It's 1:45 AM and, thanks to Boston liquor laws, your favorite bar is shutting down for the night. You round up your friends, take your last swig of beer and head out the door to grab a cab... along with the rest of the bar's 150 patrons.

So there you are. In your heels and short dress. Trying to hail a cab, along with the rest of the world. It doesn't matter if you're on Boylston, at the waterfront or, god forbid, down near Government Center or Park Street. You will stand on the street corner and watch cab after cab pass you by before you finally get in one, at that point, freezing cold and beyond annoyed.

I know I can't possibly be the only one who hates this Boston 2 AM routine, especially during the 8 cold, rain-dominated months of the year. So when I discovered Uber, an as-you-need-it car service available at the tap of your smart phone, I was thrilled.

Uber was launched just over two years ago in San Francisco, and is available in almost a dozen major cities across the US, including Seattle, New York City, Chicago, and Washington D.C. The company came to Boston in October of 2011, and has been growing since.

The concept is smart, sleek, and simple. Download the app, input your name, email address, cell number and credit card number. There is no membership fee, no deposit and no money down -- they only charge your card once you get into an Uber car and confirm your fare at the end of the ride.

I spoke with Nick Matthews, Community Manager for Uber's Boston division, who told me that while many cities have cab issues, Boston is among the worst.

"Uber is meant to optimize that issue," he explained. He also filled me in on an interesting fact: according to Matthews, there are four times the number of black cars in Boston than there are cabs, but those cars aren't legally permitted to stop unless they have a predetermined reservation. So when you see all those black cars and they refuse to let you in, that's why. Or, if they pick you up, be cautioned it's illegal.

Instead of employing Uber-specific drivers, the company contracts out to drivers in the city who are reliable and who have been referred to the company. They keep strong relationships with those drivers, who then "sign on" to the system at certain hours to become available for pick up.

Ubers do run at a slightly higher price point than cabs -- according to Nick, the standard rate is between 1.4 and 1.6 times what a cab would cost. That cost, however, includes your tips, and drivers are told specifically to refuse cash tips, as their tip is included in your fare.

To me, what's so appealing about Uber is the no hassle. You don't need to fight with the cabbie about your payment, he wont yell at you for using your card, and he won't smell, or blast terrible music. Stereotypes, yes, but have you ever been in a cab without one of those issues?

I also love the Uber app in on my iPhone: you literally zoom in in a google map to set your exact pick up location so you don't even need to input an address if you don't have it. The map shows clip art-like images of black cars and where in the city they're located, giving you an accurate time estimate of how long the next driver will take to reach you. Often, it's no more than 5 or 10 minutes away.

Of course, Uber isn't flawless, and it is slightly more expensive than a cab, but for the safety and reliability, I'm willing to cough up an extra few bucks. I have had instances, like several weekends back, when I was at Fenway and was told that the next Uber was 25 minutes away, and I was able to hail a cab before my driver got to me. In that case, I simply cancelled my request.

Have you used Uber? What did you think? Would you consider signing up? Comment!

Eastern Standard is one of those bars I've walked by a hundred times, heard amazing things about, but somehow, never been to. So when my friend Kate, in town from New York City, invited me to grab dinner there with her parents, I was excited to finally have a chance to venture inside.
I have to say, for all the hype, I was a little disappointed. Kate's drink, the Aviation, was good, but mine, the Jasmine (pictured), was a bit too strong for a pre-dinner cocktail. We each ordered the cod, and though it was moist and flaky, it was average, at best. Our service was great and so was the company, so overall it wasn't a terrible experience. I would probably go back and order different libations since they have so many interesting options on the menu, but I would definitely skip dinner.
From there, we waked down Brookline Ave to Yard House, which I'd been to a few weekends ago and wanted to introduce Kate to. Though they're known for their beer selection, my love for mixed drinks found me ordering the Southern Belle -- a combination of sweet tea vodka and lemonade with a hefty helping of fresh strawberries and pineapple dropped straight into the glass. The awkward part? Eating the fruit once you get to the bottom -- I perfected my straw stabbing skills. Kate ordered a Jack's Melon, made with Jack Daniels, watermelon pucker and cranberry juice, also very good. Last time I went I had the cherry limeade, which was delicious but a little too sweet, even for my tastes.
Kate and I parted ways, and I met Swati down at the Intercontinental Hotel on the waterfront, another set of hotel bars that has been on my Boston bucket list for quite some time now. We peeked into SushiTeq but it was relatively empty, so we opted for mojitos at Miel instead. I loved the lounge set up of Miel, though by the time we got there it was relatively late, so there weren't any tables left. Instead, we sat on the couches just outside the bar, where we could still get full service. Our mojitos were pricey ($13 each), but my cucumber concoction was delicious, and so was Swati's raspberry one. Swati hadn't eaten much for dinner so she wanted a quick bite, and we asked for a flatbread, minus the duck since she doesn't eat meat. Our server came back with a gorgeous, and delicious, pizza topped with roasted veggies, which the chef had made for us when he heard she was vegetarian. Very impressive!

I love hotel bars. From the Liberty to the Charlesmark, Boston is lucky enough to have a plethora of hotels geared toward tourists, yet many are hiding unique lounges that are great spots for locals to grab after work cocktails or see some live music.

I was lucky enough to check out BOKX 109, in the basement of Newton's Indigo Hotel. The Indigo Hotel is conveniently located a short walk from my office building, so two coworkers & I decided to head there after work the other day to check out the scene.

We ordered three fancy cocktails: I opted for The Pick Me Up, Fran had the Easy Like Sunday Morning and Megan (who is an incredible food blogger) ordered the Blueberry Lemon Drop. I picked my drink because of the unique ingredient list: it's made with apricot brandy, orange, lemon, grenadine, and prosecco. Fran's Sunday Morning was a Bombay Sapphire base with lemon and pineapple, garnished with Angostura bitters, which I, admittedly, had to Google -- they're made of water, 45% alcohol, gentian root, and vegetable flavoring extracts. All three drinks were delicious, but Megan's girly Blueberry Lemon Drop, with Stoli blueberry, lemon, and Creme de Cassis, was the overall favorite amongst the three of us, and we ordered a second to share after we finished eating.

I'd let them know that I was a Boston.com blogger when we made reservations, and the chef was sweet enough to come out upon our arrival and present a gorgeous appetizer trio platter (pictured) with tuna tartare, a fresh oyster, and a scallop with corn and brussel sprouts.

