Akron is no longer a craft-cocktail desert.
A second bar has opened featuring “hand-crafted” fancy-pants drinks. And this one has two secret entrances.
It’s a cozy spot — with seating for about only 30 — called the Northside Speakeasy. It’s nestled in a corner of the ground floor of the new Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Akron’s Northside District.
The “Prohibition-era themed lounge” serves classic cocktails, according to its Facebook page.
Its opening this month followed the March debut of the Chop & Swizzle craft cocktail bar in the old fire station at 60 Maple St. in the West Hill neighborhood.
The Speakeasy is not the seedy-basement type of joint where folks went for boozing during the Prohibition era. It’s swanky — but not too swanky — and part of the fun is watching bartenders pour, mix and shake behind a semi-circular bar that dominates the small space.
More fun to watch: A closed-circuit TV shows the uninitiated outside trying to figure out the secret doorway, through a faux newsstand. The other doorway, off the hotel lobby, is inspired by a classic British telephone booth.
Low lights, exposed brick walls and a laminate wine-crate floor lend a special, yet unaffected feel that part-owner Joel Testa was aiming for.
So what is a craft cocktail? Many, including Testa and the owners of Chop & Swizzle, say it’s a cocktail made the traditional way: no pre-made mixes, and with a focus on fresh, quality ingredients.
Bartender Dale DeGroff played a pivotal role in sparking what some call the “modern craft cocktail movement,” focusing on classic techniques and drinks at New York City’s Rainbow Room in the 1980s. In 2002, he published what many consider the bible of the movement, The Craft of the Cocktail.
At the Speakeasy last week, Karrie LaRock of Akron and Heidi Claxton of Fairlawn were celebrating Claxton’s 40th birthday. Each had a Down the Rabbit Hole (Effen cucumber vodka, St. Germain, fresh mint, cucumber, lime; $10).
LaRock dubbed the drink “absolutely refreshing.”
She and Heidi, owner of American Roadway Logistics, were both pleased, as Heidi put it, that they were downtown and in a place “that you can go and not feel like you’re the old person at a college bar.”
Prices for the mix of classic cocktails and signature drinks for the most part range from $9 to $13. One exception is the $20 build-your-own Manhattan, called Mixology 101. The bourbon, sweet vermouth and housemade bitters come in a box.
Testa’s favorite cocktail is the $10 Northside Manhattan, made with Bulleit rye, Vya sweet vermouth, Hellfire bitters (made with jalapeño), and housemade ginger beer.
Bill Fiorella, owner of the Affordable Benefits insurance agency in Akron, and friend Mike Jones, who works for Crano Construction, were thankful for the selection of craft beers. They were waiting for their wives, who were visiting the nearby Zeber-Martell gallery and clay studio.
“We’re beer guys,” Fiorella said.
Scotch, whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin and other spirits are available in addition to cocktails. The food menu is limited to noshes, such as Italian marinated olives and garlic ($6) and tortilla chips with a green tomato, green onion and green pepper salsa ($5). This had a yummy smoky flavor.
Bryan Burns and Anthony Mandala, previously of the Office City Tavern in Akron’s North Hill, are among the mixologists.
Northside Speakeasy is owned by the Byte Dining Group, a partnership that counts Akron area developer Joel Testa and well-known Cleveland chef Dante Boccuzzi among its members. Byte also owns the DBA restaurant next door.
Hours are 5 p.m. to at least midnight Monday through Thursday; and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. It is closed Sunday. Because of limited seating, parties of two have a better chance of finding seats.
The address is 31 Furnace St. at downtown’s northern edge. Go to www.northsidespeakeasy.com. Phone is 330-375-1630.
Jimmy’s Downtown
There’s also booze news at the southern end of the city.
Jimmy’s Downtown, at 376 S. Main St., will celebrate its grand reopening this Friday at 7 p.m. DaVinci’s Pizza will offer free appetizers, and the Steve Roberts Band will perform.
Previously called Jimmy’s Martini Lounge, it is owned by Jimmy Salaheddine, 35.
Salaheddine said he closed the place in January so he could “give it a fresh look,” adding more lighting and changing furniture and artwork.
He changed the name because he wanted a more friendly “bar-ish sound.” You’ll still be able to get a martini.
He opened Jimmy’s in 2009, attracted by redevelopment downtown. At the time, he was running the Big Fish in Akron’s Merriman Valley. He closed that bar in 2013, and turned an old neighborhood bar on South Arlington Street, Akron, into the Clutch Gentlemen’s Club. (A colleague described Clutch, which opened last year, as a “sports bar with dancers.”)
Jimmy’s Downtown, Salaheddine said, attracts downtown workers and residents from the greater Akron area.
He’s excited to see the opening of the Northside Speakeasy, noting he is friends with Joel Testa. “The more businesses that go in [downtown],” he said, the more customers are going to come downtown,”
There’s no food at Jimmy’s; customers regularly walk next door to DaVinci’s or the Diamond Deli. Go to the Jimmy’s Downtown Facebook page or call 330-762-7211.
Ramp Up Peninsula
The fourth annual Ramp Up Peninsula festival arrives April 30, and organizer Diane Seskes wants the word out that it has again changed locations and parking will be not be on site, except for handicap-accessible.
