Stranahan House Hosts Holiday Hangover Event With Sosos Singer and Beer Garden

Fort Lauderdale's oldest, still-standing structure, Stranahan House, will host its first event of the year today from 6 to 9 p.m., appropriately titled "Holiday Hangover." It's clearly geared at all those still recovering from seasonal festivities; there will be an open bar, music, a beer garden sponsored by Moore Stephens Lovelace PA, food of all sorts, and even a CycleParty onsite for guests to experience. Attendees can also, of course, tour the museum.

In addition, attendees can jam out to music played by Chris Monteleone, lead singer of Sosos. The Fort Lauderdale band plays music with acoustic roots instruments only. Monteleone says he'll play some new songs from the band's most recent album as well as some songs from the first two albums.

In regard to the band's newest endeavors, "The first thing our fans will notice is that we now have two lead singers instead of just me," Monteleone explained. "We added Mitch Herrick to the Sosos lineup a few years ago, and we started playing his tunes as well as mine. This has definitely shifted our sound a bit. I'd say it kinda sounds like Jack Johnson stopped by the Goo Goo Dolls' house only to find that the Devil Makes Three was there. Then they all decided to jam!"

Monteleone also says there will be new instruments used that weren't on the previous two albums as well as Kelly Halloran on violin, who has "added a tremendous amount of sweet color to our sound." Monteleone describes the new album as having a "more Americana sound than the previous two and much more sunshine."

When we asked why people should come out to the event, April Kirk, executive director of the Stranahan House, explained, "It's a great way to celebrate our history while making history. This is the first time we are hosting an event like this at the historic Stranahan House Museum. Our goal is to create new history with new friends."

She continued, "Downtown Fort Lauderdale is growing with an abundance of new residents living, working, and playing in the heart of our city." She says the board and staff are "thrilled" to be part of what she describes as "a vibrant, thriving urban core with many activities and possibilities."

Kirk says that when it first opened as a museum in 1984, "We were the place to go to happy hour on a Friday night. These 'Friday Night Socials' offered drinks, appetizers, networking, friendship, and fun for the then-growing set of younger professionals poised to lead our city. Now, 30 years later, a new set of young leaders is on the rise, and they are civic-minded, charitable, and also very fun -- and they value and love the historic nature of this local landmark."

Guests can bid for fun prizes in the auction such as BSO for the Day, a painting class at the Stranahan House, Lilac and Lilies VIP Shopping Experience, a CycleParty party, and many others.

Cover is $25, which doubles as raffle ticket to win a 25-person private party at the Stranahan House. All proceeds benefit the Educational Programs and Historic Preservation of the Historic Stranahan House Museum. Tickets can be purchased at stranahanhouse.givezooks.com.

Holiday Hangover, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, January 8, at the Stranahan House, 335 SE Sixth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Reservations required. Tickets cost $25. Visit stranahanhouse.givezooks.com.

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