Sawyer Yards’ New Bar/Restaurant Hotspot Finally Officially “Opens” With a Sprawling Party: Undercover Comedians, Hot Young Professionals, Art Cars and Drag Queens Build the Buzz

As baffling as pronunciation of Sawyer Yard’s latest bar/restaurant Poitín is (pway-ten? po-tine? poi-ten?), it’s pretty easy to get your groove on at the hip hotspot officially pronounced puut-cheen as more than 250 partygoers discovered at the recent grand opening bash. Never mind that the lights went on way back in May.

Blame the enunciation challenge on Irishman Ian Tucker, who named his latest pub foray after the Gaelic interpretations of whiskey moonshine, several versions of which star on the bar menu.

The party throng spread out across the expansive restaurant/bar spilling over onto the 1,200 square foot patio with its killer views to the downtown skyline. First-time visitors discovered an industrial yet comfortable space, designed by Studio Red Architects with interior touches and finishes by Erin Hicks. Adding to the party atmosphere, arrivals were greeted by a colorful collection of art cars, a nod to the night’s beneficiary, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art,

Though the main bar was hopping, drink stations set up at various points offered creative cocktails from beverage director Sarah Cueno, specialty wines and beer while wait staff circled through tempting tastebuds with executive chef Dominick Lee‘s appetizers including Poitín’s hummus, short ribs, octopus, pork belly and pork skins.

Beyond food and drink, Tucker pulled out the stops for his guests booking Blackberri drag queens, DJ Ramalama (Matt Johns) and comedians Katie McGee and Andrew Youngblood of The Secret Group. The undercover duo worked the crowd, telling jokes, riffing on conversations and pretending to be Art Car designers.

Who: Ursaline Hamilton, Drs. Anu and Erik Schultz, Adrian Dueñas, Dr. Forrest and Lauren Freeman Roth, Kara Smith, James Sivco, Gail Rubin, Sarah and Steve Deutser, Stuart Rosenberg, Kris Reves, Angela Fabbri, Caroline Starry, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Brian McCulloch and Jeremy Garcia.