■GOING OUT Photos by Matthew Callahan Behind The Wood Themed popup bar serving craft cocktails arrives in Sunnyside BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO “We are using this as a test kitchen to see how people respond and in that way it can be exciting for guests.” For more information visit www. behindthewood.nyc. Craft cocktail HAPPY HOUR Something refreshing has popped up at a Sunnyside restaurant looking to celebrate the long days of summer. Behind The Wood, an Astoriabased beverage consulting company, has come together with Venturo Osteria & Wine Bar, located at 44-07 Queens Blvd., to bring the Behind The Wood Popup Bar, which started on July 24 and 25. The popup bar, which will be open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every weekend in the summer, has a “summer solstice” theme featuring a summer-driven drink menu filled with craft cocktails all created fresh in house, homemade/ refurbished décor, music, and different events such as a move night. The drink menu features two parts. The top part includes four original drinks that are inspired by summer and the bottom half is the “back to basics section” where guests are able to also try variations of classic drinks. The idea of the bar came after the owner of Venturo approached Behind The Wood co-owners Scott Scaffidi and Mashia Baldwin, who have more than 30 years combined in the hospitality industry, and said regulars to the restaurant were looking for a local place to get drinks. Behind The Wood – which for the past two years has offered establishments services such as cocktail menu development; staff and management training; juice, house-made syrups and ice; bar equipment and tools; spirits recommendations; and bar design – had worked with Venturo before when it just opened and decided to help create the popup bar. The bar will remain opened after the summer with the theme changing in the fall and then changing every two months. There will be a holiday theme around November and December, and possibly a tiki bar theme in the winter. According to Scaffidi, the popup bar will also serve as a way for him and Baldwin to test the waters with future plans of opening their own establishment in Queens. “The idea is that down the line we would like to open our own brickand mortar bar,” said Scott Scaffidi. Queens Park Swizzle co-owners Mashia Baldwin and Scott Scaffidi
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