SUMMER SIPPING

A backyard summer barbecue is the perfect place to sip on a refreshingly fizzy homemade soda. Although this fruity drink is called Italian cream soda, it was originally created in the United States, flavored with well-known Italian syrups. This recipe gives the option to make your own syrups from scratch, which provides endless flavor possibilities for a quick and easy summer drink.

GROCERY LIST

2-3 tablespoons homemade blueberry or strawberry simple syrup

½ cup sparkling water

1 tablespoon half-and-half

SIMPLE SYRUP RECIPE

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup water

1 cup fresh strawberries or 1 cup fresh blueberries

DIRECTIONS

Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.

Once sugar has dissolved, add fresh fruit and boil for 10 minutes or until syrup thickens.

Strain the mixture to remove fruit, and keep the juice.

Allow the simple syrup to cool completely before using.

Add 2-3 tablespoon of simple syrup to a glass filled with ice.

Pour sparkling water on top of the simple syrup until the glass is almost full.

Top off the soda with a splash of halfand-half.

Stir to combine, and enjoy immediately.

And the winner is The Balcony Club

The votes are in and neighbors agree The Balcony Club is the best bar in the neighborhood. The jazz club tucked away above the iconic Lakewood Theater is a place packed with nostalgia for many neighbors. The narrow room is cloaked in dark colors with pops of red, gold and green, which give it a throwback 1930s vibe. It has had a tough few years — or a tough existence, depending on how you look at it. Since its beginning more than 27 years ago, the club has been a roller coaster of financial instability, but somehow it always manages to survive another year, probably because of its cult-like following. In 2013 it changed ownership, and the new owner Ted Davey poured money into updating and rearranging the space and drumming up new and old support. For neighbors who have been frequenting the venue for decades, the club still has that unpretentious feel they’ve always loved in the laid-back club where the drinks are good and the jazz is even better. Learn more at balconyclub.com.

Runner-up: The Pour House

Tie for third: Libertine & Louie’s

NEXT UP FOR ADVOCATE’S 2015 BEST OF CONTEST: Best Place for Kids. Vote for your favorite at lakewood.advocatemag.com/bestof2015