Normally I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to cocktails. No premade mixes for this girl. Cocktail time at my place means the juicer is coming out and you better believe the lavender simple syrup I’m using is homemade.  But there is always an exception to the rule and for me that comes in the form of what I like to call The Poor Man’s Margarita.  The Poor Man’s Margarita contains everything I usually don’t like in a cocktail: frozen concentrate, sugary soda and super cheap tequila. There’s also beer. Corona to be exact. I know, right? Sounds terrible. But The Poor Man’s Margarita is not …

Confession: I have shared many a bowl drink in my day. And you probably have too. (Unless you only drink alcohol in moderate and responsible quantities or whatever...) But at my ripe old age of almost 25, I’ve started to experience something that I think my college self would take great offense to: an aversion toward bowl drinks. While I'm inclined to believe that my recent repugnance is not at all unfounded, I feel I owe it to my 21-year-old self to verify my feelings. So, for your enjoyment, a good old-fashioned pro and con list: Bowl Drink Trait #1: Lots of alcohol, lots of fruit juicePro…

There are many things I love about Boston: the loyal sports fans (go Bruins!), the city's walkability, the burgeoning food truck scene... the list goes on and on. But if I had to choose just one thing I like the least, it’s the fact that drink happy hours are illegal in Massachusetts. Yeah, yeah, I know it does no good to complain, but those of you who have experienced the glory of happy hour in other states will agree that Bostonians are really missing out here. I mean, once you’ve seen the wonder of $1 well drink night (yes, it exists!), it’s hard to go back. But even if we don’t have drink…

Beer and I got off to a rough start. Let’s face it, when Natty Ice at college keggers is your introduction, you can’t expect much. Over the years, though, I’ve to come to learn that first impressions aren’t always accurate and I think beer and I are starting to form at least some sort of mutually respectful relationship. Mostly this is due to the fact that my Boston friends are more appreciative of some good suds than my college girls ever were. What’s sad about that is that my college days were spent in Portland, OR, home to a seemingly infinite number of good local breweries. Here in Boston…

I recently traveled to Guatemala for a week to visit my friend Doug who is interning for an organization there called Semilla Nueva. Doug lives in Quetzaltenango (usually mercifully shortened to “Xela”), the second largest city in Guatemala. Quetzaltenango derives its name from the country’s national bird, the quetzal, and you’ll see “quetzals” popping up everywhere, from the country’s currency (quetzals) to the Guatemalan spirit of choice -- Quetzalteca Especial. Quetzalteca Especial is a very cheap rum (we’re talking US $3 for a half liter) and Doug, knowing my affinity for budget-friendly …

Last week we talked about wine shops worthy of your next Wine Wednesday (or any girls night, for that matter.) But, as much as we all love wine, you really can't have a successful evening without snacks. Forget them and things will get ugly. Trust me. Like I mentioned last week, when the girls and I get together on Wednesday nights, it's the hostess's job to provide the food. You'll also remember that it's very important to make Wine Wednesdays as stress-free as possible. With that in mind, here are my suggestions for simple ways to to satisfy your ladies' wine munchies. Trader Joe's The …

Last summer the girls and I started a weekly tradition that just so happens to involve two of my favorite things: wine and alliteration. (Yes, I was an English major so that should explain one of those… if not both.) It’s a little something we like to call Wine Wednesday. Here’s how it goes down: each Wednesday night one of us takes turn playing hostess. The hostess is in charge of providing the venue and the snacks. The rest of us show up, vino in hand. Gossip and laughter ensue. And that’s about it. The girls and I tend to keep our Wine Wednesdays pretty low key. Two-Buck Chuck and chips …

Last week, my classmates and I met up with our professor for a few drinks in lieu of taking an actual final (ah, the joys of being an M.A.). I wasn’t sure how the evening would turn out, but since our classroom discussions had always leaned more toward the informal, chatting over a beer or two didn’t seem as strange as it might have had our professor been more of the authoritative, lecturing type. Plus, there was the fact that he had already told us we were all getting A’s. Kind of takes the pressure off. None of us got too wild and crazy that night, but I think it’s safe to say that, after a…

Recently, I’ve developed a somewhat bizarre habit which tends to crop up only after I’ve met up with friends for drinks. Following a few cocktails and as we’re saying our good-byes, I'll tell my friends that I am going home and that, no need to worry, I’ll be just fine getting to the T by myself. Then, as soon as their backs are turned, I immediately hightail it to the nearest cheap chic store (think H&M and Forever 21) and gather up every sequined item to be found, often making it to the cash register before my head clears and I realize exactly what I’m doing. It's not that these cocktail-…

Every family has their go-to drink (if they're lushes like mine are, that is). In my family, we’re margarita people and we drink them year round - but only at home. In fact, parents have become such margarita snobs that it’s usually a bad idea for them to order a margarita when out lest the bartender not follow to my dad’s exact recipe. But, being the strong and independent young woman that I am, I decided to buck family tradition and see what the bars in Back Bay have to offer margarita-wise. After all, it’s been a long winter (it’s going to be over soon, right?) and what says warm weather …