Shake It Up With Westport Plaza’s Blues and Jazz Concert

Every Wednesday and Saturday Westport Plaza hosts a free Blues and Jazz concert for guests to enjoy patio dining and entertainment.

Looking for a fun, free event to break up mid-week monotony? Check out Westport Plaza’s Blues and Jazz Concert tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring the band Dawn Turlington Duo. Every Wednesday and Saturday night, patrons of Westport restaurants can enjoy a relaxing respite from their day and enjoy the live music while dining in the outdoor patios. “These concerts aren’t really large, but they are usually a 2-3 piece band playing to the patrons sitting on the restaurant patios,” said Emily Lewis, Westport Plaza marketing coordinator. “They add a special ambiance to the Plaza on these nights, which is nice.” The relaxed live music that appears twice a week features different bands each time near the village fountain. Anyone is welcome …

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Review It!

Review It: How're the Burgers at Trainwreck?

This week we want to know your favorite aspects of Trainwreck Saloon in Westport Plaza.

Welcome to “Review It!" Every Saturday we’ll select a business in Maryland Heights and ask you, the reader, to give it a review. You can review a business via its directory listing—giving the entity between one and five stars. You can also leave a note explaining why you think this business deserves the rating, good or bad. This week we’re taking a look at a local bar with the localist of names: Trainwreck Saloon! Review Trainwreck Saloon via the restaurant's directory listing. How do Trainwreck's burgers compare with other local restaurants? What's the best drink to order? What keeps you coming back to Trainwreck time and again? Do you own or manage a business in Maryland Heights? Make sure to claim your listing! Click the “Claim It” link…

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Rob McLean

9:31 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012

A lot of people have been singing the accolades of Trainwreck's wings on the site and via our Facebook page. Have you ever tried them?   more ›

Westport Celebrates St. Patrick's Day

The Maryland Heights-based complex will host a St. Patrick's Day celebration the day before the holiday.

Westport Plaza managers have planned a second St. Patrick’s Day celebration to follow last year’s debut. And like last year, the complex will have a fireworks display and a dyed-green lake. Emily Lewis, Director of Marketing and Special Events for Westport Plaza, said the event will kick-off at 6 a.m. Friday (the day before the holiday) with a free breakfast at St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Bar and Grill. The breakfast will last until 10 a.m., Lewis said. Trainwreck Saloon also is getting in on the act. The restaurant will offer free corned beef sliders from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. 2012 does have a slight difference, Lewis said. Westport will offer St. Patrick’s Day mugs for purchase. Proceeds from mug purchases will benefit the Siteman …

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Rob McLean

5:57 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012

Hi Launa--you could always make your way to downtown STL on Saturday for the St. Patrick's Day parade. I hear it's a good time!   more ›

Viewfinder

Three's a Crowd Performs its Last Regular Show at Trainwreck

The band Three's a Crowd played one last regular show for two months on the final Tuesday of 2011.

The band Three's a Crowd performed its final regular show at the Westport Plaza-based Trainwreck Saloon on Dec. 27. Maryland Heights Patch previously spoke with band members and venue managers about ending the regular show. The band will be back at the Trainwreck in two months, according to the article.

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Patch Potions

Salty Dog Just a Bit Too Salty

Arr Mateys! This week Brandy the Bartender mixes a fine grog fer ye old sea dogs.

This week Brandy the Bartender shows our reporter how to earn her sea legs by drinking a Salty Dog. Be careful not to take a big gulp of the drink straight from the rim unless you like a big mouthful of salt. You can mix this one up yourself at home using: Rim your glass with salt, mix the vodka and grapefruit juice, and you're ready to go. Wait- you don't know how to rim a glass? Luckily, Brandy the Bartender demonstrates how in this video. Special thanks to the Trainwreck Saloon for showing us how to mix this drink.

