LESSONS.VOLUME ONE.

INTRO.LESSONS FROM HAPPY HOUR is proud to present LESSONS: VOLUME ONE a concise journey of the content and aesthetic of the lifestyle blog and company. Including a few of our memorable lessons and articles, VOLUME ONE acts as a glimpse of what we offer. So per our usual request:

Get lost in the epiphanies of four twenty somethings and our take on careers, politics, entertainment, fashion, health and everything else lost in

the daze of a few drinks straight to the head.

It is happy hour somewhere in the world after all right?

HAPPY HOUR ISN'T JUST A TIME, IT'S A LIFESTYLE.

LESSON #1

NEVER A GROOM, NEVER A GROOMSMEN, NOT EVEN A GUEST.

Let me preface this by saying that none of this is to come harshly at my close friends and their personal dating lives. It would be great to take stabs at their interesting tales, small triumphs and great failures of dating but then I’d have to constantly be reminded that I too am an Olympic specialist when it comes to having an awkwardly confusing and chal-lenging dating life.

Now that that’s out of the way:

At this point, it just seems like fact. Marriage rates are steadily dropping. In some ethnic groups the average of individu-als over 25 who haven’t been wed yet has jumped four times since 1960.

I’m slowing getting over the fact that I might not ever be a groom at my own wedding, but what I refuse to believe is that there is a great chance that I won’t even get to be a best man, or worse a guest at a friend’s wedding. Then of course, I dissect the culture of my generation and the dating adventures of my friends at it all makes a little more sense.

We are labeled as the “selfish” generation. The narcissists too focus on self-indulgence and success to truly settle down and truly give a damn about someone else. Although there is a quality about our general self-focus that can be admired, it does manifest in the most interesting ways when it comes down to finding someone to be with.

WRITTEN BY CJ TRAHN II

I probably won't be invited to a close friend's wedding until my mid-thirties, if ever. Yes, I completely got that from an Instagram quote, but it’s a sad reality. The very nature of our narcissism, perverted

attempts to always remain “unbothered” and not affected by what someone does to us has ultimately made us fearful of one thing–hurt. This fact, coupled with the fear of us being alone has caused quite the confusion in our priorities when it comes to dating. It’s why the games we play while dating have gotten more manipulative, the importance of ‘Cuffing Season’ has gotten so exaggerated, and why the word “Bae” even exists. It also has a hand at why I was so shocked and thrilled to learn one of my college classmates was engaged this past homecoming, nearly begging to be invited to the wedding. It just seems so rare nowadays.

Of course there are substantial studies as to why there is a decline in marriage including the economy, shift in public at-titude over marriage as an institution, and the continuing rise of contraceptive usage, but I like to just blame the dating climate millennials are forces to be in. How could we possibly want to put in the effort it takes to have a marriage when we can barely put in the effort to even start meaningful relationships with others. Until more of us are able to put aside our fear of opening up and being hurt and allow ourselves the possibility of fostering life-long bonds with others, I just might never see that wedding invitation in the mail. And I’m pissed about it.

“The dumbest thing about our generation is that you've got to

pretend you don't want somebody in order to get their attention.”

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LESSON #426DOUBLE UP! YOU NEVER KNOW

HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GETYOUR NEXT DRINK.

THE ARTOF LETTING GO.

Throughout life we are constantly evolving and with this new found sense of growth and change, we often find that people who were once integral components of our lives no longer hold the same level of importance. In fact, there are times that their presence becomes altogether nonexistent. It can be difficult to simply walk away from certain relation-ships, friendships and even acquaintanceships that we have formed over time but at some point we begin to realize that it is all for the better as we begin to cultivate and expand our horizons in new ways.If you view every component of your life metaphorically as a corporation it all becomes quite simple. Each aspect (career, relationships, leisure,etc.) can be viewed as a branch or department and when certain departments are causing you to lose profit, it’s time to make a budget cut. This is something that I’ve recently come to learn and accept.

