Cocktail Showdown

​Round one of the 2016 cocktail showdown

November 9th, 2016

By Chris Larson

Cjlarson75@gmail.com

It’s once again time for the annual Cocktail Showdown in which our three judges experience and then highlight the best libation creations offered by a variety of local participants. Ranging from local tavern to fine cocktail bars, the showdown will bring our judges all across the metro area to sit down with some of the most creative cocktail minds in town and be served up two entries from each location.

Each week we will visit and rate two creations…

Read more...


​Toast of the Town

March 3rd, 2016

photos by Kensie Wallner

Last Sunday the Crystal Ballroom was transformed into a little slice of sin city, representing class, sass, and everything in between for the third annual Bartender’s Ball. Attendees were spotted donning their finest evening garb, leisure suits and tuxes along with a few patrons channeling the late great Hunter S. Thompson. Ladies rocked sky high heels, high hemlines, chic cocktail dresses, glitter, and evening gowns.

Blue Belle’s Burlesque greeted patrons in little more than smiles…

Read more...


​Bartender’s Battle: Shake Rattle and Roll

February 17th, 2016

As the sun sets on the Cocktail Showdown we soon find ourselves in the eve of the third annual Bartender’s Battle. Eight of Fargo Moorhead’s finest mixologists will be presented with a fully stocked bar with the finest and freshest ingredients. Here they mix, head to head -- tournament style in front of an audience and four judges. Think “Chopped” but live and booze infused.

The eight participants were the highest rated contenders during our cocktail showdown. During the showdown…

Read more...


Bartenders to Battle!

January 27th, 2016

by J. Earl Miller

Now that the Cocktail Showdown has wrapped up this year, we needed to gather all of our scoring notes and information, to find out who will take part in this year’s Bartenders Battle. For those of you who are not familiar with the Bartenders Battle, it is a head-to-head competition, pitting one bartender against another mixing craft cocktails in a small amount of time on stage in front of all their peers.

The bartenders are supplied a full bar with an array of many of…

Read more...


The ninth and final week of the seventh Annual Cocktail Showdown

December 22nd, 2015

The ninth and final week of the seventh Annual Cocktail Showdown

By Sabrina Hornung

For the ninth and final sampling during the Showdown our judges experienced Eric Johnson’s Tennessee Fiery Apple and The Swaderita at Chub’s Pub. We were then off to Sidestreet to try Mistelle Stein’s Russian Tea and Eddie Gonzalez’s Afterburner. Soon we found ourselves at Pounds where Kory Wiler introduced us to The Hoser and Peach Kuchen. The last stop in the showdown brought us to sample The…

Read more...


Week eight of the Cocktail Showdown

December 12th, 2015

Week eight of the cocktail showdown brought our fearless judges to Monte’s to sample Nate Eversman’s “Guavalada” and the “Spicy maple bacon”. We were then off to Rustica to experience Kyle Berglund’s “Brandied apple” and the “Savory Spaniard”. Our last stop of the night brought us to Hennessey’s where Eric Krogh laid down the law with the “Irish tour” and the “Cider and black”.

Monte’s Downtown

Monte’s is located at 220 N Broadway and has been a…

Read more...


Cocktail Showdown week seven

November 28th, 2015


Week seven of The Cocktail Showdown featured Alison Shape’s “Alison Wonderland” and Jessie Tank’s “Pepper’s Fireside Cafe” at Pepper’s Sports Cafe. Matthew Lewellen’s “Pie Cups” and “Fall Smash” were featured at The Hodo Lounge at The Hotel Donaldson downtown. Last (but not least) we sampled Tori Luck’s “James and the giant Peach” and James Hein’s “Pear Amour” at The Toasted Frog.

Pepper’s Sports Cafe

Pepper’s Sports Cafe is located at 2510…

Read more...


Cocktail Showdown Week Six

November 20th, 2015

Week six of the cocktail showdown featured Stephie Basol’s “Adult Lemonade” and Jeremy Tjon’s “Mandarin Mule” at The Empire, as well as Tryoy Wall’s “Great Pumpkin” and “The Woody’s Mule” at Woody’s in south Fargo; From there, we ventured to The Cork ’n Cleaver and were presented with “Just one S’more” and “The Thriller” from Steve Dahl.

The Empire

The Empire is located at 424 N Broadway and is one of downtown Fargo’s staples. The Empire is the…

Read more...


Cocktail Showdown Week 5

November 11th, 2015


Participating as a judge in the cocktail showdown has opened my eyes to a whole different bar experience. Since week one I have learned new bar vocab terms, techniques, flavor combinations, and have tasted exotic liqueurs I never knew existed. Needless to say drinking on the job has never been so rewarding...and educational.

Week Five of The Cocktail Showdown featured Kent Larsen’s “Barbacoa Coquito” and “The Ghost Rider” at Barbacoa. Molly Fontaine’s “Irish Italian” was…

Read more...


Cocktail Showdown Week 4

November 5th, 2015

Cocktail Showdown Week 4

By, Sabrina Hornung

For Week Four of the Cocktail Showdown featured “The Noks Mule” and “The Blood Orange” from Cassie Hanson at Ft. Noks, “The Farmer’s Market” and “The Maduro Rustico” from Jared Winmill at Rustica, “The Blueberry Embrace” from Marcus Dennis and “The Auburn Tide” from Gennifer Christianson at The Radisson.

Fort Noks Bar of Gold

Fort Noks is located at 52 Broadway, Fargo. It is housed in a former bank building that retains…

Read more...


Tracker Pixel for Entry MidwestRoadTripAdventures Tracker Pixel for Entry farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry Nicoles Tracker Pixel for Entry Cottonwood Tracker Pixel for Entry Farrms Tracker Pixel for Entry FPL

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakota communities will join a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism and President Donald Trump’s policies on Saturday, June 14. A range of "No Kings" events…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

June 21, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N., Fargo“We Watch Shudder,” Fargo’s favorite horror podcasters, bring on the darkness during the longest day of the year. The Darkest Day of Horror Film Festival features…

Fighting the good fightBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Over two thousand rallies took place nationwide June 14 as part of the “No Kings" protest. Ten of those protests were held in North Dakota, with thousands in attendance.…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWe need Paul Revere on a Harley: “ants and autocrats are coming!”The Asian needle ant has been nesting in the American South since at least 1932. It probably hitched a ride on a freighter from…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com The weather warmed up quickly here in the upper Midwest this spring, sparking prime eating season. This means burger battles, food trucks and lake-season food travel. The 2025 Downtown Fargo Burger…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com The June 9 death of musician Sylvester Stewart, known much better by stage name Sly Stone, saw an outpouring of tributes, memorials and appreciations from some who knew him personally and many…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comAct Up Theatre, in partnership with Minnesota State University Moorhead, will present “The Sound of Music” on June 10-14. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Moorhead’s…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…