I have to admit -- tuna is far from my favorite fish, and I usually avoid raw fish altogether, but the tartare was absolutely incredible, as was the scallop and its accompanying veggies. The oyster was very fresh and garnished very well -- we loved all three!

We ordered the truffle fries and a margarita flatbread which were relatively ordinary. The fries sounded unique since they are fried in duck fat, but I honestly couldn't taste the difference in them. We probably could have done a better job picking more creative items off the menu, but c'est la vie!

Aside from our drinks, my favorite thing about BOKX was the interior -- the after-work crowd presented a perfect atmosphere, and it was a nice change to be surrounded by men in power suits and a smattering of hotel guests. If you work in the Newton area I'd definitely suggest heading here for a post-work drink or two -- a great spot that's a bit off the grid and worth checking out!

If your mouth is watering at the thought of delicious belgian waffles paired with local, craft beer, you're in luck.

Saus, the local Belgian waffle establishment in Faneuil Hall, and Slumbrew, the research/development brand of Somerville Brewing Company, are coming together to offer a tasting. The occasion? To celebrate the success of Saus, who recently hit their one year anniversary as a successful Boston business.

Seriously, who doesn't love an occasion to eat incredible frites, drink local beer and celebrate two, wonderful local businesses? Yeah, I thought so.

The tasting event is this Thursday, April 26 and 5 PM and is both free and open to the public. Check out the Facebook event invitation, and get more information on the Slumbrew event page.

See, I told you it was tastebud heaven.

When you work 40 hours a week, going out on Friday nights can be tough. You're exhausted from the week, and all you really want to do is curl up on the couch, watch your DVR recordings from the week and then go to bed early. I feel ya.

Last Friday, I had to practically force myself not to flop down on the couch when I got home from work. Instead, I made the trip down to the waterfront to the Capiz Lounge, located inside the Renaissance Hotel. The hotel has just recently begun a live music series, RLife Live, and every Friday night from 9 PM to 11 PM (and Thursday nights from 5 to 7 PM) local bands perform in the lounge, where Blue Ribbon appetizers and special cocktails are available all evening, in addition to the regular bar menu.

Forcing myself to spend the night out ended up being well worth it. When I arrived around 9:30 PM, Joe Fox & the Fourth Floor Band were well into a jam session, and the lounge was half filled with a wide range of attendees -- hotel guests (many who were in town to run the marathon), residents from the nearby Park Lane apartments, and a variety of couples and groups of friends, some in their 20's and 30's, others in their 50's.

I grabbed a spot at the bar and ordered a Hummingbird, made with Cava, St. Germain, and fresh raspberries, which has definitely made its way onto my list of favorite cocktails. A few minutes later, three of my friends arrived -- two of whom played copycat and ordered Hummingbirds, the other a vodka martini.

We got an order of the "Northern Fried" chicken wings, served with Mexican honey dipping sauce. Definitely not my favorite wings, they lacked the flavor I was hoping for, but the manchego and Mexican honey toast we got was delicious -- I would never think to combine honey and cheese, but it worked well!

RLife Live is being launched at Renaissance hotels across the country, but the Boston Seaport location is serving as one of the pilot cities for the program.

We spent the next two hours drinking and laughing, listening to the band during lulls in conversation. By the time we left at 11:30 PM, the band had packed up, but the bar was significantly more crowded.

It was a perfect, low key Friday night after a long work week. Convenient to the silver line, or an easy walk from South Station if it's warm out, heading to the lounge for some music and cocktails is a great way to spend a chill night out. Or, if you've got more energy than I do, make a stop at the Renaissance hotel after you've had dinner in the area, and before you head to another waterfront bar!

When I was a kid, I used to beg my mom to take my brother and I to Color Me Mine, a paint your own pottery chain less than a mile from our house in LA. We could spend hours choosing paint colors and decorating useless figurines that would then sit and collect dust on our bookshelves. I'm sure my parents thought it was a colossal waste of time (and money) but we had an absolute blast regardless.

Fifteen years later, I decided to relive my childhood and take a trip to Brookline's Clayroom, a similar paint your own pottery studio a few blocks from Coolidge Corner. This time, however, I was determined to paint something that was practical - not a fairy with 17 colors painted on its wings.

Meg and I made a date night out of it and went to Common Ground first, where I was anxious to try their brand new menu under new owner Bobby O'Guin. Craving something spicy, I tried the buffalo mac & cheese. Though I drank my Perfect Peach -- a perfectly girly drink made with peach Absolut, Amaretto, orange juice and soda water -- a little too fast to relieve my taste buds, the pasta was perfectly cheesy, despite its strong kick. I started with a Ceasar salad (a huge portion) and Meg got the fish and chips, which she said were moist and very tasty, along with her shoestring fries. We ended our meal with the chocolate molten cake, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. As a chocoholic, I can say this with no hesitation -- absolutely to die for.

The new menu has a great variety -- beet and feta or duck salads, a homemade three grain veggie burger, and a Serrano and Fig Jam sandwich are among the standouts.

Though I usually frequent CG for 90's nights and cheap Miller High Life drafts, I will definitely be back to try some of their other new menu items -- most likely for their Tuesday night trivia with Geeks Who Drink.

After dinner, we walked over to Clayroom. I expected the room to be filled with screaming children and strollers, but there was not a single person under 21, which made me feel much more comfortable about my sudden, strange craving to paint pottery.

The pricing on pottery is very reasonable -- most items cost $10 - $20, and they have a variety of plates, bowls, canisters, and mugs amongst the classic figurines. Then you pay an $8 studio fee, which includes your paint, studio time and the firing of your piece.

The best part about the Clayroom are their specials: Monday night is half fee night ($4 instead of $8) and Tuesday night is pizza night, where the studio orders pizza for everyone at no extra charge. By far the best deal is Wednesday night wine and cheese night, which at $30/person includes wine and cheese, your studio fee and a pottery item worth up to $24. Every night at Clayroom is BYOB, so you can always bring your own wine (a perfect excuse for two buck chuck from Trader Joes down the street) or beer to sip on while you get your creativity on -- a perfect adult twist on a night of arts and crafts.

Meg and I had a blast -- I painted a mug with the words "coffee" and caffeine" emblazoned on every square inch, and she put adorable polka dots on a canister for her desk at work.

All in all, an amazing evening -- if you haven't had a chance to check out the Clayroom you definitely should, just make sure to call and make a reservation, they fill up fast!

In keeping with the theme of my tequila obsession, I dragged Gaby, a Los Angeles friend who has also transplanted herself in Boston, out to Lolita Cocina to check out the tequila bar I'd heard such wonderful things about. And let me tell you, this place absolutely held up to the high expectations I had!

