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Nov 8, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
If any reader knows me personally, they know that I’m a sucker for a Manhattan and will therefore try any variation of the classic on any menu. That love of the Manhattan means it’s also my favorite to create variations of. With all that being said, let’s riff on a Manhattan for your fall enjoyment. Fun fact: A classic Manhattan is made with two ounces of bourbon, one ounce of sweet vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura bitters.
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Oct 23, 2024 | 
bostonherald.com | Thea Engst
Celtics fans excited for Banner 18 to be risen to the rafters, eyes set on Banner 19
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Oct 4, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
Fall has fallen and with it comes the familiar flavors of things like cider donuts, candy corn, and of course — caramel apples. Apples and fall go together like cinnamon and nutmeg, so I thought it would be a fun challenge to make a caramel apple-inspired cocktail. The result is sweet, nutty, and unlike any cocktail I’ve personally had before (and I’ve had a lot…).
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Sep 5, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
Sobriety is more popular and prevalent than ever before — making the world of nonalcoholic beer, wine, and spirits more plentiful and exciting as well. This Sober September, I thought I’d utilize some high-quality nonalcoholic products to make a spritz variation. This is easy to make and drink and since all the products are nonalcoholic, you can have them shipped directly to your home, no matter where in the U.S. you live. Let’s start with the product choice.
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Aug 2, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
Strawberry-basil mezcal gimletAs we all somehow continue to exist in the hottest summer of our lives, there’s nothing I want more than a crushable drink with a little backbone. This month, I thought I’d teach you all how to make a delightfully refreshing strawberry mezcal gimlet, with a little herbal twist. I used to work at a restaurant called Lone Star and every summer we’d bring back a strawberry-infused mezcal gimlet that was to die for.
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Jul 31, 2024 | 
exhibitcitynews.com | Thea Engst
(photo of Al Mercuro in 2018 and the Governor Of NJ Phil Murphy)by Thea Engst, Exhibit City NewsAl Mercuro, like many others, fell into tradeshows serendipitously. “I got asked to be a stagehand at a Beach Boys concert in college,” he told me, which led to him running the entire concert series and getting a job out of college in sound and lighting. After traveling the world with musicians and performers, Al landed himself in tradeshows.
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Jul 24, 2024 | 
exhibitcitynews.com | Thea Engst
by Thea Engst, Exhibit City NewsIn a fast-paced, ever-changing landscape, tradeshow producers face the challenge to stand out. Thanks to companies like Something Different Event Décor, they have more options to make lasting impressions on potential clients. I chatted with Susan Medica, owner, and founder of Something Different—named after her mother’s stores—to hear about her journey and days as the face of this unique company.
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Jun 28, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
With the return of all things 90s (see: butterfly clips, chokers, and low-rise jeans), many of the classic cocktails of that era have also reemerged (see: espresso martinis, Midori sours, and grasshoppers). I’m here to let you know it’s OK to like these sweet, tacky things — just make them well. With proper ingredients, balance, and creativity, you can recreate fun 90s-inspired cocktails that won’t immediately put you in a sugar coma. That being said, I decided to try to make a mudslide for adults.
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May 31, 2024 | 
lowellsun.com | Thea Engst
Blood in the waterIt’s been 50 years since “Jaws” was published, and 49 since the movie brought Peter Benchley’s fiction to the silver screen. In honor of summertime vibes, all things beachy, and this classic novel and film, I thought I’d make a blue margarita — with a couple of fun twists. I call it, Blood in the Water.
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Apr 17, 2024 | 
exhibitcitynews.com | Thea Engst
by Thea EngstJimmy Peebles’ career in tradeshows wasn’t his plan. “I got into it quite by accident, actually,” he told me. “I got out of high school in the mid-to-late 70s and went to Texas, Dallas Forth Worth area, ended up as a diesel mechanic. I joined the union in ‘82. I hit it off with the president [of the company I worked for] real well.
