this is life in austin & aspen » happy hour

Austin: Day ‘o the Week Breakdown

Lyssa — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:28:51 +0000

I love nothing more than a theme party, so you can imagine how excited I was to hear that two Austin standbys, old and new, are hosting themed events every day of the work week throughout the summer! Check out the Day ‘o the Week Breakdown for West Sixth’s Star Bar and South Lamar’s Gibson—almost everything includes FREE food!!

Monday

Gibson: Mustache Mondays—$3 Maker’s special all night for everyone with a mustache. All guests receive a free mustache and prizes are awarded to the most impressive ‘stache.

Star Bar: Crock-Pot Creations—complimentary homemade soups or queso bar, all night happy hour and $4 Makers Mark.

Tuesday

Gibson: Trivia Tuesdays—free pub quiz starting at 8p complete with special prizes and bragging rights.

Star Bar: Texas Tuesdays—complimentary Frito pie, $3 local drafts (Live Oak, Independence and 512 brewing), $3 Deep Eddy regular and sweet tea vodka served in mason jars.

Wednesday

Gibson: Wine Wednesday & Steak Night— complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop (so hot right now!) with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine beginning at 4p until the plates run out. Half bottle pricing starts at $10 and full bottles start at $15. Luke’s Inside Out also offers a grilled steak paired with two sides for $12 on Wednesdays.

Star Bar: Wine and Cheese Wednesdays–complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine. Plate includes a variety of cheeses, Italian meats, grapes and flatbread. Half bottle pricing starts at $7 and full bottles start at $19.

Thursday

Gibson: Bubbles n Bitches (and Bingo)—Gibson has added Bingo to their popular Bubbles n Bitches night … In addition to complimentary variety plate of chocolates and strawberries with every order of bubbles, free Bingo begins at 8p with host Trevin from 101x and a chance to win great prizes.

Star Bar: Star Barrio(haha!)—happy hour complete with complimentary homemade salsas and an enchilada bar featuring Ranch 616 enchiladas, rice and beans. Drink specials include Palomas and buckets of iced Mini Sols.

Sunday

Gibson: Sinner Sunday– service industry happy hour all night.

Star Bar: Doublewide Sundays—complimentary chicken and waffles, Pop-Tarts and a variety of cereals. All day happy hour and drink specials include vodka Capri Suns, SunnyD Mimosas, Strawberry Quik White Russians, and $2 Lone Stars.

BONUS! Free Smoothie Fridays from McDonald’s: Try the new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie at local participating McDonalds with free samples every Friday in July from 7am – 7pm.

I’m not endorsing your Mickey D’s stops, just letting you know about free stuff. The new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie combines mango and pineapple with low-fat yogurt. It’s all about choices—visit this site for McD onald’s nutritional info.

[UPDATED] Austin: Wine-Down Wednesday

Lyssa — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:03:10 +0000

Update: Tomorrow’s Wine Down is CANCELLED.

In its stead, check out the first-ever open-to-the-public (normally just VIPs are invited) Davis Cup Draw Ceremony with Asleep at the Wheel, at ACL Live on Thursday. Tickets are $5 and benefit the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund.

Doors at 11am, program and performance at noon. The teams, including the US and Spanish teams, will be present at the event and the draw will be performed by Ray Benson. More information and tickets at acl-live.com. What a lunch break, huh?

Original post:

Have you heard about ACL Live’s popular Wine Down Wednesday nights? Basically, someone awesome comes to play, free food from awesome 2nd Street restaurants is had, with happy hour prices on Clos du Bois wine.

The series was so popular in June that they’ve added two July dates: Dan Dyer (who, I will add, played at my friend’s April wedding!) on July 6th with complimentary food (while it lasts) from Malaga Tapas & Bar and Wendy Colonna on July 13th with complimentary food (while it lasts) from TRACE.

Wine Down Wednesday is free and open to the public and takes place from 5 – 7 pm.