I've been raving about interiors lately, but I loved the basement feel of Lolita -- something about the red lighting, exposed brick, and funky chandeliers made me love this place even more.

Before we could even start to catch up, the waitress brought over chips and a trio of salsas plus a complimentary sample of granita with a free splash of tequila -- as Gaby said to our waitress, anything with the words 'free' and 'tequila' in the same sentence is up my alley!

To start, Gaby ordered the Broken Heart, made with gran centenario rosangel, st. germain, patron citronge, white grapes and fresh raspberries, and I ordered an apple cinammon margarita. (both pictured above) Both were presented beautifully, and were just as tasty!

We split the spicy mahi mahi flautas (pictured -- made with roasted corn and avocado salsa) and the adobo bbq chicken tacos. Both our dishes had quite the kick, but not the type of spicy that leaves your mouth burning and finishing your cocktail way faster than you intended to, the type of flavorful spicy that makes you keep eating, and craving, more.

Far too tempted by the many choices on the cocktail menu, we opted for round two of drinks -- the diablo marg with serrano chile, orange, pineapple and strawberry for Gaby, and the ginger mojito for me. Both were delicious.

The best part might have been the apple-flavored cotton candy that came as a complimentary dessert after our meal. You may have read about my cotton candy love back in December, but this stuff is seriously divine, and despite the very large serving, we devoured it all. The perfect 9 PM sugar kick to give me the energy to deal with the long commute home on the B line (if only I were kidding).

We went on a Tuesday night at around 6:30, and though the restaurant and bar weren't full, there were a decent number of couples and groups of friends seated, and a fair number of people at the bar. By the time we left around 9 PM it had gotten much fuller, so I can imagine this place is hopping on a weekend night.

Not outrageously expensive ($50 each, including tip, for two drinks and a very filling dinner) I would absolutely recomend a trip to Lolita for a unique margarita. I may have a new favorite tequila bar!

Added bonus: Lolita is hosting a tequila dinner on April 3rd -- for $65, you get to try four tequilas, each paired with one course in a four course meal. This month the theme is 1800 tequilas, a blue agave tequila grown and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico. Dinner includes a razor clam ceviche, toasted quail, seared duck and a flourless chocolate cake for dessert. I'm drooling just typing it all out.

I know I've professed my love for Mexican food and tequila many times on this blog, but as a California native, I just can't help myself. So you can imagine my excitement upon hearing that The Painted Burro, a gourmet Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, was opening in Davis Square. Owned by the creators of Posto (which I recently visited and absolutely loved), I knew I had to be there opening week.

Nestled a few blocks down Elm Street from the Davis Square T stop, where Gargoyles on the Square used to be, the Painted Burro has been decked out with an absolutely gorgeous interior decor. I love the framed mirrors, the beautiful bar, and, of course, the intricately detailed donkeys on the walls (pictured), hand painted by Somerville native Raul Gonzalez.

I have to stop and give a disclaimer: I may have had unreasonably high expectations for the Painted Burro. Not to say that I didn't have a great experience, but there were a few things I might change, hopefully kinks that get worked out as the restaurant finds its groove.

I was thrilled that on a Thursday night just over a week after opening, this place was busy but not too crazy -- there was a definite buzz in the room, but we didn't have to scream to hear each other, a perfect evening atmosphere. We had a reservation, and didn't need to wait at all to be seated, which I always appreciate.

Our waitress was very helpful in explaining both the cocktail and food menus -- the drink menu can be quite overwhelming, especially knowing that you can choose any of the 100+ tequilas listed for your drink. But trust me, options are a good thing.

I ordered the Bionicos margarita (pictured) -- made with pineapple, mango and grapefruit. I love fruity drinks (yes, I'm a girly drinker) so I was excited, but I have to admit it wasn't my favorite and the flavors I was hoping for just weren't quite there. Swati had the Hibiscus margarita though, and hers was delicious.

We ordered the guacamole to share, which was perfectly creamy and delicious. I also loved the salsa that came to our table almost immediately after we sat down, although the tortilla chips weren't great -- bland and not quite crispy enough. We split a chile relleno and an order of fundido with shishito peppers (pictured), which were both phenomenal. I do wish I'd gotten an order of the zucchini and nopales tacos -- they're on my list for next time!

Overall, I think the Painted Burro has a good thing going for it. I'm more prone to suggest dinner and drinks here rather than just drinks, but there was a sizable crowd hanging at the bar, and I'm curious what this place is like later in the evening. I will definitely be back!

Been to the Painted Burro? What was your experience like? What other tequila bars do you love in Boston? Comment!

Free the Kids is a non-profit dedicated to helping orphaned children in Haiti. The organization hosts a children's village, where more than 600 children are housed on a 40 acre "campus" and thousands more kids are provided with meals, education, clothing, and medical care.

To help raise money for this incredible organization, Boston's Le Cordon Bleu is hosting a food and wine pairing event on Saturday, March 24 at 7 PM, with all proceeds benefiting Free the Kids. I'm a big fan of benefits (especially if they involve food), and though this one is a bit pricey, it's an incredible cause with a delicious sounding menu to match, and I think it will be well worth the ticket!

Three food and wine pairing stations will offer guests choices of hors d'oeuvres such as goat cheese crostini and chicken skewers in peanut satay dipping sauce. Choose from a salmon, BBQ pork tenderloin, or flank steak entree and desserts include panna cotta or chocolate and pear bread pudding.

A raffle and silent auction will also take place and prizes include a pair of Celtics tickets, a signed Bobby Baker print, four Sunday passes to PAX East, a private yoga lesson, a wide variety of gift cards, plus more.

Your ticket to the event includes one raffle ticket, but the option to purchase more and put them directly into drawings for specific items is available. Larger items will be a part of the silent auction.

Tickets are $80, but Le Cordon Bleu has graciously offered my readers a last minute, 60% discount -- if you enter the promo code bostonite on the EventBrite page, tickets are only $31 per person -- a steal!

Check out this video with more information about Free the Kids:

It's no secret -- the world is obsessed with AMC's Mad Men. Especially since all 4 seasons have been available on Netflix streaming during its hiatus, millions of adoring fans are anxiously awaiting the two hour premiere of season five, scheduled for this Sunday, March 25, at 9 PM.

If you aren't throwing your own themed party, I'd suggest you head to Beacon Hill, where Scollay Square restaurant is hosting an elaborate viewing party, complete with costumed wait staff, 60's cocktails, a costume contest, and, of course, three giant flat-screen TVs to watch the premiere.

