Ned Devine’s

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Picture credit to TripAdvisor.com

Boston offers many different bars of all different vibes, locations, and patrons. However, Ned Devine’s is by far one of my favorite establishments in Beantown. Located in Faneuil Hall, a great area for food, shopping and of course, drinking, it makes a great atmosphere for a trendy city bar. If you don’t live close by this bar is easy enough to get to using the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or the MBTA.

Ned Devine’s is a bar that I without fail have a great time at. They always have a live band when I go on Friday or Saturday nights that play great sing along classics from the early 2000’s, 90’s and even some jams from the 80’s. The crowd at Ned’s is a combination of college students and patrons in their mid to late 20’s, which is pretty normal for a bar in a city. It is definitely a more mature group, which is really refreshing if you often going to bars with only college kids.

The drinks at Ned Devine’s are usually roughly around $10 for a mixed drink, which is a little high, but this is in a city so everything is going to be more expensive. What I love most about Ned’s, besides the amazing band, is the amount of space in the bar; it is HUGE. You walk upstairs and it is two rooms separated by a wide hallway and in either room there is a massive bar. Time spent waiting for a drink is minimal thanks to the spacious design of this establishment.

Overall, I would highly recommend this bar. I have never had a bad experience here. It is always my go-to for a night out whenever I am in Boston because I know I will have a good time. It has lively music, good drinks and overall a carefree vibe that guarantees a fun-filled evening.

Hannah Kate

Stinger’s

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I have never seen The Twilight Zone, nor have I experienced it, yet this is the only term I can use to describe Stinger’s Bar and Grill. Located in Long Branch, New Jersey, this bar is basically a frat basement with a liquor license, and it is amazing. They have three full bars in the establishment and their drinks are ridiculously cheap, I’m talking three-dollar drinks, six dollars maximum. I genuinely do not know how they make money. The drinks are not only cheap, but also insanely strong. If you watch them pour you a mixed drink you will noticed it is actually half alcohol and half mixer. I’m not a bartender, but that ratio seems a bit off if you ask me. However, for three dollars that’s a steal.

Thursday nights are most popular at Stinger’s since they are closed on Fridays and Saturdays. If you plan on going on a Thursday, be warned it is a very large crowd of college kids. This is partly because you could hand the bouncer a piece of cardboard and they would let you in. Therefore, all of Monmouth 21 or not, congregates here on Thursdays for one big party. The music they play is always amazing, with great current remixes to early 2000’s R&B to which you will undoubtedly know each and every word.

If you are looking for a chill night at the bar with friends, for your health, I am telling you to not attend this bar. I have gone here before and said the infamous last words, “I’m not getting that drunk tonight.” Let me tell you, it never ends up like that because Stinger’s is a black hole. With drinks that cheap and music that good how could you NOT get drunk? It’s a recipe for a great time if you ask me. See everyone there again on Thursday night!

Hannah Kate

Brignole Vineyards

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I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but recently vineyards have become increasingly trendy, it seems everywhere I look there are girls posing with glasses of wine dressed in sunhats and flowy skirts. It suppose vineyards are just the hottest new place to be at the moment. I, myself, have been to a couple of vineyards here and there and one of my favorites by far is Brignole Vineyards in East Granby, Connecticut.

Only having been established for about three years now, this vineyard already has quite a large following and is always packed whenever I go. The building is just beautiful with real wood everywhere, a dramatic double door entrance and a double patio with views of the vineyard. There are numerous varieties of wine, and you can even do a tasting if you aren’t sure what you want to drink. The staff is very friendly and helpful if you don’t know anything about wine, like myself, and they will definitely point you in the right direction.

It should be noted that Brignole is BYOF, bring your own food. Which to some, that may sound like a bad thing but I think it’s a great idea. Get all your friends together and each bring a different dish, antipasto, some chips and dip, whatever your heart desires. It is also convenient for people with food allergies; you won’t even have to worry about what you can eat on the menu because there is none! If you really are feeling lazy and don’t want to bring your own food or are just going to the vineyard spontaneously, they usually have some food trucks available, which is a great option for some.

Overall, I continue to be impressed with this establishment. From the friendly staff, to great wine and atmosphere, it’s a nice country chic environment to relax with friends and get your wine on. Did I mention it is open year round? Catch me here winter, spring, summer and fall.

Hannah Kate

21 Rules of Being 21

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Being 21 is a whole new world that we are all just thrown into and are expected to know exactly how to act in bars and clubs, etc. But no one really gives you a “how-to” which is what I am here for. Next up, the 21 rules and your guide to being 21.

