this is life in austin & aspen » happy hour

Aspen: Fine Line Bar & Grill

this is life in ... — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:23:08 +0000

Fine Line Bar & Grill is a new bar, restaurant, grill, hangout in El Jebel/Basalt that’s reasonably-priced, has GREAT happy hour food and drink specials from 3-6pm daily ($2 Bud & Bud Light Drafts , $3 New Belgium Drafts, $10 Bucket Of 6 Coronitas, $5 Tuaca & Soco Lime Shots), plus special deals for each day and even serving up karaoke Tuesday nights!

Totally Tuesdays: Half Price On All Appetizers
Wine Wednesdays: Buy One Glass Of House Wine Get One Free / Free Chips & Salsa
Tequila Thursdays: Gingeritas & Margaritas $5 / All Nacho Plates Half Price
Fired Up Fridays: Free Chips And Salsa / Tuaca & Soco Lime Shots $3
Smokin’ Saturdays: Rib Platter $10 / Fat Tire Drafts $3
Sunday Bloody Sundays: Absolut Peppar Bloody Marys $5

This is the Gingerita: A Simple Margarita With A Twist. Equal Parts Fresh Lime Juice, Grand Marnier, & Ginger-Infused Corzo Tequila. At $8, a good price for a great, creative margarita. The drink menu is top-notch–all of the drinks are creative and delish!

The food is mostly outstanding. The salad was not good–but the menu calls their salad menu “Rabbit Food,” so maybe I should have known they aren’t really salad fans. Get into the heavier dishes and you’re golden. The Lobster Ravioli was as good as you’d find anywhere, and reasonably-priced at $15.95. Menu reads: Ravioli Stuffed With Fresh Maine Lobster And Served With Vodka Marinara Sauce And A Side Of Garlic Bread.

The best thing Fine Line serves is probably its pizza. This stuff was GOOOOOOD. Menu says: Veggie Garbage Pizza: Spinach, Black Olives, Red And Yellow Onions, Artichoke Hearts, Mushrooms, Fresh And Sun Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, And Feta Cheese. $14.95/$18.95 (this is the $14.95 size and was HUGE)

Overall, all four of the people in my party loved the For Locals By Locals experience of Fine Line Bar & Grill. I only wish such a reasonably-priced, laid-back place was in Aspen! Also check out their 50″ flat screens for football this season!

Also, in more it’s-a-small-world-after-all news, the owner’s fiancee works with the Vermonster, and the owner went to school with the Vermonster in Vermont, where the Vermonster was the MAILMAN for the owner’s dorm. Awesome.

Fonda San Miguel Happy Hour

this is life in ... — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:09:21 +0000

Long the hidden hipster hot spot (celebs flock to the dark corners when they’re in town), Fonda San Miguel’s new Happy Hour in the Patio Bar should introduce the venerable interior Mexican restaurant–it’s been around for 35 years–to a younger Rosedale crowd. HH features $1 off tequila, $4.95 house margaritas, $5 House wines by the glass, and half-priced select appetizers from 5 – 7pm, Monday through Thursday.

Founder & Executive Chef Miguel Ravago’s three seasonal “antojitos” (appetizers) include:

Ostiones Empanizados, crispy Gulf oysters with tabasco aioli and salsa fresca

Miguel’s Gorditas, hand-ground corn masa pockets filled with seasoned black beans, ranchera salsa and crumbled Mexican cheese

Huaraches, oblong, sandal-shaped fried masa topped with chipotle black beans, crumbled cheese and Crème Fraîche

Cocktails stirred up by Fonda’s expert bartenders include:

Brillante: Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), St-Germaine elderflower liqueur and a Hibiscus flower in syrup

Mojito Apasionado: passion fruit mojito with 10 Can Rum, lime, mint and Chambord as well as a daily selection of fresh fruit margaritas and traditional margaritas.

www.fondasanmiguel.com.

Tis the Season for a Tweetup Today!

this is life in ... — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:54:31 +0000

I almost forgot to PIMP MY OWN EVENT! Dangit! TODAY is the first-ever This is Life in Austin co-hosted Tweetup (with the always-fantastic team of Launch787)!

Thursday the 3rd, join Launch787 and This is Life in Austin as we host a super-cool happy hour at Central Market. Two FREE drinks (cash bar after that) and yummy nibbles to get your weekend started a little early. 5 – 7:30pm at the Midtown (38th & Lamar) Central Market. If you’re a Twitter user, you gotta RSVP here. Everyone else, RSVP here (if you don’t RSVP we may not be able to let you in based on capacity).

