The Cougar Nightlife Guide, Issue 23, Volume 80

GUIDE Happy Hours, Restaurants, and More

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Hit up the city’s best bars with ‘Houston Nightlife’

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We hope this guide helps you maneuver the many bars, clubs and restaurants that Houston has to offer.

In this edition, you’ll discover some places to mark on your map when making plans to go out and just how important it is to drink water the next morning. And you’ll realize you don’t need to know everything about wine glasses to become a connoisseur.

Just as Houston is a melting pot of cultures, it offers a melting pot of nightlife options. While many occupy the center of the city, others are scattered around the outer limits, so don’t be afraid to go out and explore a little. Have a good night out — or in, with some friends and a few of glasses of Shasta’s Pride — and always be safe and responsible. We’ve even included a checklist you should follow before heading out for the night — it could save your life.

— The Cougar

“HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE” IS A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COUGAR

EDITOR Joshua Cochran

NEWSROOM

WRITERS Julie Nguyen Cara Smith Dalton Laine

713-743-5360 editor@thedailycougar.com facebook.com/thedailycougar twitter.com/thedailycougar ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published in print on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, and updated online daily throughout the year at www. thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by

SALES MANAGER Callista Brown ADVERTISING TEAM Jose Salazar J.P. Montgomery Alejandra Leon Elizabeth Murphy Alexander Lacama DESIGN TEAM Jose Cruz Alex Tomic Josue Diaz

Student Service Fees.

New Hours Wednesday— 2-8pm Thursday— 2-8pm Friday— 2-7pm Saturday— 12-3pm

FRIENDS, SUNSHINE, BEERS

no labels necessary...

5351 1st. Street, Katy Texas

www.nolabelbrew.com

SPRING 2015 HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE 3

Featured Listings BB’s Café

Five Locations: Briargrove; 6154 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77057 713-339-2566 Montrose; 2710 Montrose Houston, TX 77006 713-524-4499 Upper Kirby; 3139 Richmond Avenue Houston, TX 77098 713-807-1300 Heights; 2701 White Oak Houston, TX 77009 713-868-8000 Katy; 406 West grand parkway S #400 KATY Texas 77494 281-665-7843 Hours: Vary by location Specials: • Monday- Gumbowl Day $5 • Tuesday- Any ½ po’ boy & cup of Chicken & Sausage or Shrimp Gumbo for $9 • Wednesday- Water Creature Wednesday • Thursday- Cajun Fajitas and ½ price AbitaRitas

Crossroads at House of Blues

1204 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002 888.40.BLUES Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm Friday: 11am – 11pm Saturday: Noon – 11pm Sunday: Noon – 10pm Happy Hour: 4pm – 7pm daily Food Specials, Domestics $3, Imports $4, House Wine $5, Call Cocktails $5

Elevation Burger

3819 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098 Hours: Sunday–Wednesday 10:30am–10am 4 HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE SPRING 2015

Thursday–Saturday 10:30–4am (713) 524-2909 http://elevationburger.com/

Firehouse Saloon

5930 Southwest Freeway Houston (Corner of 59 and Fountainview) Hours: Thursday–Saturday 5pm–2 am www.firehousesaloon.com info@firehousesaloon.com 281-513-1995 Specials: Happy Hour Thursday & Friday 5–9 pm ($5 Craft Beer Pints); Saturday Special (Random Shot Specials); half price always for Firefighters/ Police/Military. Available for private events.

Always owned and operated by firefighters.

Guava Lamp

Montrose; 570 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77019 (713) 524-3359 Hours: Monday-Sunday 4pm-2am Specials: • $3 Cosmopolitan Wednesdays 7pm–11pm • Happy Hour 4pm–8pm Thursdays: No Cover • Saturday Night $2 Drinks All Night

No Label Brewery

5351 1st. Street, Katy Texas, 77493 (281) 693-7545 Hours: Monday–Friday: 9am–5pm Saturday: 12–3pm Sunday: Closed Specials: • Open for St. Patrick’s Day from 4-8pm • Information on tap-room hours and Saturday tasting/tours: Wed & Thur- 2–8pm- $3 year round, $4 seasonal and $5 Off Label Series Friday- 2–7pm- $3 year round, $4 seasonal and $5 Off Label Series Saturday- 12–3pm- $8 admission, tour at 1:30pm.

