Hey there!
I’m Julianne, a California native currently residing in Brooklyn. I’m constantly on the go with a suitcase in one hand and a Sazerac in the other. Join me as I explore the world, one drink at a time.
Why Travel?
I grew up in the era of the Silicon Valley high tech companies’ gloriously long sabbaticals. (Yes, my dad worked at the same company as a certain someone whose life forms the basis of this movie.) In 1994, my parents hauled a tent trailer across the United States for seven weeks with my younger brother and me in tow. It was our first time venturing outside of the Golden State, and our varied experiences on this trip—from battling frightening, jumping black tarantulas in New Mexico to hiking in the lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina—piqued my interest in travel and discovering new places.
Naturally curious about how the world works and why, I spent several years studying neuroscience, history, and education policy via formal education (at this public university and this other school). I’m a huge advocate for education in all its forms—that’s why my former day job was an education researcher at a non-profit—but over the years, I’ve realized how important travel is as a form of education, especially in the 21st century. It’s how I learned the little things, like you don’t have to eat your salad at the start of a meal, and more important things, like gaining the confidence to finally start writing.
Why Cocktails, Wine and Beer?
In 2007, I hopped on a plane on a whim, flew out to Chicago, and fell in love twice: first with my future husband, and second with the full-bodied, fruit forward merlot that he poured for us. Since that trip, we’ve made it our mission to find the best wine out there without winding up like pretentious snobs. It didn’t hurt that while living in San Francisco, we were within driving distance of Napa and Sonoma’s world-class wineries (a great weekend hobby, right?).
If California was our wine and viticulture education, then moving to New York was like taking a Cocktail 101 class on a weekly basis. We discovered speakeasies, Sazeracs, and other spirits on our quest to find the East Coast answer to a good bottle of cabernet franc. Along the way, we realized how much we could learn about a place through its food and drink, and thus “It’s Five O’Clock Here” was born.
Get to Know Me Better…
Currently Drinking: A Gold Rush or one of Savannah Chanelle’s Pinot Noirs
Bar Where You’ll Currently Find Me: Raines Law Room in New York City
Favorite Travel Experiences (So Far): Teaching tap dance to high schoolers in China, swimming in caves in Bermuda, and conquering my claustrophobia inside a pyramid in Egypt
Next on the List: Copenhagen, where I can learn all about hygge (and Carlsberg beer)!
Let’s Connect!
Let’s stay in touch! You can follow It’s Five O’Clock Here on the following social media platforms:
You may see fellow travelers and tipplers show up on this blog frequently. They’re also pretty rad, so If you want to get to know them better, click here.