20 Backyard and Rooftop Bars You Need to Hit Before Labor Day

Anecdote Candles Cocktail Hour Candle

Happy hour starts with this delicious-smelling candle. It carries notes of sparkling champagne, lemon juice, cognac, juniper berries, and tarragon – which all sound like a great build for an actual glass. Cheers!

PolyScience Breville Gun Pro Smoke Infuser

This super cool gun adds a delicious smoky flavor to boozy drinks with minimal effort.

Angostura Aromatic Cocktail Bitters

Any cocktail lover will know exactly what to do with this.

Thoughtfully Cocktails Mix & Match Mini Cocktail Mixer Set

This sampler set is the easiest way for cocktail connoisseurs to try a whole bunch of flavors and create endless yummy drinks right at home!

Lina Wine Bottle Holder

Full of midcentury style, this wine bottle holder is super on-trend and will complement any oenophile's bar cart beautifully.

Cheers Stir Stick Set

Every good cocktail deserves a snazzy swizzle stick, and every bartender deserves a classy set. You can go with the default option (cheers!), or even request a custom design for a personalized look.

Edible Glitter

This edible glitter makes any cocktail look absolutely magical.

The Art of Mixology

This classic go-to source for mixology wisdom is both useful and pretty to display on the bookshelf.

YETI Rambler 20-Ounce Cocktail Shaker

This shaker features double-wall insulation to keep those cocktails nice and oh-so cold.

The Seedlip Trio

Seedlip's non-alcoholic spirits have earned widespread praise for their deliciousness and contribution to booze-free drink making.

Williams Sonoma Signature Muddler

A serious bartender needs a serious muddler. The tool turns fresh herbs and produce into cocktail magic.

Uncommon Goods On The Rocks Set

Once you’ve got everything to make the perfect whiskey cocktail, you’ll want these granite stones to keep your drink cold (without diluting it).

Mocktail Party

If your drink lover in interesting in trying their hand at mocktails, this book is the perfect (and prettiest!) resource for new recipes.

Urban Outfitters Marina Bar Cart

An aesthetic bar cart is where the magic begins. Upgrade their entire set-up with this sleek pick!

Ramona Coupe Glasses Set

These gorgeous glasses are great for holding cocktails, mocktails, wines, and even sparkling waters. They're a must-have for anyone with a penchant for serving classy bevvies!

The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails

This informative guide has everything a person would want to know about the art of making cocktails. Plus, it looks so good on a coffee table!

Williams Sonoma Signature Bar Spoon

Save your table flatware for ice cream and pudding — a real cocktail requires a stirrer spoon.

Urban Outfitters Cocktail Icons 2025 Calendar Tapestry

This artsy tapestry would look so chic hung next to their bar cart.

Blush Cocktail Shaker Set

This colorful set has everything they need to concoct the tastiest cocktails around!

The Drunken Botanist

This intriguing book goes back in time to shed light on the plants that make your favorite varieties of booze.

Our Place Party Coupes

Give their tablescape a little more pizazz with these funky glasses!

Uncommon Goods Flavored Simple Syrup Set

This set of four simple syrups includes creative flavors like Cherry Almond and Cucumber Habanero to jazz up your favorite liquors with sophisticated notes.

3-Tier Cocktail Seasoning Box

This 3-tier seasoning box keeps all of those cocktail-making essentials in one easy to access place.

Uncommon Goods Personalized Whiskey Barrel

Personalize spirits for your favorite whiskeylover in a special barrel with their initials or name emblazoned on the front!

Anthropologie Saluti Cocktail Napkins

These adorable reusable napkins will instantly cheer up happy hour!

Maple Pumpkin Martini

This cocktail combines two of the most iconic fall flavors for a whole new taste that we love. Not only is it delicious, but it's also non-dairy, which makes for a great option if you or your guests need to opt for coconut or oat milk anyway. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Brandy Lemon Drops

Citrusy and sweet, these brandy-filled maple cocktails are sure to get any holiday party going. (via Clean Cuisine)

Spiced Maple Bourbon Fizz

The bourbon, citrus flavors, and homemade (!) maple syrup in this sip are out-of-this-world delicious, but topping the drink off with champagne really takes it to the next level. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

Give your typical whiskey sour a sweet and spicy twist with cinnamon and a splash of maple syrup. Truth be told, you may not be able to go back to regular simple syrup again. (via Cookie + Kate)

Cranberry Maple Bourbon Cocktail

This holly-jolly cranberry maple cocktail is perfect for all of your holiday get-togethers. Garnish this drink with sugared cranberries and an orange wedge to make it extra festive. (via Lemon Blossoms)

