haiti in her “Bella Rose” Beauty and the Beast inspired cocktail.
Jeremy Hathcoat’s (Muss and Turner’s) uses a Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao in his “Poisoned Apple” creation. The triple sec used is produced through oranges imported from Haiti as well. It filled me with a sense of pride knowing that Haiti was incorporated into these cocktails. Pleasant surprise for sure. All-in-all though, the notes of fruit were right up my alley and the green color is spot on with his theme.
Artwork and Highball
Highball is a High Museum event, so it comes to no surprise that art played a part in the evening festivities. Walter Gregg from The Consulate had a painting on display that really draws me in. Feeding off his signature drink “Sombra Noche,” the painting bolsters the darkness of the drink. The painting gave me a combination of Voodoo and New Orleans; so beautiful and compelling, I could not take my eyes off it. The star of this booth is the art.
My favorite drink of the evening is the Queen Bee. As a huge Beyonce Fan, you had my vote at the name of the drink. However, it’s a combination of the story behind the drink and the taste that ultimately wins me over.
The Queen Bee
Robert Thornton, a bartender at Sincere Fare, explains that the honey used in his Queen Bee cocktails comes from his own beehive that he owns and manages. Now, while my entertainment world revolves around Beyonce, “The Queen Bee” cocktail is actually inspired by The Brothers Grimm, arguably one of best-known storytellers of folk tale. I am not usually a fan of sweet drinks, but this one’s a winner. There is a perfect taste of sweetness, balanced out by the tartness of lemon juice. The honey infusion of royal jelly, sage and cinnamon elevates this cocktail to a level where in my opinion, other drinks cannot compete. To me, this drink is a winner!
Highball Winners
The awards ceremony for Highball took place around 3:45 p.m.
Full transparency, I did not stick around because all of those samples had your blissfully single girl woozy bordering on straight faded. I placed my vote and my friend drives me home.
However, I did reach out to my former colleague /friend to ask who the winners ultimately are. FYI though – winners should be listed on all major social media platforms no later than a day or two after the event. If it wasn’t for me reaching out to an ex-colleague, I wouldn’t have known who the winners are.
Nevertheless, here are the esteemed Highball winners:
Kursten Berry
Drink: “Kiss the Girls”. Establishment: Twisted Soul
Raymond Sampson
Drink: “Sploosh”. Establishment: Bar Vegan
Robert Thornton
Drink: “The Queen Bee”. Establishment: Sincere Fare
Highball and the Blissfully Single Lesson:
Getting Dressed Up and Looking Pretty
There was a time in my life when things were so chaotic. The emotional turmoil I was experiencing was so profound that I was literally on the precipice of a major depression.
Eventually though and through trial and error, I realized that an energy source of upliftment and self-esteem for me came from taking care of myself. Giving ME the love and self-care that no one saw enough value to gift me with. Self-love had to come from Beans; there isn’t a person on earth who could have given this to me.
Ultimately, I learned to love and make taking care of Blissfully Single Bean a priority.
Styling my hair, buying a new outfit, and getting my nails done. Walking by a mirror and realizing how beautiful I am, in my own eyes and by my own standards. Looking pretty is a source of strength for me; sounds shallow, but this got me through some of the darkest moments of my life.
So going out and exploring all Atlanta has to offer, it puts me in the identical space.
For Highball, I want a new dress so I head to Zara in Perimeter Mall and this gave my love of fashion a much needed jumpstart. I know I want to use a little make-up to enhance my natural beauty, so I fumble through applying concealer and MAC Ruby Woo lipstick.
Going out gives me a reason to look pretty. That in turn feeds my self-esteem. Living in Atlanta always gives me a reason to clean up and show out; and that, I am endlessly thankful for. I will be back for Highball for years to come.
What are some fun events you’ve been to this summer? Drop it in the comments below.
Until next event my friends….
I am Blissfully Single and Yours,
