A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Tucson actually, there was a disturbance in the force and that disturbance was me.  You see, I haven’t always been gray in the temple and all respectable-ish.  Once upon a time I was in college and I drank the drink of the starving student: 25¢ You-Call-It (assuming it was Friday and you only called well drinks and domestic drafts).  The fly spot was called the Wildcat House and the beat was a’bumping and the girlies was hot. They also played a lot of Beastie Boys.

Flash forward to 2010 (which, sadly, is a much longer flash forward than I care to mention) and the Wildcat House is still going strong.

The Wildcat House is primarily an eatery during the day, and it’s always a great place to shoot some stick or check out a game (especially Monday Night Football).  They’ve got a ton of beers on tap, from your domestic swill to Guinness to a couple of regional brews.  The DJs are pretty good and the parking lot is quite large.

Here’s the thing, I haven’t been to the Wildcat House in years and when I decided to go down to the well and write about getting my fill, well, time slips away (see, glory days) and I’ve heard from numerous sources that the place has changed.  They say it’s too rough and too dangerous and that she ain’t what she used to be.

What is?

The bottom line is that the Wildcat House is an institution and if you find yourself in Tucson it’s worth a visit – but maybe just for lunch.

Here’s the 411:

1801 N. Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 622-1302
info@thewildcathouse.com

Monday – Wednesday happy hour from 4-8

$2.00 Well Drinks            $3.00 Call Drinks
$3.00 Domestic Pints           $3.50 Import Pints
$3.00 Domestic Bottles     $5.75 Monster Beers
$3.25 Micro Pints           $9.50 Domestic Pitchers
$4.00 Long Islands

Thursday is Dollar Daze  from 4pm-8pm

$1 well cocktails
$1 domestic drafts.

Friday Happy Hour from 4pm-8pm

$2 Corona
$2 Dos Equis
$2 Pacifico
$2 Cuervo Margaritas

Friday night from 10pm-1am: Alternative Dance (cover)

$2.00 domestic drafts
$3.50 import drafts
$4.00 Long Islands

Saturday night: Tejano Dance Mix (cover) with Long Island specials

Bear Down, Arizona (Wildcats will know what that means).

Photo: Weblo.com

It looked like I was going to land a new gig, as the editor for UpTake‘s new Nightlife Blog. Things were being formalized, contracts were being drafted, and I felt confident enough to celebrate. “It looks like I’m gonna be the editor for UpTake’s Nightlife Blog”, I announced to my wife Beth. “I feel confident enough to celebrate. Let’s grab a victory beer before the movie.”

The movie was in San Marcos – a place that I feel confident in saying does not come to mind when one thinks of San Diego nightlife. It’s in the sticks, on the eastern fringe of north San Diego county, far removed from the small but fun scene that is downtown SD. But every desert has an oasis, and I found San Marcos’. The San Marcos Brewery and Grill is a wonderful little brewpub that serves some excellent hand-crafted beers, and dishes up some tasty grub to go along with them.

The place is located in San Marcos’ Restaurant Row, on San Marcos Boulevard. It’s easy to find, unless you blink a lot, in which case you’ll drive right past it. (If you get to Palomar Mountain, you’ve gone too far.) It’s a cozy joint, with ample seating at the bar, plenty of tables and booths, and a few flatscreens for watching sports. We went on a Friday night, during Happy Hour, and were seated immediately. I jumped right into the beer menu, ordering an Old Gold Oatmeal Stout. This was one of two British-style beers, both served from old style hand pumps. This results in lower carbonation and a serving temperature that’s slightly less chilly, and really brought out the flavor of the stout – creamy but not heavy, with hints of chocolate and coffee, and a pleasantly tangy finish. Oops, just drooled on my keyboard. I followed that with a glass of one of their seasonal beers, the aptly named Pompous Ass Ale. It’s a tasty pale ale that boasts a 7.6% ABV (Alcohol By Volume – typical mass-produced beers run between 4% to 6%, so the Pompous Ass Ale has a got a little extra power under the hood). I refrained from having too many, so as not to live up to the beer’s name.

While it’s a bit out of the way, I’d definitely recommend the San Marcos Brewery. North San Diego county has its well-known local breweries (Karl Strauss and Stone are the heavy hitters), and while the San Marcos Brewery doesn’t have as wide a selection as some of the others, it does serve some quality brews. It’s a great place to chill and enjoy good beer, and I’m looking forward to my next visit.

(Photo by author.)

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Karl Strauss Brewery and Grill in San Diego, California

Las Vegas has always been at the center of the most exciting and extravagant clubs, hotels and restaurants in the United States. The city captivates its visitors with endless lights, delicious drinks, never-ending skyscrapers and beautiful people. With an infinite amount of things to do in Las Vegas, I am hoping to help narrow down your choices when you make that sinful trip to the city that never sleeps.

Being in my twenties, I have already made a handful of trips out to Vegas, and I can tell you with certainty that the five I describe below are the ones I will always visit. Every one of them has captured me with talented DJ’s, large crowds and, most importantly, unbelievable drinks. These nightclubs make you feel like a celebrity and make 4am seem early, so take the time to read my recommendations and book that flight to Sin City!

