The Molecule Effect sounds like some top-secret military-engineering project. But Mark Landman and Megyn Rodgers are actually naming the all-day lounge they’re opening in the Santa Fe Art District around mid-September for the chemistry involved in the mixing of drinks, the mingling of strangers and the meeting of like minds. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming hangout.
The Vibe
Landman calls the space “modern-antique-retro-industrial.” If that’s too much to wrap your head around, just think of it as “a blend between a comfortable coffee shop and a hip wine bar,” with the work of local artists lining the walls and all kinds of fun events filling the weekly calendar. In addition to open houses on First Fridays, for instance, they’ve got Bloody Mary-fueled drop-in backgammon tournaments planned for Sunday mornings.
The Drinks
Coffee drinks made with roasts from Kaladi will be “the main focus,” says Landman, supplemented byHappy Leaf Kombucha on tap (he’ll even be setting up a filling station for growlers). But once the liquor license is in place and “as the sun begins to set, we’ll convert to a wine and beer bar” with a strictly local focus. Ultimately, the couple plans to have eight to 12 wines on offer, including several fromInfinite Monkey Theorem, as well as six to eight canned and bottled beers plus a single rotating draft from, say, Grist Brewing Company. When it comes to cocktails, they’re still exploring the possibilities, but the likelihood is that they’ll pour featured classics like screwdrivers and Tom Collins when the mood strikes them — perhaps in lab beakers. As Landman puts it, “The element of surprise is not a bad thing.”
The Food
Though The Molecule Effect doesn’t have an in-house kitchen, it will offer pastries, salads and sandwiches from local catering company Share Good Foods, along with chocolate mustaches and other confections from Ziva Chocolates. In short, the point of the place is “fun fun fun,” says Landman. We’ll report back as the opening date nears.
As featured on Zagat.com on August 6th, 2014. Article written by Ruth Tobias.