At the pinnacle of Nightlife’s First Golden Age, Webster Hall was a regular hot spot for quiet knocks and hushed whispers, turn-the-other-cheek coppers and strong booze. Reputedly owned by infamous mobster Al Capone, the venue conveniently ignored the prohibition mantra, and quickly earned its moniker as the “Jewel of the Village” among its adventurous clientele. Fast Forward to now, 126 years since its inception, Webster Hall is bringing it all back.

On January 19th, 2013, re-scheduled from November 5th due to Sandy, the legendary venue is resurrecting the not-so-temperate 1920’s with its first annual Beer and Whiskey Festival called East Ville Des Folies. On the eve of the festival, guests will have the opportunity to sample 4 floors of rare Whiskeys and Beers from around the world while immersed in the culture of the original burlesque hall as it was at the turn of the century.  Along with the Whiskeys and Beer, there will be a chance to win the DRINK-A-PALOOZA drinking board game which was donated for the event to help raise funds.  The game includes all of the fun and easy drinking games such as Beer Pong (Beirut), Kings, Chandeliers and Flip Cup.   We will be setting up other fun events soon!  For more info on Drink-A-Palooza click the ultimate drinking game link, like them on Facebook by clicking I like drinking games and follow them on twitter by clicking I follow drinking games.  Here is the link to purchase the Drink-A-Palooza Drinking Board Game.

Done with the Webster Hall flair, the event will feature the Spinning Prize Wheel, Trapeze and Circus acts, scantily clad Burlesque dancers, Swing Jazz Bands. Complete with vintage photographs that date back far before Instagram found inspiration in their antiquity, the speakeasy bar downstairs will be transformed into an exclusive lounge for Templeton Rye Whiskey, said to be the mobster Al Capone’s favorite drink.

Tickets on sale now at $35 general admission, and $45 for VIP. VIP will give you early entrance. The event is 1:30 PM–5:30 PM for VIP, and 2:30 PM-5:30 PM for GA. It may no longer be illegal to attend, but East Ville Des Folies is definitely not for the faint of heart.  A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to East Ville Des Folies’ charitable partner Third Street Music School Settlement, a nonprofit organization providing group instruction in music and dance to 3,000 students from low- to moderate-income neighborhoods. More than 75 percent of all youth served benefit from need-based financial aid, merit-based scholarships and subsidized instructional offerings.