As we mentioned previously, Fernet – the unofficial spirit of Argentina – has slowly been gaining popularity in the US, particularly in San Francisco and New York. But the bitter amaro – flavored with a mixture of 40 different roots, herbs, spices and other ingredients (including gentian, myrrh, chamomile and saffron) – is still hard to stomach for some, who have only tried the unique digestif mixed with Coca-Cola or taken as a shot.

So we asked veteran barman Pite van den Bossche, one of the leading mixologists in Buenos Aires and the creator of the specialty drinks menu at our members-only social club The Clubhouse, to craft two Fernet-based cocktails that would elevate the humble spirit. By pairing Fernet with flavors like coffee, basil and apple, Pite has succeeded in creating concoctions that appeal to a broader range of palettes and will turn even the most stringent Fernet haters into believers.

Photo courtesy of: Wil Fernandez

Try making the rich “Pretty Dark” and refreshing “All Summer” at home. And keep in mind that although there are several brands of Fernet on the market, Pite strongly recommends sticking with the classic, Fernet Branca.

Pretty Dark

Photo courtesy of: Wil Fernandez

In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake together:

1.5 spoons of sugar / 1.5 ct de azucar
4 mint leaves / 4 hojas de menta
2 basil leaves / 2 hojas de albahaca
.5 ounce espresso / .5 oz de cafe
.5 ounce Fernet Branca / .5 oz Fernet Branca
1.5 ounce Ron Durado rum / 1.5 oz de Ron Durado rum

Stripe the edges of a martini glass with whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into glass and garnish with a mint leaf.

All Summer

Photo courtesy of: Wil Fernandez

In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake:

1.5 ounce vodka / 1.5 oz de vodka
.5 ounce Fernet Branca / .5 oz de Fernet Branca
1 ounce apple juice / 1oz de juego de manzana
3 lime wedges / 3 rajos de lima
4 mint leaves / 4 hojas de menta
3 basil leaves muddled with a spoon of sugar / 3 hojas de albajaca matsacado con 1 ct de azucar
Top with ginger ale / Completar con ginger ale

Fill a tall glass with ice. Strain cocktail into glass and garnish with matchstick slices of apple.

On Tuesday, we gave you Oasis CEO Parker Stanberry’s itinerary for the Bogotá leg of his Colombia trip. For the second part of his itinerary, he is off to Cartagena. Cartagena has gained popularity over the past couple of years thanks in part to its extensive Old Town, where cobble-stoned streets are lined by colonial churches, homes, and plazas, all surrounded by the original fortress walls. The brightly-painted façades, wooden balconies overflowing with flowers and interior courtyards make Cartagena one of the most beautiful cities in Latin America. Read on for what Parker has planned for this colonial, oceanfront destination.

Where to Stay | Tres Pasos

The centerpiece of this unique colonial-style home is its elegant pool that stretches the length of the property and to which all four bedrooms and the fully-equipped kitchen open onto. We also love the exposed brick walls, beautiful tiling and antique arches of this renovated beauty. More info

Dinner | La Vitrola

The New York Times has called La Vitrola “the culinary kingpin of Cartagena” and we couldn’t agree more. Renowned as much for it’s delicious seafood menu as for it’s atmosphere (part jazz club, part lounge), La Vitrola plays host to digniteries and journalists from around the world. Calle de Baloco No. 2-01

Drinks | Cafe del Mar

Cafe del Mar’s location is enough of a reason to visit this fantastic bar. Perched on top of the city’s ancient walls, go at dusk for one of the most spectacular sunsets overlooking the Caribbean sea. More info

Day Trip | Coralina Island

This private island in the Rosario Islands is the perfect vacation getaway. The island has two free-standing one-bedroom suites, each with an en-suite bathroom. There is also an eco-hab that can accommodate four additional people. The layout of the island compound allows guests to enjoy the beautiful weather in the large covered gazebo living room and the outdoor dining area. There is a small beach area with shallow water great for children and an ample deck over the sea, perfect for the adults to sunbathe and relax. The island is isolated and does not have internet access or televisions to create the perfect meaningful escape from a stressful modern life. More info

Oasis Collections: Colombia launched in August 2010 and now features apartments and homes in the country’s most sought-after destinations including Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín. Parker Stanberry, Oasis CEO and co-founder, regularly visits each Oasis Destination and he has just jetted off to Colombia.  He so kindly gave us his itinerary for Bogotá and Cartagena so that we could share it with you, dear readers. Read on for Part 1 of his Colombia Itinerary: Bogotá.

