Windows Mobile is going to help us chronicle our many travels to bars and events around the globe with their mobile and mapping technology. To kick this off and it being cold every except Florida and Hawaii these days, what would be more perfect than to visit Hemingway hangout in sunny, warm Key West institution Sloppy Joe’s Bar.

Located at Greene & Duval Streets in the heart of Key West, Sloppy Joe’s has been delighting local and tourists since December 5th, 1933 the very day they repealed prohibition. As for Hemingway, his house was just down the street.

“Hemingway and his “Mob” of cohorts were enthusiastic regular customers. In fact, the author once called himself a co-owner or silent partner in the enterprise. The “Mob” was comprised of some of the literary lights of the day as well as a variety of famous and infamous local residents”

Make sure visit Sloppy Joe’s nest time you find yourself in Key West and hoist one for Papa!

If your stuck at home you can still enjoy the fun with their series of webcams focused on the stage, bar and Duval Street.

Sloppy Joe’s Bar

Q:A Reader Ask’s, What’s the deal with Mardi Gras?

A: Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is the final day of Carnival, but incorrectly Mardi Gras has come to include the weeks proceeding Fat Tuesday as well. The most famous US Mardi Gras celebration is held in New Orleans with many others held around Louisiana, the Gulf States, Europe and Latin America with huge celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Venice, Italy.

The New Orleans celebration date from the early 1700’s when the city as the capital of French North America. Skirting the law for many years, Mardi Gras was made a state holiday by Louisiana in 1875. Each year since organizations known as “Krewes” put on parades through the streets of New Orleans in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. Each parade is unique an one of those “one in lifetime experiences”. If you haven’t been to the French Quarter in February, put it on the calendar.

Everything you need to know. Mardi Gras 101

Cocktails of New Orleans …
NOLA Martinis …

Great article from Natalie Angier of the New York Times that discuses some of the scientific and sociological reasons for human-kinds love of alcohol.

Every human culture recorded has fermented some sort of beer, wine or spirit. According to Angier, even the first chocolate drinks were fermented. Thus, giving a new meaning to “chocoholic”.

Back in the day sanitation wasn’t always so good, so people used booze to kill bacteria. It seems that those who chose to drink tended to live longer than their teetotaling brethren. This passed the proclivity to drink from generation to generation and here we are, at least in moderation.

read the whole article …
Alcohol - An Ancient Medicine (Enjoy in Moderation) - Natalie Angier - New York Times

Now that Absinthe is once again legal here in the US (and much if Europe), DOTW reader Katha felt we should be featuring a few cocktails to make with old green fairy.

Here’s what she came up with:

Absinthe Stinger
Absinthethea
Leprechauns Pot ‘O Gold

After nearly 100 years, women can once again tend bar in New Delhi. This 1914 British law was overturned by the Indian Supreme Court last week giving women access to one of the more lucrative professions in India.

The cocktail craze has hit India, with trendy bars sprouting up all over the country. A bartender in New Delhi, Mumbai or Hyderabad can earn $1000 (US) per month, nearly 4 times that of the average call center worker.

read the whole article
India overturns law banning women bartenders - International Herald Tribune

picture: Anushika Pradhan tending bar at the Dublin Pub in the Maurya Sheraton Hotel in New Delhi, India.
(Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)

This has become quite an issue, but I don’t see it. Mostly I see it as a benefit for those who seek the nutritional information for the liquor they drink. We get many questions here about the calories, carbs and make up of all sorts of spirits, so why not list this info on the label? Make consumers who care happy, the one who don’t care won’t even notice the change.

read more | digg story

Boozin Gear’s Boozin’ Blog explores this question that puzzles many, Whiskey or Whisky? What’s the deal, why haggle over an ‘e’? Both words have the same basic meaning “water of life”. The distinction is in geography and composition, ‘Whisky’ refers to the Scotch version and ‘Whiskey’ the Irish version. Apparently, this distinction got even more complicated once both Scotch and Irish Distillers came to North America.

read more | digg story