6 Years of Derby!

Thanks to a roster of generous sponsors, an amazing new location, over 250 guests, two bands, an ingenious DJ and the addition of an official after-party,

the Sixth Annual Workshop Derby Party was our biggest, rowdiest, most exciting party yet!

This year, the party moved to Workshop’s neighborhood, thanks to a location sponsorship courtesy of Green Desk and The Dumbo Loft. The new venue, just around the corner from the studio, made load-in and clean-up as simple as syrup.

Speaking of which, WORKSHOP's resident mixologist, Josh, concocted 17 gallons of mint julep. That’s four cases of Maker’s Mark bourbon, 13 quarts of simple syrup and half a pound of fresh mint! Thanks to Maker’s Mark, our Headlining Sponsor, everyone got their fill of the traditional Derby drink.

But juleps weren't the only spirits to liven the party. Alexandra Elman, owner of Marble Hill Cellars, and Doug Holt, also of Marble Hill, were on hand to raise glasses of the excellent wines they generously provided. Sixpoint Craft Ale was also a crowd favorite, served up in custom WORKSHOP Derby cups. Southern snacks, including benedictine, cheese grits, hoppin’ john and mint julep cupcakes were homemade by Josh, Creighton, Jessi and Becca. Good friends and Kentuckians rounded out the menu: Amy Kremer cooked up batches of delicious cornbread, and Dennis Clare provided the essential Derby pie.

As a sustainable initiative, we set up a resource recovery station, including separate containers for recycling, compost and, as a last resort, landfill. All utensils were stainless steel finds purchased from thrift shops. Sustainable NYC graciously furnished the party with sugar cane cocktail plates and cups as well as recycled paper napkins.

Dominique Comacho, owner of Sustainable NYC, also joined our panel of experts for the second annual Hat Contest. Our qualified judges included last year’s champ, the lovely Ellen Haller; “Swiss” hat aficionado, Antonio Furgiuele; our impartial Circuit Court Judge all the way from Kentucky, Uncle Steve Mershon; and the discerning Randy Makiej, who we like to think of as our very own Nina Garcia. Winners earned gift certificates from Sustainable NYC, merch from WORKSHOP and Maker's Mark and custom candy trophies by Papabubble candy-maker Jelly Chavez.

Master of Ceremonies, Chris Roan, ushered us from live band to hat contest to televised race back to live band seamlessly. Suited in his now-famous custom jockey silks, with this year's addition of a genuine riding helmet, Chris was the most professional and least-susceptible-to-head-injury host ever! He led a rousing round of Derby Trivia, with such popular prizes as mustache disguises by friend Holly McBride at Hammade, posters from our friends Karla and Emily at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and a jar of WORMSHOP's finest worm poo.

A quorum of attornies kept the day’s events official. Steve Nakamura, Esq. collected wagers (for entertainment purposes only, of course!) and awarded Mine That Bird faithfuls with their winnings, while Brian Drozda, Esq. methodically tabulated and reported results of the hat competition.

Mellow tunes by Alon's Bluegrass Jazz Trio hit the spot before the race, while Mossy Pine featuring Diane Williams provided authentic Kentucky jams after the race. As the final song played and the last cupcake was eaten, we moved around the corner to reBar where DJ Einstein Q. Rockefeller got the funk flowing and the crowd dancing. Around midnight, after scarfing down the last of the Derby pie, all of us from WORKSHOP headed home. Midnight might sound early to some, but when the party starts at four, that's a full eight hours of hard partying. We’re still overflowing with gratitude for our sponsors and friends who made Derby Party Six so memorable. Now that we’ve had a little time to recuperate, let the countdown to Derby Seven begin!

Thank you to our amazing photographers Erin Hudak and Matt Watson who worked so tirelessly to capture the event for us.

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