The area’s annual celebration of the stinky wild leek will be at Heritage Farms, 6050 Riverview Road in Peninsula. It’ll run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with food, music and craftspeople selling wares and offering demonstrations. Admission is $5; free for children under 12.
Seskes, who owns the Log Cabin gift shop in Peninsula and is active with the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, said residents had told her they wanted the event to be in the village. Last year, it was at Hale Farm in Bath Township. The chamber sponsors the event.
Parking with shuttle service will be at Boston Mills Ski Resort, 7100 Riverview Road; Woodridge Intermediate School, 1930 Bronson Ave.; and the Lock 29 overflow lot on Mill Street. Shuttle service stops also will be near the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train depot by the Winking Lizard; and in front of the Yellow Creek Trading Co., 1685 Main St., Peninsula.
Handicap-accessible parking will be in the big front lawn of Heritage Farms, near where the vendors will set up.
New vendors this year include Brimfield Bread Oven of Brimfield Township, which will offer ramp focaccia and other items. Returning after an absence is Autumn Johnston, the Pierogi Lady, who this year opened a location at 1023 Munroe Falls Ave. in Cuyahoga Falls, the former Falls Country Deli. She also has a spot in the Hartville Marketplace in Lake Township.
Don King, who calls himself the Mushroom Hunter, will offer guided tours to help visitors identify spring plants.
Go to www.explorepeninsula.com for information.
Wine events
• Award-winning winemaker and Akron native Jim Clendenen will host a dinner featuring his Au Bon Climat winery at 7 p.m. April 27 at Papa Joe’s, 1561 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron. Executive Chef Joe Alvis is planning five courses. Au Bon Climat’s vineyards are on California’s Central Coast; the name means a well-exposed vineyard. Cost is $85. Call 330-923-7999.
• Area wine importer John Bee, who spends a large part of the year in Italy, will lead a Nebbiolo Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. May 18 at D’Agnese’s Trattoria and Cafe at 566 White Pond Drive, Akron. Nebbiolo is a variety of red wine primarily associated with Italy’s Piedmont region. Cost is $50. Call 234-678-3612 for reservations.
• 3 Point, 45 E. Market St. in downtown Akron, will host a Wines of Australia/New Zealand dinner at 7 p.m. May 9. The menu for the five-course dinner will be available later. Cost is $60. Call 330-535-6410.
• West Side Bakery in Green will celebrate Mom’s Day a little early with a Mother-Daughter Brunch from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $20 and reservations are due Wednesday. Call 330-899-9968. The Green bakery is at 1840 Town Park Blvd., off Massillon Road.
Chef to give talk
There are still openings for a 6:30 p.m. May 5 presentation by Hudson’s own cookbook author and chef Carla Snyder at the Hudson Library and Historical Society, 96 Library St. Snyder will cook from her books Sweet and Tart: 70 Irresistible Recipes with Citrus, released last year, and One Pan Two Plates: More than 70 Complete Weeknight Meals for Two. Snyder is a James Beard Award nominee. Both books will be available for purchase.
Register at www.hudsonlibrary.org or call the reference desk at 330-653-6658, ext. 1010.
Cinco de Nuevo
Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar, 54 Mill St., in downtown Akron, will again pull out the stops for Cinco de Mayo, May 5.
Co-owner and chef Zack Hirt will slow roast a pig, and local Latin/salsa/timba band Ahi-nama will play. Cost is $20, including sides and a beverage. Drink specials will continue Friday and Saturday.
Reservations are required for the pig roast. Nuevo is at 54 Mill St. Go to http://nuevomodmex.com or call 330-762-8000.
Other Nuevo news: The restaurant, which is not normally open on Sundays, will be open from 11 to 5 p.m. Mother’s Day, May 8. An all-day brunch special will be offered, as well as an abbreviated menu. Call for reservations.
Speaking of Cinco de Mayo: Mixologist Lorilei Bailey will share festive drinks with a Mexican flair at 7 p.m. May 3. The class, presented by the nonprofit Countryside Conservancy, will be at the G.A.R. Hall at 1785 Main St. in Peninsula. Cost is $30. For more information or to register, visit www.cvcountryside.org or call Julie Gabelman at 330-657-2542 or email info@cvcountryside.org.
Coffee, tea and art
The Canton Museum of Art is offering coffee and tea tastings.
Java! Creative Coffee Tasting will run from noon to 2 p.m. April 30. Baristas from Muggswigz Coffee & Tea in Canton will be on hand for a tasting in which participants will learn the origins of different coffee beans. Desserts will be provided by Hazel & Rye Artisan Baking Co. in North Canton. Cost is $10.
Cuppa! Tea for Art Lovers is 2 to 4 p.m. May 1. The afternoon tea service will include a tour of the Art and the Animal traveling exhibition, and a sampling of teas and treats in the Wilkof Courtyard. Participants can make their own paper vase. Teas will be provided by the Ohio Tea Co. of Jackson Township with desserts by Hazel & Rye. Cost is $18.
Order tickets for both events at www.cantonart.org/cuppa.
The museum is at 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. Free parking is available. Call 330-453-7666 or go to www.cantonart.org.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com.