Hula’s Modern Tiki: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Hula’s Modern Tiki 4700 N Central Ave, Phoenix 602.265. TIKI  http://www.hulasmoderntiki.com/ The Hours: Tiki Time Happy Hour Mon – Fri 4-6 pm and All Day Drink Specials Sat & Sun, 10:30 am-7pm Open Everyday: 11 am -10 pm Friday & Saturday (Drinks ’til 2am) Late Night Menu served…

Behind the Bar: The Moscow Mule at Merc Bar

Tommy McCormack of Merc Bar says when it was created in the 1940s, gin was the most popular spirit, but the Moscow Mule gave vodka some leg and a boost in popularity. The combination of vodka, ginger beer and cucumber creates a refreshing taste with a bite. And how many other…

Brew Review: Samuel Adams’ Summer Ale

On the list of things that can’t be ignored, a box full of beer is fairly high. So you’ll understand my position when I tell you that this is the precise situation I currently find myself in. Sitting in and about my office are no fewer than twenty bottles of…

Behind the Bar: Tommy McCormack at Merc Bar

Tommy McCormack makes you feel like a regular even if it’s your first time at Merc Bar. He makes sure his guests have a good time, whether there are four people at the bar or 400.  McCormack, 34, has a passion for bartending, and he’s seen it as both a…

Brew Review: Samuel Adams’ Blackberry Witbier

​ On the list of things that can’t be ignored, a box full of beer is fairly high. So you’ll understand my position when I tell you that this is the precise situation I currently find myself in. Sitting in and about my office are no fewer than twenty bottles…

Brew Review: Samuel Adams Latitude 48

On the list of things that can’t be ignored, a box full of beer is fairly high. So you’ll understand my position when I tell you that this is the precise situation I currently find myself in. Sitting in and about my office are no fewer than twenty bottles of…

Behind the Bar: The Thai Basil Margarita at Malee’s Thai Bistro

Tyler Christensen, the 31-year-old bar manager at Malee’s Thai Bistro, thinks of bartending as alchemy. In Christensen’s modern-day apothecary, he likes to create a new cocktail list each season. Christensen never used to like margaritas, so he decided to come up with a new recipe that kept the traditional aspect of…

Local Breeze: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Local Breeze The Hours: “Low Tide,” which is their way of saying happy hour, happens Tuesday through Friday 2:30 till 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 3 till 6 p.m. Closed Mondays and only open for brunch until 3 p.m. Sundays. The Details: 20% off everything. Yep. Everything. All…

Behind the Bar: The El Chorro Sunrise at El Chorro Lodge

Yesterday, Steve Losey from El Chorro Lodge talked about the light, crisp taste of their signature drink, the El Chorro Sunrise. Sipping it while relaxing at El Chorro’s indoor/outdoor bar will make you think you’re sitting under a palm tree in the middle of the Caribbean — it’s that refreshing…

Behind the Bar: Steve Losey at El Chorro Lodge

For Steve Losey, the best part of being a bartender is interacting with the guests. And with 20 years in the hospitality industry, he knows how to make sure their needs are met. Losey, who came to the Valley 15 years ago from Michigan, has been working at El Chorro…

Radio Cafe: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Radio Cafe602-956-6600 www.radiocafeaz.com/ The Hours: Happy hour is 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. daily. They are open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and till 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays for late night eats. The Details: Half off all specialty cocktails, draft beer and wine by the glass plus,…

The Parlor: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: The Parlor 1916 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-248-2480 www.theparlor.us The Hours: 3 p.m. till 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays. The Details: $3 16oz draft beers and all glasses of wine are $2 off. And not just in the bar, this deal is good…

Behind the Bar: The Spa-tini at Wildfish Seafood Grille

Yesterday, Josh Warner shared some of the finer points in creating fun and fresh cocktails. The Spa-tini at Wildfish Seafood Grille certainly fits that description. It’s no wonder it’s one of the house favorites–the combination of cucumber and pineapple with a twist of lemon sure seems like a recipe for…

Behind the Bar: Josh Warner at Wildfish Seafood Grille

Josh Warner knows how to throw a party. The 30-year-old bartender at Wildfish Seafood Grille at the Scottsdale Waterfront might have a taste for light and simple cocktails, but he’s not light on entertaining skills. After learning about what brought him to bartending, it’s no wonder Warner is well-versed on…

Behind the Bar: Frank Vairo’s Estate House Orange Julius

Frank Vairo’s take on the grown-up-style Orange Julius has quickly become a house favorite. With Upstairs at Estate House’s patio, there’s no doubt the drink will maintain its high ranking in the sweltering summer months soon approaching. The drink has a refreshing combination of orange and vanilla, and just enough…

Behind the Bar: Frank Vairo at Upstairs at Estate House

Frank Vairo is looking to start a revolution. The 32 year-old bartender at Upstairs at Estate House is single-handedly working to create a new generation of timeless cocktails with a modern twist. After working at neighboring Kazimierz Wine Bar for the past nine years, he brings an expertise in wine…

The District American Kitchen and Wine Bar : Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: The District American Kitchen and Wine Bar 320 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-817-5400 www.districtrestaurant.com The Hours: 3 till 7 p.m. and reverse happy hour is 10 p.m. till close Monday through Friday. The Details: $3.75 sangria, $3 microbrew pints, and deals on small plates. Nothing on…

Behind the Bar: The Sassy Sapphire at C4 Martini & Wine Bar

Yesterday, Helen Ori shared a glimpse into the life of a modern-day saloon sweetheart at Cave Creek’s C4 Martini and Wine Bar. Working alongside General Manager Teresa Thompson, whose vision for bar trends and cocktail combinations have helped mold C4’s set of classic libations with a twist, Ori and C4…

Behind the Bar: Helen Ori at C4 Martini & Wine Bar

For Helen Ori, bartender at C4 Martini and Wine Bar in Cave Creek, the mix of new and familiar faces from travelers and locals brings something new to her job every day and fuels her inspiration for cocktails. “I like Cave Creek because everybody knows everybody, it’s a close-knit community,…