This week on Arts & Seizures, host Mike Edison and guest co-host Kimberly Wetherell of Spirited, a dessert speakeasy in NYC are talking New York City history by means of booze! Welcoming Bridget Firtle of Owney’s NYC Rum and Kevin Fitzpatrick of The Dorothy Parker Society. Distilled in small batches by hand from all-natural, non-GMO, high test molasses in an old factory warehouse in NYC, Bridget gives Mike and Kimberly some information about rum’s history in the country and how it was implemented in some historic recipes. Kevin is also the author of “The Lost Algonquin Round Table: Humor, Fiction, Journalism, Criticism and Poetry From America’s Most Famous Literary Circle,” that speaks on the celebrated group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits that met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929. Prompting a fun talk among the group, Kevin shares that at these luncheons they engaged in wisecracks, wordplay and witticisms that, through the newspaper columns of Round Table members, were disseminated across the country. Tune in for a boozy show and learn about some NYC history in the process! This program was brought to you by Roberta’s Pizza.

“We’re actually the world’s first all-female distillery!” [4:58]

“Rum was actually America’s first spirit, the first spirit we distilled in this country – so important throughout the history of the US and drinking.” [6:13]

—Bridget Firtle on Arts & Seizures