  1. Don’t talk about being 21- we see you standing at the bar, chill
  2. PREGAME- You are not trying to break the bank
  3. Go out with people you trust
  4. Don’t leave your drink unattended (bet you already knew that one)
  5. Wear clothes you can dance in
  6. Never drink tequila unless you want to die that night
  7. Always bring cash! Good for emergencies & cover charge
  8. Don’t drink when your sad, it never goes well
  9. NEVER WEAR FLIP FLOPS OUT- I have the scars to back that up
  10. If you’re a girl, always be nice to other girls in the bathroom
  11. Try different drinks, vodka crans aren’t going anywhere anytime soon
  12. Stop drinking natty light, you can buy real alcohol now
  13. Don’t drop it low unless you can get back up
  14. Elevated surfaces are amazing and you should 100% dance on them
  15. Except chairs, don’t dance on chairs
  16. Bring multiple forms of ID, fakes are too good these days
  17. Stick to one kind of alcohol the whole night
  18. Never leave without finishing your drink, you paid good money for that
  19. Be nice, no one likes a mean drunk
  20. Always leave money for drunk food at the end of the night
  21. Most importantly, have fun & get drink responsibly

Hannah Kate

The Shrimp Box & Outside the Box Patio Bar

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Point Pleasant Beach is a quaint little beach town right on the Jersey Shore, a picture perfect setting where the Shrimp Box & Outside the Box Patio Bar is located. It is right by the inlet, giving you a nice view of all the boats and yachts that aren’t yours.

I went here for lunch with my Dad and we sat at the patio bar which he claimed was actually moving on the water, but he has vertigo so we really can’t trust anything he says. Moving on, the drink menu at this restaurant was extensive which I appreciated, I ended up getting the Kona Big Wave, which is a nice light and fruity ale. If you didn’t want beer, they have plenty of cocktails and choices of wines to choose from.

The food here was absolutely amazing. We started with appetizers of the garlic shrimp and crab cakes, each were made to perfection. Our entrees were a medley of seafood and you could just tell that everything was so fresh; I was really impressed with each dish. It was hard to choose what to order because they had so many options, each sounding just as good as the next. They do have none seafood options, but not many, so if you aren’t a fan of fish or other seafood, I would not recommend dining here.

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience here between the food and extensive cocktail list it was a great way to spend an afternoon. I will definitely be back since I’ve heard their rum buckets are a must!

Hannah Kate

Huskies

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Huskies Restaurant and Bar is located in Storrs, CT on the University of Connecticut’s campus. It is a spacious bar with a pool table located in the front of house and a large bar and dance floor in the back, so you shouldn’t have to worry about waiting in line too long or not getting in at all. Bonus: the first 100 people only pay a five-dollar cover while the rest will have to pay seven.

So, if you are not a fan of spending a lot of money when you go out, such as myself, then this is definitely the spot for you. It has events from Thursday- Saturday nights that are called “Nickel Nights” where you can get four drinks for one dollar. Yes, you read that right; you only need one dollar to make four times as many bad decisions, a total steal! When you walk in, the bouncer will give you one plastic cup that you have to keep throughout the night and you won’t be given a new one when you get a new drink, so make sure you don’t lose it!

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I would say that the first 30 minutes spent at this bar consisted of my friends and I chugging as many vodka cranberries as fast as physically possible, thankfully it was nothing new for us veterans of the craft. Since the cups are pretty tiny you needed at least three to feel like you were drinking a full cocktail. At one point, random people were just asking if I wanted to hop in on their drink order, because why not get your full dollars worth? You can meet a lot of new people this way and it’s just a fun environment to be in.

Would I come back? Obviously, next question. It cheap, spacious, fun AND the DJ plays great songs to sing to, mostly current songs but some throwbacks mixed in, which I always appreciate. Huskies definitely gets a 10/10 in my book.

Hannah Kate

D’jais

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I have not mentioned this in my earlier posts, but I am originally from Connecticut. Why am I choosing to tell you this now? Well, as someone who is not a New Jersey native going to a Jersey club is basically like traveling to a different country where you don’t speak the language. This is exactly what I would compare my experience at D’jais to.

Obviously when I first went I literally had no idea what this place even was; my Jersey friends were displeased to say the least that I have never heard of it before. This bar is so famous and such a destination because the cast of “The Jersey Shore” would often go clubbing here, so of course it’s a hot spot for many Jersey residents and fans of the show.

Going into this bar is comparable to a war zone, you walk in and it is just wall-to-wall tan Italian people. As one of the most Irish person you will ever meet I was only slightly out of place. With that being said it was one of the most fun dance clubs I have been to. You will easily lose 10 pounds sweating from all the dancing because it is so packed, which is a major plus.