Typically, I’ve always been the type of person to foster relationships which I have formed. When certain issues would arise in the past, I was more than willing to fight to maintain all that had been built because it always seemed to be something of importance to me. However, I have come to the realization that I no longer have the same desire to struggle to maintain relationships when there seems to be no mutual effort. There has to be some form of balance or reciprocity for any type of relationship to be successful. This isn’t to say that every relationship that I have decided to walk away from is merely the result of lack of attempt to maintain them on the part of the other person. Sometimes, people simply outgrow each other. This can be a healthy part of maturation as long as the departure is amicable.

At this point in my life, I am in such a positive place with all of the people who are a consistent part of my life. Each of my friends and family inspire and challenge me to be better than I was before. We bring something to each other’s lives that is mutually beneficial and have the capacity to learn and grow together. We hold each other accountable for our faults while accepting each other for our flaws. I strive for more based upon the examples provided by the people whom I continued to surround myself with. I harbor no ill-feelings or malice in my heart for those who are no longer a part of my life but rather wish them nothing but the best. I cherish our memories and will never forget the moments that we shared. Each person who enters your life may not necessarily have a permanent presence but they will surely have an impact in some way. You will be able to fully appreciate every experience that you encounter with revolving relationships once you truly learn to begin to master the art of letting go.

WRITTEN BYJORDAN WALKER

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THE CONDITION OF MY SKIN:FOUR REACTIONS TO THE WAR ONBLACK BOYS IN AMERICA.

This was initially a response to the now widespread story of Mike Brown, whose life was taken at the hands of a Fer-guson police officer, but after its inception, another young man, Ezell Ford, lost his life after being fatally shot by the LAPD. From that day until now, several African American males have been unnecessarily killed at the hands of police officers who swore to serve and protect them. I realized–there is an unspoken war against African American males in this country and as I look in the mirror, I also realize: I’m behind enemy lines.

The condition of my skin, something some of us are fortunate enough to only think about on a superficial level, has been the subtle plague of my existence since birth. I tried my best to ignore it, to blindly, ignorantly and blissfully nav-igate through my life thinking it would not serve as a factor in how I was perceived or what my worth was. My parents taught me the importance of merit and I hoped so much that my accomplishments, talent, and character would always outweigh the hatred for the beautiful brown layers I was born into. But there they were, they stood there throughout every stage of my development. I was thankful for how the Sun had kissed my skin but quickly saw that others weren’t so impressed. It would manifest in different ways. It would be me overhearing at a young age why I wasn’t allowed over a friend’s house because his parents weren’t comfortable with a Black boy in their household. It would be the countless surprises to how eloquently I spoke or shock that I was classically trained in music. It would follow me as with each award, each notch on my resume, I was considered more and more of an anomaly. It would stop for a visit when I chose to wear certain clothing that didn’t fit an established mold for the comfort of others. It would follow me as I witness my brother be assaulted as a squad of police looked to arrest him, not understanding his hearing impairment. It would sneak up every time I’d get pulled over in my hometown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or my college city Washington, D.C. or even my current residence of New York City and be interrogated by police being “lucky I don’t have anything bad on my record” for routine traffic stops. It would grasp the back of my neck and unnerve me when I read stories like Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, and now Mike Brown, John Crawford, Eric Garner and Ezell Ford knowing that it could easily have been my brother, my friends or myself. It would ring over and over in my mind, that in the country I call home–my beautiful brown layers and worse, my life wasn’t deemed as necessary as others. As of lately, I can’t help but be disappointed in how those who look like me have been constantly demonized and how there has been little discourse on how to solve the problems of American perception or how to ease the unfair burden placed on African American males. With each passing day, I hope the beautiful brown layers I have and that so many others possess can truly be accepted in this country.

“I hoped so much that my accomplishments, talent, and

character would always outweigh the hatred for the beautiful brown layers I

was born into.”

