Suits & Sazeracs brings the Big Easy to Philly for a spirited and charitable cause

If you missed Mardi Gras in Philadelphia, you’re in luck. Philadelphians can head down South next week with the popular New Orleans-styled charitable cocktail competition, Suits & Sazeracs, which is back for 2023. 

This spirited showcase takes place next Monday, March 6, inside the Burnham Ballroom at the Hotel Palomar from 6 to 9 p.m. Overall, the evening features swanky attire (guests are encouraged to dress up), a fun and competitive cocktail competition, food, live entertainment and more. And it’s all done to help support local nonprofit The Wardrobe (formerly The Career Wardrobe) with a portion of the $75 ticket being donated to the charity. 

Suits & Sazeracs kicks off Henry A. Davidsen’s 5th annual Suit Drive, in which donations of professional clothing will be accepted at drop-off points across the Greater Philadelphia area. The activation runs from March 6 until May 15, and anyone who is looking to drop off professional and semi-professional attire in support of local unemployed individuals can do so at dedicated locations. A full list can be found online at henrydavidsen.com. 

“We are thrilled to bring this much-anticipated event back after its success is 2020,” said Henry A. Davidsen President and Founder Brian Lipstein in a statement. “At the last event we raised almost $7,000 and this year, our goal is to raise over $10,000, and to garner over 10,000 gently used professional wear items for The Wardrobe.”

Entry to this Big Easy event offers Philadelphians a front row seat to a spirited libation contest as well. The event is presented in collaboration with award-winning local distillery Bluebird Distilling, and 8 bartenders have been tasked with crafting sazeracs by using Bluebird’s Straight Rye Whiskey, which will then be rated by a panel of judges and the crowd. 

The panel of cocktail judges features special guest Natalie Migliarini of Beautiful Booze, a home bar expert and recent contestant on Netflix’s ‘Drink Masters.’ Judges will honor one bartender with $1,000 for the superior Sazerac, while attendees will vote for People’s Choice (who will be awarded $500), a release states. Plus, attendees will have the opportunity to “buy” additional votes, with 100% of those proceeds benefiting The Wardrobe. 

While there, Square 1682 will also be offering light bites. The menu features shrimp and grits fritters with wild berry compote, drunken grilled haloumi, baked oysters Rockefeller, andouille corndogs, beignets, seitan jambalaya, fried green tomatoes with Cajun aioli, plus fried Oreos and Snickers.

Additionally, Suits & Sazeracs will also get crowds involved with the Best Dressed Guest Award judged by Inquirer columnist Elizabeth Wellington, and menswear and lifestyle influencer Sabir Peele (@mensstylepro). And finally, there will be low-ABV beer courtesy of custom contract brewing company My Local Brew Works, as well as (zero-proof) kombucha from beloved local brand Baba’s Bucha, a release states. 

Tickets for Suits & Sazeracs are available online now for $75/person at henrydavidsen.ticketleap.com, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting The Wardrobe.