The Drake Loves The Nightlife

Three things you never leave home without when you’re heading to a party:

Aileen Heatheringon, General Manager, The Drake Hotel: Small purse, credit card, Rebel by MAC lipstick.

Krista: Snacks, comfy shoes, and a hoodie. I guess you could say I’m a practical party person.

Heather McCorquodale, Housekeeper, The Drake Devonshire: Water, a fun scrunchie, the aux cord.

Have you ever had a whirlwind, unexpected crazy night out on the town? Tell us about it!

Sam:

Once, I went to a bar with the cocktail waitresses from a lounge I worked at in SoHo. They took me to this seeming residential building at E 23rd and 3rd, and we were let into a cave-like, half empty basement bar by a dour bouncer. After a minute in the bar, my co-worker declared it lame and shuffled us out a fire exit, up maybe ten stories of stairs, until we got to a mostly empty loft furnished with only a set of couches, a rug and a coffee table where a very large man was smoking hookah. I think we stayed until about six or seven with the sun coming up over southern Manhattan. A lot of my time in NYC was like that: weirdly beautiful debauchery and very odd hours.

Shawn:

I used to run a skate brand, and its launch party was during Caribana and OVO Fest weekend. Because of how heavy the programming was that weekend, they merged the party with a wicked concert series to draw people. When I showed up, a bunch of the LA Lakers were there, and as a huge basketball fan, I was losing it. A bottle of Henny later, those guys couldn’t get enough of me and my best friend.

What’s the next cocktail you think should make a comeback?

Joyce Lo, Creative Director, Drake Hotel Properties: Piña colada with fresh pineapple.

Sharene: Paloma! Can’t go wrong with a little mezcal, some fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime, and of course a little sweet rim. No salt for this babe.

Sam: A lot of bartenders are bringing back high-end spins on what I would call Applebee’s Drinks: Appletinis, Long Island Iced Teas, that kind of stuff. My late mentor told me when I started bartending that before the cocktail revival of the early aughts, a lot of now famous bartenders worked at spots like Applebee’s for a time, because it was one of the few places that had a bar bible and a cohesive training system. So it makes sense those drinks are coming back because there’s a kind of nostalgia for that not-so-serious era of drinks. I always love making Blue Hawaiians. They’re a super-fun, silly, seafoam-looking drink, and I’ve tweaked the recipe to make it drier. Once one goes out, ten more follow.

Name a track that always gets you on the dance floor.

Heather: Idol – BTS

Joyce: Follow Me – Aly-us

Aileen: Expressing What Matters – Disclosure

Sam: Anything by Busta Rhymes

Shawn: I Want You – Janet Jackson

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Heather: Morning person.

Aileen: Morning person!

Anna: When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, THAT’S AMORE.

Sharene: Morning person, once I’ve had my coffee and shower.

Shawn: I’m nocturnal.

Best 3am snack food (and fave place to get it):  

Joyce: Chips and Gatorade from the 7/11.

Krista: Pancakes 100%, of course in the comfort of my own home. I grew up eating Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes and that hasn’t changed with age!

Heather: Ramen from the Korean grocery store.

Sam: Pizza. King Slice is right next door to The Drake Hotel, so it’s become a very convenient post-shift snack on Friday/Saturday nights around 3:30am.

Shawn: Jerk chicken from Rap’s on Eglinton.

What’s your cure for a wicked hangover?