-CJ TRAHAN II

A few seconds is all it takes. In just a few seconds, an officer can make the decision to take a person’s life. On August 9th an officer ended an 18-year old boy’s life. When I departed from home and went to college, facing racism was the farthest thought from my mind because I knew I was moving to a liberal and progressive city. I knew that I’d be in good hands, and even in this city I was racially profiled during my freshman year. The reality of my own struggle really sank in when my younger brother graduated from high school and went to college. He was making a transition from our quiet suburban hometown in South Carolina to a town in North Carolina. My brother is brown-skinned with dread-locs which, in the state of North Carolina, are physical features that made him a target for random stops by the police. Any one of those times could have resulted in tragedy- a tragedy that happens almost everyday in the lives of young, Black boys. It makes it difficult for me to continuously believe in the good of humanity when people who look just like my younger brother are dehumanized on a regular basis. According to reports, after Michael Brown was shot several times, officials left his body on the concrete for hours. The message this sends to Black boys is that their lives have no value. Because of this, young Black boys are faced with the daily struggle of living in a society that does not support

their overall growth or educational development and does not advocate on their behalf.

Yesterday was my younger brother’s birthday. Yesterday, he turned 23. I never thought I’d be saying this, but considering the painful statistics it’s necessary that I make this point….I’m so blessed to still be able to hug him. I’m blessed that my brother still has the freedoms that many young black boys, like Michael Brown, were not afforded. And as I reflect on this heartbreaking situation, I’m forced to acknowledge the fact that Michael Brown could have been either one of my broth-ers. And while I’m beyond grateful to have them in my life, my heart aches constantly for those young black boys who weren’t as fortunate to go home to their families at the end of the day. My heart aches for my future self knowing that I want a son of my own. And my heart aches for all of the families who suffer as their cries for equality and justice fall on deaf ears.

“Because of this, young Black boys are faced with the daily struggle of living

in a society that does not support their overall growth or

educational development and does not advocate on their behalf.”

-ALIYAH GLENN

The sadness I felt upon hearing about Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown was not only due to the nature of the “crimes”, but that I have a Black younger brother who frequents a 7 Eleven at night or heads down the street to visit his girlfriend and her family. The uncanny thing is I don’t feel that I’m at risk as a result of these tragedies when it seems that I should. Yes, I am also a Black male of a certain height who loves to wear a hoodie. Each day since graduating college, I’ve heard stories of how “devalued” Black men are via the news or friends. Up until that point I never thought there is a common

notion of the Black males being worthless. Have I finally entered the real world?

I’ve encountered racism growing up, but not the kind that would devalue me or any of my Black male counterparts be-cause at the end of the day we were equal to those males of other races. I attended a predominantly White all-male high school. My school required a test upon entering, which meant all of my Black male peers were pretty talented. At my col-lege, also predominantly White, many we were held to a high esteem in various areas as many of us headed important organizations. Black males have been valued in the communities I’ve chosen to be a part of, but now that I have been forced into the real world, my eyes are opening. I am no longer confined to a community I chose based upon its morals. I have now entered an even larger community whose morals are sometimes based on ignorance. Though I don’t person-ally feel at risk of being killed for being a Black male, I do see a problem that needs to be fixed. Value yourself and others will have no choice but to value you. I absolutely love being a Black male no matter whats comes with the territory.

Perhaps my sheltered upbringing shielded me from the realities of the war that I face each day that I step outside of my front door. Although my parents always instilled in me the notion that racial inequality was still very much alive in this country, never in a million years did I expect for it to be this upfront and blatant. Growing up, it was imperative that I had a full knowledge and understanding of the history of my people. Our struggles, the obstacles that were placed in our path with seemingly no logical explanation and the way that we continued to triumph and overcome those struggles are recurring themes of our past and present. At a younger age, my naivety allowed me to believe that the issue of race did not exist in the way that it had in generations prior. By no means did I believe that we lived in a post racial society, however I felt as though we now enjoyed a greater sense of equality and freedom because of what our ancestors had endured. The election of President Barack Obama and the amount of disrespect that he has endured throughout his presidency often in relation to his race, opened my eyes to what we were truly up against. Additionally, I was raised to respect law enforcement based upon the idea that they put their lives on the line to ensure our security. Presently, I find that very difficult to do when police are the very ones targeting those they are hired to serve and pro-tect. This is especially problematic because Black men in America are seemingly public enemy number one. The other day, I read a very disturbing statistic: “A Black man is killed every 28 hours in the United States by police or vigilante.” Ferguson’s response to the unexplained killing of 18-year old Michael Brown highlights the amount of warranted civil unrest that still exists in the country. Although you may not understand the methods that are being used in an attempt to acquire justice, you cannot ignore the fact the we are justifiably fed up with constantly being told that we are worth-

less through the senseless and unapologetic killing of our people.

