There's just something about drinking a classic cocktail that puts you in the right state of mind, don't you think? I prefer my Manhattan on the rocks because the clinking of the ice feels old world and romantic to me. But truthfully, the cold, booze-soaked maraschino cherry is my favorite part! This cocktail goes particularly well with salty, rich dishes, making it the perfect addition to a Read more

While I doubt that I'll ever choose to buy real estate in Manhattan (I'm a West Coaster for life), I do enjoy checking out the high-end real estate that the borough has to offer, which is why I'll be tuning in tonight to catch the second season of Selling New York. The first episode, which premieres at 9 tonight on HGTV, follows the brokers from CORE as they attempt to sell a unit in the Urban Read more

Mulled wine is one of the season's healthier hot beverages, but not everybody's crazy about it. If you find the notion of drinking hot wine off-putting, consider a cold drink infused with the same holiday spices as an alternative. This bourbon-and-concord mixture, crafted by Christopher Tunnah at the Bedford Post in Bedford, NY, was designed to be a sort of mulled wine 2.0, with the same Read more

I recently discovered New York City-based architecture and interior design firm Ashe + Leandro and spent a good half hour clicking through all of their inspiring design projects. The one thing that always draws me to an interior space is a feeling of crispness — clean lines, uncluttered accessorizing, polish, elements of white — and Ashe + Leandro has that down to a T. But their interiors Read more

A well-stocked home bar should have two versions of vermouth, and trust me: you don't want to confuse the two. Dry vermouth, also called French vermouth (pictured), is light in color and often found in similarly shaded cocktails. Dry vermouth mixes into a classic dry martini, as well as some of my favorite finds, including the Corkscrew and El Presidente cocktails. Not surprisingly, Italian (aka Read more

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member MMS01 from the Lovely Little Vignettes group: I love this little vignette I created on my bedroom windowsill looking over Manhattan. The large windows and view make my tiny apt feel much bigger! I got the Foo Dog bookends at Home Goods and the Shell Ashtray from Urban Outfitters. Be sure to share photos of your own home décor arrangements in the Read more

Though I made cherry bounce as one of this year's edible gifts, I was sure to save a bottle for myself. Delicious on its own, this old-school cordial is also great mixed into classic cocktails. After sipping a superb cherry bounce old-fashioned, I decided to create a cherry version of the Manhattan, which, in the spirit of the Big Apple, I dubbed the Big Cherry. It has the same ingredients as Read more