After a lengthy hiatus, Houstonist Bartender is back and ready to blow your mind and bring some extra sizzle to your weekends with a whole new batch of drink recipes (get it? drinks? batch? Looks like we found a lame sense of humor during our vacation as well!) This week's recipe is not for the faint of heart. The Flaming Dr Pepper is an intense alcoholic beverage, that when consumed AFTER being set ablaze......

Though the calendar doesn't officially state it, summer time is slowly arriving in Houston. As temperatures climb into the 90-degree range and children across the city are prepping for final exams, only three thing comes to mind. Barbecues, flip-flops, and ice cold beverages. What better way to fight the heat this weekend than with an Absolut Summertime at your local tavern? Absolut Summertime+1.5 oz. Absolut Citron + 0.75 oz. Sweet & Sour mix +......

Christmas is a week away (great googlymoogly - we still have some last minute gifting to get) and if you had planned to have lots of different cookies on hand, or made up to take to your rotten coworkers, and haven't quite managed to bake, a lot. This is a super simple, very fun way to host a gathering, have a good excuse to get your nog on, and have a respectable assortment of goodies.......

Good morning, Houston. Hey, guess who's having a birthday today? Well, OK, it's technically not Houstonist — our second birthday was back on Nov. 20, but we figured that if the queen can have two birthdays, so can we. And so we're throwing ourselves a little birthday party tonight, and you're all invited. It starts at 6 p.m. at Monsoon Wok, Lamar at San Jacinto (yes, street parking is free downtown after 6). Six......

Houstonist got worn out on early morning White Russians and late night Bloody Marys during the Thanksgiving break. Thus, we were looking for something light and zesty when a fellow sauce fiend suggest we opt for a Slutty Shirley. The Slutty Shirley is a twist on the traditional children's cocktail, the Shirley Temple. You may remember Shirley Temple as a tap dancing little girl from black-and-white movies. The little lady inspired a fizzy red......

OK. Here's the situation: The Day of the Dead celebration starts next Thursday; you're having a party; and, you'd like to serve something other than margaritas. No problemo, gringo. Here are two staff favorites from Houstonist to help get you over the hump. Mix up a test batch of these this week so that you don't gross out your guests when your party rep is on the line. You can always default to body shots......

The day was sunny with very few clouds overhead. The music was local and there was lots of it. Over fifty bands were scheduled to perform in the span of about nine hours at three locations with five stages and the block party fans came out in force to soak up the sun and music. There were artists, creating and selling art, there were art installations, a smattering of food and merchandise vendors. There was......

No, it's not Mardi Gras. And not THOSE oranges. Our friends at the Orange Show need your juice this weekend. (Mind. gutter. pick it up.) The Orange Show is looking for Volunteers to help with the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown this coming Saturday & Sunday, October 13th & 14 th. Volunteers ages 16 and older are needed to man the Orange Show booth featuring a Mini Art Car Workshop for kids and to help......

::Open Mic Night at the Laff Stop:: We gotta admit, we are a little curious how a smoky, comedy club will, ahem, "stand-up" without, well, the smoke. Isn't that kinda, like, part of the ambiance? Is it unhealthly to call smoke ambiance. Hell, whatever. Since the smoking ordinace was passed (and half-ass enforced) on Sept 1st, we've noticed a few changes in some of our usual haunts. I mean, who is used to seeing 3......

Houstonist is always trying to up our level of sophistication. Thus, last week we were watching the Fine Living Channel's Great Cocktails series to get some ideas for sophisticated sipping material. The Corpse Reviver was one drink featured on the episode we caught. Per the show, the drink was named due to its ability to invigorate even the most hungover imbiber. Huh. Sounds like something you and we could use. Hit Spec's on your way......

Houstonist was on the phone with Mom during the holiday weekend talking about our holiday weekend. At some point during the chat, she blurted out, "Have you ever heard of 'Shoot the Root'?" "Uh, nope." We can't recall the exact quotes that followed, but basically it amounted to her being happy and amazed that she had heard of drink that we hadn't. Judging by the responses of our friends and our results from searching the......

Say ole this weekend with a Bloody Bull. Some folks say that a Bloody Bull is a Bloody Mary made with beer instead of vodka. Wrong. The Bull is a slight twist on the Mary with one key addition - beef boullion. Mmmm. Beef juice. Bloody Bull+ 2 oz vodka + 3 oz spicy tomato juice + 2 oz beef boullion + black pepper + celery salt + garlic powder + lime wedges +......