Choose from cocktails such as Old Fashion, Brandy Alexander, and Tom Collins, and indulge in Mad Men inspired passed hors d'oeuvres: Pete's pan fried onion dip with homemade potato chips; FDDT kebobs made with full Don Draper treatment-rib eye, potato and portabella kebobs; Sterling's bacon and bleu cheese wedge salad, and Beth's "Grin and Barrett" gazpacho. Seriously, who can resist that list?

To top it off, the top three costumes will recieve $100, $50 and $25 gift certificates, respectively, to any member of the Legendary Restaurant Group. I'd say it's the perfect excuse to go peruse Banana Republic's new collection. Am I right?

Your $30 ticket includes two cocktail tickets and unlimited hors d'oeuvres, plus tax and gratity for the evening. A full dinner menu, inspired by the Mad Men era, will be available to guests.

Can't make it out this Sunday? Don't be too upset. Scollay Square will be showing episodes and offering it's 1960's themed menu every Sunday going forward, so be sure to check that out at some point during the season.

Ladies and gentleman, I have a new favorite Brookline bar: Washington Square Tavern.

Though this adorable bar is in the popular Washington Square area, it's unmarked, making it strangely hidden for being directly on the corner right of the Washington and Beacon intersection.

I can't speak for their food, since I only went for drinks, but when I go to a place where their beer, wine and cocktail menu is bigger than their food menu, I'm always impressed.

I started with the cucumber and mint martini, which was perfect. Strong, but not overpowering, with a great flavor. Next, I opted for the pomegranate margarita, which was good, but definitely not my favorite. Regardless, there were plenty of other cocktails -- the pear twist, ginger snap, and grapefruitini -- that I can't wait to go back and try.

But my favorite thing about WST was the decor -- the bar is sizable but cozy, with dim lighting and an adorable bookshelf on the far wall. Even on a Sunday night, most tables were taken, and every seat at the bar was filled. A perfect date spot, or a great, low key bar to grab drinks with friends before heading out to a more crowded spot. Go check it out!

Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend everyone!

Even though I moved to Brighton more than 6 months ago, I haven't spent much time checking out the nightlife scene here -- especially in the Allston area. Aside from Common Ground and Sunset Cantina, I really haven't spent much time at any 02134 area bars.

I also have to admit, I'm a bit biased when it comes to Allston. And not just because I'm a husky and not a terrier, but because every time I step off the B line or the 66, I'm overwhelmed by the smokers, the dirty sidewalks and the explosion of plaid everywhere I look.

Despite all this, two Globe co-workers and I ventured to Allston on Friday night to check out Deep Ellum and the brand new Mexican restaurant next door, Lone Star Taco Bar.

Both Deep Ellum and Lone Star are tiny inside -- with no more than 8 tables along the wall plus the bar, there is very little space to walk, move, or even turn your head. Despite the lack of space, our food was fabulous.

We split the vegetarian queso (pictured, above) and an order of nachos (pictured, right) both of which were incredible, and we each ordered an individual taco -- I had the tofu, Swati had the avocado, and Lex got the chicken tostada. All 3 were delish.

Our margaritas, however, left something to be desired. We opted for the original 20 ounces, served in giant beer mugs over ice. They were bland, and just didn't quite hit the spot. I ended up adding salt to mine, but wasn't quite motivated to finish the whole thing.

Though our original plan after dinner was to head to Common Ground for 90's night (one of my favorite bar nights of all time), the line was long and it was already close to midnight, so we opted for White Horse Tavern instead. Though the bar was huge and not quite full, our drinks were strong and relatively cheap, which at 1 AM on a Friday night definitely hit the spot.

I joke about hating Allston and its dirty vibe, but I will be the first to admit I had a great time on Friday night. Not my usual crowd, but we had a good time out regardless, and it doesn't hurt that my cab ride home was only $10 instead of the usual $25.

Love Allston? Hate it? Want to rail on me for judging its dirty vibe? What are your favorite Allston spots? Comment!

If you couldn't already tell from reading this blog, I'm a cocktail girl. As much as I try to love beer, I just can't help that I'm drawn towards mixed drinks instead.

So when I found out that Towne Stove & Spirits added a slew of new drinks to their cocktail menu, I couldn't wait to try them all. I enlisted a willing friend and we made our way to Boylston Street on a recent Wednesday night.

The restaurant has three distinct areas -- the front bar and lounge area, the back dining room (which also has a bar), and the upstairs section -- which are appropriately named the Street Lounge, Downtowne, and Uptowne. We sat in the front lounge area, which has a great layout and a beautiful bar but is very dimly lit (hence the bad drink photos, sorry!)

Towne Culinary Director Lydia Shire and Executive Chef Mario Capone have also introduced a new bar menu, which includes crab & spinach dip, duck quesadillas, sweet potato fries, and fried zucchini sticks, among other options. We opted for the sweet potato fries with our first round of drinks -- a Cucumber Rose and a Towne Lemonade (both pictured). The Cucumber Rose, made with cucumber vodka, rosemary simple syrup, and prosecco float, then given a sugar rim, was phenomenal. Perfectly cucumber-y with a slight hint of rosemary and just enough carbonation to give it an edge. I loved it. The Towne Lemonade was also delicious, made with blueberry vodka, lemonade, pomegranate juice and real blueberries. Less original but very well made, plus I'm a huge fan of real fruit in my cocktails.

Next we tried the Roman Candle -- a fruitier drink made with prosecco, Chambord liqueur, and pineapple juice, topped off with a raspberry -- and the Ginger Flower -- also prosecco-based, made with ginger, cognac, elderflower liquer, and a dash of lemon juice. Though I liked both of these champagne-like drinks, the Cucumber Rose was my favorite by far.

Beware: drinks are pricey, almost $14 each. The bar menu, however, is relatively reasonable, with prices in the $8 - $15 range. Regardless, I'd definitely recommend Towne as a fun spot to meet a friend on a weekday for a drink. They've also got a bar scene on the weekends -- I've been on Friday and Saturday nights, and it's a fun vibe with a solid mix of older folks and young professionals. My drinks weren't as well made on weekend nights, but with a very busy bar, I guess that's probably to be expected.

I also love that Towne is a very different scene from most of the bars on Boylston -- as much as I love Pour House, Whiskey's, and Lir, it's always nice to mix it up!

