There was a day, not too long ago, when bracket challenges only showed up when sports teams were going head-to-head.
No longer. Come March, when basketball madness is afoot, bracket challenges pop up for everything: movies, books, songs, songs based on books, books based on movies, and so on.
But here's a bracket challenge that's local and definitely worth keeping tabs on: cocktails. As in the city's best. That city is Pasadena, a town that knows a thing or two about interesting tasting things (it is, after all, where Julia Child was born) and sports-style competitions (it is, after all, where the Rose Bowl is played).
Sixty-four local restaurants are pitting their best martinis and margaritas against each other during SIP-tember, which is on through Thursday, Sept. 26. The voters? You, and all of the people who like to sip around Old Town and the Crown City's swanky taverns and restaurants.
The competitors? Columbo's Italian Steakhouse, Green Street Restaurant, Market on Holly, and Sushi Roku are just four of the names. The drinks? The gamut shall be covered. Are there any night hounds out there sampling all sixty four, the better to vote with pure knowledge? Perhaps not, but bet some people will know their beverages before they decide.
Sept. 26 is the magic date, when the final four drinks go head to head (or rim to rim). The place? Why the Rose Bowl, of course. It's happening at Taste of Pasadena.
So, what other good things can bracket challenges be applied to? Pasadena, as always, as taken the competitive lead.
