Cocktail Competition Invades Cyclorama

They move. They shake. They mix drinks.

Activism aside, it probably comes as no surprise that the real movers and shakers in our crazy world are the ones stirring up the alcoholic potions that help us adjust the dimmer on our day.

Tomorrow night the BCA will host the 2^nd annual Movers & Shakers Cocktail Competition wherein local mixologists from Sophia’s Grotto, Aquitaine, The Beehive, Bella Luna, Vintage Lounge, Eastern Standard (the source of last year’s winner), Geoffrey’s Café, , Mantra  and Upstairs on the Square will shake up their Sunday (brunch) best for a panel of judges in hopes of producing an artful elixir.

What’s at stake, you ask? Well, the winning cocktail will be crowned as the official bevvy of the BCA’s June blowout, featuring (among other things) the debut of an aerial theater performance from Suspended Cirque entitled “Untamed: The Wild Underground.”

“Last year’s event had such a great vibe – lots of energy and momentum – with many people turning out to support their favorite local bartender or establishment,” said BCA Board Member Randall Hammond who lent his palate to the judge’s panel in 2010.

“As a judge I was most impressed by the level of competent and professional mixology presented by each and every participant. All of the bartenders really put some thought and work behind their creations and were rightfully proud of what they had produced," he said.

This year’s panel will be partially comprised of BCA Executive Director Veronique LeMelle, F. Javier Torres from Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, and Misty Kalkofen from LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktail).

Kalkofen holds mixology dear to her heart. Her interest in bartending began while studying theology at Harvard Divinity School. She credits, of all people, local music legend Brother Cleve with cementing her interest in classic cocktails.

Kalkofen is currently a member of the team at Barbara Lynch’s aptly-titled Fort Point cocktail bar, Drink. She’s also the President and Founder of Boston’s LUPEC chapter and a member of Cocktail Collective in New York. The latter is quite a prestigious distinction: the Collective is a team of bar-mavens from far and wide personally selected by Howard Wein, senior VP of food and beverage for the Morgans Hotel Group. Together, at Wein’s request, the team formulated the liquor program for Forty Four, the bar and restaurant in the lobby of the Royalton hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Prior to her gig at Drink, Kalkofen managed the bar at Grafton Street in Harvard Square for two years.

Guests at Movers & Shakers tomorrow night are encouraged to vote for their own ‘crowd favorites’ and enjoy delicious food from many of the same venues providing the bar talent while WFNX Radio's DJ Fletcher supplies the tunes. Despite being a competition, this is an event built on good spirits… literally. Regardless of the winner, all of the bartenders on hand will definitely be bringing their A-Game.

Movers and Shakers will be held at the Cyclorama, 539 Tremont St., from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2. Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.bcaonline.org.