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Food, Fun and Friends: it's happy hour in Houston
by Rena Lidstone
Happy hour is more than just a 60-minute party catered by restaurants and nightclubs to sell
discounted spirits; it is an event, a refined pleasure and a prelude to dinner.
Used by most restaurants and nightclubs to seduce people into staying longer and spending more
money, happy hour has become the definitive social affair for a growing number of the American work
force.
But happy hour is not just a gathering for the masses of businessmen and women of corporate America
looking to ease the pain of a stressful day at work; it is also a communal arena for college students
on tight budgets.
While doing research for this topic, my first inclination was to ask several staff members of the
UHCLIDIAN to name a few of their favorite places.
Several businesses were named not only for their food and drink specials, but also for their close
proximity to the campus.
"We have a regular crowd of UH-Clear Lake students who attend happy hour here," said Tanhya
Sohrenssen, bartender at Tequila Willies on Bay Area Boulevard.
Tequila Willies offers dollar draft beers and dollar margaritas from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days
a week. Nightly drink specials are also available to entice the early evening crowd to stay late and
dine in the restaurant.
Dollar drink specials accompanied by a free appetizer buffet are certain to attract a crowd, young
or old.
"We have a complimentary buffet every Wednesday through Friday starting at 5 p.m. until everything
is gone," said Stephanie Cordoba, manager of Sherlock's Pub on Bay Area Boulevard.
Sherlock's, a favorite haunt for UH-Clear Lake students over the age of 21, also has live music
every night of the week and hosts a team-trivia game as part of its Wednesday evening happy hour.
"The team that answers the most trivia questions correctly wins a $100 prize," Cordoba said.
"Second place and third place winners receive free bar tabs."
Cordoba said the Wednesday trivia game is very popular and usually attracts 20 to 30 teams of four
people.
Rock Neutney's Irish Pub on Egret Bay Boulevard is another favorite hangout for legal-aged UH-Clear
Lake students.
In addition to nightly drink specials and happy hour drink prices, the pub has a free buffet 5-7
p.m. every Friday.
"I like the cheap drinks at happy hour," said Chris Winkelman, undergraduate marketing major.
"I mostly enjoy going out later at night, but I know some people that like going to happy hour and
getting home earlier."
Happy hour can be more than just a quick stop on the way home from work. Business happy hour
parties can provide a comfortable and uninhibited atmosphere for people from various departments to
mingle and get to know one another on a personal level.
"Companies will call and reserve tables for 50 to 100 people," Cordoba said. "We also have a
regular crowd of NASA employees come to our happy hour."
Some people embrace the opportunity to visit with co-workers outside the confines of the office
building.
"Although I don't go to happy hours frequently, I do enjoy getting together with co-workers and
friends to hang out and catch up on the good times and bad," said Pam Bouldin, graduate student.
This past summer, employees of the Galveston Independent School District administration building
participated in a summer happy hour tour. Not a district-sponsored event, this idea was the brainchild
of two employees wanting to create cohesion, boost morale and foster team spirit.
As part of the fun, co-workers from all departments met at a different restaurant every Friday to
celebrate the end of another workweek.
"I loved sitting and chatting with people from different departments at our weekly happy hour,"
said Rachael Alsup, computer technician with GISD. "I have made many good friends with people that
I normally would have limited contact with."
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