Growing up as a Black boy, I was blinded to some of the issues that we face as a community. As I grew into a Black man, I became overwhelmingly aware and know that we are in dire need of sustainable solutions but a great deal of that begins with understanding our self worth. To all of the other “Black boys” of America, your life is not worthless. You are a meaningful factor of society and more importantly your life does matter. We are the fathers, sons, uncles, nephews, cousins and friends of nobility. We make up a vital portion of the community and contribute to the over-all good. Never allow anyone to dim your light or tell you otherwise. You come from and are capable of greatness.

“You come from and are capable of greatness.”

-AARON TAYLOR

-JORDAN WALKER

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LESSONSFROMHAPPYHOUR.LIFESTYLE BLOG + COMPANY

LESSON #666WHEN DRUNK.

AUTOCORRECT IS THE DEVIL.

LESSON #727NEVER TURN DOWN A FRIENDLY

CONVERSATION. ESPECIALLY IF IT COMES WITH A FREE DRINK.

THE PHOTOGENIC MIND: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF RANDOLPH GARRETT.

“I always tell everyone while I am shooting “I'm not here, don't pose, act

natural.” Being natural is key with me, I aim to capture that element...”

Everyone can take pictures but not everyone can capture raw moments in stunning and visually provoking ways. Randolph Garrett, a native from Oxon Hill, MD does just that. Randolph (Randy) has continue to make strides with his photography in fashion. Randy focuses on capturing an expressive point of view utilizing natural lighting, angles, space, and his innate talent with the lens. Get to know what inspires Randy.

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WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PICK UP A CAMERA?

Honestly, I loved taking pictures of myself. As vain as it may sound I was fascinated with making goofy faces and plastering it all over social networks at one point. It evolved to me taking goofy pictures of friends and family at social functions. From there somehow I stumbled into the realm of fashion photography, I still don’t believe it myself.

I will say the moment I wanted to be a photographer artistically and professionally is when I did a random photo shoot with my little sister as the model. Seeing her transform from this quiet and reserved young girl to a confident and beautiful young woman affected me in such a way that I can’t even put it into words. Honestly I think I had an epiphany, I hate using that word though, it sounds so dramatic.

DESCRIBE YOUR WORK WITH ONE WORD.

Natural. In the majority of my work, no one poses. I always tell everyone while I am shooting “I’m not here, don’t pose, act natural.” Being natural is key with me, I aim to capture that element and I think it comes across very well in my work.

MOST EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCE ON A SHOOT?

Imagine rain, a small hill, slippery grass, mud and me sliding towards the model while shooting them. Luckily the model and stylist had great reflexes and saved my camera, everyone else was okay too. Interestingly though, I wasn’t too embarrassed.

WRITTEN BY CJ TRAHN II

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ART AND WHAT KEEPS YOU FOCUSED?

Inspiration comes to me in many different forms, there is no one solid source for me. For me Inspiration has more to do with me having too many ideas in my head and the need to get them out.

What keeps me focused is my team, my family and my friends. When your art is also your business its very easy to lose focus in the art and let the business aspect consume you. When the business gets me by the neck It can be easy to lose sight of why I became a photographer in the first place. On those rare occasions their support always puts things right back in perspective.

FAVORITE COCKTAIL?

I’m simple, cranberry & vodka, Ciroc preferably, you can never go wrong with that.

WHAT'S YOUR ONE “LESSON FROM HAPPY HOUR” OR LIFE LESSON?

Life has taught me to never get comfortable, its a disease and once you’ve got it, it’s hard to shake.

More of Randy’s portfolio can be viewed at his site: RandolphGarrett.com

“Life has taught me to never get comfortable, it's a disease and once

you've got it, it's hard to shake.”

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DO YOU CONSIDER EATING HABITS WHEN DATING?

LESSON #2

In an era that is increasingly becoming more health conscious, do you consider eating habits when you are dating someone? Are eating habits a deal breaker?