Where to Stay | Alameda Chico

This modern studio is located on Calle 89, near Parque 93 and Zona T, the trendiest districts in Bogotá. Tastefully decorated by its owners – an architect and a fashion designer – the apartment features high ceilings, big windows and a decorative fireplace. The luxury building provides 24-hour security, parking, a pool and sauna. See more of Alameda Chico here.

Wednesday Dinner | Central Cevicheria

With over 20 types of ceviche and a variety of fresh fish served whole, Central Cevicheria is one of the best seafood restaurants in Bogotá. Cuban music, specialty cocktails and a chic crowd keep the restaurant busy throughout the week.  Cra 13 con Calle 85 More info

Wednesday Drinks | Armando Records

This open-air, rooftop lounge is reminiscent of a bar you might find in NYC’s East Village with its hipster crowd and indie music. But shots of aguardiente, Colombia’s unofficial national spirit – keep you grounded in South America. Calle 85 No. 14-46 More info

Thursday Dinner | Kong

Known for its stylish, yet over-the-top decor and delicious Szechuan menu, Kong does not disappoint. Grab a seat near the open kitchen where the Chef prepares everything from fried rice to duck with oyster sauce. After dinner, migrate to the sexy downstairs bar where you can grab a seat in one of the plush velvet chairs and enjoy an after-dinner cocktail. Calle 69A #5-36 More info

Thursday Drinks | El Coq

The kitsch decor at El Coq is a departure from Kong, but that doesn’t mean the Colombian jet-set don’t flock there – making it a great place for people watching and dancing. Calle 84 No. 14-02 No website

Friday Dinner | Andres Carne de Res

A unique blend of steakhouse and club, the beloved Andres Carne de Res is famous as much for its delicious steak as it is for its all-night dance parties. Calle 82 No. 12-21 More info

Although the cosmopolitan streets of São Paulo don’t have quite the same allure as the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the robust city makes up for its lack of oceanfront with a dynamic cultural scene. Paulistanos, as the locals are called, have access to some of the best music, art and food in the world. Whether you’ve visiting São Paulo on vacation or working in the booming city, we suggest checking out at least one of the following cultural points of interest during your stay.

Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo

The Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo State Symphony) boasts as one of the largest and best orchestras in all of South America. Showcasing more than 130 concerts during their main season, it is a must see for any traveler or local with ambitions for the more sophisticated side of São Paulo music. Juxtaposing a mix of diverse styles from international classics to world premiers and local composers, OSESP is sure to dazzle you with a wide array of entertainment. The Orchestra also is host to some first-class soloists, conductors, pianists, cellists and much more. Led by internationally known French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier, the Orchestra will be sure to be a highlight of your time in São Paulo. For a calendar of upcoming shows, click here.

Choque Cultural

Interested in more of the underground art scene? Then the Choque Cultural is for you. Often described as a “young contemporary art gallery,” Choque features a mix of young Brasilian artists coming from the worlds of graffiti, tattoo, graphic design, illustration and anything that speaks urban languages in Brasil. We suggest that you read this interview then make your way to check out one of their unique exhibitions. More info

Centro Cultural São Paulo

Initially planned as an extension to the Mario de Andrade Library, the Centro Cultural São Paulo has since become one of the first multidisciplinary cultural spaces in Brasil. Taking cues from Paris’ Centre Geoges Pompidou, this gigantic, muli-layered steel and concrete building plays host to the arts in all of its various forms: from theatre, music and dance programs to art exhibitions, film screenings, lectures and debate. It also features a large and fascinating network of libraries. Entry fees are cheap or non-existent, which makes the CCSP a great activity in a city that typically described as expensive. More info

Museu de Arte de São Paulo

The São Paulo Museum of Art is recognized for its collection of Western art, which is considered the finest in the Southern Hemisphere. The concrete and glass structure, designed by Lina Bo Bardi, is considered a city landmark and a main symbol of modern Brasilian architecture. From February 11 through April 4, the museum will host an exhitibion of Gordon Matta-Clark, which aims to introduce the work of Gordon Matta-Clark as a radical figure who brings together critical discourses of the European Neo-Avant-Garde and experimental art practices that emerged in New York between the 1970s and 1980s. More info