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Patch Potions

Cute Girls Love Cosmos

This week on Patch Potions, Brandy the Bartender shows us how to make that girliest of girl drinks — the classic Cosmopolitan.

Last week, Brandy the Bartender gave into my sad, misguided request to try a Dirty Martini.  She warned me, I wouldn't listen. This week, she made me the sweet, fruity yin to the dirty martini's dark, bitter yang. Last week was Don Draper's drink. This week was Carrie Bradshaw's. That's right, girls, Brandy showed me how to make a cosmo. Last week's dry martini was stirred. This week's sweet one was shaken. Add the vodka, cointreau and cranberry juice to a shaker full of ice and mix until it's chilled. Pour it into a pre-chilled martini glass, finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and garnish with a lemon twist. If you're in a hurry to chill your martini glass, you can always fill one with ice water and let it sit while you mix your drink. …

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Patch Potions

Sugar Lips Can't Sweeten a Dirty Martini

This week on Patch Potions Brandy the Bartender demonstrates how to make a classic Dirty Martini.

"Do you want it dirty?" asked Brandy. "Brandy, you're awesome, but we've only known one another for a couple of months, and -" She cut me off with an eyeroll. "I'm talking about your martini." Oh. Since I'm a living ray of pure sunshine, I had to admit I'd never enjoyed a dirty martini before. You'll have to watch the video to get the full impact of my first impression. If you'd like to know what transforms a pure dry martini into a dirty drink, the answer is olive juice. Classic recipes use a shot and a half each of both gin and olive juice alongside a shot of vermouth. Since my sneaky spy skills are more akin to Marvin the Martian than 007 my martini was stirred, not shaken. Watch this week's video to see how it's made. Special thanks to…

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Patch Potions: Long Island Iced Tea

Brandy the Bartender mixes five kinds of alcohol into a single tasty beverage.

The Long Island Iced Tea is like the cosy leftover casarole of cocktails. Sure, yesterday you might have made a martini or the day before that a rum-and-coke, but when you're staring at a row of mostly empty bottles and you can't justify buying a new one until the old is empty, a Long Island Iced Tea is the answer. Most people don't mix them up at home because they're not really sure what's inside. Brandy the Bartender walks us through the creation of both a Long Island Iced Tea and it's girlier redheaded sister, the Long Beach Iced Tea. The long list of ingredients includes: To make the Long Beach Iced Tea, just substitute cranberry juice for soda. Special thanks to the Trainwreck Saloon for showing us how to mix this drink.

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Patch Potions: Peppermint Patty

This week Brandy the Bartender teaches us how to make a Peppermint Patty.

I'll let you in on a secret. Unless the menu has a list of artisan ingredients, bars and restaurants mix a Peppermint Patty the same way you do at home - with hot cocoa mix and a shot of peppermint schnapps.  1 packet hot cocoa mix 1 shot peppermint schnapps hot water Sure, you could drink it straight, but what's Hot Cocoa without marshmallows? If you're feeling fancy, hang a mini candy cane off the side as a garnish. If you're lactose intolerant, this recipe works just as well with warm chocolate soy milk. 

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Patch Potions: Orange Dreamsickle

This week on Patch Potions we visit Brandy, a Maryland Heights bartender, for a lesson on how to make an alcoholic version of that childhood treat, the Orange Dreamsickle.

Orange Dreamsickles aren't just for kids anymore. This week on Patch Potions, Brandy the Bartender shows us how to mix up some creamy, citrussy goodness. Fill a 12 to 16 oz glass about halfway with ice. Add your vodka, sprite orange juice, and top it off with half and half. If you have a martini shaker at home, feel free to show off. If you don't, Brandy says you can cheat by pouring your drink back and forth between two glasses. It's the same effect, just a little less Don Draper. Brandy says you can use heavy cream instead of half and half if you want to make the drink even richer. If you want to modernize this classic, you can also experiment with mango flavored vodka and mango juice, both available at your local liquor store.

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