More info here.

Also, afterward, BlogHer is having their holiday party, also at Central Market, from 7-9pm. If you aren’t too holly jolly, stop by and say hey … they are asking for canned good donations.

TRIO’s 3 for $39 December Dinner is Tres Divine

this is life in ... — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:34:38 +0000

It’s finally cold in Austin (for now anyway) and it couldn’t be a more perfect time to warm up with TRIO’s 3 for $39 December Dinner. They’ve been offering these amazing prix fixe meals for a long time now, and I’ve been talking about how amazing they are for some time now. But trust me, everyone who goes agrees and asks why I didn’t tell them about TRIO’s prix fixe deals sooner. Um, hello? And here too? And don’t get me started on happy hour.

TRIO's Pheasant with mushroom au jus

Anyway, the holiday meal outdoes itself with great apps, gigantic portions of entrees, delicious delicious delicious brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes on the side, and desserts … sigh, desserts.

MENU:

Choice of Appetizer
Winter Squash Salad – Pine Nut, Raisin, Farm Cheese
Seafood Soufflé – Tarragon, Saffron
Pork Belly – Cranberry, Napa Cabbage, Mustard

Choice of Entrée
(Served with Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts)
Pheasant – Mushroom Jus
Wild Salmon – Crimini Mushrooms, Lingonberry
Prime Ribeye – Horseradish, Red Wine Sauce

Gingerbread Cake

Choice of Dessert
Gingerbread Cake – Marzipan, Tangerine Gel, Dried Fruit Purée, Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream
Peppermint-Chocolate Baked Alaska
Trio of Sorbet – Mango, Lemon, Raspberry

Available December 1-30, 2009 (excluding December 24, 2009). For more information or reservations, please call TRIO at 1 (512) 685-8300 or reserve your table online.

Be sure to ask for a glass of Texas’ Best Sommelier Mark Sayre’s personal blend of Va Piano wine. It’s smooth, rich, and delicious.

Tips: My picks (what I’d order if I went back again)?
App: Winter squash salad
Entree: Pheasant
Dessert: Baked Alaska
(and naturally, I’d eat about 5 popovers)

1/2 price drinks for Yelp Drinks Week Nov. 1-5

this is life in ... — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:07:46 +0000

We are now in the midst of Yelp Drinks Week.

YELP DRINKS is, like all the restaurant weeks and FLAVORS and all, a chance to try new stuff, only this time it’s frosty bevvies. Participating locations will feature up to 3 adult beverages for 50% off throughout the promotion.

1) Yelp Drinks prices are good all day Sunday through all day Thursday while supplies last. Though we’re calling this a happy hour, it’s better — this one lasts for five days.
2) Please tip on regular price.
3) Please consume responsibly.

A list of the places:

LA CONDESA
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Enlightened Austin Martini (reg $12) During Yelp Drinks Week $6
El Cubico (reg $12) During Yelp Drinks Week $6 <—- my fave!!
Las Ascendentes (reg $12) During Yelp Drinks Week $6

CEDAR DOOR
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Austin Ultimate Mexican Martini (reg $11) During YDW $5.50
Treaty Oak Lemonade Martini (reg $11) During YDW $5.50
Pinky Friedman (reg $11) During YDW $5.50

MAX’S WINE DIVE
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Sangria Max (blend of red + white wines w/ select fruit juices)(reg $6) During YDW $3
Luxury White (Cape Mentelle Chard) (reg $13/glass) During YDW $6.50
Luxury Red (Beringer Knights Valley Cab) (reg $13/glass) During YDW $6.50

CISSI’S WINE BAR
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Sake Mojito (reg $5.75) During YDW $2.88
Sangria (reg $5) During YDW $2.50
Spiced Apple Cider (reg $5.75) During YDW $2.88

ROARING FORK (Downtown)
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Huckleberry Rita (reg $7) During YDW $3.50
Blackberry Madras (reg $8) During YDW $4
Category 6 Lemonade (reg $9) During YDW $4.50

MARKER 10
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Dr. Tito’s (reg $10) During Yelp Drinks $5
Candy Corn (reg $10) During Yelp Drinks $5
Pumpkin Espresso Martini (reg $12) During Yelp Drinks $6

