Mint Julep, Anyone? Where To Celebrate Derby Day In Austin Area

AUSTIN, TX — Get your big, outlandish hats out of mothballs, ladies, and retrieve your bespoke seersucker suits, gentlemen, for Derby Day is right around the corner. Once properly attired, there are a number of venues in Austin staging gatherings for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, we do declare.

For the uninitiated, Derby Day is when horse racing aficionados are galvanized ahead of the annual Kentucky Derby. The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky. The field is open to 20 horses, who qualify for the race by earning points on the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby, don't you know.

Those attending the actual derby do so in grand style, the ladies donning the aforementioned elaborate head gear while the men are decked out in spring suits and comfortable loafers of a sort. Mint juleps are drunk in abundance during this time, in a pre-race pageantry for what amounts to a sporting event that takes some two minutes to complete given the speed of the competing stallions.

It's quite the pre-race windup. But don't get the vapors if you don't understand, as it's a Southern thing you might not understand. Anyway, here's some venues in Austin staging Derby Day gatherings:

GABRIELS CAFE

AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave.

Let's not bury the lead here: $6 Juleps. So sit back and enjoy a refreshing Mint Julep at Gabriel’s Café on Derby Day. Offering fun and casual food, Gabriel’s will be serving up discounted Juleps all day long while attendees watch the race.

GERALDINE'S

605 Davis St.

At the Geraldine's Derby Day party, you can be assured of three things: Floppy hats, cocktails, and live music. What more could you possibly need? Spend Derby Day in the midst of trendy Rainey Street at this restaurant nestled within Hotel Van Zandt. A special viewing party will be augmented with frozen and classic Juleps crafted by bar director, Caitlyn Jackson, live swing jazz from Devan Jones & the Uptown Stomp, and Southern-inspired food specials from executive chef Stephen Bonin. This all happens from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's free and open to the public, with food and beverage specials available for purchase.

HOUNDSTOOTH COFFEE

Various locations

Steeped in history (get it?), the Kentucky Derby will be celebrated at Houndstooth Coffee locations in Austin and Dallas with the Coffee Julep through Labor Day (Sept. 2). It's a perfect, refreshing way to celebrate the occasion with a non-alcoholic beverage or kick-start the day before heading to Derby Day parties, officials noted. The nice folks at Houndstooth were kind enough to provide a recipe.

Combine:

• Generous dash simple syrup (10 grams).
• 2.5 ounces cold brew concentrate.
• 1.5 ounce club soda.
• Top with crushed ice.

Photo courtesy of Houndstooth Coffee.

INDUSTRY

110 E. Martin Luther King Dr., San Marcos, TX

For those wanting to celebrate the Kentucky Derby off the beaten path in a more relaxed setting, Industry in San Marcos will be hosting Derby Day. So come in your finest hat while enjoying $5 Fistbul of Bourbon Kentucky Mules all day on Saturday, May 4, with on the spacious patio surrounded by several televisions for race viewing.

Sampling of Derby Day offerings at Industry. Courtesy photo.

LIVE OAK AT THE FOUR SEASONS

98 San Jacinto Blvd.

In staging its Derby Day party, Live Oak simultaneously will showcase its newly renovated indoor bar and outdoor patio deck overseeing Lady Bird Lake. Guests can expect a live viewing, Derby hat pop-up from modern haberdashery Hatbox, live music, Kentucky-inspired cocktails and, of course, food. Race highlights will be offered along with contests, trivia and prizes. The event is open to the public with a $25 admission fee that includes access to a build-your-own Mint Julep Bar using Maker’s Mark. More information can be found HERE. Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets: $25/person; first-come, first-served.

The Live Oak outdoor patio deck overlooks Lady Bird Lake, and that ain't too shabby. Courtesy photo.

Venue operators: Are you hosting a Derby Day viewing party? Send us details so we can include your events! Email antonio.cantu@patch.com.