Ongoing Weekly Events, Happy Hours, etc.
Every Night (Weekdays)
Happy Hour at the Top of the East Lounge at te Eastland Park Hotel. 4 to 6pm.
Top of the East Lounge
157 High Street (A block down from Congress) map
(207) 775-5411
www.eastlandparkhotel.com/lounge.htm
They have drink specials Monday through Friday during happy hour, but Monday seems to be the preferred day for most. Comfortable couches (though by some drafty windows) and plenty of 2 and 4 top tables. Most any seat has a great view of either Back Bay or PortlandHarbor. A very robust cocktail list served by bar tenders in the sunken u-shaped bar. This place has the feel of a classy hotel lounge from an era past.
-Cheap oysters at J’s Oyster Bar
J's Oyster Bar
5 Portland Pier (In the parking lot of Dimillo’s) map
(207) 772-4828
Cheap and oysters are two words that you would generally not want to hear in the same sentence. These are not last week’s mollusks, however. They are fresh, tasty and damn cheap. $11 for a dozen. On my last trip there a dozen turned out to be a plate piled with 16 or so huge oysters. Sound absurd? Wait for it…in the month of February they hand out FREE oysters to bar and dinning patrons. The place has a distinct fishy odor when you walk in, but what do you expect from an authentic seafood shanty? Shanty may be a bit of a misnomer. They have plenty of tables and a large bar full of colorful locals. In the Summer you can sit outside and watch the boats come in.
Sunday
-Jazz Brunch at the Portland Museum of Art
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square map
(207) 775-6148
www.portlandmuseum.org/Content/2321.shtml
Enjoy breakfast with a side of jazz flute. Admission to the museum is not required for access to the cafe and the brunch menu. Doors open at 10:30 and brunch is served until noon. Nothing like a little art to aid the digestive process, so take a walk around the museum post-meal.
Monday
-Half Price Bottles of Wine at The White Heart
The White Heart
551 Congress St map
(207) 828-1900
www.thewhiteheart.com
Takes a bite out of the 300% mark-up that most establishments impose. If you can tolorate the glares of the uber-hipster crowd, then this is a pretty good Monday night hang-out spot. I guess if you are a hipster this may not be a problem. Grab the couches by the door if you get there early.
-Trivia Night at Binga's Wingas
Binga’s Wingas
644 Congress Street map
(207) 347-6072
www.bingaswingas.com
Sharpen your mind and eat some wings. Bowlers welcome. Seriously.
Tuesday
If you’re in the know, this is bowling night.
www.bowlportland.com
-$4 Martini Night at Shays.
Shays
18 Monument Square map
(207) 772-2626
www.shaysgrillpub.com
Pretty decent martinis, as well as an excellent mojito served in a mason jar. These cocktails are discounted from the astronomical $5 price tag that the generally carry. There are generally accompanying food specials. The food is actually quite good and can be enjoyed on the patio in the warmer months. During the other 10 months of the year, you can sit inside at one of the booths or at the bar, so you can stay glued to the flat screen in the corner. They also have one of the coolest dishwashers around. You can’t miss him.
- All Night Happy Hour at Una
Una
505 Fore Street map
(207) 828-0300
www.unawinebar.com
Una holds happy hour specials from Monday through Saturday from 4:30 to 7. The clock never strikes 7 on Tuedays and the specials extend all night. Their normally pricy martinis come down to a pallatable $4, as do a selection of wines. Put on your fancy jeans. This place is Portland's answer to a NYC wine bar.
-Big Beers at Pint Prices at The Great Lost Bear
The Great Lost Bear
540 Forest Ave map
(207) 772-0300
www.greatlostbear.com
Get a few extra ozs. off beer on Tuesdays at The Bear. Only 50 taps to choose from. The most Maine micros you will find anywhere.
-Beer Pong at CJ's Place
CJ's Place
965 Forest Ave map
(207) 878-8709
http://cjsplace.info/home.html
Beirut/beer pong (depending on your post-secondary institution) at this fine Forest Ave dive. Absurdly, happy hour runs from 3pm to 1am (Sunday - Tuesday). $3 well drinks and $1.50 16oz. Buds and PBRs.
-Trivia Night at Ri Ra – 8pm - Free
Ri Ra
72 Commercial Street
(207) 761-4446
www.rira.com
The more you drink, the smarter you get.
Wednesday
-2 for 1 Burgers and Cheap Beers at Ri Ra
Ri Ra
72 Commercial Street map
(Next to Flatbread)
(207) 761-4446
www.rira.com
The old twofer. I would doubt you could find a better Wednesday night deal. Cheap burgers taste better when they are ccompanied by $3 pints of Newcastle. Ri Ra has solid beer specials each night of the week. Plus, they have sister restaurants in Arlington, Charlotte, AC, Evansville, Bethesda, Burlington and Providence. Buy local?
Thursday
-Open Mic Night at Slainte
Slainte
24 Preble Street (A block from Monument Square) map
(207) 828-0900
www.myspace.com/slainteme
Thursday night hilarity. The host is crude but funny. He starts things off with a nice combo of self deprecation and audience mockery. There are 5 or 6 regulars who get up there and try their best material each week, as well as a few true amateurs who may be throwing one-liners for the first time. The place is small and definitely gets filled quickly with faces you will see there week after week. You get the sense that every comic brings an entourage of 4 or 5 supporters to ensure a few guaranteed laughs. Beers, cocktails and food are served by one overwhelmed bartender. Stick to the beers and cocktails and dine elsewhere.
-Bluegrass at The Bramhall Pub
The Bramhall Pub
769 Congress Street map
(207) 773-9873
www.theromacafe.com
Watched O Brother, Where Art Though recently? Skip the movie and come here to get your fill of bluegrass. This cavernous bar underneath Roma (the self-proclaimed “most romantic restaurant in Portland”) is a great place to spend a cold Fall/Winter/Spring night. The music does not start until 9 or 10, so get there before it fills up and throw some darts or shoot the pool before the jug blowing and washboard strumming begins. One rather unique aspect is that they have parking out back, though you may not want to get behind the wheel after throwing back half a dozen $2 PBRs.
