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Honor the Brave Ladies Who 'Stormed' The Sazerac at The Roosevelt New Orleans

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 123 Baronne St. [map], New Orleans, LA, United States, 70112
September 23, 2009 at 3:28 PM | by EricRosen | 0 Comments

Taken during the very first "stormin'" in 1949.

Some people go for Civil War re-enactments, some people prefer Jane Austen movies, but when it comes to historical fixes, we prefer the vintage booze that are making a comeback at hipster-frequented speakeasies across the country. That’s why we want to tell you about the upcoming “Stormin’ the Sazerac” event at the landmark Roosevelt New Orleans on Friday, September 25.

Back in the day, women were only admitted to the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt on one day of the year: Mardi Gras (remember, this is New Orleans). Well, 60 years ago, a group of well-to-do New Orleans ladies decided they wanted a drink, and on September 25, 1949, they stormed the bar and demanded to drink. Their gambit paid off, and ever since, women have been admitted on the same basis as men.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of that…liquid…victory, the hotel is hosting a “Stormin’ the Sazerac” party starting at 2:00pm. The bar will be serving a new specialty cocktail called the “Miss Sazerac,” which is made with 18-year-old whiskey. Guests are encouraged to come in late-1940’s vintage attire, and those who stay to dine at the hotel restaurant will be given complimentary valet parking.

That day was only one small piece in the storied hotel’s history, though. Many of the jazz greats like Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles played here, and Elvis even occupied the top floor for a few months in 1957 while filming King Creole. It is even said that infamous governor Huey P. Long had the 80-mile Airline Highway built between New Orleans and Baton Rouge so that he could have a decent place to drink.

Since being taken over by Waldorf Astoria in 2005, the Roosevelt has undergone a $145 million renovation that has restored the landmark property to its former glory. There are now 504 rooms including 135 luxury suites with amenities like high-speed internet access and flat-screen TV’s. The hotel is also home to a new Guerlain Spa.

Just in case you enjoy too many of the eponymous cocktails that evening, rates start at $179 the night of the 25th for a Queen room.

[Photo courtesy of The Roosevelt Hotel]

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