CAN A VEGETARIAN DATE A MEAT EATER?Because I’ve never actually dated another vegetarian, I would have to say that dating someone who eats meal isn’t a deal breaker for me. I had to learn to accept that most people simply aren’t willing to give up meat and truthfully, I don’t expect them to. When I made the decision to no longer eat meat, I did it with the understanding that it was a personal choice and it would be completely unfair to look down on others for not sharing the same beliefs. After all, the United States has one of the largest and most profitable meat industries. If I were to decide against dating peo-ple based upon their decision to continue eating meat, I might as well start collecting cats now because I’d probably be single for the rest of my life. - Jordan

CAN A VEGAN DATE ANYONE?I believe dating a vegan is quite tough, but very doable. Research on restaurants prior to dates is necessary, but can force you to think outside of the box in addition to giving culture to yourself. You must let go of your selfishness and indulge into theirs and become a vegan, at least when you’re around each other. With that said, my uncle is a vegan with a wife and kids. He cooks himself vegan dishes, but also cooks animal dishes for his wife and kids. He’s a big believer of home cooked meals and despises fast food, but he doesn’t force too much of his beliefs on his family. - Aaron

CAN A NON-PORK/BEEF EATER DATE ONE?As someone who gave up beef in the last two years and has never eaten pork, I can say dating someone who eats beef does at times present challenges. Don’t take me on dates to restaurants like Fogo de Chao or any steakhouses. That’s just rude, and I’m left with a bad mood and an empty stomach. I’m not very pleasant under those conditions. I think it also depends on the type of area in which you live. I was raised in the South, where pig feet, pork chops, and steak are plentiful. It makes it a lot tougher to find someone who has a similar diet, let alone, date someone who doesn’t share the same food values. Ultimately, I think the key is to be respectful and considerate of each other’s food restrictions or lack thereof. - Aliyah

--Eating habits matter a big deal to me when dating. Now-a-days I highly doubt that I can date an extreme carnivore or someone who isn’t health conscious due to my serious interest in fitness and health. Another issue I consider while dating is the intake of fast foods. Though we are a busy generation, socially and professionally, I believe there is a such thing as too much fast food. I’ve found that having a special diet forces you to cook more often or eat at places with healthier prepared dishes. As I grow older, health and fitness becomes a bigger deal to me, mostly due to results of bad eating habits that I have seen with prior generations. Yes, I consider eating habits when dating, but also if a person doesn’t share my beliefs in eating habits then I make it my task to upgrade them!

LIFE COMES AT YOU SHAKENNOT STIRRED.

WRITTEN BY AARON TAYLOR

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THE THREE LOVE INTERESTSWE ENCOUTER IN OUR 20's.

WRITTEN BY ALIYAH GLENN

They say most things in life come in threes. Even as children our association of positive things typically come in threes: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the three ring circus, three little pigs, Destiny’s Child. We’re even given our introduction to bike riding with a three wheel device before we make the awkward transition to a bicycle. As children, we see gratify-ing examples of threes, and then as adults we’re brought down from that euphoric state after realizing that everything in threes isn’t always so pleasant. Deaths transpire in threes, after three strikes we’re out, and trouble comes in threes.

Walt Disney brought a false reality right to our living rooms as we all sat around and watched and listened to the cliché stories told of princesses having happily ever afters with their prince charming. As a result we believed that finding our future mates would be just that easy. Some of us have reached a point in our lives where our friends are getting married and some even having children. And while many of us are happy for our friends but can’t even begin to fathom making those transitions at this point in our lives, we may have begun to feel a slight tug on our ovaries, beckoning for us. But the dating pool has brought a few interesting people in our lives that may have delayed our abilities to answer that call:

THE PETER PAN/PROJECT

If Never Never Land was a real place, he’d be the one leading the way to help everyone trying to escape the realities of adulthood. He’s allergic to all things involving commitment and he’s rarely ever consistent in his communication with you. When you try to have an open discussion with him about his lack of communication, his response is usually vague. Due to his carefree nature, you find yourself questioning his level of interest on a regular basis. Similar to the arrogant guy, you’re determined to stick around in hopes that you’ll be the one to change him knowing that your likelihood of doing that is beyond slim. Maybe he’ll grow up eventually, but chances are it won’t be happening anytime soon. And in the words of Sweet Brown, “ain’t nobody got time for that!”