Happy almost weekend, friends! This lucky girl has tomorrow off of work and is San Francisco bound for a reunion with two of my best friends, and I could not be more excited.

If you are looking for some awesome weekend activities, check out these great suggestions from the Go To It blog.

In other news, I met a new journalism friend Melissa at Zocalo's last night for National Margarita Day. As an avid tequila drinker (yes, my drink of choice is a tequila sunrise, please don't judge) I was not about to pass up the opportunity to celebrate. And to make it even better, Ole Restaurant Group was running a promotion -- any margarita purchase yesterday came with a free order of guac. Yum.

Usually, I like my margaritas blended, but the Hibiscus margarita that I ordered, made on the rocks with Espolon Silver tequila, Hibiscus syrup, and lime juice, decorated with a delicious cinnamon sugar rim, was incredible. Not too strong that all I could taste was tequila, but powerful enough that I left the restaurant with a perfect buzz. I've found that's a rare combination, and I truly appreciate bartenders who can find that happy medium. It came with a hefty $11 price tag, but once in a while, I think splurging on a to-die-for drink is okay.

Our salsa & guac were delish and the ambiance at the bar was great. Overall, a perfect after work drink spot that I highly recommend! I've also been here for dinner, and though the entrees are pricey, the guac is made fresh to order which is difficult, if not impossible, to resist. I especially love this restaurant in the summer, when the patio is open and you can drink your margaritas in the fresh air. I know it's going to be in the 50s again today, but I think that just makes me yearn for May that much more.

Happy weekend!

Fenway bars may not be full of raucous Red Sox fans right now, but Boylston and Landsdowne Streets are still chock full of great bars to spend a night out at. Friends and I grabbed a few beers at Bleacher Bar on Friday night, and though it was slight depressing to see the garage down over the view of the park, there were plenty of people at the bar and tables. Plus, none of us had to elbow anyone to get our beers and we could actually carry on a conversation without screaming, which is always a good thing.

If you're headed to the Fenway area this Saturday night, be sure to check out the newest Fenway bar and restaurant, Sweet Caroline's. They'll will be hosting their grand opening party, starting at 9 PM. With complimentary appetizers, 11 HD flat screens, plus three 100-inch projectors (possibly to catch the end of the Bruins/Senators game?), what could be a better place to pre-game?

The 4,000 square foot bar is built with reclaimed farm wood (very cool!) and boasts its own twist on the Green Monster -- an interior wall covered in leafy vegetation. Not quite the same, but we'll give 'em an A for effort.

If you can't make it on Saturday, the bar hosts Tuesday night trivia weekly with Geeks Who Drink -- tonight's winning team gets 4 Wachusett Mountain passes, a pretty sweet prize. They've also got "Flight Night" on Wednesdays, a chance to check out a variety of beer flights at the bar, which change regularly throughout the month.

Check out pictures of the new restaurant below:

Images courtesy of Sweet Caroline's

If you're as broke as I am and can't get yourself down to New Orleans this weekend to celebrate Mardi Gras, you're actually in luck. No, I don't have news of a fabulous JetBlue sale, but with dozens of fabulous Fat Tuesday celebrations happening across the city over the next week, I promise you can still afford to party Louisiana style, right here in Boston. From dance nights to Cajun-style feasts to charity balls, there are options for every budget.

Mardi Gras, Hurricane Style
Hurricane O'Reilly's, Purple Shamrock, Coogan's, Black Rose, and Jose McIntyre's -- Friday, February 17
Hurricane O'Reilly's boasts the "spirit of Mardi Gras and the French Quarter" in the heart of Boston year round, so I'm not surprised they're hosting a Fat Tuesday celebration. But this entire family of bars, all owned by The Glynn Hospitality Group, is teaming up with Southern Comfort to bring $5 hurricane drinks and live jazz music to all party attendees. Cover is free at all locations.

Mardi Gras Madness
House of Blues -- Friday, February 17
This 18th annual charity ball, which benefits the Chrons and Colitis foundation, will feature an open beer and wine bar, dinner and dessert buffet and live music. Hosted by House of Blues, the club will be decked out for the occasion. Tickets are $100 in advance, $110 at the door.

Mardi Gras Party
The Greatest Bar -- Friday, February 17 & Saturday, February 18
With four floors to peruse, The Greatest Bar is hosting not one, but two Mardis Gras parties. On Friday night, Hype Nightlife will be hosting DJ Cam, DJ Garebear, DJ El Sid and DJ Tuck, all putting their twist on top 40 and house on different floors. Night two will be hosted by Boston VIP list. There will be plenty of beads and masks to go around, plus the ladies of Southern Comfort will be handing out special giveaways. According to the bar, this party promises to turn the North End's Friend Street into NOLA's very own Bourbon Street.

A $10 cover begins at 9pm on both nights, but if you call ahead to 617-367-0544, they'll knock the price down to just $5.

Mardi Gras Ball
TT and the Bears -- Saturday, February 18
This is the nineteenth installment of Shaun Wolf Wortis's Mardi Gras Ball, a tradition begun by Slide, a Boston-based band that was heavily influenced by New Orleans rhythm and blues. Despite the band's break up in 2000, the ball tradition was carried on by Wolf. This years headliners include Paul Ahlstrand, Scott Aruda, Ducky Carlisle, Mark Caughill, and of course Wolf himself. Tickets are $15 in advance.

Bourbon Street Event
Arts After Hours, Lynn -- Saturday, February 18
The Lynn-based theater company is hosting its second annual Bourbon Street event, featuring live music from Berklee band Elephant Wrecking Ball, known for their signature trombone sound. Peruse local art, meet artists and chow down on some creole-style food (jambalaya and pulled pork anyone?) plus choose from a selection of beer and wine. Proceeds from ticket sales ($15 each online or over the phone) will fund the remainder of the group's theater season.

Italia Unita Carnevale
Zumix Firehouse, East Boston -- Sunday, February 19
East Boston's Italia Unita non-profit is hosting their own twist on Carnevale. This Italian tradition shares the same religious significance as Mardis Gras -- a last chance to gorge on sweets before lent begins. From 3 PM to 6 PM, enjoy desserts like Pignolata and Chiacchiere, watch performers put on skits and jokes, and don a complimentary mask while you dance through Zumix Firehouse. Admission is a requested $10 donation at the door.

March in for Mardi Gras
Darryl's Corner Bar & Grill -- Friday, February 17 - Tuesday, February 21
This bar, self titled "the intersection of friends, food, and music" serves southern comfort food and hosts jazz every day of the week. This weekend, put on your masks and beads and head to Columbus Ave for a guaranteed Fat Tuesday-themed night.