Live music and food trucks on Saturday

Red Sky Hookah Lounge

Theo’s Restaurant

13308 Westheimer Rd #400, Houston, TX 77077 Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 4pm–1am Thursday–Saturday 4pm–2am (281) 619-5511 facebook.com/redsky.hookah Specials: Happy hour 4pm–7pm, Student discount $11.99 (when UH ID shown)

Smoke Alley

Two locations: 4602 Dacoma St., Houston TX 77092 713-688-0600 6239 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77057 713-780-1222 Hours: Monday- Saturday 10 am–10 pm Specials: UH students (present UH id) get 10% off anything at the store that’s not discounted. Free coal and Shisha w/ purchase of hookah above $20.

812 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006 Hours: 10am–4am (713) 523-0425 theoshouston.com Specials: 25% student discount (when UH ID shown)

Vao

2016 Main Street #101 Houston, TX 77002 Hours: 10:30 pm–close, Friday, Saturday.

Complimentary Champagne for ladies from 10:30 pm–11:30 pm Cover Charge: Friday and Saturday NO COVER – Expect more on holidays and special events DJ or free for VAO guest list Host Contact: For table reservations at VAO Nightclub, please contact our VIP Host directly by email at info@vaoclublife.com Phone: 832-851-9047 Text (SMS): 713-999-4800

25% DISCOUNT FOR UH STUDENTS Must show UH ID. Discount does not include alcohol. Discount lasts for 2 months (through the end of the semester).

R E S T A U R A N T 812 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006 713-523-0425 www.theoshouston.com

HOURS OF OPERATION Open every day 10AM — 4AM

R E S T A U R A N T

The Perfect Match

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Infographic by Alex Tomic

Though we like to indulge in all sorts of extremes, from a bag of salty chips to a tub of ice cream or a cup of bitter tea or coffee, it might surprise you to learn that your tongue prefers, more than anything else, a careful balance of flavor. Suddenly the art of pairing food and wine becomes less of a cultured practice and more of a way to ensure an optimum dining experience.

There are several rules for mixing and matching alcohols and dishes, and though many will make complete sense, others require a bit more thought.

Food and wine both share three of six tastes: sweet, acidic and bitter. Food also has three additional profiles: salty, umami (savory without being salty) and fatty.

If you’re lost when it comes to foreign food and wine, remember that regional pairs usually do the trick.

Shared colors between the wine and the food may also hint at similar flavor profiles. The pairs of red wine and beef and white wine and fish follow this rule accordingly.

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In other instances, it’s better to follow specific lines of flavor: • Avoid pairing bitter wine with bitter food. In spite of the antioxidant glamor, this includes red wine and (especially dark) chocolate.

• Avoid pairing acidic wine with creamy food. Rich cream sauces and acid don’t mix.

• Avoid pairing wine with strong spices. These will destroy the flavor of the wine.

• Make sure wine is as sweet as or sweeter than the dish in question.

• Make sure wine is as acidic as or more acidic than the dish in question.

• Pair bitter wine with rich, fatty food. Balancing tannins and fats elevates the flavor of both the wine and the food.

• Pair acidic wine with rich, fatty food. Like bitter wines, acidic wines cut the fat and liven the flavor range of the dish.

• Pair sweet wine with salty food. This is a classic experience often observed in everyday eating habits.

— Joshua Cochran

Wine glasses glitter, but they’re not gold Wine culture is an interesting Western phenomenon, full of coded language, dress and the classically snobby attitudes. There’s even the notion that certain glasses affect the taste of your beverage.

For clumsier wine drinkers, this could save a lot of money and heartbreak.

Snobs will try to tell you that using a particular glass for a particular beverage is imperative to the ultimate drinking experience, but don’t be fooled – what matters most is the beverage, and not what you’re drinking it in.

If you’ve got a pretty glass collection already, don’t worry – there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your beverage visually, and allowing the wine to “breathe” in its glass is a lot more effective than through the bottle. But don’t think you need to buy a new set of

glassware every time you try a wine, just to get your money’s worth.