THE OLDER, NICE GUY

He’s the ideal life partner: the guy that you can take home to your parents and they’d love him instantly, your friends enjoy being around him, and the guy that you know you could have as close to a perfect balance as it gets in a relationship….but for some foolish reason, in spite of your interest in him, the only place you seem to want to put him in your life is in the friend-zone. He seems to have things together in every aspect of his life. He provides a healthy balance to your inner spontaneity and energy because he’s already experienced the wild ambiguities of his 20s and is reaching that point where he wants to settle down. He basically embodies everything you should expect in a person and yet you seem to not want a relationship. He goes out of his way and does the things for you that you secretly wish someone else would.

THE ARROGANT, PLAYBOY SOCIALITE

If you don’t recognize him by his calendar that’s booked with all the biggest social events of the year you’ll certainly real-ize who you’re dealing with when he opens his mouth. He makes you feel like almost nothing you do will qualify you as girlfriend material and for some reason, rather than realizing you’re better than what he’s offering and walking away, you stick around trying to prove to him that you can eventually be what he wants. You’re equally infatuated and annoyed by his arrogance, making it extremely difficult for you to remove yourself from the situation or suppress your feelings. And while you know deep down that in sticking around you’re only setting yourself up for failure, you’re willing to take that risk because your heart is dangling by some semblance of hope; that one day he’ll create a small space for you in what seems like his big, big world.

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The thing that these three types have in common is that 9 times out of 10, they initiated your first encounter and for the first few weeks, things seemed to be going in the right direction. Because of this, you’ve developed some level of attach-ment to each of them and are afraid of losing them. But here’s the kicker: you cannot allow fear to dictate your decisions.All three of these encounters have taught you something and helped shape you. You’ve identified qualities that you shouldn’t look for, some that you should, and a few that you should run from……..immediately.

Take the process as a learning experience and try not to wait around expecting the fairytale. Enjoy the journey and take as much from each experience as possible. True love takes time, and if you want the real thing eventually, you have to be willing to endure all the bullshit before you get there. Don’t confuse love with an infatuation for something that you don’t really want. And trust your instincts. Reject Walt Disney’s notion that you have to be rescued by some prince. Focus on your personal happiness and growth and trust that everything else will fall into place when you’re ready for it.

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“True love takes time, and if you want the real thing eventually, you have to

be willing to endure all the bullshit before you get there.”

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Mix all the liquor, sweet-and-sour mix, and splash of Coke into a resealable plastic bag. Place both chicken breasts in the bag and let them marinate for a couple of hours in the refrigerator.

2. After about two showings of your favorite guilty pleasure reality show, take the marinated chicken out the bag (don’t discard the liquor!). Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the breast until they are golden. Keep them warm.

3. Pour the marinade (the lovely mix of liquor) into the pan along with the chicken stock. Bring the mix to a simmer, taking up all the caramelized bits from the pan.

4. Add the salt, red pepper and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Add in the whipping cream then remove from the heat. After that, add the tablespoon of butter and whisk away. Next you serve the sauce over the warm chicken.

5. DRINK, I mean, eat away!

It’s suggested that you pair the chicken with potatoes (I suggest baby red mashed potatoes) and fresh green beans. Also use the liquor you’ve purchased to concoct a great Long Island Iced Tea that will surely enhance the flavors of your meal.

NEVER COOK SOBER! LAST CALL LONG ISLAND ICED TEA CHICKEN.Admittedly, I’m a pseudo alcoholic. It’s as much of a problem as it needs to be, but not as serious that my entire existence depends on my need for a liquor fix. To simplify what I said, I like liquor, it makes me happy and I encourage others to utilize it in various aspects of their lifestyles. Insert the Never Cook Sober Cookbook by Stacy Laabs & Sherri Field. Liquor and wine have been an integral part of cooking since, well, for a very long time. What better way to incorporate two loves?

THIS ONE MIGHT GET YOU DRUNK! HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

2 tablespoons each of vodka, gin, rum, tequila (and add a triple sec if you’d like). If you’re really bold add a bit of your fa-vorite whisky too.