“Wine Down Wednesdays are a great way to celebrate the middle of the week, “ said Rose Reyes, Director of Music Marketing for ACVB. “Great Austin music, a world-class venue, fine wines and a breezy porch makes this the perfect spot for visitors and locals alike.”

For more information on the schedule of dates, acl-live.com.

… don’t be scurrrrred of falling glass!

Austin: New Happy Hour Alert … SIP at Trace at the W

Lyssa — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:51:22 +0000

TRACE at the W is now offering a happy hour, but like any hipster joint worth its weight in cocktail napkins, it has to call it a Social Interactive Playtime- S.I.P. Kudos on the geeky name, hip W! Anyway, it means drink and food specials daily from 4-6:30pm.

For just $5, enjoy a Tito’s Bloody Mary, Z Tequila Rita Rocks, cocktail of the day, or glass of wine and munch on stuffed fried olives, fries, crispy pork rillete, chickpea fries (?! want!), pate, or drunken doughnuts.

I haven’t visited yet, but my lovely friend Tolly has, click here for her review. Love!

Aspen: ASPEN Magazine and Challenge Aspen Party

Lyssa — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:44:40 +0000

Challenge Aspen is a great organization, the $30 suggested donation is totally worth it.

Austin: Tidbits Party at La Pastisserie

Lyssa — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:35:54 +0000

Taste-test La Patisserie’s decadent desserts to your heart’s content at our Sugary Sweet Affair on Wednesday, February 9th, from 5:30 – 7p. Enjoy passed sweets and apps, as well as wine, champagne and hot pink hued Austin Cosmos by Dripping Springs Vodka.

RSVP: http://austin.gotidbits.com/events/a-sugary-sweet-affair

Austin: Manuary Party for the Men

Lyssa — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:50:30 +0000

I have never heard of this Manuary idea, but as men are occasionally left out here at this blog (you may like my fashion posts a smidge less than the other fabulous things I write), I feel obligated to post. Plus I really like Dulce Vida tequila.

Sabia, Criquet Apparel, and Dulce Vida Tequila would like to invite your readers to our special Manuary party, next Thursday, January 27.

Details:

Mantastic Event! Thursday, January 27th, 4-8pm at Sabia

Manscape: Sabia hair stylists are offering complimentary neck clean ups on site during the event.

Dress: The gents from Criquet, a locally owned company featuring organic polo and golf shirts, will be on hand to style.

Shop: Enjoy 20% off all shaving tools and products, plus peruse Sabia’s amazing selection of gifts for gals.

Cyclist Wax: For a smooth ride (and legs), 20% off leg waxing for bikers

Imbibe: Anejo Old Fashioneds will be provided by Austin’s own Dulce Vida Tequila.

Sounds good for the fellas and the ladies, no?

Austin: Wednesday Steak + Frites

Lyssa — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:37:27 +0000

Beginning January 26, and offered each Wednesday evening, fabulous restaurant The Carillon will feature a special Steak and Frites menu at $18 per plate. The steaks and frites will vary throughout the season.

The first Steak and Frites Night, will feature 7- to 8-ounce Peppercorn-Crusted Beef Shoulder Tender with Twice-Fried Yukon Gold Potatoes and a variety of Argentinean “ketchups.” Other flavorful cuts of meat Chef Josh Watkins plans to highlight during The Carillon’s Steak and Frites Nights include hangar steaks and flat-iron steaks – cuts of beef that offer a more cost-effective price point but that are incredibly tender and contain more marbling, and therefore more flavor, than the traditional filet or New York strip steak.