A study in the Journal of Food Quality concluded that “the panelists could not perceive differences between wine served in different glasses even if it was exposed to air for 30 (minutes) at room temperature. (Changes in compounds that affect the taste of the wine) were not profound enough to affect the sensory qualities of Merlot wine as judged by occasional drinkers.”

Unless you or your friends have golden tongues, there’s no need to worry about matching glasses to enjoy a nice glass of wine; more relevant would be paying attention to the serving temperature and beverage storage to ensure the quality of the taste.

— Joshua Cochran

You put what in your drink?

BACON We put bacon on and in everything else, so naturally there should be bacon in alcohol too. There’s no one perfect way to do it but a common method uses freshly cooked bacon and vodka. Throw the bacon into a container filled with alcohol and let it sit for four to five days at room temperature. After, remove the bacon, freeze the liquid enough to solidify the oils from the bacon, and then pour the frozen or slushy vodka through a coffee filter to remove the oils. Repeat as necessary to get the perfect bacon-y flavor.

SNAKES Finding a snake in your garden is frightening. Finding it in your wine? Not so much. Snake wine, made by either placing an entire snake or multiple snakes in a glass jar of rice wine or by mixing the body fluids of snakes with wine, comes from Vietnam, Southeast Asia and Southern China and is drunk for its supposed medicinal properties in vitality and health.

BABY MICE You wouldn’t want to see a baby rodent in your house so why not in your wine? In ancient Chinese traditions, if you drown live baby mice in high-proof rice liquor and let it ferment for about a year, the resulting drink can cure about any ailment you’ve got.

SEAGULLS The Inuits seem to be a simple people, if their seagull wine is anything to go by. To make this wine, stuff a dead seagull into a bottle of water and leave it in direct sunlight until it ferments. That’s all.

POOP In Korea, “ttongsul” translates to “feces wine.” And true to its namesake, this drink is made by either submerging a bamboo stick in a chamber-pot full of feces and soju, letting it ferment for months, and then extracting the ttongsul from the bamboo or by simply mixing alcohol and feces for several days. It’s said to cure illness and help repair bone fractures.

—Julie Nguyen

It’s a Tex-Orleans Life!

Full Bar Great Grub Happy Hour BBsCafe.com/voodoobar

Did you know?

Hops, flowers of a plant in the hemp family, are a chief ingredient of beer. Their bitterness counters the sweetness from the malt, and their antibacterial and preservative effects allow brewers more control over the flavor of their beers. Hops help keep brewing yeast the principle active microorganism in the fermenting process and two main types help contribute to the bitterness or aroma of beer.

2. What are the differences between liquor and liqueur?

Liquor and liqueur, though they sound similar, refer to two different types of beverages.

Liquors are distilled from grains or plants in a process involving water, yeast and a type of sugar, and though the original substance is sweet, the product is usually not. They are usually flavored after distillation through infusion, and are better known for their strength than their taste.

Examples: rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila Liqueurs are known less for their potency than their extensive range of flavors, enhanced by oils, flavors, fruits and extracts. They are often sweeter, and their consistency ranges from watery to slightly viscous (if it is nearly a syrup, it is called a crème liqueur). Liquors can serve as a base spirit for liqueurs. Liqueurs are distinguished from liquors by the fact that sugar is added.

Examples: amaretto, irish creams, vermouth, crème de cacao

3. What are the differences between rums?

Rum, a spirit made from distilled sugar cane juice, changes color and flavor depending on the cask in which it is fermented. Steel-fermented rum is light, and has a slightly sweet taste. Golden and dark rums are aged in oak (the latter being aged longer), which lends the color and a more pronounced flavor. Black rum is aged in charred oak, giving it a dark brown color and rich flavor.

— Joshua Cochran

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SMOKE ALLEY HOUSTON TEXAS VISIT THE NICEST SMOKE SHOP & TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WEEKLY SPECIALS 10% discount for UH students )

1. What are hops?

Need to have UH ID on you )

FINE GLASS, HOOKAHS, E-CIGARETTES, INCENSE, & MUCH MORE

FIND US ON:

4602 dacoma st. 713-688-0600 6239 westheimer rd. 713-780-1222 w w w . s m o k e a l l e y . c o m

Debunking the Hangover Myths

Hangovers, curiously enough, aren’t necessarily caused or severely affected by dehydration, the accumulation of a toxic byproduct of alcohol processing and low blood sugar. They’re actually a response similar to the inflammation of a wound after infection. Alcohol infects the body by slowing its neural processes.

