Cocktail News

Downtown Dallas hotel to reopen underground bar with cocktail king Gabe Sanchez

Gabe doing what Gabe does.

Photo courtesy of Midnight Rambler

One of Dallas' most popular food & beverage professionals is back behind the bar: Gabe Sanchez, formerly of Black Swan Saloon in Deep Ellum, is headed for the Joule Dallas. According to a release, he'll spearhead the reopening of Midnight Rambler, the hotel's subterranean bar, while expanding the hotel's cocktail program overall.

Sanchez sold Black Swan Saloon, a Deep Ellum institution and a leading light on the local cocktail scene, in November after nearly 10 years.

Virginia Acosta, general manager of The Joule, says in a statement that they contacted Sanchez as soon as they heard that he'd closed his bar.

"A talent like him is rare and we’re very proud that he’s joined our team with so much creative enthusiasm for bringing back Midnight Rambler," she says.

Named for a Rolling Stones song, Midnight Rambler debuted in 2014, taking over the cool subterranean space previously occupied by the glitzy PM Lounge, which closed in 2012. The Rambler has always been a craft cocktail temple and has won numerous local and national awards.

It's currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, but is available for parties, cocktail classes, and other private events.

Sanchez' background includes Las Vegas night clubs such as Baby's at the Hard Rock Hotel, Tao at the Venetian, and Rain Nightclub at the Palms Hotel and Casino. He was recruited by W hotel in 2006 as part of the opening team at Ghostbar before leaving to open Black Swan Saloon.

He'll be general manager of Midnight Rambler and will work on reimagining the cocktail program in anticipation of its reopening in spring 2021.

According to SideDish, some of those cocktails may be reminiscent of things he's done at Black Swan. But his priority, he says in a statement, is to focus on service, and he praises Midnight Rambler for its like-minded vibe.

"Of course the cocktails themselves are important, but I think the most important part of a bar experience is to make people feel comfortable and wanted," he says. "With bartenders, it’s part of the whole process — an intimate sort of give and take."

In addition to Midnight Rambler, Sanchez will create cocktail programs for other outlets of The Joule, including the Lobby Bar, CBD Provisions, and Sassetta, which is taking over the old Americana space, and which the release predicts will be downtown's next destination dining experience.

Prior to the spring reopening, Sanchez will host a limited series of private cocktail classes. The first — exploring rye whiskey — is already sold out, but there are more to come. To get on the first-access list for future ticketed classes, sign up for emails updates at 1530main.com. And to reserve a private event, email events@thejouledallas.com.

downtown cocktails

Steamy shop

New romance bookstore-cafe brews up lattes and love stories in Arlington

Photo courtesy of Daydream

It is love at first sip in this quaint coffee shop and bookstore.

Like the setting of a Hallmark Channel rom-com, a new bookstore in downtown Arlington invites customers to sip, swoon, and stay awhile. Called Daydream, the shop specializes in romance books and features a cozy coffee shop nestled right inside the bookstore, located at 380 E. Front St., Suite 110, in the heart of downtown Arlington.

The charming concept is from Alma Sardas, graduate from University of Texas at Arlington who, after a couple of years working in public relations agencies, decided to pursue her dream of owning a romance bookstore.

As a longtime bookstore and coffee shop lover, Sardas explains, her idea for the shop came from wanting a space that felt like stepping into one of those stories.

“I’ve always loved bookstores and coffee shops individually, but I didn’t see many spaces that fully leaned into a specific genre and created an immersive experience around it," she says. "That’s where the dream started - building something that felt intentional, cozy, and unique.”

The book collection is entirely curated by Sardas and features a wide variety of subcategories within the romance genre, including cowboy, dark, fantasy and LGBTQ+ romance and romantic suspense. “There’s a little bit for everybody,” Sardas says.

The young entrepreneur cites It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and Daydream by Hannah Grace (which inspired the name of her shop) as the romance novels that have shaped her love for the genre.

“They all show different sides of romance: emotional, escapist, and fun,” she says.

Daydream brings people together over their love of coffee and literature. Photo courtesy of Daydream.

The inviting shop pairs the quiet charm of a library with the aroma of a coffee house, in a brightly lit space featuring a palette of cream, blush pink, and light wood tones. There are circular marble-top bistro tables and rounded swivel chairs for customers to enjoy their books and coffee. They also have a dog-friendly outdoor space with a few pink chairs and tables.

Her offering aligns with the growing trend of younger generations that are craving real-life spaces, and opportunities to unplug, slow down and connect. “I think naturally younger people are going to start gravitating towards books again and the fun escapism that comes with it, rather than the never-ending vicious cycle of comparing themselves to their digital life”, Sardas says.

Sardas, who is half Cuban and half Mexican, draws on her cultural heritage for both her deep-rooted love of coffee and the inspiration behind the menu she created.

The menu includes classic drinks such as espresso, latte, and Americano, all served hot or iced, as well as tea - chai and matcha. They serve Cuban coffee, or Cafecito, a homage to her Cuban father.

The shop has a couple of signature coffees, including a honey vanilla oat latte, and The Havanna, a dulce de leche latte, and they are working on a Mexican-inspired latte in honor of her mother’s traditions.

The shop features a pink La Marzocco espresso machine.Photo courtesy of Daydream

For pastries, they have partnered with Richardson-based La Casita Bakeshop, a thriving women-owned business, to serve an assortment of croissants, cinnamon rolls, cookies and muffins.

They use beans from Alma Coffee (same name as hers though purely coincidental), a veteran and women-owned company that works closely with farmers in Honduras and roasts in Georgia.

Daydream's hours are 9 am-7 pm Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm Sunday; closed Monday.

Sardas says that starting in May, she plans to host regular events such as themed book clubs that tie into popular tropes and books, like contemporary, dark romance, and queer romance. There are also book discussions, meet-and-greets, author signings, midnight release parties, and themed café nights in the works.

They are also collaborating with local creatives on activities like candle-making workshops and cake decorating workshops to make the space feel more interactive.

“It truly is a dream,” Sardas says. “We are excited to be open and ready to be a stop for the Arlington community and beyond.”

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