Philosophy and Cocktails: How to Party Like an Existentialist

Join Monica McCarthy and Skye Cleary to celebrate Jean-Paul Sartre’s birthday with philosophy and cocktails!

French existential philosophers Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre knew how to create joy even when their lives were filled with absurdity and disenchantment. Talking, drinking, and laughing with friends was an integral expression of their philosophy of seizing their freedom, living vivaciously, forging friendships, and creating meaning in their lives. 

In this workshop salon, we’ll discuss Beauvoir and Sartre’s philosophies of celebrating, consider stories from their lives and fictional works, and reflect on what we can learn from the existential philosophers to infuse our own lives with more sparkle. 

If you’d like to come prepared for the workshop, read Skye’s Aeon article and make yourself a cocktail! We recommend “The Second Sex on the Beach,” our favorite cocktail inspired by Beauvoir’s most famous work, The Second Sex.

The Second Sex on The Beach:

• Ice
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 1 ounce apricot nectar
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled tall glass. 

Readings:

• Being and drunkenness: how to party like an existentialist by Skye C. Cleary (Aeon) 
• Prime of Life by Simone de Beauvoir
• Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre

Skye C. Cleary is a philosopher whose third book is titled How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment (out August 2022). She teaches at Columbia University and the City College of New York. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Aeon, The Times Literary Supplement, TED-Ed, and The Los Angeles Review of Books, among other outlets. She tweets @skye_cleary and IGs @skye_cleary.  

Monica McCarthy is a facilitator, filmmaker, actress, writer, and course creator specializing in the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and the arts. She has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynotes across sectors and time zones with The School of Life, Philosophy At Work, TEDx, and Cheshire Parlour. Monica is the previous Director of Programming and Community for Holstee, Impact Hub NYC, and Escape The City where she created bespoke workshops and events on the topic of meaningful work. Her popular event series and podcast The Happier Hour: Philosophy To Help Life Suck Less was featured in The New York Times. Monica is also an award-winning filmmaker and Broadway and television actress, and her debut directorial short film, Survival Job, is currently winning awards on the festival circuit. She tweets @MissMcCarthy and IGs @MissMMcCarthy.

This is a 21+ event.

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