Thus, the simplest solution would be to prevent alcohol from affecting the brain in the first place. If you’ve got access to a Chinese herbal shop that sells hovenia, which contains ampelopsin, a chemical that mitigates severe hangover symptoms, then you probably won’t need to pay attention to any of the other cures in the guide, which pertain more to assuaging specific symptoms.

Most of us have a list of go-to treatments for hangovers, but many of them are either counterproductive or relatively ineffective. Here’s a list of things you can do to keep that hangover in check: • Drink plenty of water, as alcohol depresses a hormone that controls urination. You’ll lose more water, which can exacerbate headaches and other hangover symptoms. The first thing you should do after waking up — and running to the bathroom — is drink a glass 10 HOUSTON NIGHTLIFE SPRING 2015

or two of water.

• Opt out of sweet drinks, or at least too many of them. Lactate makes hangovers worse, and lactate levels are higher when alcohol and sugar are consumed together.

• Avoid coffee, whose acidic properties, far worse when taken black, will definitely irritate the stomach lining after a night of drinking. Additionally, coffee affects the blood pressure, often worsening the hangover symptoms.

• Avoid aspirin, even though it may make that headache feel better — your body won’t appreciate it.

Aspirin thins the blood, just as alcohol does; in the off chance you get cut, or seriously injured, you want your blood to be able to clot.

• Avoid Tylenol and any other form of acetaminophen, which has the potential to cause serious liver damage.

• Don’t go with the hair of the dog. Alcohol may temporarily ease the symptoms, but it continues the vicious cycle you’ve read this much to avert. The prolonged processing may lead to an even worse hangover the next day.

— Joshua Cochran

A cocktail for Cougars Have friends coming into town and want to show them a good time?

We designed a cocktail that’ll show off your Cougar pride AND give your hometown pals something to rave about.

Surprisingly tangy, sweet and citrusy, this cocktail has a smooth finish and requires as much preparation time as a Hot Pocket.

And you won’t need to worry about slicing limes or peeling any oranges with this drink -- a maraschino cherry serves as the perfect no-prep accent to this gorgeous cocktail.

Ingredients: • Two shots of citrus vodka • Three tablespoons St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) • Three tablespoons grenadine • Two tablespoons half and half • whipped cream • jar of maraschino cherries • Served in a wine flute. Add whipped cream and cherry on top of cocktail to taste.

Alcoholic beverages and grenadine can be purchased at Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods by students 21 and older. The nearest Spec’s is located at 2410 Smith St. and is open Monday -Saturday.

— Cara Smith

BEING SO GOOD NEVER TASTED SO DELICIOUS! “THE BEST ORGANIC BURGER EVER” - HUFFINGTON POST

3819 KIRBY DR. HOUSTON, TX - 77098 FOR ORDERS CALL: (713) 524-2909

Nightlife Safety Checklist It’s easy to get lost in the fun of Houston’s night life, but you can’t forget the world around you. Have a fun, safe night out by following the steps in each checklist.

1. Establish limits and warning signals. As a group, friends need to know each other’s limits. If you’re going solo, it wouldn’t hurt to comply with a bartender in case you get a little too tipsy.

4. Only take what you need. This will reduce your chances of losing something you value. Keep your belongings in the trunk – DON’T leave them in the seat of your vehicle.

2. Get a sense of the area you’re going to before you go. Some parts of Houston have a higher crime rate; you might have to adapt accordingly.

5. Keep an eye on your surroundings. Don’t be afraid to help someone you don’t know if they are put in a position where they need assistance.

3. Make sure you have a ride back. A designated driver is usually the most comfortable option. If you’re on campus, consider UH Escorts. Other methods of transportation to consider are a taxi, the Metro/Metro Light Rail, and Uber.

6. If you’re not heading back as a group, make sure each person is accountable for someone other than themselves. If you’re out alone, have a good friend stay up, and let them know when you’re home.