1 ounce of sweet-and-sour mix, and a little bit of Coke.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (the leaner the better!)

2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 cup of chicken stock, 1/4 teaspoon salt, red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup of whipping cream and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter.

“Alcohol is necessary for a man so that he can have a good opinion of

himself, undisturbed by facts.”-FINELY PETER DUNN

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WRITTEN BY CJ TRAHN II

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: THALLY (DC)

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: COVO (NY-W. HARLEM)

After an often odd walk underneath the bridge next to New York’s Riverside Dr. and Hudson River in West Harlem lies this beautiful treasure, Covo Trattoria, a gorgeously styled, slightly rustic Italian/Pizzeria restaurant. With a patio for warmer months, a gorgeous open kitchen with brick-oven and enough authentic Italian atmosphere to challenge your mom’s best spaghetti, discovering this place was a true treat. Restaurant aside, the true magic of this place happens upstairs in its quiet bar and lounge where one of the area’s longest lasting happy hours awaits. Initially shocked at how empty the bar area was, it was the perfect solitude to enjoy the deals, which lasts for an impressive 8 hours nearly every day of the week. The calm sophistication of the decor matched with beautiful artwork and exposed brick surroundings invited a touch of elegance. It also made for enjoyment of the contrasting musical selection (mostly throwback and contemporary R&B hits and Hip-Hop). At the first visit, it was easy to try nearly all the specialty cocktails offered (and at only $5, it was a steal). The bartender was very knowledgeable and was eager to suggests his favorites, his specialties and what would pair best with the food selected. With several vintage couches and chaise lounges, the area is perfect for both intimate settings as well as slightly larger gatherings. The warm but dim lighting naturally helps to evoke conversation and the fact that the spot is rarely packed makes the ease of getting drinks remarkable.

One of the newer additions to the Shaw community, Thally brings a good combination of neighborhood friendly and slight upscale flavor. The urban decor gives this quaint spot a comfortable feel, and the staff provides a welcoming envi-ronment. The happy hour bites are served in smaller portions than you might be used to, but the taste makes up for it, not to mention the drinks. Although the cocktails aren’t offered as a happy hour special, it is strongly suggested that you try a couple. The bartenders were very attentive and friendly and will make you a drink that complements your pallet.

Might be going out on a limb and say that some of the cocktails rival many others in the DC area. While the drinks are quite delicious, the beers are also worth trying. The beer selection properly reflects the restaurant’s ties to the city, as they serve a good bit of the local beers. For the most part, the small bites don’t disappoint. While the potato croquettes were good, the marinated olives are a bit too salty. The crowd is a good mix of the young professionals, hipsters and older couples. The music is at a level that allows this crowd to converse comfortably with others at the bar that seats 15-20 people.

Considering their still pretty new to the DC scene, Thally has made a good impression and our prediction is that they will continue to wow customers and keep them coming back for more and more of those small bites and delectable drinks.

THE DEAL $4 beers and ciders on tap, $2 off all wine by the glass, $2 off all bottled cider, and 1/2 off small bites. Tuesday-Sunday 5:00-7:30pm.

THE RATINGS Pricing: 3/5 Food/Drinks: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Overall:

Speaking of drinks. The selection of specialty cocktails is mostly Skyy Vodka Infusions based with a few other selections for variety. The rum punch offered is delicious as well as both the red and white sangrias. The only drink to slightly stray away from is the offered margarita selection (oddly enough it isn’t the strongest or best tasting available). It’s easy to get carried away at this spot but even easier to enjoy.

THE DEAL $5 cocktails (Acai Sangria, Rollo's Limeaid, VeeV Rum Punch, Red Bull Candy Cocktail, XO VeeVagra Shot, Skyy Infusion Cocktails), $3 bottled beers, and select bar bites. Sunday-Thursday 4:00pm- Close.

THE RATINGS Pricing: 4/5 Food/Drinks: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall:

4/5

4/5#

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NAVIGATING BETWEENTHE BREAKS OF HAPPY HOUR ISN’T AN EASY TASK FOR US WHO ARE TOO OLD TO BE RECKLESS AND TOO YOUNG TO ONLY SIP ONE GLASS AND BE DONE.

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