Past TEDx event

TEDxAsbury Park Salon

Cakes & Ale - Why We Drink and Party

Took placeMay 6, 20267:00 PM - 9:00 PM (GMT-4)
LocationRed Bank, New Jersey, United States
FormatSalon
In Cakes & Ale - Why We Drink & Party - we examine our relationship with drinking and partying. A Princeton anthropologist the underpinnings of the human need to feast. Author Robin Robinson tours us through the three inventions that created spirits. Comedian Erin Maguire hosts and delivers her comedy set on how alcohol fuels laughter. Composer, Songwriter, and Storyteller Arlan Feiles delivers original songs about the good and bad of bourbon across his musical career. Sommelier / Educator Diana Pittet reveals the benefits of drink in literature. The evening includes the Cakes and Ale drinking scene from Twelth Night and more. All in an intimate two hour dinner theater experience.

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

  • Adam Rechnitz

    Master Brewer / Arts Patron

    Adam Rechnitz helped start the craft brewing industry in NJ after a stint as a pioneer brewer in Seattle. A philosophy major and patron of the arts, he serves on the Trustee Board of Two River Theater, and hosts jazz, original music, original content and TEDxAsburyPark at Triumph Brewing.

  • Arlan Feiles

    Asbury Park singer‑songwriter

    Arlan Feiles is an Asbury Park singer‑songwriter whose soulful Americana anthems soundtrack late nights, hard truths, and hopeful mornings after. His award‑winning songs about love, justice, and redemption ask why we gather, raise a glass, and sing together when the world feels beautifully unruly.

  • Diana Pittet

    NYU Professor of drinking culture

    Diana Pittet is a cocktail caterer, spirits educator, and Night Owl Hospitality co‑founder who explores what our favorite drinks reveal about us. An NYU professor of drinking history and culture, she traces how rituals, recipes, and barrooms shape our identities, communities, and late‑night celebrations.

  • Erin Maguire

    Comedian

    Erin Maguire is a Boston‑born, New York–based stand‑up comic and podcast host known for her sharp wit and high‑energy storytelling. She’s appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Gotham Live, ESPN, and The Tamron Hall Show, and co‑hosts the comedy advice podcast “Dear Pod.”

  • Hanna Garth

    Anthropology Professor

    Hanna Garth is a sociocultural and medical anthropologist at Princeton University whose research centers on food, inequality, race, and social justice. Author of “Food in Cuba: The Pursuit of a Decent Meal,” she examines how marginalized communities navigate structural barriers to accessing decent, nourishing food.

  • Robin Robinson

    Author, Whiskey Sommelier

    Robin Robinson is a whiskey educator and bestselling spirits author who explains how grain, barrel, and story turn into the bottles we celebrate with. Through his “Complete Whiskey Course,” he uncovers why we bond over drams, myths, and labels—and what our whiskey choices say about desire and belonging.

Organizing team