NY Barfly

Happy Hour Alert: Start Your Weekend at Maya

It's...almost...warm... Can March just go out like a lamb already and bring us rooftop bar season (our favorite reason to live in NYC). Well, we're not quite there yet, but we're certainly still planning to get our drink on once the 5 PM whistle blows (OK, who are we kidding - we're sneaking out at 3, but you get it). We think we'll hit some margaritas to help us feel a spring vibe - luck has it that Mexican restaurant Maya is offering some pretty sweet drink deals this very evening (and every night from 5 to 8 PM for that matter).

We think we'll start with a few of the $6 margaritas, and then move on to a $4 Mexican beer (and by "a" we mean at least four). The Richard Sandoval restaurant also dishes out some cheapy bar bites, so you can soak up that hooch with $3 tacos or torta sliders. It may still be a little too chilly to walk outside without a jacket, but after you knock back a few of these boozy offerings, you can at least leave it unzipped as you leave.

Maya is located at 1191 First Avenue. 

'Cause It's Always Time For Gout (Or, Maybe Not)

Yep, our favorite writer - former NY Times Restaurant Critic and full time lush Frank Bruni, has admitted in a column that he was recently diagnosed with gout. You know, that disease you get from gorging too often (food writer Josh Ozersky also came down with a bout a few years back). Buried in his column, which is essentially an ode to drinking, he offers pretty much the best justification for having a few too may way too often. This is actually what we say when someone challenges us on our tippling:

"While it used to be customary for me to down at least two alcoholic beverages on six out of seven nights, I’ll now frequently go four to five days without a drop.

I wasn’t at all sure I could manage that part of my new regimen in particular, not because of any chemical dependency on alcohol but because of its centrality to so many social occasions and celebrations in my life. Not long after my gout was diagnosed, I headed to Southern California with the rest of the Bruni clan to celebrate Christmas at my younger brother’s house, where he has an actual wine cellar. On Christmas Eve we go through numerous bottles, usually after early-evening martinis, the shaking and making of which are like a starter’s gun: the revelry has begun! It’s off to the races!"

The article is an absolute must read for anyone who likes to indulge. It's like Web MD for drinkers in New York, after going over it you suddenly start experiencing symptoms. Speaking of, was our toe hurting before...hmmmm...

The big question? Is this bound to happen to all of us? We'll ponder that over our next Hendrick's martini.

Oyster (and Drink Deal) Mania at Millesime!

Millesime, located in the Carlton Hotel, is one of those restaurants that we're always looking for a reason to hit, but never seem to actually end up drinking there. Well, we're pleased to see that the classy haunt is giving us a reason to get our butts into the seats this final week of March. The French seafood brasserie is running an after-work happy hour dubbed Oyster Mania, which runs through the end of March. Need a great way to ring in the Spring? The restaurant will offer the following:

-Oysters at the restaurant’s Oyster Bar for only $1 each -Specialty cocktails for $10 instead of $12

-Beers for $6 instead of $8 and above

-Wine for $8 instead of $10 and above

That's all pretty sweet, and basically takes away any excuse you have not to head over. You can score the specials from 5:30 to 8:00 PM! Millesime is located at 92 Madison Ave. 

Win A Trip to Tuscan Wine Country

You know you love getting tipsy and telling a story or two - that's why you should be excited about the contest currently being sponsored by DaVinci Wine. Dubbed the storyteller experience, the wine growers of the area are going to fly four creative -types out for a week so they can gather material and tell the world about this wonderful world of vino. This is the second year they are doing the contest - last time around over 200 people entered for the chance to win a trip.

This time, expect the competition to be even more stiff. They will send someone from each of three categories out there - a writer, a culinary professional and a visual artist will definitely get to go. The fourth slot will go to the winner of a Facebook voting contest. Applications will be accepted through May, and you can check out more details and apply at the company's Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/davinciwine

Belvedere Vodka In Hot Water For Naughty Ad

Belvedere Vodka got a lot more than a few chuckles when they released the above ad, which was promoted on the company's Facebook page last week. Well, it turns out that when some people see a guy inappropriately groping a girl, they want to do something other than laugh. The company quickly pulled the ad and issued an apology to those who think that they were making light of sexual assault, saying "The content is contrary to our values and we deeply regret this lapse."

