Monday Menu: Cocktails, Bubbles, Bourbon and Pizza Edition

Hopefully you’ve worked off some of those Thanksgiving calories and emerged from the tryptophan stupor, because next weekend is gonna be hoppin’ in Nashville. I already told you about The Winter Warmer, which is taking place on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Marathon Music Works from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. But after that beer matinee is finished, they’ll be resetting MMW for yet another festival.

The Bubbles and Bourbon Festival will kick off that evening at 7 p.m., with the venue converted into a sophisticated Jazz Age lounge. Attendees will enjoy samples of Champagne and other sparkling wines, bourbons and beers from Best Brands while snacking on oysters, cheese and chocolate. A few food trucks will also be available to provide more substantial fare, and a jazz band will add to the ambiance.

Tickets are $90 plus fees and are available at the event website. While I wouldn’t recommend attempting the day/night doubleheader at Marathon Music Works, if anybody pulls it off, I’d love to hear how it went.

That same afternoon, Four Walls at The Joseph is presenting a special cocktail class. That starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. The intimate cocktail lounge will be the classroom for a seminar focusing on the martini, along with variations and the progenitor of the classic cocktail, the Martinez.

Beverage consultant Kenneth Vanhooser and Four Walls' lead bartender Mickey Stevenson will lead the class through tastings of the drinks as well as providing instruction and recipes to make them at home. Light bites will also be provided for the class, which is limited to 12 students. Tickets are $90, and reservations can be made on Open Table.

Finally, Sunday night is pizza night as local improv group Unscripted throws what they’re calling the F.U.N. Pizza Party (i.e., for Friends of Unscripted). Unscripted is a nonprofit group that has been bringing access, education and wellness to the Nashville community through improv since 2017.

The event will take place at Third Coast Comedy Club, again at Marathon Village. From 2 until 5 p.m. (or until they run out of pizza), your $20 admission will entitle you to samples of pizza slices from some of your favorite pizzerias, including Five Points Pizza, Il Forno, Roberta’s, Slim & Husky’s, Bella Napoli, Two Boots, 312 Pizza and Emmy Squared.

All attendees will be able to vote for their favorite slice with further cash donations to see which Nashville restaurant has The Most FUN Pizza in Nashville, and the winner takes home bragging rights for the year. Buy your ticket in advance, and get there early if you want to try them all!