Come to Annie's on Congress to see the Tipsy Texan live behind the bar

Just saying you're a Texan FOR gun control is likely to get you shot in Texas, or at least barred from running for political office, even if you mean it sarcastically. Far from venturing into the political wasteland of the firearms gun control debate, what we're promoting is the SODA GUN ban, which certain of us think should be enacted immediately. No more juices or sodas extracted from a bag-in-a-box in a faraway storeroom or basement. What we're advocating is the revolutionary concept of fresh-squeezed juices and natural mixers--just like our boozehound distant ancestors drank. Farm to table? That was my grandma's style. Garden-to-glass? Fill 'er up!

The Austin chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild is proud to offer, in no official USBG-related capacity, the 2009 Tales of the Cocktail Texas Expedition T-Shirt featuring this year's motto: Texans For Gun Control, featuring the Wünder Bar soda gun surrounded by the universal symbol for NO. Please contact me at Tex (at sign) this url if you would like to pre-order your shirt or send me some hateful legal mail because I've violated your trademark or offended your sensibilities.

Tales of the Cocktail starts in New Orleans this week, but for Austinites the party starts tonight at Annie's on Congress. We're hosting a send-off party for Austin's delegates to the convention, and the party is open to the public. Five classic New Orleans cocktails will be served:

Sazerac
French 75
Vieux Carré
Ramos Gin Fizz
Absinthe Frappe

For the grand finale we will be doing a 15-shaker salute to the Ramos Ginn Fizz, which will be shaken by a platoon of Austin's best bartenders.

The Vieux Carré is made with Cognac, Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, and bitters. Pussycat not included.

Event runs 6-8, with live jazz and fresh Crescent City cocktails for $5

Mr. Bill Norris is featured in a Statesman article today. The best quote is, "A jigger is a sign of professionalism not weakness."

David Alan, a.k.a. Tex, is featured in the Rare magazine nightlife edition out on stands now. Click on the third dot on the page to navigate to the correct area with the article.

Bill Hankey, of the The Goodnight, is also featured in this month's Rare magazine.

Good times, folks. We're off to more Tales of the Cocktail Going on!