Those who were upset seem to be assuaged by the company's mea culpa - read about the entire situation here. While the ad can certainly be put into the "offensive" category, we've definitely seen worse - do you think the people complaining are overreacting or do they have a legitimate beef?

Court Bar Says Cheers to Two Years With Drink Deal

We love drink specials built around code words, if only because it makes us feel sexy to go into a bar and whisper to the waitress, "happy anniversary." While that may seem off-putting at any regular establishment, that phrase is just what you need to say to the servers at the Court Bar in the St. Giles Hotel if you want to score two-for-one drinks on April 13 to 15. This is a pretty generous promotion as far as code-word based deals go - the drink special is meant to celebrate the two year anniversary of the hotel. The two-for-one special applies to beer, wine and specialty cocktails, and The Court is located at 39th Street and Lexington. People always complain about forgetting anniversaries, but we think this is one that is pretty easy to remember.

Hangover Cures: Cause Lemongrass Soup Works

Ok, we know you’ve read 1,000 articles about hangover cures by now, but you should still read ours on Tablespoon this week. Why? Well, only because we go into the magical powers of lemongrass soup, which you will LOVE us for the next time you have a hangover. We also talk about the magic of Bloody Marys, Smartwater and spicy food, but since you’re a derelict for reading this site, you likely know a lot about those already. Read up – after all, it’s almost the weekend.

Happy Hour Alert: 40/40 Club Launches New Drink Deal

Jay-z and his crew over at the 40/40 club just spent a whopping $10 million to renovate the club / sports bar, that doesn’t mean they are going to gorge you on grub. The lounge just announced a new happy hour, which will hook you up with some pretty sweet deals on Monday – Friday from 5 to 7 PM. The promotion includes $6 bar bites that go beyond the drecky offerings that you see at less-posh pubs. There are chicken empanadas with lime and chipotle dipping sauce and a mac ‘n’ cheese with four varieties of fromage (this happy hour is not for the calorie counters out there).

The bar is also offering $6 drink deals, so you can score beer, wine or well drinks that won’t bust your budget. All of this is just in time for March Madness – since you didn’t do so hot picking your brackets this year, consider these deals a consolation prize.

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Reveals Entire Kick-Ass Schedule

Time to start planning your drinking strategies for May 11 to 15, because the Manhattan Cocktail Classic is coming back to town! Yeah, we all know that the gala is the must-attend event of the year for NYC lushes, but this year there are some other truly awesome events that you should hit up. The festival just released the full schedule – which you can see on their website here. Yep, you’ll note that many of the popular events already say “Sold Out” but there are still plenty of workshops and parties that you can hit up.

The Classic has also put together a partnership with Sleep No More that is sure to be EPIC. On Monday, May 14 Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky will sponsor a special performance of the interactive piece. Dubbed The Darkest Night, guests will be able to sip some scotch and eat some nibbles before they enter the surrealistic labyrinth. A bunch of booze hounds tromping around the McKittrick Hotel in Venetian masks? Sounds like a par-tay to us.

Drink of the Week: A Blueberry Scone, Liquid Edition

The folks over at Whiskey Blue are getting creative in the cocktail department with the release of some new Comfort Food Cocktails, a line of drinks that seem more like something you’d order for brunch than at happy hour. The beverages include a drink dubbed the Bacon and Eggs (which includes both of the namesake ingredients), one based on waffles and maple syrup and a third that’s our favorite – the “Blueberry Scone.” We do love the flavor of a good scone, but does anyone actually enjoy eating the crusty and crumbly things? Nope. So, this frothy cocktail is a welcome substitute. Check out the recipe below. The other good thing about this one? If you want to have it for breakfast, no one will really judge.

Blueberry Scone

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Stoli Vanil

½ oz. Bailey’s Irish Crème

½ oz. Half & Half

20+ Blueberries

Splash of Simple Syrup

Pinch of Cinnamon Powder

Garnish with Cinnamon Stick

Build in shaker: Muddle 15 Blueberries and add Simple Syrup, Stoli Vanil, Bailey’s, Half & Half and a dash of Cinnamon. Add one scoop ice and five Blueberries, shake well and pour into rocks glass. Garnish with one Cinnamon Stick, Blueberries and dash of Cinnamon.