Le Mardi Gras: Carnival New Orleans
Beehive -- Tuesday, February 21
If you're up for a weeknight adventure -- and in all fairness, this event is hosted on the actual date of Mardi Gras -- head to The Beehive to listen to the sounds of Danny Health & Wali Ali and devour Cajun-inspired specials by Chef Rebecca Newell. Have no fear, this jazz bar will be serving ample-sized Hurricanes so you'll be ready to break out your dancing shoes. The best part? No cover!

Authentic Louisiana cookin'
Tryst -- Tuesday, February 21
If a quiet night out on the town for dinner is more your thing, head to Tryst, whose very own Chef Turano worked with chefs from the heart of New Orleans to compile this special prixe fixe menu. Indulge in crispy fried chicken with creole BBQ and tomatillo pickles, slow roasted pork with black eyed pea and collard green gumbo, and of course, cinnamon and sugar beignets (pictured). If that's not enough to convince you, a percentage of the proceeds from dinner will go to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, a New Orleans charity that facilitates the efforts of the hospitality industry to improve greater NOLA. Dinner will be served between 5 PM and 10 PM Tuesday night.

Throwed: Mardi Gras Party
Middle East Downstairs -- Tuesday, February 21
This electronic dubstep dance party rocks the Middle East every Tuesday, but this week they're going NOLA style and featuring Pinn Pinalle, a 4 piece full band performing live dubstep covers. Other performers include Skrillex, Nero, and E-Marce + Texas Mike. The event is 18+, tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 day of/at the door.

Socialete Mardi Gras Party
Umbria Prime -- Friday, February 24
If you haven't heard of this VIP social group, take comfort in one thing: they sure knows how to throw a party, and they're not missing out on the opportunity to celebrate Fat Tuesday. The event invitation encourages party-goes to put on their fanciest purple, green, and gold and head to the third floor of Umbria Prime, reserved exclusively for this bash. Tickets for non-members are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Bourbon Street Blowout
Bell in Hand -- Saturday, February 25
Can't pick just one locale? Pub crawl it is. Boston Event Guide is turning Faneuil Hall into the French Quarter on Saturday. Starting at Bell in Hand at 2 PM, a $15 ticket gets participants a t-shirt, free cover at all participating bars, plenty of beads, and drink specials along the way.

I recently taught myself to make chili. I bought ground turkey, a ton of veggies and got to work chopping and cooking, combining chicken broth, an assortment of beans and spices in a giant pot on my very small stove. Though I'm no chili aficionado, I think my concoction came out pretty well. Regardless, I have a new found respect for the chefs who artfully devise chili variations -- it's tough work!

Which is why when I got wind of the "Chili Cup," hosted by Ned Devine's and featuring chilis from more than a dozen Boston restaurants, my interest immediately spiked, and of course, my stomach started to growl.

A $20 admission fee includes all you can eat chili samples (gotta taste all 15, right?) plus two drink tickets -- good for a Corona or Don Julio, both of whom are sponsoring this third annual cook off. Show up for the 6 PM VIP hour (included in regular admission) and you can partake in an exclusive Don Julio tasting. A raffle, with prizes that include a night at the Lenox and Red Hot Chili Pepper tickets, will also be taking place -- Ned's will donate all proceeds to Community Work Services, an organization which works to provide job training, placement, and support services for adults.

Aside from Ned's, other participants include chefs from The Harp, Game On!, Dillon's, Church, The Greatest Bar, Cask n' Flagon, Anthem Kitchen + Bar, Flat Iron Tapas Bar & Lounge, Porters Bar and Grill, The North Star, Mija Cantina & Tequila Bar, The Grand Canal, and Joe Sent Me.

So head to Ned's on Thursday, February 16th. Nothing beats a steaming cup of chili on a freezing cold day.

I'm a total Grinch when it comes to Hallmark holidays like Halloween and Valentines Day. No, this doesn't have to do with my new single status (okay, maybe a little bit) -- I've long hated the holiday that forces men to buy flowers and chocolates for the woman they're dating just because American candy companies tell them to. To all future suitors: buy me flowers on a random Wednesday, that has much more meaning, I promise.

I digress. As cranky as me now that February 14th (aka Singles Awareness Day) is fast approaching? Don't necessarily want to stay in on the couch with take out and your DVR? Here are some anti, and alternative, Valentines day and weekend events you can check out instead.

Luv Sux
At least according to Boston's dueling piano bar, Howl at the Moon. Their anti-Valentines Day party will feature "x-boyfriend" cocktails and 86 ounce "bad romance" buckets, plus games, contests and t-shirt giveaways. Want to get in for free? Just bring a mutilated picture of your ex. Now that, my friends, is truly anti-V day.

Mortified: Doomed Valentines Day
If you're Mortified of being single on this love-struck day, come listen to the worst, most entertaining, doomed love stories on the stage of the Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, February 13th. Folks will be taking the mike to share embarrassing (and hilarious) diary entries, lyrics, poems, and artwork from their teenage years. No, I'm not kidding. "One by one, brave men and women will take the stage to relive their tortured adolescence with cringe-worthy material about juvenile ardor gone wrong: from unrequited high-school crushes and tumultuous off-and-on romances to bad prom dates and awkward sexual firsts. Oh the pain!" reads the event description. Hailed for years as a fabulous anti-cupid event, the show has sold out in years past so snag your tickets, $15 each, ASAP.

Geeks who Drink Trivia
Fenway's Sweet Carolines will be hosting a Valentines Day edition of their weekly Geeks who Drink event -- a trivia night to benefit the American Heart Association -- and Absolut samplings, starting at 6 PM. Entry is $5 and the winning trivia team will take home a cash prize.

Pub Crawls
What better way to forget about being single than to drink your way across through downtown Boston? Dirty Water News is hosting a Love Stinks pub crawl on the day of doom - tickets are $15 and include a t-shirt and drinking cup. McFaddens, Kitty O'Sheas and Jose McIntyre's are all on the destination list.

CrawlinBoston is hosting a Valentine's Crawl on Saturday, February 11th. 16 bars will be opening their doors from 12:30 to 8 PM. There's no registration fee, just a $5 suggested donation to benefit the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center and a request for a simple Facebook RSVP. Each timeslot (12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 6:30) will have 4 bar options in the Faneuil area with drink specials. For the morning after, head to Social Sunday brunch at the New Brahmin, offering $3 screwdrivers to cure your hangovers.