Spiced Maple Manhattan

The maple syrup echoes the sweetness of the rye in this cocktail, and the slight warming spices are truly like autumn in a glass. (via Crumb)

Maple Honeycrisp Margaritas

You shouldn’t have to give up your margarita nights when the seasons change. The next time you go apple picking, whip up these margs afterward to enjoy the fruits of your labor. (via How Sweet Eats)

Blanton's Old Fashioned

With just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes, you can have this strong (and a bit sweet) maple cocktail ready to sip. Cozy weeknights just got a whole lot better! (via Earthly Provisions)

Maple New York Sour

If you’ve never had a New York sour, now is the time. You don’t have to choose between a whiskey sour or a glass of wine, because this drink combines the two for a sweet and tangy nightcap. (via Cookie + Kate)

Figgy Maple Bourbon Fizz

This maple cocktail gets its fizz from ginger beer, sweetness from syrup, and a nice kick from the bourbon. (via Cheese and Chocolate)

Cold Brew Bourbon Cocktail

There are times when you need a pick-me-up, but you also want a second to chill. Those moments call for a stout cold brew cocktail that’s spiked with bourbon and sweetened with a hint of maple syrup. (via Gastronom)

Maple 43 Cocktail

When a cocktail is garnished with a maple-soaked mini waffle, you happily accept and don’t ask questions. (via Food Fanatic)

Pear Bourbon Smash

Winter fruits like pears and apples are perfect to pair with maple syrup and bourbon. This bourbon smash has half of a pear in each glass and is full of whole fruit flavor. (via Just a Little Bit of Bacon)

A Long Winter’s Nap

You’ll feel like a snooze is on the horizon with this aromatic drink. Flavor it with everything from whole allspice pods to pine needles. (via Feasting At Home)

Gingerbread Latte

This creamy and frothy latte can be made with alcohol for a yummy caffeinated treat. (via Mixop)

The Craziest 2025 Oscar nomination snubs.

I really can't believe Zendaya didn't get nominated for her performance in Challengers. Her viral "crazy eyes" scene generated enough conversation to give her a nom in my opinion. I remember sitting in the theater and thinking, Wow, I've never seen her make that face before, can we replay that? And, of course, I'm mourning the fact the movie didn't get nominated for Best Score. "Match Point" playing during the ending of the movie will always be an Oscar-winning moment to me!

But in addition to Z, Selena Gomez also didn't get nominated for her role as Jessi Del Monte in Emilia Pérez, despite the fact the movie got a total of 13 nominations.

My group chat immediately blew up when we realized Sing Sing wasn't nominated for Best Picture.

Every Academy Award nomination for the 2025 Oscars.

Best Picture

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

Best Lead Actress

• Cynthia Erivo for Wicked
• Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez
• Mikey Madison for Anora
• Demi Moore for The Substance
• Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here

Best Lead Actor

• Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
• Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown
• Colman Domingo for Sing Sing
• Ralph Fiennes for Conclave
• Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice

Best Supporting Actress

• Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown
• Ariana Grande for Wicked
• Felicity Jones for The Brutalist
• Isabella Rossellini for Conclave
• Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez

Best Supporting Actor

• Yura Borisov for Anora
• Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
• Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown
• Guy Pearce for The Brutalist
• Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice

Best Cinematography

• The Brutalist
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Maria
• Nosferatu

Best Original Score

• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked
• The Wild Robot

Best Original Song

• “El Mal” for Emilia Pérez
• “The Journey” for The Six Triple Eight
• “Like a Bird” for Sing Sing
• “Mi Camino” for Emilia Pérez
• “Never Too Late” for Elton John: Never Too Late

Best Costume Design

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Gladiator II
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

• A Different Man
• Emilia Pérez
• Nosferatu
• The Substance
• Wicked

Best Sound

• A Complete Unknown
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Wicked
• The Wild Robot

Best Visual Effects

• Alien: Romulus
• Better Man
• Dune: Part Two
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Wicked

Best Animated Feature

• Flow
• Inside Out 2
• Memoir of a Snail
• Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• The Wild Robot

Best Animated Short

• Beautiful Men
• In the Shadow of the Cypress
• Magic Candies
• Wander to Wonder
• Yuck!

Best Live-Action Short

• A Lien
• Anuja
• I’m Not a Robot
• The Last Ranger
• The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Best Documentary Feature

• Black Box Diaries
  
• No Other Land
• Porcelain War
• Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat
• Sugarcane

Best Documentary Short

• Death By Numbers
• I Am Ready, Warden
• Incident
• Instruments of a Beating Heart
• The Only Girl in the Orchestra