The house-made Argentinean ketchups are red and green sauces similar to chimichurri. The rustic red sauce combines a tomato base with plenty of garlic, a simple yet flavorful addition to the plate. A mixture of cilantro and pineapple mint grown in The Carillon’s own herb garden, the green sauce is pureed with garlic, onion, salt and extra virgin olive oil.

thecarillonrestaurant.com

Austin: Spotlight Party at La Sombra

Lyssa — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:19:41 +0000

The Octopus Club will be hosting Spotlight Parties around Austin for 2011, and the first event is at La Sombra Bar & Grill on Burnet Rd. TONIGHT! The night will be an amazing mix of FREE food, music, fashion, and beauty. DJ Johnny Bravo spinning music while Estilo showcases the hottest fashions of the season. To top it off, Endlessbeauty.com makeup goddess Brandi McCormick will be beautifying all the models!!

January 19 at 6 pm at La Sombra on Burnet (4800 Burnet Road).

The event is FREE but asking for a donation at the door. Everything raised at the door goes to the Paul Kirby Emergency Assistance fund, which provides aid to Austin citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

For more, click to the facebook event page.

To check out B’s work, I’m partial to my own Kate Hudson makeover in her hands:

Kate Hudson Smokey Eyes Makeup Tutorial

Austin: Half-Price Sushi at Bar Chi

Lyssa — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:39:50 +0000

As the weekend rolls around again, I absolutely must tell you about Bar Chi. It’s on 2nd & Colorado, where the old Yu Sushi Izagaya was. It looks the exact same, but they are doing something no one else downtown is:

Late. Night. Happy Hour. 10p-midnight.

And all-day Sunday happy hour.

And not just $1 off. Like half-price. Here’s the menu:

Yes, that’s pieces of sashimi/nigiri for $1.50 each. And rolls for $4.

I cannot recommend highly enough their “very white tuna” sushi. A piece of escolar seasoned with lemon and a hint of spice, it’s as good a piece of fish as you’ll find anywhere in this town.

The rest of the sushi was good but not spectacular. What was, however, spectacular, was their willingness to accomodate our special requests. No rice? Brown rice? Cucumber roll? All are no problemo!

We ordered the one cucumber-wrapped roll on the menu (not on the happy hour special but only $10) and just plain didn’t like it. Could have been bad fish or taste buds or whatever, but the waitress took it off our bill and had the chefs make us a special roll with three kinds of fish wrapped in cucumber. It was fresh and delicious! We’re calling it Leo’s Special, for the sushi chef who made it. It’s here:

As you can see, it’s awesome. And 100% healthy and paleo, if you care about those sorts of things.

Something should also be said about their sake-infused bloody mary. At $1.50 you can’t go wrong, but the sake is infused with jalapenos, serranos, and habaneros, which makes it SO RIGHT. Yum.

Bottom line? For cheap sushi that’s way better than Whole Foods but admittedly not as good as Uchi, Bar Chi is the spot.

Aspen: Pacifica Happy Hour

Lyssa — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:21:42 +0000

Pacifica Seafood & Raw Bar has been a want-to-try Aspen restaurant that I haven’t had the chance to sample until I had friends come into town recently. We stopped by for their fantastic if short happy hour (it only runs 4-5:30p!) and got a chance to share and sample some seriously delicious apps. The food was outstanding and the portion sizes beyond generous. Make Pacifica a must-try on your Aspen list.

This is quite possibly the largest tuna tartare I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Delicious raw fish, fabulous accoutrements (what was that jelly thing?), crisp chips. $10.

24 ounce “Boat Drinks” are only $10. We shared the Dark & Stormy (rum & ginger beer) while the Vermonster enjoyed a Shrimp Bloody Mary, with a ginormous shrimp garnish and Old Bay Seasoning around the rim. An excellent drink, he said. A drink I failed to photograph was the Mojito, which the drinker said was possibly the best he’d ever had.

The giant portion of mussels and elk sausage, which was rich without being heavy, spicy without being overwhelming … pretty much just perfect. I think it was around $12? In the background you can also see the truffle fries, which were equally perfect–crisp with a taste of truffle and cheese! $8ish?

Pacifica now has my vote as one of the top happy hours in Aspen!