Happy Hours in Columbia

I absolutely LOVE happy hours. Seriously, what's not to like? Good food and great prices! So I've decided to tell you about four of my favorite happy hours in Columbia.

The Heidelberg

http://www.theheidelberg.com/

This is a Columbia staple, close to campus. They have buy one, get one free appetizers, which is a phenomenal deal for the portion sizes you get! Some of my favorites are the pretzels, bacon and cheddar skins, and the breaded mushrooms. There are also fairly good specials on drinks, both beer and house drinks. The Berg's drinks used to be even better priced, but I guess they figured that it was a little TOO good of a deal. Happy hour runs from 3:30pm-7:00pm Monday-Friday, and then after 10:00pm, but I'm never out that late!

Houlihans

http://www.houlihans.com/

This is pretty much the only chain restaurant I eat at, ever. I like to eat at local places whenever possible. They have different happy hour specials every day in addition to the regular specials, and happy hour runs from 4:00pm-7:00pm Monday-Friday and after 9:00pm. Their food specials are ok. $6 small plates (appetizers) and lots of choices, my favorite is the spinach dip or chicken nachos. But the best part of their happy hours are half off Long Island Iced Tea pitchers (about $3.50 each). These are HUGE and there are different flavors that taste awesome.

Room 38

http://room-38.com/

This may be my favorite of the four! It's located across the street from the courthouse downtown. They have $3 calls, $4 wines by the glass, half off draft beer and import bottles. THEN they have half off certain small plates (appetizers). Wok Seared Edamame, Spicy Chicken Queso Dip, Roasted Red Pepper Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Jalapeno Crab Rangoon Sticks, and Sweet Butter Soft Pretzel Bites are all my favorites. The best thing to do is to go with a group so everyone can order something different, and then share! I am so hungry just thinking about it! PHENOMENAL food and prices for happy hour. It runs 3:30pm-6:30pm, Monday-Friday.

Truman's

http://www.trumansbar.com/

This one is a little out of the way for me because it is literally on the complete opposite side of town from my house. It's on West Broadway, near the original Hy-Vee. Their website isn't allowing me to look at their menu to remind me of their official happy hour times, but I do know that on Tuesdays, it's all day happy hour. Drinks and appetizers are SUPER cheap.... it's half off (not including wings). My husband and I ordered nachos (giant portion), mozzarella sticks, and 7 whiskey and diets and only paid $32 with tip!! And let me tell you, when I say whiskey and diet, it actually means mostly whiskey. It's the only time I have ever had to order an additional diet coke to mix with the drink because it was too strong for me to drink by itself. It's also the only time I've seen my husband as drunk as he was. It was pretty hilarious. So check out Trumans if you are on that side of town!

Now that you know which places have my stamp of approval, maybe I'll see you there!

The Drag Show at SoCo Club

On Thursday evenings in Columbia, at the SoCo Club, there is a drag show. I absolutely LOVE it. It's the only bar I've ever gone to whose primary purpose is for drinking and dancing, and I don't feel judged, overweight, frumpy, too old, or whatever the negative adjective may be. They accept everyone there. And you might be saying "duh, Jessica! Of course they do, it's a gay bar". But I would say "that too, is a stereotype". Just because a person is gay, does not mean they are tolerant, or non-judgmental.

Anyway, this past Thursday, I went to the drag show. I used to go alot in college, and immediately after graduating from college, but since I've gotten older, I only go maybe 2 or 3 times a year when my friend Amy comes to town. We leave my husband at home because bars that require people to dance and talk loudly over music, are SO not his scene.

A year or two ago, SoCo opened up a lounge right next door to the actual Club, where you can sit at tables or on couches and just hang out. It's actually a really nice lounge, and decorated very classy. I particularly like their wall sconces that look like two Martini glasses, crossed. I found a picture of them:

We tell friends to meet us there when they can, and then when the Club opens up, you can just walk on over to get a table. Plus, as long as you are over 21, there is only a $5 cover, which is a pretty good price for the entertainment of an entire evening (less than a movie ticket!). They also tend to have fairly decent drink specials, if that's what you're interested in (which I usually am!). If you've never been to a drag show, the premise is pretty simple, Drag Kings and Drag Queens do a performance where they lip synch to some song, and it's usually something new, easily recognizable, or just plain fun. This past Thursday was no exception. It was a great show! Plus, lots of friends who don't usually go to the show, came with us, which made it even more fun! After the show is over, they pull back all the tables and then the dancing starts. By this time, I'm usually pretty tired and don't make it much longer, but I try! The only complaint I have is that bottled water costs $3 (which is more expensive than some of their liquor specials), but they do have one of those water machines in the corner with paper cups for free. It's nice to have a bottle of water though.....

I'd recommend that everyone go at least once in their lifetime just to check it out. And if you need someone to go with you, let me know..... it's always a good time for me!

Here are some pics from my evening out at SoCo Club:

Me with my friends Amy and Natasha

My friends Crystal and Lindsey with me, laughing ridiculously.