The Coca-Cola Freestyle

They've been in beta in ATL and CA for nearly two years now, but we just discovered one in the wild here in New England, and this is the only way to get a fountain drink!

Peak Coffee?

Your morning coffee may soon be victim to global warming. Also, we like how this topic gets as much in the sidebar as a typical Charlie Sheen piece.

Win a Trip to Mardi Gras*

We love Magic Hat beer, don't get us wrong. We're amused, though, by the hang tags all over this six pack of #9 that advertise a chance to Win a Trip to Mardi Gras!*

*Mardi Gras Celebration in Burlington, VT, March 4-6, 2011. 

If You're Bored with Vodka + Jell-o

Mind you, there is nothing wrong with vodka--jell-o shots. But these look awesome.

Friday Happy Hour

The St-Germain Cocktail:

equal parts sparkling wine and St-Germain (2 shots of each in a Collins glass works well)
pour over ice
top with club soda

Friday Happy Hour

For summer happy hour, may we suggest the Tom Collins. There's a reason it has become a synecdoche for preppy New England summers.

We've made a few modifications in the name of lazy summer days; normally, we don't approve of cocktail mixes, but this once, we're skipping simple syrup and lemon juice for lemonade. Use a good one.

1 shot pre-made lemonade
1 shot gin
pour over ice, top with club soda

Friday Happy Hour

We suggest a classic: The Whiskey Sour

2 oz whiskey (doesn't have to be Irish, just not too smokey)
juice of one lemon
3/4 oz simple syrup (or 1 oz if you like)

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled glass.

Moonshine: Yet Another Reason Why Brooklyn is Better than Manhattan

A Cobble Hill bar with 150+ bourbons to choose from can't keep enough white dog (bottled moonshine) on the shelf.

Free Coffee!

Friday Happy Hour

Courtesy of David Wondrich, who knows his drink:

The Shandy Gaff

Fill a pint glass a little more than halfway with a good American pale ale (eg, Red Tail) that's been well chilled. Top off, slowly, with ginger beer (we recommend Goslings). 

Which Cars Are Assembled in the USA?

Interactive graphic at the NYTimes. We thought more BMWs came from South Carolina than just the SUV-types, but nice to know we have a decent selection of Mazdas and Subarus if we want to buy American.

Resourceful Drunks

The guy is drunk, but manages to open another bottle without a corkscrew. Impressive.

Via.

Drop Trou for Wine

Not sure what this accomplished for Greenpeace, but presumably a bunch of guys got laid.

We CAN taste the difference

Starbucks VIA. Like Starbucks, only more bitter.

I May Have Over-Payed for this Beer

But how can I be sure?

The Frank Gehry Cocktail

We can only assume this is a joke, although if you follow the instructions while making it, you'll still be happily drunk.

Perfect Place for Seafood

The patio at S&P Oyster Company, by the Mystic Highway Bridge in Mystic, CT. They also make a perfect Dark & Stormy, made with Gosling's Black Seal and, the bartender promised us, Gosling's ginger beer.

Craft Beer--and lots of it!

"Friday & Saturday - June 19 & 20 - the east coast's largest celebration of American craft beer at the Seaport World Trade Center Boston, featuring 75 American brewers, 300 craft beers, and more ..." The American Craft Beer Festival!

db Bistro Moderne

We swear the waiter was German, which would make his thick French accent a complete affectation, but the food here was phenomenal.

Also, the wine, Ramsay Pinot Noir, rocked. If you know where to pick up a bottle or two, let us know.

Shout-out: Penfold's Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz

Pricier than our usual fare at $25 a bottle, this wine rocked. It's a beautiful purple-red tooth stainer of a wine, but deceptively light on the nose. Then you sip and find it filling your mouth almost to the bursting point. This is some highly structured stuff, with a mix of black pepper and fresh blackberries on a background of moderate acidity. We drank a bottle on its own, but the acidity would be great with most any meal.