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St. Stephen Clergy Residence

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Lost Gem
Rose Hill Historic House 1 Private Residences Historic Site undefined

Rose Hill Historic House

In 1747 John Watts, a British gentleman, purchased multiple acres of land and named it Rose Hill. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he was forced out of the country. It is unclear exactly when or where this white clapboard house was originally built, but there are certain indications that it could have been as early as the 1700s, and then moved to its present location at the northern end of Rose Hill some time in the 1800s. It was a small wonder to walk across 29th Street and discover this wooden structure with a brick carriage house next door. Always one to want to know more, I uncovered the name of the present owners of the building in my research and gave them a call. Harriet and Bill Lembeck were able to fill in a few of the missing pieces of information and invited our team for a visit. The couple purchased the house in 1989. Bill explained to me that "The area was a bit run down and not many people were interested in owning a home on East 29th Street. So when we saw it and fell in love, it easily became ours. " They have never lived in it, but they were able to convert the downstairs into a wine education center, Wine & Spirits, and rent out the three floors above. They always had their eye on the carriage house next door, which was bought by separated owners from the farmhouse in 1979. Bill went on to tell me that he was able to buy it back again in 2005 when it went on the market. It had been totally gutted by a blind artist who lived there and made into a gallery. Today, Bill and Harriet rent this space as well, although it is their hope that one day, in the not-too-distant future, they will give up their home in Forest Hills and move into Manhattan and reside in both spaces, turning it back into what it was originally meant to be.

More places on 29th Street

Lost Gem
American Bartenders School 1 Career Development undefined

American Bartender's School

Approaching almost fifty years, the American Bartender's School, owned by Joseph Bruno, has been teaching mixologists the ‘ology of mixing. Having moved in the ‘80s from their original location on Madison Avenue, the school offers forty-hour courses, with students leaving as certified bartenders with a license issued by the New York State Board of Education. Joseph contends that a bartender’s success is determined by conversation, “no matter how good the drink is. ” That being said, technical skill is far from lacking at this institution. Combining lectures and a “lab” portion, we witnessed students attentively toiling over drinks for phantom customers in a room designed to look like one giant bar. The difference, however, is that unlike a culinary school where one might sample their own creations, students do not imbibe here. In fact, there is no alcohol to be found at this bar. Everything is in the correct bottles and the colors all match their potent potable equivalent. What was explained to us is that everything is about measurements. Students are given a recipe to follow, and provided they do it correctly, they can rest assured that it will taste exactly right in the real world. After decades of experience bartending in and managing drinking establishments, Joseph has seen a new devotion to the craft of mixology. Up-and-coming bartenders have tested innovative flavors, homemade syrups, and the “farm-to-table” use of fresh ingredients. He has taken particular pleasure in the resurgence of drinks not popular since the Prohibition era. Perhaps it is a sign that we still have a chance to relive some of the best aspects of the Roaring Twenties.