More Info

18 April – 1 May, 2012 | Bogotá

April – May, 2012 | Buenos Aires

11 April – 22 April, 2012 | Buenos Aires

The line up for 2012 is rumoured to include Evanescence, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, The Cure and Thom Yorke…. More info

April, 2012  | Buenos Aires

Mentalist. Illusionist. Psychological Mind Reader. Adrian Lacroix is all of these things and more. His version of magic includes techniques of illusion, psychological suggestion, controlling social behavior and predicting the future. He presents a distortion of reality where anything is possible and shock and awe is inevitable.

We are excited to have Adrian perform an exclusive show at The Clubhouse this Thursday, February 2. You can also catch his show “The Lacroix Experience” at various venues throughout Buenos Aires. Read on to learn more about our magic man, Adrian:

OASIS BLOG: What exactly is a mentalist?

ADRIAN LACROIX: Mentalism is a branch of magic. I prefer the term “illusionist.”

To understand it, we must understand the differences between a “trick” an “illusion” and “magic.”

Trick: A trick is an amazing effect that happens when a spectator sees something and is shocked, but doesn’t know how it happened, and guesses that it happened by the work of manipulation, like a sleight of the hand or something like that. The person doesn’t understand how it happened, but tries to find some logical explanation …(He hid the card in his sleeve, there is a string, he used mirrors … etc.).

Illusion: An Illusion is a trick that is presented and dressed in such a way that hides any possibility of rational explanation. Thus the viewer after witnessing the “miracle” can not discern whether what happened was true or false. An excellent example is Edward Norton’s character in the movie The Illusionist.

Magic: … is Harry Potter!

Thus we can say that the mentalist uses tricks, knowledge of psychology, suggestion and human behavior, (among other things) to create the illusion that you can get into the thoughts of others, or predict the future.

For the rest of my answers, I will refer to “illusion” and “magic” as the same.

OB: What is the biggest misconception people have of magic?

AL: I think the biggest misconception the public has of magic is caused by the magicians themselves. There are many bad magicians on TV and at private events, whom regrettably have the most exposure to ordinary people. This makes a magician into a stereotype: the character of an “uncle” who has some funny jokes and a few “tricks” to pass the time, without major consequence.

Then when they see a decent show with a good magician, like David Copperfield or Derren Brown, the audience leaves saying “ah but that guy is not a magician… he is an illusionist” as if it has more “prestige.”

Basically, “magic” is associated with this sad picture and for many years, most magicians have not bothered to change it.

OB: What is the question you get asked the most?

AL: “Can you make my wife disappear?”; “Can you make the bill disappear?” (When I worked in restaurants doing close-up magic.); ”… You’re single, right?”
(This is what the majority of women say, thinking that in case I have a girlfriend, that I couldn’t have lied after guessing several things in the show)

And my favorite … after explaining that I am a skeptic for 45 min. after the show is over, there is always a lady who says “Now seriously, you’ve got a gift? Tell me the truth!”

But if one listens carefully, many of the questions that are beyond the occasional joke, hide a true desire.

OB: Where would be your dream place to perform?

AL: I’ve never thought much about where I would like to perform. Last year I was invited to present my act at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, which is considered the most prestigious in the world as far as magic is concerned. I wasn’t able to go because the American Embassy did not grant me a Visa (I’m not allowed to use my powers for all … they are the laws of the universe! haha) But the reality is that the places where I most enjoy performing are the least expected, such as a meeting with friends, a special occasion where it is improvised, or when I want to entertain a special person.

OB: What is the most magical part of Buenos Aires for you?

AL:

“… I call them the dead my friends and I call the living my executioners.” —

Reír llorando, Juan de Dios Peza

I think the Recoleta Cemetery is magic and is one of my favorite places in the city.

OB: What do you like about performing at The Clubhouse?

AL: I think The Clubhouse succeeds in creating an atmosphere of intimacy and mystery that occurs in very few places, and in itself is a hidden place in the middle of the city! That’s magic!

Not in Buenos Aires? Then check out out this video of Adrian’s amazing skills below.

2 February, 2012 | Buenos Aires