— Joshua Cochran

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What Your Drink Says About You Do you ever wonder what people are like in bed?

Look at what they drink. A person’s alcoholic drink can tell you their personality and how fun or not so fun they are in the bedroom.

Keep in mind, this is all theoretical of course, so have a good laugh or cry.

• Beer: Our Beer drinkers tend to be more “vanilla” or normal, if you’re a man. You tend to stick with what they know and don’t venture out. As for women who drink beer — you tend to be more rowdy and venturesome.

• Vodka, Straight Up: This is the drink most would say, “You’re not going to mix that?!” To which you reply, “I’m saving my calories.” If you’re looking for an extra calorie burner you move from the bar to the bedroom. What could be a better way to work out than steamy sex? Men and women alike will appear calm and collected on the outside, but are passionate in the bedroom.

• Whiskey/Scotch: You are straight up crazy. On the outside you go out clubbing on the night and tend to be the socialite of your friends. In the bedroom, BDSM tends to be your choice. You’re not complicated, and know how you like it.

• Martini: The innocent ones. You don’t try anything new, nor anything crazy. If you’re a man and drinking a martini, then the other gentleman you’re with or going after should be rather innocent, just as you are.

• Wine: Red wine drinkers: You’re looking to settle down, and have a relaxing evening. You don’t get too crazy. White wine drinkers: You’re the freaks. You can be calm and collected at first, but when the lights go out, you attack your partner without pause.

All in all, this just about summarizes the most common drinks, and the people who drink them!

Next time you go out with friends and think about sexy-time, keep in mind the person you’re bringing home too.

— Dalton Laine

Houston’s Nightlife Areas Your take on Houston’s nightlife identity is dependent on the area. You need to make sure you’re partying in the right one.

Downtown Here, you’ll find dimly-lit cocktail bars like The Nightingale Room and OKRA Charity Saloon that attracts twenty- to thirty-something young professionals. But the area’s expensive parking fees or the cost of public transportation bring it down a notch. Your best bet is utilizing the new Metro rail or calling in an Uber ride, as they’ll save you a couple bucks and give you a safer ride home at the end of the night.

Montrose The busiest bar in Montrose is probably the trendy-industrial Anvil Bar & Refuge, which almost always boasts a line out the door at peak hours.

The main vein of the area, Westheimer Blvd., has restaurants that’ll satisfy any craving, whether it be Mediterranean, American or Indian. Check out La Fendee, which offers some of the area’s cheapest gyros and hookah. Or try Indika, which offers delicious, upscale Indian fusion food.

Midtown Midtown has a variety of bars that suits most tastes, and the area’s bustling with Houston’s younger crowd: mostly college students and people in their early twenties. And while there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, there aren’t a lot of dining options in the heart of the bar scene, save for Celtic Garden’s delicious Irish nachos. They rewrite tradition by replacing chips and cheese with waffle fries and Smithwick’s ale queso.

The Heights The Heights is fairly affluent, and it houses many of Houston’s transplants. But that doesn’t mean its bar scene isn’t affordable. There’s the laidback Max’s Wine Dive, best known for its “Fried Chicken and Champagne. Why the Hell Not?!” slogan. Onion Creek is one of the area’s most popular eateries, where you can get a mouthwatering burger and beer that won’t break the bank.

—Cara Smith

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RED SKY

HOOKAH LOUNGE

Come chill with us! Red Sky is Houston's only hookah lounge with state-of-the-art air ventilation system. Come enjoy smoking hookah on our luxurious comfortable seating and in the company and hospitality of our friendly staff. We are proud to serve only the premium brand hookah tobacco that's made in the United States. Our lounge menu includes Italian desserts, Persian kabobs, Espresso Coffee, variety of hot tea, and many other of your favorite cravings.

Drinks: coffee/smoothies 70 flavors of hookah Happy hour 4-7pm (show UH ID) Happy hour price: $11.99 Our hours are: Mon-Sun 4:PM to 2:AM (281) 619-5511 facebook.com/redsky.hookah

Red Sky Hookah Lounge 13308 Westheimer Ste. 400 Houston, TX 77077