$2 Wine (Bay Bridge)

Last night I went to Ralphs to pick up a few things for my sister. While there I took a short detour into the liquor aisle, because well I like to look. While browsing I happened upon a bottle of wine priced at $1.99. It was a Merlot and there were no other varietals by the same producer. This sighting conjured up feelings of both intrigue and skepticism. Wine for $2, really? At that moment I decided that my sister owed me a $2 fee for my services and so placed a bottle of the Bay Bridge Merlot in my basket. To be honest I expected it to be quite awful, but my heart was set on attaining a pleasant buzz to get me through the evening. So upon arriving at home I hastily popped the cork and poured myself a glass. And guess what? It wasn’t awful! It was extremely light bodied and gave off aromas of only astringent “wine” but the palate was surprisingly not unpleasant. I found strawberry and other indistinct red berry flavors in my mouth. It was nothing like a Merlot should be, and if tasting it blind I probably would have guessed it a bulk Pinot Noir. Nonetheless, it was quite drinkable and I ended up nearly finishing the bottle. I know a $2 bottle of wine can seem a bit foreboding, but believe it or not I think that I possess a fairly discerning palate, and I assure you, it wasn’t half bad! I’d definitely pick up a bottle again.

Booze and Entertainment on the Cheap

Drinking at home is quite nice, but sometimes you need to get out. At such times, cheap bars can be your best friend. Cheap bars that offer entertainment are even better (no I’m not talking about  naked women entertainment you goddamn perv!) I happen to be a big fan of music in addition to booze, so for me, cheap music venues are a gold mine. I’ve had the pleasure of discovering a few in the Los Angeles area over the past few months, which I recommend you check out if you get the chance. First I’d like to bring up Spaceland in Silver Lake. They almost always have a decent artist playing for a decent price (~$10), but more importantly, Mondays are free! On this day they showcase a local band (the same one all month long) with no cover charge. In addition, making Mondays all the more awesome, they also offer $2.50 High Life. Yup beer for $2.50 and free music, how fantastic is that?! Another pretty sweet place nearby is the Echo Curio in Echo Park. Its a tiny art/record shop where they often host bands. They ask for a $5 donation at the door, but as they have no bar its BYOB. Thats right, they let you in with your own booze concealed in a brown paper bag! And then last weekend I attended a show at a place by the name of The Boulevard in East LA. The show I attended was free, though sometimes a small fee is required (~$5). They do not have a proper bar but they do offer beer by the bottle/can. 12 ounce domestics and imports go for $3 or you could purchase a 24 ounce PBR for $5. Finally, also in Echo Park are The Echo and Echoplex. Like Spaceland these venues usually charge for shows, but do offer free entrance a few times a month and drinks are reasonable (and by reasonable I mean CHEAP) I usually go with the $3 Tecate. So if you live in LA go hear some music, drink some booze, and save some money! If you don’t live in LA, well it sucks to be you.

Ask And You Shall Receive

In need of a drink but have no cash? Why not simply ask someone to buy you one? Seems pretty obvious, however, the thought never (consciously) struck me until just recently.  I was viewing MTV’s True Life: I’m an alcoholic and one of said true life alcoholics, after finishing off her supply, hung out in the parking lot of a liquor store until a couple dudes showed up.  She asked them to buy some beer and then come to her apartment to hangout. They did. She had one beer with them and then sent them off keeping the remainder of the 24 pack that they had purchased. Mean, but brilliant. As I was watching this, I recalled having once secured a drink in a similar fashion. Back in my club-going college days, at some club on State Street a random dude came up to me and asked if I wanted to dance, being already a bit inebriated, I asked “do you want to buy me a drink?” And it turns out he did! Then I walked to the dance floor with him. When we arrived I faked a phone call and told him I had to go meet my friends because we were leaving. Free drink just like that! Admittedly it is a bit easier for girls to sucker men into buying them booze, but I think guys can pull it off as well. I mean most bums you find standing outside of 7-11 asking for your change are guys right? And you usually give it to them, and then what to they buy with it? In another personal anecdote, at a bar in San Fransisco a dude once asked me to buy him a drink. I of course said no because 1) he didn’t interest me and 2) I can’t even afford to buy my own drinks! I think he asked just about every woman in that bar, and while he did get rejected multiple times, eventually some dumb broad did in fact buy him a drink. Ask and you shall receive. It’s so simple. I think most people refrain from doing so, however, because it seems pretty desperate. But lets face it, if you’re reading this you are pretty desperate.