1) Rain Nightclub

Rain Nightclub, situated in the heart of the Palms Hotel, is a preeminent club to visit while in Vegas. With go-go dancers lining the floor, you can dance and drink to the most talented DJ’s this city has to offer. Clad out in leather seating and a raised center dance floor, Rain welcomes all who are willing to forget their worries and dance the night away!

Hours of Operation:

Friday & Saturday 10pm-5am

Location:

Palms Casino Resort

4321 West Flamingo Road

Las Vegas, NV 89103

For more information, visit Rain

2) Tao Nightclub

Located in one of my favorite Vegas hotels, The Venetian, Tao is equipped with one of the most vibrant and lively club scenes in Vegas. Not only are there rose filled baths with bathing women lining the entryway, but Tao is themed entirely after both Asian design and decorum. This enchanting club will be the perfect destination if you are looking for an exceptional and unforgettable night out.

Hours of Operation:

Thursday-Saturday 10pm-5am

Location:

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

For more information, visit Tao

3) Tryst Nightclub

Decorated in a sweltering red tint, this high-energy club draws guests in by its enchanting and exuberant atmosphere. Tryst continues the expectations that Wynn Hotel sets for the Vegas clubbers with both excellent service and a mind-blowing atmosphere. With the option to party inside and outside the club, Tryst has accomplished what no other club has by including an extraordinary seventy-foot waterfall. Yes, a waterfall in a club! Is there any other reason to visit?

Hours of Operation:

Thur-Sat. 10pm-4am

Location:

Wynn Hotel

3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

For more information, visit Tryst

4) The Bank Nightclub

The Bank, located within the pristine Bellagio, is a highly acclaimed nightclub that will amaze even the most disbelieving. This black and gold themed club welcomes its visitors with endless crystal chandeliers and professional dancers. Following true to its name the Bank Nightclub is swanky, expensive and will take your money!

Hours of Operation:

Thu-Sun. 10:30pm-4am

Location:

Bellagio Resort & Casino

3600 S. Las Vegas, Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

For more information, visit The Bank

5) Studio 54

Situated in one of the most well-known hotels in Vegas, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Studio 54 remains one of the more exclusive and trendy clubs on the strip. This chic and contemporary nightclub equipped with four dance floors and bars, Studio 54 brings in tourists and celebrities alike. With multiple bars on both the floors, waiting in line is not as big of an inconvenience as it would be elsewhere. Also, the dance floors are surrounded with go-go dancers so you won’t have to be as worried about your lack of dancing skills!

Hours of Operation:

Tues–Sat. 10:00pm-4am

Location:

MGM Grand Las Vegas

3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

For more information, visit Studio 54

Las Vegas will inevitably take your money and your dignity, but no one can deny that it is one of the most entertaining destinations in the US. I hope this article will help excite and inspire you to make a trip out to Vegas this year because after writing it, I know I want to! Happy travels!

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Photos (in order of appearance):

“Welcome to Las Vegas”

“The Las Vegas Strip” by jeffwilcox

“Rain” by Matthew.Hickey

“Tao” by idealisms

“Waterfall outside Tryst” by tlianza

“The Bank Nightclub – Bellagio –Las Vegas” by kaloozer

“MGM Grand Casino – Studio 54 – Las Vegas” by kaloozer

“Stackin” by Helga’s Lobster Stew

Imagine this: you walk up to an unmarked door, ring the buzzer where you are asked for a password, the doors open and you’re revealed a dimly lit bar with glowing candles lining the entryway. Bourbon and Branch, a San Francisco hidden gem, is set to follow the 1920’s era when alcohol was banned and people had to find these speakeasy bars to enjoy enchanting cocktails and the company of friends.

Decorated with small wooden tables, this bar is meant as an intimate setting which welcomes in singles, couples and friends alike. Make sure to set up a dinner reservation before or after your time there because Bourbon and Branch is only stocked with the best liquors. No food.

Located in one of the more seedy areas of San Francisco, the Tenderloin, I recommend taking cab right to the door so you don’t have to deal with the interesting characters that occupy the area.

To gain entry to the bar you need to make reservations for your party online and once you do that, they will give you your own personal password which you need to say at the door. Without it, that door will stay shut.

With waitresses and bartenders clad out in themed clothes and personalities, Bourbon and Branch draws its patrons in by dedicating themselves to this era one hundred percent. What I especially enjoy about this bar is that it lets you experience all that San Francisco has to offer, its variety and uniqueness.

Following close to the theme of the bar, there are a set of House Rules for each patron to follow. The rules include things such as no phone calls, no picture taking and whatever you do, do NOT order a Cosmopolitan. These bartenders pride themselves on their unique and delicious drinks they individually create and prepare so it will only result in disaster if you order them!

As most speakeasy bars were, there is a hidden room, also referred to as the Library, where anyone can come in without a reservation (just make sure to say ‘books’ when asked for a password) between 6pm and 2am, Wednesday through Saturday.

If you are a local San Franciscan or just visiting, I highly recommend taking the time and the cab fare out to Bourbon and Branch because you will not be disappointed!

Visit Bourbon and Branch for more information

Photos (in order of appearance):

“Jackfruit Cocktail” by ★Debs★

“Cocktail Hour” by jessicafm

“Cosmo” by zenobia joy

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