Pull out your floppy sun hats and festive sombreros. It’s time to sip mint juleps and margaritas. Here are a few Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo events and deals happening around town.
KENTUCKY DERBY PARTIES & DEALS
8th Wonder Brewery will be showing the race as well as pouring Elijah Craig Juleps starting at 2:30 pm at the bar and patio. Enjoy some tasty Southern fare and live music. “It’s the most exciting two minutes in sports — or half hour if you’re racing mini-horses.”
Julep has been hosting events throughout the week, leading up to their big Derby Day Party (photo below) this Saturday at noon. The party will extend to the front parking lot, featuring cocktail service and julep carts outside until 10 pm. Julep will be serving a full food menu inside, and Ben Berg, who will soon be opening B&R Butchers down the street from Julep, will be serving food outside. Vinyl Ranch, playing classic country and honky tonk tunes, begins playing at noon. Expect some patio games, too.
Bovine & Barley will host a derby party this Saturday 2 to 6 pm. Nibble on Southern fare and sip $50 Woodford Reserve mint juleps in a copper keepsake cup or $7 rye mint juleps. Dress to impress, as there will be a hat and bow tie contest.
Dish Society is celebrating the Kentucky Derby today, May 1, through Saturday, May 2. Swing by Dish Society’s expansive patio at the new LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch for a deal on the Texas Julep (photo above), a muddled concoction of 1835 Texas Whiskey, fresh mint from the herb garden and cane sugar. Just $8 for those sporting their Derbyware (floppy hats on ladies, seersucker for gentleman). Or go Top Shelf and get your Texas Julep with Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon, $15.
On Derby Day, Royal Oak is offering $7 mint juleps. Come dressed in your derby attire, and receive your juleps for $5. For every mint julep you purchase, you will receive a raffle ticket, and after the race, a winner will be drawn for a Maker’s Mark goodie basket.
Order KUU’s Ginger Julep (photo below) today, May 1, through Saturday, May 2. KUU will be serving up a blend of Bulleit Bourbon, Yellow Chartreuse, fresh ginger and muddled mint for a zesty, Far East spin on the Southern classic, $13.
Head to Ouisie’s Table for brunch on Derby Day and enjoy a delicious meal as well as speciality mint juleps and OuiTeas.
For the Derby, Peli Peli has concocted its Zebra Jockey (photo below): a julep with South African flare. Fresh mint and orange are muddled in a mint-infused brown sugar simple syrup, topped with Herman Marshall rye whiskey and orange and walnut bitters over a hand-pressed ice sphere. It’s dressed with a rim of crushed candied walnuts and orange bitters and garnished with orange peel and mint leaf, $12. Available at both Peli Peli locations in The Galleria and Vintage Park.
CINCO DE MAYO EVENTS & DEALS
Stop by Hotel Derek and Revolve Kitchen + Bar on Cinco De Mayo for unlimited street tacos plus two margaritas for $25 6 to 8 pm. Enjoy your tequila and tacos poolside at SPLASH, the hotel’s pool and terrace. Photo below.
Picos Cinco De Mayo Parking Lot Celebration kicks off at noon tomorrow, May 2, with tequila tastings, cocktails and Mexican street food. The fiesta will also feature a photo booth, tequila and cocktail competitions and live music. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door ($20 in advance/$25 at the door for food only). The party ends at 4 pm.
Cantina Laredo is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with live music and all-day specials. Starting this Saturday, May 2, enjoy $3 Dos Equis lager draft and $5 Cinco ‘ritas all day. On May 5, add $2 Tecate cans to the list of specials.
Cinco de Mayo at 8th Wonder Brewery includes Michelada Dome Faux’m and Margarita Witbiers plus Eatsie Boys Tex-Mex, 3 to 10 pm.
Ninfa’s has partnered up with Uber for a safe-driving campaign on Cinco de Mayo. Show your server your Uber receipt and get a free queso. Don’t mind if we do! Photo below.
Pistolero’s is hosting a Cinco De Mayo Parking Lot Fiesta tomorrow, May 2, starting at noon. There will be live performances, pop-up shops, tequila infusions and $3 margaritas all day long. The fiesta lasts until 8 pm.
The boys of Bravado Spice are taking over Royal Oak‘s kitchen on Cinco de Mayo, creating a menu featuring Mexican street food: tacos, tortas, elotes, nopales and more. Speciality cocktails will also be featured. Festivities begin at 4 pm.
Beginning Saturday, May 1, until Tuesday, May 5, Molina’s Cantina is hosting a multi-day Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Bring your amigos over to enjoy live music and happy hour ‘ritas (photo below) for just $5 each, all day long. Bands will be playing from 6 to 10 pm at each location.
To celebrate on Cinco de Mayo, Dish Society in Cinco Ranch is offering $5 skinny ‘ritas (El Jimador Silver Tequila, Paula’s Texas Orange, lime juice) and $5 Mexican greyhounds (your choice of local liquor, grapefruit, jalapeño, lime, cane sugar, sea salt, sparkling water).
Ooh La La is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a Margaritaville Cupcake (photo below): lime cake topped with key-lime zested buttercream, a candied lime and a dash of coarse sugar. Jumbo cupcakes are $3.50/each and $38/dozen ($42/dozen, individually wrapped). Mini cupcakes are $1.75/each and $18/dozen. Pre-orders accepted until Monday, May 4, at 1 pm.
