Mixology Mondays at the Satellite in Silver Lake

Lots of attention is being focused on Silver Lake now that Forbes has named it “America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhood.” In a stunning feat of skinny-jean-clad domination, it beat out such messy-haired hubs as San Francisco’s Mission District and Brooklyn’s Williamsburg for the dubious title.

Whether the moniker makes you want to laugh or cry, it’s here to stay. As a former longtime Silver Lake-ian, the announcement made me want to drink, which is why I’m pleased to announce that the revered Silver Lake indie rock club, the Satellite (formerly Spaceland), is upping its game by starting a mixology program in its upstairs bar.

Happily, that program, which Satellite is currently dubbing “Mixology Mondays,” takes place on the same night that my band, Last In Class, plays its October Monday-night residency at the club. I love cocktails, and now there are quality cocktails where there was formerly only huge glasses of Wild Turkey. (Or was I the only one ordering those?)

Anyway, bartender and cocktail enthusiast, Amy Rieckelman is heading up the new program, which kicks off at 6 p.m. and lasts all night. Helping her is Drago Centro mixologist Jaymee Mandeville. For now the ladies are doing cocktails based around themes.

Last Monday was the “Roaring ‘20s” and featured drinks included the Monkey Gland (gin, fresh orange juice, absinthe, grenadine); Boulevardier (this was my favorite. It’s made with bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth and a brandy-soaked cherry); and a classic daiquiri. The cocktails go for $9 and $5 during happy hour, which lasts from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes the hipster staple, PBR for $2, alongside $2 well drinks.

Tonight’s theme will be “Mad Men,” featuring classic cocktails from the 1960s. On the 29th the women will get in the Halloween spirit by recreating the space cantina from “Star Wars.”

To help the program get on its feet and in hopes of drawing in an early-evening, pre-band neighborhood crowd, Satellite owner Jeff Wolfram has remodeled the upstairs bar and created a back entrance that allows guests to avoid the noise associated with sound check in the front of the club.

If all goes well, expect to see the mixology program and early-evening hours extended through the rest of the week.

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