MyOpenBar is a website that rounds up bar specials, happy hours and free-booze opportunities. There are versions of the site for many major cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami.

The tips include things like open bars at public parties, cheap happy hours and free or low-cost “drunk-friendly” snacks. You can get their newsletter by email to keep tabs on keeping your bar tab low. And if you find a free booze opportunity, you can add it to the site.

Now it’s easy to plan a recession-friendly night on the town! If you’re in San Francisco, you can stop by Kyoto Sushi for $1 Sapporo on tap all day, any day. See you there!

MyOpenBar - defaults to NYC, but choose your city from the menu at the top.

Photo credit: liber

Is “lose weight” on your list of New Year’s resolutions? If so — or if you’re just trying to maintain your current weight — here are a few ways to cut calories without cutting out cocktails.

Skip the dessert in a glass

We all know that sweet drinks are higher in calories.

However, you might be surprised to find out just how many more calories they contain. A pina colada has nearly 400 calories, and a chocolate martini has nearly 500 calories. That’s four and five times the calories of a gin and tonic.

And, don’t even get me started on Long Island Iced Tea, which can have up to 700 calories in an 8-ounce serving.

Pay attention to the mixers and alcohol proof

Juices and sodas add flavor and calories to your drink. Even tonic water has 10 calories per serving. Try mixing with club soda, diet soda or Fresca. Also, the higher the alcohol proof, the higher the calorie count. Infused liquors can add flavor without adding calories, so you can cut down or eliminate the amount of juice or soda in your drink.
A jigger (1.5 oz.) of 80-proof vodka, gin or rum has 97 calories. The same quantity of 100-proof alcohol has 123 calories.
This helpful guide will tell you the calorie count for your favorite liqueurs, another source of hidden calories.

Consider low-calorie substitutions

Glamour magazine has some good recommendations for how to swap lower-calorie cocktails for higher-calorie favorites. For example, order a Mudslide instead of a White Russian and save 154 calories. Go for a Mojito instead of a Margarita and save 206 calories.

Baja Bob makes no-sugar mixers and Torini makes no-calorie flavored syrups — good ways to make your favorites at home in a lower-calorie way.

Recipes for cocktails under 170 calories:

Pomegranate Martini
Sour Apple Martini
Midori Lemonade, Midori Fizz, Zen Cooler and Zen Iced Tea
Diet Cuba Libre
Bloody Mary
Blueberry Lime Margarita
Low-Calorie Spring Cocktails

Photo credit: the prodigal untitled13

The ultimate iPod accessory, the iBreath, aims to keep us all safe with an easy to use breathalyzer for the iPod and iPhone. The small device attaches to the iPod’s charging port, needs no additional power and even doubles as an FM Transmitter to stream your tunes in the car.

Some drink driving prevention advocates say that the iBreath may be misused and allow drunk driver to “practice” taking a breathlyzer. There will always be those who abuse technology, but if this makes a person think twice before driving drunk, then it is OK by me.

Blow into the iBreath and your iPod plays a blood-alcohol alert — chicagotribune.com
iBreath - David Steele

Drink World, a new monthly “Blogazine”, is just our my cup of tea (err whiskey). The new publication is dedicated to finding “the most interesting drinking-related stories as well as new and notable products, recipes and drinking games”. Drink World is brought to you by the folks at Digital City, a new lifestyle website from AOL. The site combines local lifestyle and entertainment information with globally appealing news, all with an irreverent slant.

The first issue of drink world is a good read. Find out about weird “Blue Laws”, organic beers and “Great Moments in Drinking History”.

Read the whole issue:
Drink World Goes ‘Round & ‘Round - Digital City

Ever have trouble getting a drink in a busy bar? If you look like me, the answer is yes. Good for us average folks, the guys at Ayslum.com have collected some helpful tips on getting and keeping a bartenders attention. Hating thirst, I have tested all of these, and they do work. So learn them, live them.

Here’s our favorites:

- Know what you want. Important in any bartender interaction, even is the bar is empty.
- Send the most attractive person at your table to get the drinks.
- Be confident
- When you do get your order, leave a decent, if not, large tip. Yes, Always.

Read more:
Get a Bartender’s Attention and Keep the Drinks Flowing - Asylum

“A recent study found that boozing may be a career-building activity. Researchers at San Jose State University say alcohol helps workers “network professionally,” which in turn makes them more valuable employees.

However, it’s important to remember that no matter how relaxed the situation, you’re not out with your college pals. Everything you do or inappropriately blurt out in a slurred rant will have implications for your work life. ”

Asylum gives us these 4 maxims of drinking with your co-workers.

Learn them
Live them
Love them

1. Buy the first round.

2. Don’t overdo it.

3. Don’t talk smack.

4. Keep sketchy personal stories to yourself.

Read the whole article

Want some examples of how not to drink with coworkers? Check out the video below.

Technorati Tags: office, cocktails

This is a travel bar for the serious drinker. The Travl-L-Bar holds 3 750ml bottles. Two-tone, vinyl padded leather and suede inside these are top notch travel necessities. The Travl-L-Bar comes in several shapes and sizes. the one pictures above comes includes 4 metal cups, serving tray, jigger and wood handle opener. (Liquor not included - Duh)

Trav-L-Bar
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