Video #61: Drinking Cold River Vodka with Miss America!

Weve already learned that Cold River Vodka makes some of the freshest, most original, eco and community friendly vodka around. Since our , Cold River has been piling up the awards including one of Wine Enthusiasts highest possible ratings. Jimmy and Mark catch up with the intrepid potato of Cold River fame, and special guest former Miss America Kate Shindle on this classic tasting episode with Cold River Vodka's Original and Blueberry vodkas. Watch as they invest the time and effort to truly test these spirits, alone and in cocktails, over and over. If this is hard work, we'll never work another day in our lives. Can you say delicious? We can! Enjoy!

Video #60: GO WEST to The Formosa Cafe!

The Guys stop by this classic West Hollywood Chinese-themed spot that has long been known as "where the stars dine"; just across the street from The Lot studios (the old Warner's studio) and in a building that housed, at one time, the production offices for United Artists (that's right, Mary Pickford, Doug Fairbanks, and Charlie Chaplin!) and an old railcar for the rail line that ran down Santa Monica Boulevard, the Formosa Cafe is an intersection of Old and New Hollywood to the n'th degree.

Video #59: Palmina Winery!

The Happy Hour Guys take their first official trip to Southern California! After landing in LA and spending some time snooping around Historic Bars in the City of Angels (teaser for next week’s episode), Jimmy and the Happy Hour Babe, Lisa Datz, made their way to Santa Barbara County and the Santa Ynez Valley; there, in a small town named Lompoc and nestled unobtrusively in an industrial park, is a place they’d heard whispers about, Palmina Winery.

THHG Book Club: Alcoholica Esoterica.

To begin with, we’re predisposed to like any book that supports our belief that civilization and fermentation go hand in hand. Give us a book called “Alcolholica Esoterica: A Collection of Useful and Useless Information as it Relates to the History and Consumption of All Manner of Booze”, and we’re in Happy Hour Guys Heaven. Ian Lendler has done a remarkable job of distilling some of history’s most amusing and interesting pieces of trivia in one easy to use, 264 page volume.

Every bottle in the liquor cabinet has a chapter devoted to it, as well as chapters that take the reader through mankind’s history from a yeast’s-eye perspective. How did the monks begin to brew? What were the after effects of Prohibition? Why did absinthe get such a bad rap? Does Mexico really have a Ministry of Tequila? (Yes.) Also included is a series on some of the most notorious imbibers ever, called Mount Lushmore. Humphrey Bogart, Dorothy Parker, Winston Churchill and others are all included in the dubious category.

Information is doled out in easily digestible nuggets, so the book moves quickly. Did you know that “bar” is short for “barrier”, as in keep away from the booze? That Winston Churchill’s mother invented the Manhattan cocktail? That the Jell-o shot has a pedigree stretching back to the mid-19th century? That Johnny Appleseed was planting trees so folks could make hard cider? All these and so many more are contained in this completely delightful addition to anyone’s library.

Don’t worry that the book takes itself too seriously, either. The first chapter is a warning on the possibility of releasing your inner Cliff Claven if you don’t proceed with caution. On the bright side, you’re sure to win a barroom bet or three when armed with the trivia provided. Rather than try to “review” this book, we simply call your attention to it. The joy is in the reading.

Whether you’re a historian with a sense of humor, a comic with a sense of history, or someone who’s just plain curious, this book will quench you thirst for knowledge. (Sorry, had to.) 

Available at Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Alcoholica-Esoterica-Collection-Information-andConsumption/dp/0143035975/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

And most large bookstores.

Video #58: The White Horse Tavern!

In 1880, James Deans Oyster House became The White Horse Tavern and its been serving New Yorkers ever since. For decades, the White Horse was a simple working man's bar. In the 1950s, the White Horse was discovered by a group of artists, writers, liberals and journalists and became a hub of progressive thinking. The Village Voice was conceived there. The Clancy Brothers played here in their early days. Of course, it took Dylan Thomas (see video) to launch them into barroom lore. In fact, Robert Zimmerman was so influenced by Thomas that he was the inspiration for his name change: Bob Dylan. Today one of New York's last remaining wood frame buildings, The White Horse takes as much care of their everyday patrons as they do of their frequent celebrity guests. Thats probably one of the reason they're still thriving, and you can still get one of the city's best (and most reasonable) burgers.

Video #57: Hooked at Lure Fish Bar!

The Guys make their way to SOHO, the iconic NYC neighborhood full of great stories, stellar shops, and fantastic bars. We came downtown in search of the best happy hour ever, and Lure Fish Bar has, no joke, perhaps the finest 5-7PM weekday slot we have ever experienced. And that's really saying something, because... well, we're The Happy Hour Guys! Seriously - if you're within 500 Nautical miles of SOHO, head to the poop deck and turn your ship in Lure's direction. Say hello to Josh, Mim, Kelly and the whole crew, and if you have half as much fun as we had, you'll be in safe harbor indeed. The oysters are fresh, the drinks are amazing, and the prices, well... they lie many fathoms deep. Anchors Aweigh!

Video #56: HOW TO Drink Winter Beer! (featuring Captain Lawrence!)

As the winter winds howl and the snow deepens, many thoughts turn to the seasonal beers, those winter brews; but how to solve the mysteries of Stouts, Porters and Warmers? The Happy Hour Guys are on the case, tracking down exactly what to expect from these cold weather quaffs. And being The Happy Hour Guys, we go straight to one of the best sources around: Scott Vaccaro, owner and head brewer at Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in NYC’s backyard. Scott’s beers have been winning awards and gaining attention since he started producing them in 2005. Captain Lawrence is now featured on most lists of the USA’s best breweries. We traveled to the brewery in Westchester (easily accessible via Metro North Railroad to Pleasantville) to demystify those dark and stormy winter brews. Do your ears perk up at the mention of chocolate, coffee, and toffee? Then you have to see this…