October 18 2013 Friday Cocktail and Book Recommendations

Washington DC and the Case of the Beltway Circus

P.T. Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was one of the most famous and infamous showmen, businessmen, promoters and scam artists that the United States of America ever produced.  He is well known for founding what would become Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus.

He is also credited with having said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

What you might not realize is that P.T. Barnum was also a politician.

Considering the past few weeks of brain-numbing shenanigans that have been going on in Washington, D.C. you will understand why the great hoaxer and self-promoter P.T. Barnum came to mind.

To celebrate the fact that thousands of government employees can go back to work, that much needed government programs will once again be open  - including the National Zoo - and that the United States won’t default on its debt I would like to offer my cocktail, book, music and movie recommendations for this “sigh of relief” Friday.

Let’s start with the cocktail recommendation. It’s called “Barnum Was Right.” The recipe is as follows:

Barnum Was Right

What you need:

3 - 6 oz. cocktail glass-Nick & Nora Cocktail Glasses or Stork Club Champagne Coupe
Cocktail Shaker

Cracked Ice

Apricot Brandy

Dry Gin

Lime Juice
Angostura Bitters

Bartender's Note:  Many modern recipes on the internet list the wrong amount of liquor for this drink.  The end result of this recipe will give you a little under 3 oz. of alcohol.  Do not start with 3 oz. of alcohol.  Follow this recipe and you will get perfect results!

Directions:

Fill the stainless steel bottom of your cocktail shaker with cracked ice

Add 1/2 oz. Apricot Brandy

Add 1 oz. Dry Gin

1 dash Lime Juice

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Fit the glass top of your cocktail shaker tightly into the stainless steel bottom and shake for 10-20 seconds.

The shaking and warmth of your hands melts the ice slightly and produces more liquid.

Carefully remove glass top, place strainer on top of stainless steel shaker bottom and strain/pour cocktail into 3 - 6 oz. cocktail glass.

Serve and Enjoy - Cheers!

As for the book recommendations I think political thrillers and mysteries set in Washington, D.C. are appropriate.  The first book is suggested with love and appreciation for the great writer Tom Clancy. Mr. Clancy died on October 2, 2013 at the age of 66. He will be missed.

Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
Murder on K Street by Margaret Truman
Jack & Jill by James Patterson

                There’s one other book I’d like to recommend you purchase as a gift. Rather than making a political donation you might consider sending your current representatives in the House and Senate the following:

Congress For Dummies by David Silverberg

The obvious film recommendations would be:

All the Presidents Men Screenplay by William Goldman; Directed by Alan J. Pakula
Network  Screenplay Paddy Chayefsky; Directed by Sidney Lumet

But for much needed laughs I would also suggest:

Dick (not a porno but a hilarious version of the Watergate saga) Screenplay Andrew Flemming & Sheryl Longin; Directed by Andrew Flemming
The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie Screenoplay Derek Drymon, Tim Hill, Stephen Hillenburg, Kent Osborne, Aaron Springer, Paul Tibbitt; Directed by Stephen Hillenburg

               The music is easy. When you need something to sooth the soul and make you smile:

Quiet Village by Martin Denny

This weekend forget those barkers and bastards in DC. Make a cocktail, put on some music, grab a book and sit back and relax in your favorite comfy chair. Later watch a great movie. And have some chocolate. You can never go wrong with chocolate.

Special thanks to DylanAKent for all her help with the cocktail recipe. Follow her on Twitter @DylanAKent

If you found the Library of Ghosts recommendations helpful, please use the links above to purchase them from Amazon. This helps support my blog. Thank You.

Keywords: Friday, October 17 2013, books, music, cocktails, film, movie, recommendations, P. T. Barnum, politics, politicians, Washington DC, Republicans, Democrats, government shutdown, national debt, Barnum Was Right Cocktail