HOUSE WINE
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
2006 Zinfandel, Cycles Falcon, California
Reg. $9 glass / During YDW: $4.50

2006 Tempranillo, Tinto, Paso A Paso, Spain
Reg. $8 glass / During YDW: $4

2008 Reisling, The Stump Jump, Australia
Reg. $8 glass / During YDW: $4

NOMAD
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Pisco Sour (reg $7) During Yelp Drinks Week $3.50
Caphirinha (reg. $7) During Yelp Drinks Week $3.50
Fernet and Coke (reg $7) During Yelp Drinks Week $3.50

PAGGI HOUSE
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Raspberry Lemonade (reg $8) During YDW $4
Elderflower Royale (reg $10) During YDW $5
Blood Orange Margarita (reg $8) During YDW $4

IMPERIA
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Kung Fu Cosmopolitan (reg $9) During YDW $4.50
The Imperia Pearl (reg $9) During YDW $4.50
The Jade Martini (reg $9) During YDW $4.50

THE BELMONT
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Belmontini (reg $10) During YDW $5
Classic Mojito (reg $8.50) During YDW $4.25
French 77 (reg $12) During YDW $6

ANNIE’S
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
The Old Austin (reg $9) / During YDW $4.50
The Diablo (reg $9) / During YDW $4.50

DRUNGO ICE HOUSE
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
512 Wit (reg $3.75) / During YDW: $1.88
Austin Amber $3.75 (reg $3.75) / During YDW: $1.88
Drungo Michelada (reg $3.75) / During YDW: $1.88

BUFFALO BILLIARDS
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Raspberry Lemonade (regular price is $5.50) / YDW $4.25
Peach Tea (regular price is $5.50) / During YDW $4.25
Pyramid Hefeweizen (regular price is $4) / During YDW $2

EDDIE V’S (Arboretum)
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
The Red Dragon Mojito – (reg. $8) / During YDW $4
Mayfair Martini – (reg. $10) / During YDW $5
Purpletini – (reg. $9) / During YDW $4.50

CLUB DE VILLE
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Margarita (reg price $6) / During YDW $3
Lone Star (reg price $3) / During YDW $1.50
Jager (reg price $6) / During YDW $3

THE GINGER MAN
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (reg $5) / During YDW $2.50
Deschutes Black Butte Porter (reg $5) / During YDW $2.50
Sunner Original German Kolsh (reg $5) / During YDW $2.50

THE GHOST ROOM
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
XX (draught) (reg $4) / during YDW: $2
Shiner (draught) (reg $4) / during YDW: $2
(well) vodka & soda (reg $4) / during YDW: $2

CHUPACABRA
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Frozen Margarita (reg $5.50) / during YDW: $2.75
Spicy Mango Margarita (reg $5.50) / during YDW: $2.75
Frozen Sweet Tea Vodka (reg $5.50) / during YDW: $2.75

MIZU
http://www.yelp.com/bi…
Lychee Mint Martini (reg $9) / during YDW: $4.50
Chile Patron: (reg $12) / during YDW: $6
Mizu Margarita (frozen): (reg $8) / during YDW: $4

Get Your Weekend Mall On

this is life in ... — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:00:11 +0000

Simon Trends & Friends Weekend Kick Off @ Barton Creek Square

Barton Creek Mall is hosting a whole weekend of Trends & Friends that kicks off with a happy hour fashion show with Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy providing light bites and libations on the house (mall?)!

Check out the latest beauty trends at the style stops and top off your evening with a runway fashion show beginning at 7pm. The new giant, amazing, ridiculous Forever 21 will be in the show along with Lucky Brand Jeans, Banana Republic, Macy’s, & others. And I hear that UT’s Fashion Group will be showing select designs in the closing show …

Friday, October 23rd, 2009, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Barton Creek Square, Macy’s Court
2901 Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, Tx 78746

http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/56vj54nq3izystqqy

Fierce Fest

this is life in ... — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:44:28 +0000

Come one, come all to the first-ever Fierce Fest happy hour event to benefit SafePlace

Although ending domestic violence isn’t exactly kid stuff, this event will give attendees the chance to have some childlike fun while supporting a worthy cause. During the Fierce Fest happy hour at Lustre Pearl Bar, a portion of each drink purchase will benefit SafePlace. Attendees can test their relative womanliness through feats of strength, including thumb wars, staring contests, wall sits, arm wrestling, and more.