Love still sucks
Mass Ave Tavern is hosting Love Sucks -- any event with the tagline "no hearts, no flowers, no love songs" is a winner in my book. Cheap Miller High Lifes and American bar food. What could be better?

Red, yellow, or green?
If you're single & ready to mingle, the Socialete sponsored "Traffic Jam" party on Friday, February 10th lets attendees don red (taken), yellow (maybe?), or green (single) beads to indiciate their status to other party-goers. Tickets are $40, but include access to the Crawl in Boston pub crawl (above) and a free ride to Felt thanks to Uber Boston.

Flirt Fest
The Boston Event Guide is hosting their annual Flirt Fest at Bell in Hand on Tuesday night, starting at 7 PM. Tickets are $15 or 2 for $20 if you RSVP before Feb. 10. They'll have hors d'oeuvres from 7 til 9 and a best & worst pick up line contest, which at the very least is sure to be entertaining.

Despite my Grinchy attitude, I'll be in the North End for dinner with a group of girlfriends and more than likely dragging my old roommate to see The Vow (hey, Channing Tatum is hot, alright?)

Single? What are your valentines day plans?

Who doesn't love free, live music?

MySecretBoston and Church bar in Fenway have partnered to establish a “Secret Sessions” series every Tuesday, which will be running through March.

Richard James and the Name Changers played for the series in January and are scheduled to be back in March. Elephant Wrecking Ball -- who MySecretBoston describes as "a seriously cosmic funk/jazz project created by John Brown’s Body trombone player Scott Flynn" -- is on the schedule for the rest of February.

Though the venue has live music almost every night of the week, cover usually ranges from $5 to $15, so this free night is definitely a steal! There are dozens of fabulous restaurants (of all different price points & cuisines) in the area - Thaitation, Citizen Public Oyster House, El Pelon, Sweet Cheeks, and even Tasty Burger, to name a few. Grab some grub beforehand & make a night of it!

Check out some music from Elephant Wrecking Ball below, then make plans to head to Fenway next Tuesday!

It seems with the holidays over and Valentines Day approaching, event planners have got chocolate on their minds. And as a very serious chocoholic (thanks Mom!), I am certainly not complaining. Of course, I don't want you to be deprived either, so here is a list of some chocolate-related events in the Boston area I've come across. Enjoy, just don't go into a sugar coma!

Harvard Square Chocolate Festival -- January 27th - 29th
This is a three-day extravaganza, complete with a treasure hunt, tasting events, and a Harvard Square chocolate tour. Over a dozen restaurants and bars in the area will be celebrating with special drinks, desserts, and discounts for festival-goers. Check out the full schedule of events, which includes information on making reservations, buying tickets and where you can get your hands on all of that chocolate!

Death by Chocolate -- January 29th
If you can get out to the 'burbs, you'll probably want to stop by the Newton Crowne Plaza, where vendors, chefs, caterers, and restaurants will be competing for the best chocolate cake, best cookie, best unique dessert, best brownie, and best candy. Attendees get to taste each entry and place their vote in each category. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children, with proceeds going toward the Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, and Salvation Army of Massachusetts.

New L.A. Burdick opening -- January 30th
If you've visited this decadent chocolatier in Harvard Square, you'll be excited to hear the New Hampshire-based company is opening a second location in Back Bay on Monday, January 30th. The pastry shop won't be open yet, but they'll have a full assortment of desserts to purchase. Lunch break trip anyone?

A Beer & Chocolate Love Story -- February 11th
For just a $3 donation to the Greater Boston Food Bank, you can head to the Taza factory in Somerville to try out four incredible craft beer and Taza chocolate pairings:

If you're anything like me and only go over to your friends' places on football Sundays for the awesome snack food, I highly suggest you read on for a bowl 'game' that may appeal just a little bit more.

In honor of Super Bowl weekend, Poe's Kitchen at Rattlesnake Bar & Grill is hosting Burrito Bowl II. Chefs from restaurants across Boston will be concocting burritos that reflect the flavors of their favorite NFL team's city. For a $15 admission fee, attendees get to taste and rate each burrito, served bowl style. Official referees, including Scott Kearnen of STUFF Magazine and NECN's Jenny Johnson, will also judge the burrito bowls. Last year's reigning champ, Jose Duarte of Taranta, will be participating along with Andy Husbands of Tremont 647, Jason Hutchinson of Boloco, Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks, among others.

And don't worry, the event is from 1 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, February 4th so if you're a real football fan, you can still watch the game.

Check out the flier below for more information and reserve your ticket via EventBrite. This Bostonite has planned an NYC trip that weekend so I can't attend, but I'm sure it will be a blast! Who's planning on grabbing tickets?!

My weekend was a Northeastern reunion of sorts, as one of my closest friends from college came up to Boston from NYC and our group of girlfriends - all past Northeastern tour guides - was reunited.

We started our weekend with the fiesta brunch special at Masa which I'm absolutely obsessed with. Only $8 for an appetizer, main course and coffee or tea is a steal, and the eggs benedict (pictured) are to die for. Even the complimentary cornbread is incredible, and it comes with apricot-habenero, cranberry, and molasses butter spreads. The Southwestern-style spot is half lounge, half restaurant and is great at all hours of the day - they make a mean margarita, and their dinner menu is also phenomenal. Can you tell I'm obsessed?

I digress. After brunch, we all pulled on as many layers as we could and headed to Fenway park to cheer on our huskies as they took on BC at Frozen Fenway. The official alumni pre-game was at the Baseball Tavern, which I'd never been to. Though I'm sure the bar has a different feel in the summer, packed with Sox fan drinking Sam Summers, it seemed a bit dingy and the mixed drinks were small and expensive, so I probably wouldn't go back.

Our beloved team lost the game and it was absolutely freezing out, but we had a blast anyways, and spent the remainder of the evening at Boston Beer Works, noshing on good food and drinks, watching the Pats take on the Broncos. I've been to the restaurant many times but often just for lunch or dinner and the post-dinner scene was relatively impressive, especially considering the frigid temperatures. The place was packed with a crowd of all ages standing at and around the bar and the wait for a table was more than hour when we arrived at 7 PM.

Sunday we saw our friend perform in a winter panto of Humpty Dumpty at the Boston Center for the Arts. I'd never seen (or even heard of) a panto, but we had a blast watching the group of energetic young actors portray Mother Goose, King Cole and Old Mother Hubbard, among others. The show runs through February 4, and if you've got a love for the mockery of nursery rhymes (or young kids who might!) I definitely recommend checking it out.
With the bone chilling temperatures, we decided not to venture far after the show and opted for dinner and drinks at the Beehive, just steps from the theater.

