48 Record Bar debuts new monthly event, DECADES

Located above Sassafrass in Old City, 48 Record Bar—the brain child of Founder Donal McCoy and Creative Director Joey Sweeney—offers Philadelphians a new way to encounter both music and drinks through a high-tech listening room and cocktail bar experience. 

The 37-seat, second-floor space opened at the end of last year, but recently, they’ve launched a new monthly industry night series, with the first being this Sunday, March 3. In collaboration with Lo-Fi Aperitifs, “DECADES” will be held the first Sunday of every month and will cover a different decade in time. March 3rd’s inaugural event will cover the 80s from 8 to 11 p.m. 

Each industry night at 48 Record Bar will feature a special guest DJ or musician from a local bar or restaurant playing music from the chosen decade, two featured cocktails — available only for the night — with recipes inspired by that decade as well. 

The kickoff event specifically will include special guest DJ Guy Smith from Cry Baby Pasta spinning 80s vinyl, and riffs on themed classic cocktails such as the Ectoplasm (inspired by the Midori Sour) and Pretty in Pink (inspired by the Pińa Colada), both featuring Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, the release notes. 

The first DECADES night will also feature 20% off everything else on the customer’s tab including Lo-Fi’s Lo-Life, a Miller High Life with a splash of Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, plus special merch.

“Before we launched the listening room, we did about a year’s worth of pop-up events, and at each one, we were delighted to meet a lot of our fellow industry peers who’d come out to hear great records and have a cocktail,” said Joey Sweeney, Creative Director of 48 Record Bar in a statement. 

Any night you head to the Old City venue, the bar will spin records continuously as the backdrop to Philadelphians sipping on one of their many cocktails — 16 to be exact. Highlighted libations outside of the themed DECADES drinks include the “Industry Negroni” made with Fernet Branca, green chartreuse, campari and orange bitters, the “Mexico City” featuring Del Maguey Vida, cynar, byrrh, luxardo and flamed orange, and the “Bond Girl” made with Barrel-Finished Blue Coat Gin, cocchi americano, and bitters. 

Food-wise, guests can also indulge in a few different dishes spanning classic deviled eggs, Welsh rarebit, seasonal finger sandwiches, and their traditional afternoon tea (the latter will happen monthly).

Upcoming DECADES nights will be held on Sunday, March 3, Sunday, April 7, and Sunday, May 5. For more information on the themed nights and 48 Record Bar (48 S. 2nd St.), visit 48recordbar.com