annnnnd we're back.

Spring is here (sort of…. we won’t count that snowstorm this past weekend) and therefore happy hour has returned! There was really no good excuse for its disappearance, and we all had plenty of happy hours in those dark winter months…. I really have no good excuse for my ten-month blogging absence.

Anyhow, I was inspired to revive Happy Hour 505 after visiting Nob Hill Bar and Grill last week between the hours of five and seven. My group of three enjoyed 6 drinks and our tab was a mere $16. I decided I must return for further research with my co-bloggers, MG and Mirevj. Unfortunately, our adventure led us here:
Being Monday, we ventured across the street to Mirevj’s familiar Monte Vista Fire Station. I’ll be honest- I’m not usually a huge Monte Vista fan. When I’ve been there at night, it’s usually dark, crowded, and too loud to carry on a conversation. Today, though, the bar was empty when we walked in just after 5:30. The sunny, quiet open space was perfect for catching up over 75 cent tacos (a special every Monday). The bartender made me a delicious margarita while Mirevj played it safe with a Shirley Temple and MG enjoyed a Blue Moon. After a margarita, three Blue Moons, two Shirley Temples, and ten tacos, our bill came to $22.

Verdict: Monday Happy Hour at Monte Vista = success. Hopefully we'll make it back to Nob Hill soon....

HHR: A

Absence and Phoenix Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (for the 505 of course)

A small trip to another city will surely either make you wish you lived there or make you miss home. My latest adventure took me to Phoenix, Arizona. Yes Phoenix is a great place full of wonderful shopping, great sports and fun things to do but the whole time we were there we received terrible customer service and ate overpriced food.

Thus, coming back to my favorite Albuquerque hang out was a fresh cool breeze after a hot, rude Phoenix experience.

Walking into the Monte Vista is sure to make you feel better right away. 99% of the time you know at least 1 person who is there, there's a great food and drink special for that night and on Fridays you'll probably get to see a great local band.

The great drinks, amazing people and yummy food make me realize why this city (and Monte Vista) always makes me want to come back.

Angelo- trying out the new Aha Toro Margarita


Faith, Arlene and me enjoying a Monte Vista evening
Cheers!

I missed you 505!

The Best Way to Spend a Sunday Afternoon

It's true, we normally write about the new places we've been to lately and tell you, gentle reader, about the food, drinks and merriment of each establishment. Today, however, I'd like to talk to you about an important skill every Happy Hour-er -ess needs to have in their happy hour arsenal.

It all started at my favorite place with a Captain and ginger. My brother, Mista G and myself had all bellied up to the bar.

My next drink was served with a cherry, to which Mista G gave a mischievous grin and grabbed his own cherry out of the garnish tray.

Our tradition is

1. eat the cherry
2. have a cheers with the stems
3. tie them in a knot as fast as our tongues would let us

*Yes this seems like a very middle school type of competition, but boy is it fun.

We competed a couple of times just the two of us then invited my brother to join. We soon invited the lovely bartender Nicole and her husband Steve to compete. A new waitress did the honors of counting down and we were off.

We each shoved the stems in our mouths and started twisting our tongues and faces to try to quickly bend the stem into a knot. After about 20 seconds I finished. Mista G finished next, then Nicole, Steve and my brother lagged behind still fumbling with his stem.

What better way to get everyone at the bar involved and having a good time. We all laughed and those of us who didn't finish last celebrated our victories.

Moral of the story- learn to tie a cherry stem in a knot with your mouth and practice your skill among friends. Everyone loves a little good natured competition... especially when there are drinks involved. This activity is sure to make you laugh and possibly make you some new friends. So the next time you're at happy hour and conversation is going downhill challenge someone to a cherry stem contest.

Hello and Cheers!

This whole idea started after my wonderful friend Natalie suggested we start a blog about one of our favorite subjects, happy hour! So here it is:

This blog will cover the great places and evenings for happy hour in Burque along with our other various escapades.

A few things to note when reading this:

1. I am unabashedly biased toward my favorite place of all time, Monte Vista. It's like Cheers, everyone knows your name, the bartenders are nice, Fridays have good music and they have great drink and food specials.

2. I am a Nob Hill girl. Rarely will you see me venture out of the Nob Hill/Downtown/Old Town area, but when I do the Uptown and (once in a blue moon) the Heights is where you'll find me. (NEVER on the Westside sorry vecinos!)

3. It's all about having a good time and- you drink, you drive, you lose... call Greg with Yellow Cab- he'll come get you! 505.489.8216

So welcome and happy reading!
Cheers!
ME


*** IF YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY WILD NIGHT DO NOT EAT SPANISH RICE. IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.***