Lower East Siders went all-American (in their own way) on Monday night as they kicked back with bourbon and sported their finest ink in celebration of Stetson’s new line of tattoo-inspired hats.
Famous LES tattoo artist, Josh Lord of East Side Ink, joined forces with Stetson art director TJ McCoy and editor-in-chief of Inked magazine, Rocky Rakovic at old-timey whiskey bar Leave Rochelle Out of It to unveil a limited edition line of Stetsons, bedecked in elaborate tattoo-like motifs.
DJ Kalkutta and Mandy Jiroux provided the tunes, as cool-kid revelers, dressed in an eclectic array of steam punk Americana, sipped John B. Stetson bourbon cocktails, nibbled on snacks of croissants and pastries (an odd choice for 10pm on a Monday night, but these folks were the type to roll over into a Tuesday morning) and took turns posing at the ubiquitous photo booth with the new range of headgear.
Promised live tattooing, I was disappointed when all I saw were the ones already on people’s skin. I learned later Lord was demonstrating his art by appointment off-site. The whole shindig felt crowded and chaotic, in a way that felt a little more vibrant than claustrophobic.
The hats were fun – though their trilby shape was nothing like the cowboy hat you usually associate with Stetson. And while I don’t blame the brand for changing it up, I could have done with a classic Stetson or two (I think I counted one). The bourbon was better – and between a highball, pickle-back and neat, with this whiskey, simple is best.
The best bit about the event was its eclecticism. Where else but New York would you find salt-of-the-earth Stetson types mixing with tattooed hipsters with black eyeliner? I’m not sure what scene it was, but it was a scene. And I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.
Twisted Talk: Would you wear a Stetson trilby? What’s your favorite bourbon? Would you name a bar after an ex-girlfriend (Leave Rochelle Out of It was)? Discuss below!
