For Fat Tuesday we decided Mexican would be delightful. What? That’s how we do it.

So Matt, Jackie, Tung and I headed to Playa which ended up kind of sucking but whatever. We had fun.

And Matt met some shady character outside from whom he purchased a very sleek bicycle. Hotness.

All in all a pretty good beginning to the week.

Thanks to Tung, we have several options for our Halloween Cocktail Fun. And in preparation for casting your all important vote for President in a few weeks, why not get started easy. Which drink do you like best?

Brain Hemorrhage
1/2 - 3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps
Float 1-2 Tbl. of Baileys on top
Drop 1 tsp of grenadine through the Baileys.

Purple People Eater
Vodka
Cranberry raspberry juice
Blue Curacao
Raspberry simple syrup

Vampire Kiss
Vodka
Champagne
Chambord

via HWTH

Our house is a hundred years old (and looks it). There’s nothing chic about 3′ holes in the floor and doors that don’t actually close. It’s about time that our parties took advantage of that fact instead of trying to blind people to its shabbiness with massive quantities of alcohol.

This Halloween (yes, I’m planning ahead again) we’ll be doing it up 1920’s style with flappery dresses, dapper vests, a whole lotta hair gel and prohibition punch. And you’re invited. Seeing as how flappers were known for “wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting conventional social and sexual norms” I think we can create a fairly accurate historical representation at Casa Armstrong.

Recently we undertook a little bit of research in preparation. And, where else but the Clover Club?

Jackie (fresh from the bar exam), Julia and Joseph were all happy to oblige…

Matt hadn’t seen me in a while and puckered up for a kiss.

Tung tried really hard not to stare at the lovebirds (Justin and Kat) which wasn’t that hard when you consider the super yummy punch.

Lovebirds. Sickening, really.

See, that’s the thing about punch. It tastes so good you forget that it’s alcoholic. Which results in everyone cramming the enormous piece of ice in their mouth.

And sitting on abandoned street recliners.

All in all, a good bit of fun and some valuable research.

Perhaps the 2 vats of sangria was too much? (Damn, that recipe is killer.) Or maybe it was the three kinds of spontaneous shots that came after?

I don’t remember this at all. Can someone please tell me what we were doing here on the kitchen floor? Jon?

That reminds me - I really, really hate those floor tiles.

I’m not feeling the Friday afternoon high so much at the moment. In fact, this whole week has been kicking my ass a bit.

That’s why I really need one of these.

Normally I wouldn’t go for a gin drink. Ok, never. But I’m tempted to try this one since it contains several of my very favorite things on earth - fruity goodness, bubbly Prosecco and Campari.

Speaking of Campari, Jon and Laura introduced me to the Spritz last weekend which also includes Prosecco and Campari. Googling “Spritz” has some bizarre results. I was going to link to Wikipedia but not only is the entry poorly written, it seems that someone very angry (perhaps lacking in their own Spritz consumption) was the author.

And then that reminds me of the most fantabulous white sangria that I made for a party a few weeks ago. It was a bit of a mix of recipes with white wine (obviously), Cointreau, lemon/lime seltzer, tons of fruit and a bit of mint.

And it was deadly. Trust me - Thom couldn’t stand up by 9:30. And just in case you needed any more illustration of what three pitchers of white sangria can do (a little editing was necessary to maintain some modicum of decency) …

Yes, I’m badly in need of a little refreshment.

Anyway, happy Friday.

Last week a few of us took a little breather and enjoyed a nice martini at lunch. That’s Dan (who you might remember from San Diego) trying to avoid my picture.

If the rumors are true, it looks like Franklin Park bar and beer garden will be opening just in time for some gorgeous Spring weather. And not a second too soon, if you ask us. This bar - which looks very promising from the little peeks we’ve gotten - is just three blocks from us.

Can you say “regular?”

photo via Imbible

Every time we learn of a new bar or non-Caribbean restaurant* opening up even slightly near us we rejoice. Surely this time it means the tide is turning!

We were so excited when the super-tasty Mexican restaurant opened nearby. And it’s since become the old standby. I mean, they’re BYOB - does it get any better?

But we’re especially excited about the impending arrival of Abigail’s Wine Bar which is set to open in the bottom floor of a posh new condo building. Even better - this place is steps away from Susan & Mark’s condo.

* Please note that we have nothing against the Caribbean restuarants in our neighborhood. In fact, we regularly indulge in a little veggie roti. But a little variety never killed anyone.

We stopped by Jetro today to stock up on some beverages for the upcoming “friend’s weekend” festivities. We thought Mexican beer would be fitting…
We did not, however, get Pink Champale. Ew.