The smoking ban goes into effect on Saturday morning at midnight. Ring in the new era with Houstonist as we get together on Friday night to celebrate Houston's birthday, which is actually today. We're cranking up things at State Bar at 6 on the o'clock and want you to be there. You'll probably hear a lot from our opinionated staff about booze, politics, 600 sq mi (our photo show), live music, bar food and......

Happy Hump Day, Houston! A reader's twitter reminded us that today is the two year anniversary of when that bitch Katrina rolled into the swamps of NOLA, giving us lots of new neighbors. If you are reading this as an Katrina evacuee, we are curious as to how you are finding our little town. Hopefully, Houstonist is helping to navagate you through all there is to do. Like this great event tonight. How about......

"All the dude ever wanted was his rug back." Instead, he got laid by a feminist; his car was stolen by a teenager; he was beat up by the Malibu police chief; and, his good friend died. One constant throughout The Big Lebowski, besides liberal use of the F-word, is the dude's consumption of White Russians or Caucasians as he calls them. The cult following of the Coen Brothers film resulted in popularity surge......

Houstonist is happyist when we aren't working, when we are able to drive south on Shepherd from Allen Parkway to Richmond without encountering left turning jackasses, and when we get to hang out with our readers. We're celebrating Houston's 171st birthday with a pub crawl on August 31st. Join us for a stroll in and around the establishments in the Market Square area. Share your thoughts about the site and we may buy you......

A few months ago we told you about a nice alternative to your normal cerveza. This week we'd like to add another weapon to your non-standard beer arsenal - El Sombrero. The beauty of El Sombrero is in the simplicity. However, this beverage is not for the faint of heart. This serving option will change more than your latitude if you are not careful. To help bring it home for you, our buddy, T-Bone -......

"Summertime and the livins easy" until you mow the lawn and sweat your ass off in the process. Why not relax and let the kid down the street mow your yard? They could use the money to pay for their iPhone service plan and you could use the break. Wouldn't it be satisfying to sit in the shade sippin' a cold beverage while s/he sweats to death? All you need is the perfect drink.......

Our hangover from the pub crawl is finally gone. Time to make another one. Join us at Kay's Lounge on May 17th for some good old fashioned beer drinking and carousing. What's not to love about throwing back a cold beer while seated around the Texas table? The plan is to focus our efforts on only one joint this time around. However, we can't be held responsible if a pub crawl evolves since Volcano......

Houstonist had to dust off a crusty filing cabinet in the back of our noggin to dig out this recipe - the latest from the "Drinks Mixed in a Five Gallon Bucket" category. The title of the drink is not ready for prime time, so we've opted for Donkey Sucker Punch which is how you'll feel the morning after should you forget to pace yourself. The concoction is best served extremely cold and can be......

Houstonist was confused for a while as to how so many people could miss out on what read like "sure thing" type hook-ups. "We exchanged glances and underwear last night in Midtown, but I didn't get your number. If you're reading this, hit me back." How do you screw up something like that? We're still baffled but have written it off to hopelessness and decided that some folks are born to miss. But, that......

Readers beware. It is happening, again. No, your significant other did not leave you for the lead singer of some emo band that passed through town. No, you didn't get fired on your day off for stealing boxes, again. Houstonist is picking up the tab, again. Houstonist is inviting you to join us for a little holiday cheer as we celebrate Texas' 171st birthday. Gather with us as we declare our independence through solidarity.......

Champagne and fried chicken? We’ll take two. The owners of The Tasting Room have brought us the much anticipated Max’s Wine Dive (4720 Washington Ave), opened just a few months ago at the new strip center on Shepherd and Washington. This hip urban joint is far from a dive, though the exposed brick walls, concrete floors and juke box might fool you. The Texas-size bar extends almost the entire length of the narrow restaurant, while......

Houstonist recently lunched at Christian's Totem on Washington Avenue, near I-10. In the spirit of passing along "burger-love" to Houstonians, we had to tell you about this little joint. It has undergone some remodeling of late, but, the burgers are just the same! Huge, juicy fully-loaded burgers with nice crispy onion rings or fries. We've had both the fries and the rings, they are fantastic - it just depends on your personal preference - we......

Just in case you forgot, Houstonist is throwing ourselves a little birthday bash this Wednesday evening, the 13th, at Warren's downtown. We're a year old now, but this party won't be like those torturous ones your friends with babies make you sit through: no cupcakes, no party favors, no dumb kids' songs (unless you count what's on the jukebox at Warren's — we're sure something would qualify). Instead, there'll be something you don't usually find......