Dinner was wonderful -- my chicken tikka-masala was moist, tender and full of flavor, as was Kate's pork. Three of my friends ordered the burger, which they said was tasty, and came with delicious fries (I may have stolen a few). We split the perogies at the bar before our meal, which were perfectly cheesy in a melt-in-your-mouth kind of way. The only downside was the price - entrees range from $20 - $30 - and the fact that my friend with soy and gluten allergies was stuck ordering an average salad that cost more than our friends burgers.

I've been meaning to get to the jazz brunch at Beehive for a while now, as the menu looks phenomenal, so that's definitely next on my list -- anyone been? Unfortunately, my long weekend came to a halt last night, as I had to work today, but all in all, it was a wonderful girls weekend!

How was your weekend? Do anything exciting? Try out any new spots? Comment and share!

It's no secret I'm obsessed with brunch. So when I caught wind of the Greater Boston Food Bank's Super Hunger Brunch, you can imagine how thrilled I was.

For more than two decades, the GBFB has been teaming up with fabulous Boston restaurants for this event. The concept is simple - purchase a gift certificate on the GBFB's website for either $25, $35 or $50 and that gift certificate is good for brunch at any of the participating restaurants on Saturday, January 28th or Sunday, January 29th.

I know it doesn't exactly fall into the nightlife category, but all proceeds from the event sponsor the food bank, so you donate to an incredible cause and brunch at a great local restaurant. It really is a win-win.

Below is a list of the participating restaurants, broken down by price. I'd suggest inviting a handful of friends and ordering a few gift certificates for your group to share.

I'm thinking about heading to CLINK., Sel de la Terre or The Fireplace -- I can't make up my mind yet! Any suggestions?

Take this opportunity to support the greater good and try out a fabulous new brunch spot. Just don't forget to make a reservation!

Is your favorite brunch spot on this list? Where are you going to support the GBFB? Comment!

Disclaimer: I sincerely apologize for my terribly lame pun. I just couldn't help it.

I think I've mentioned in prior posts how horrible I am at remembering to use my Groupons, and despite the new year, nothing has changed. So when my friend Swati (who also has this bad habit) and I discovered we both had dangerously-close-to-expiring deals in Harvard Square, we planned a date night to use 'em up.

We started at Om Restaurant and Lounge, which I've passed dozens of times but never actually been inside of. The dining room was closed for remodeling, but the lounge was open for dinner with plenty of seats. We ordered cocktails -- she got the Lychee martini and I opted for Purple Rain, a blackberry mojito. Both of our drinks were absolutely delicious, although with a $10 price tag, they better have been! My second drink, the Sassy Miss - made of pear vodka and pear liqueur - tasted like straight vodka, and not in a good way. I asked our waiter to reshake it with a bit more juice and it came back tasting like an unimpressive basic mixed drink with vodka and strawberry juice. Definitely disappointing.

She had a deal for $50 worth of food, so we splurged a bit and ordered shrimp and shitake wontons, edamame potstickers, a blue cheese, pomegranate, and spinach salad, and a tofu stir fry - all to share. The food was great, although I admit if it wasn't for the half price I might not have been so impressed.

As we sat catching up and sipping our drinks the lounge began to fill up with other diners, and eventually almost every table was filled. The room had a nice ambiance - good lighting with a slight murmur but not too noisy. I don't think I'd come back here for dinner as the entrees are very pricey, but possibly for drinks and a split appetizer with a few girlfriends. As much as I loved my mojito, I know there are better (and more reasonably priced) bars in the area.

Next we trekked down Mass Ave (hey, it was freezing out!) to Zinneken's. Similar to the dessert waffles at Saus, this Belgian bakery offers a wide variety of waffles topped with fruits and sweet sauces. We each opted for ours with bananas, raspberries, strawberries and chocolate drizzle. Not the best Belgian waffle I've had, but a good sweet treat regardless. I wasn't able to finish my entire waffle and it wasn't very good reheated the next day, so next time I'd probably split a single one with a friend. Despite the great treat, beware that these aren't especially cheap -- each waffle ranges from $5 to $9 depending on toppings. We ordered hot chocolate, which was a huge let down - mine was tiny, cost $3 and tasted like a watery version of powder-based hot chocolate.

I love sites like Groupon because they offer an affordable way to try new places like this. I'm glad I had the opportunity to check out both of these Harvard Square eateries, but I'm happy I didn't pay full price at either place!

Disagree with my opinions of Om or Zinneken's? Comment & tell me! Or, let me know what your favorite Harvard Square bars and restaurants are!

For those of you of age who have been living in Boston for long enough, you surely realize we have strange alcohol laws that prohibit happy hour promotions and discounted liquor sales. The law dates back to 1984 (no, not 1884) and was imposed in an attempt to limit drunk driving.

While I appreciate the thought, as an avid MBTA rider who does not own a car (and a young professional on a very minimal salary) I find this law totally frustrating, especially since those irresponsible enough to drink and drive will most likely get behind the wheel while under the influence regardless of whether the booze is cheap or not.

I digress. The point is that in the absence of traditional happy hours, many Boston restaurants have instated great appetizer deals during after work hours. Cheap food and full priced drinks is better than nothin', right?

McCormick & Schmick's, a well known seafood chain in US with Boston locations on Columbus Ave. and in Faneuil Hall, has one of the best discounted appetizer menus I've found.

For just $2 during their three hour "social hour," you can order bruschetta, cheese quesadillas, spinach dip, or, as pictured, a california crab roll (a random selection I know). Oysters, popcorn shrimp, mac & cheese, and fried calamari, along with a handful of other items, are also on the menu. The most expensive item is just $5. Can you say score?

Meg and I went to the 360 theater showing of Peter Pan last month, and grabbed a quick dinner during social hour before the show. She got the best deal on the menu -- a $3 cheeseburger & fries. I got the sushi and mozzarella sticks (yes, a random combination, I ordered on a whim) but I've had quite a few of the options and they're all great - not gourmet, and pretty standard bar food, but an awesome deal nonetheless. Our bill -- dinner for the two of us -- came to just $9.84 without our drinks.

If your office is downtown and you haven't checked this place out definitely make plans to grab some grub and drinks with coworkers one evening. The social hour menu is available Monday through Friday between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM and again between 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM Monday through Thursday.

There are a ton of places across the city that offer discounted appetizer "happy hours" -- have a favorite? Comment and let me know!