Winslow’s Home and Thaxton Speakeasy are teaming up for a popup speakeasy event later this month.
The University City farm-to-table eatery and downtown underground speakeasy bar will host the event together on Friday, October 26, at Winslow’s Home’s private cellar. The partnership seemed natural, said Zach Meyer from Winslow’s Home.
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“We occupy similar spaces in St. Louis by doing things like offering delicious food and drinks and trying to curate a good space. We saw an opportunity to work together to build more of a communal vibe,” Meyer said.
Winslow’s Home and Thaxton will be serving specialty house-made cocktails at the popup. Winslow’s Home will offer its own spin on the French 75 (pictured at right) and Vieux Carre cocktails with Josh Renbarger making the latter, a bourbon-based drink that’s a cross between a Manhattan and an old-fashioned.
Cocktails from the Thaxton will include the Speakeasy Sangria—fresh fruit, house red wine, Licor 43, Maurin Quina, and cinnamon tincture—and Liquid Courage (pictured below), with Old Overholdt Rye, lemon-thyme simple syrup, black lemon bitters, and a thyme sprig. The fruit and thyme for Thaxton’s drinks will be sourced from Winslow’s farm, Meyer said.
Winslow’s Home new executive chef Cassy Vires will also be cooking small plates for the event using ingredients from Winslow’s farm. Vires, a former James Beard Award nominee, joined the restaurant in July.
In keeping with the speakeasy theme, all guests will enter through the back door of Winslow’s Home before traveling downstairs to the cellar, Meyer said. The speakeasy pop-up has two admission periods, from either 8–10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Guests who opt for the early admission will be escorted upstairs to the restaurant for appetizers and drinks once their time slot is finished, so the party doesn’t have to end once they leave the cellar.
Tickets for the pop-up speakeasy are on sale for $30 each. The ticket price will be applied toward food and drink the night of the event. Guests can also enjoy live music and dancing at the pop-up.
“It’s really important for us to be a place where people can come and let their hair down and enjoy good, sustainable food and drink. The event coincided well with Halloween, even though that wasn’t intentional. We’ll have an optional costume contest,” Meyer said.
Thaxton Speakeasy is operated by Kim Pitliangas, whose father, Mark Pitliangas, owns the building and designed the speakeasy’s interior. St. Louisans who don’t know Mark are at least familiar with some of his other projects: His company, Antique Architectural Decor, has installed whimsical design details around town, including the St. Louis–themed mural at Angelo’s Taverna and the bold signage at several Sugarfire Smoke House locations. He was responsible for the downtown Rosalita’s sign and the monster neons bookending The Grove. He also restored the iconic Vess soda bottle.