The Austin chapters of Planning for Good and Cause for Drinks are teaming up to sponsor the event. Planning for Good is a philanthropic organization that offers strategic marketing help for nonprofit organizations. Cause for Drinks brings people together at their local watering holes, and a portion of the proceeds goes to a selected charity.

For 35 years, SafePlace has offered critical services to Austin-area survivors of sexual and domestic violence. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Wednesday, October 14, from 6-9pm at Lustre Pearl Bar, 97 Rainey Street. For more info: http://bit.ly/FierceFest

Ridiculously Packed Thursday

this is life in ... — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:33:01 +0000

Don’t even know where to begin … I’m hitting the invite-only Austin Cocktail Throwdown first, then we’ll see where the night takes me. These are a few of the places I could be going:

Barton Place Restaurant Row Taste Off
Saks New York State of Mind March of Dimes Event

Cocktails by Twin Liquors, hors d’oeuvres provided by The Driskill, door prizes, and NY themed music, getting everyone in a New York state of mind. Five percent of all sales will directly benefit the Austin chapter of March of Dimes. Graff Jewelry will have a special selection here specifically for the event, as they too will also be donating a percentage of sales to The March of Dimes. Also, a fabulous giftcard promotion on Thursday: $100 w/ a $450 purchase, and $250 w/ a $1000 purchase in Cosmetics, Men’s & Women’s Contemporary, and WEAR.
Common Thread Happy Hour / Grand Opening

The cool thing about this fabric store is that they aim to provide three things in their collection:

unusual, exciting, beautiful fabric for creating clothing and crafts
Earth and human-friendly sources and fibers
reasonable prices

Thursdays are beginning to be epic again

this is life in ... — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:06:21 +0000

But I’m too tired to even think about it!

Austin Monthly & BoConcept Longest Worldwide Release Party 6-9pm

(flyer above) Worth going for the Piranha Sushi alone. Well maybe, I bet lines will be long and the place will be packed.

Austin Under 40 Awards Kick-Off

Cissi’s Market, 6 to 9pm … Learn more about Au40, sign up to volunteer on a committee, and network with other Austinites. Drink specials and complimentary appetizers will be provided by Cissi’s Market, live music by the Jeff Lofton Trio.

Volunteers do not need to be members of YMBL or YWA to attend the happy hour or volunteer for the event. Please RSVP at www.austinunder40.org.

Grand Re-Opening of Duncan & Boyd Jewelers

Come celebrate Duncan & Boyd Jewelers recent relocation to a larger store location in Westlake with a trunk show by Charles Krypell and cocktail reception. Open 10am–9pm, Cocktails at 5pm.

New 34th Street Cafe Happy Hour Starts Sept 8

this is life in ... — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:44:44 +0000

In a city that surprisingly lacks GREAT happy hours (aside from TRIO and Imperia, of course), a new deal is a welcome addition. Especially in the “Midtown” area, where, exempting the Triangle, few restaurants mess with a happy hour. Enter Brykerwoods’ 34th Street Café’s new happy hour, starting next week. At less than a mile from my house, I’m sure to give it at least one whirl. Well, except that I’ve never been to Snow Pea’s sushi (amazing!) happy hour and it’s a block from my house. Hrmph. I digress.

Beginning September 8, 34th Street Café will have weekday happy hour specials from 4-7pm. Apps will be half-price and include delectable homemade pizzas and cheese and charcuterie plates. Happy hour wine and beer specials will change daily and may include specialty wine cocktails, half-price wines by the glass and deals on select beers. The restaurant’s newly redesigned website will have daily specials listed.

Other happs at 34th Street Café:

Three-course prix fixe dinners ($24) on Mondays and Tuesdays, which include either a seafood or steak entrée and a glass of wine.
New recipes for the appetizer menu: P.E.I. Mussels ($12) cooked in white wine and served with chervil, shallots, garlic chips and grilled bread; Ahi Tuna Tartare ($12) in a lemon-basil oil and served with sea salt, tapenade and toasted focaccia; and Pan-Fried Frog Legs ($9) served over roasted sunchoke puree, a delicate combination of saffron and Jerusalem artichokes.
Beginning Saturday, September 26 and throughout the autumn season, 34th Street Café will bring back its Lounge 34. Evoking the characteristics of a comfortable yet chic after-hours club, Lounge 34 events begin at 10:30pm with local DJs spinning.

For more info: call (512) 371-3400 or visit www.34thStreetCafe.com.