Now their drinks are a little small and on the pricier side, by pricey I mean $8, but I’m cheap. Also, PSA it is very important to get cash out before going to this bar! I learned that one night as I tragically handed the bartender my credit card and she just pointed to the ATM all the way across the restaurant. You do not want to be trekking that far in D’jais, elbows will be thrown and it is not a pretty site, so do yourself a favor and bring some cash.

Overall, this was a bar I was not expecting to have much fun at but turned out to be a blast. The music was fantastic, sing-alongs mixed with club music, a nice happy medium. Whenever I go, everyone is having a good time and it just such a different experience than I have ever had before to say the least. From a small town Connecticut girl I can say that this was definitely eye opening, terrifying, and 100% one of the most fun bars the Jersey Shore has to offer.

Hannah Kate

Porta

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Porta, located in Asbury Park, New Jersey is a restaurant by day and club by night- the best of both worlds. They are famous for their amazing pizza and authentic Italian cuisine, bringing in people from all over to experience it. Their aesthetic during the day is rustic chic; with exposed beams and Edison light bulbs it gives you a modern hipster vibe, which I personally love. But do not let this fool you- because at night Porta transforms into the hottest club in town.

The string lights are swapped for dangling crystals that light up with the music and a huge DJ stand. Porta is notoriously busy on Friday nights with a line around the corner, packing the house. Some people come for the drinks and dancing, others come for the infamous DJZA (short for pizza? The world may never know). Anyhow, once you get in it is one giant dance floor with three bars on each side of the room, making it pretty easy to get a drink, which not a lot of bars can say.

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If we are being honest, you have to be extremely drunk to last more than an hour here, which is fine by me because I usually do that anyway… but for the not as seasoned drinker I would prepare before coming here! The dancing is fun but can be overwhelming, there is a large amount of jumping and fist pumping involved, we are in Jersey after all. If you need time to cool off there are other rooms off the main one with additional bars and more of a relaxed environment for talking and drinking instead of dancing.

The drinks at Porta are more on the expensive side, ringing up at around $10 for a tiny vodka cran that I can suck down in about two sips. Pre-gaming is a necessity if you aren’t trying to break the bank. My other complaint is that they only play club/electronic music and I am really more into music I can belt out the words to, but hey you can’t have everything. Overall, Porta is great vibes and if you want to dance and fist pump then look no further than this upscale Jersey shore bar.

Hannah Kate

Jack’s Goal Line Stand

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Jack’s Goal Line Stand is exactly what you would picture from hearing the name, a sports bar. This is an establishment equipped with plenty of televisions for all types of sporting events- basketball, baseball, hockey, and currently football. With that being said, do not attempt to go in there on a Sunday night expecting a relaxing environment, it will be packed, I learned that the hard way.

What is interesting about this bar is that it is located in Long Branch NJ, which is right near Monmouth University, so you would expect it to be a college bar through and through, but that is not the case here. This bar is crawling with locals; these are loyal customers who keep coming back week-to-week without fail.

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So what is it about Jack’s Goal Line Stand that has people wanting more? For some it might be the fact that they can watch whatever game is on at the moment. I can tell you right now that is definitely not why I go to this bar, or any bar if were being honest. It’s all about the food and drinks with me let’s be real. Jack’s has superb deals on food and beverages and quick service to back it up. Their mixed drinks are $6 each, and their beer is even cheaper coming in between 3-4 dollars. Getting drunk is violently easy because of these prices, but it makes karaoke on Tuesdays and Thursday’s much easier, trust me!

Even if you for some reason don’t like cheap alcohol, you can always appreciate some good a** wings. Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingstop? Never heard of them. Jack’s wings are so amazing you genuinely will not want to order wings from any other restaurant again.

Even though I’m not a huge sports fan, I can still appreciate this sports bar. Great food and cheap alcohol is really all a girl can ask for.

Hannah Kate

Mix Lounge & Food Bar

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The Mix Lounge & Food Bar is a modern style bar located just a couple blocks from the beach in Long Branch, NJ. This bar is so small that it could probably only fit around 30 people inside comfortably. With that being said, the Mix Lounge still has so much to offer even with the limited space.

The entire establishment has a chic vibe to it, with high tables and comfy leather couches lining the walls alongside a sleek bar. These features work together to give off a high-end feeling as if you’re in downtown NYC meeting your girlfriends out for a martini and not on the Jersey Shore…a girl can dream.

The ambiance is not the only draw to hang out at this bar; the drinks and food are reason enough. They are famous for their many different options of martinis, which are notably very strong. Some of the martinis contain fruit soaked in vodka, which when eaten is basically a full shot in itself, not that I’m complaining. If you don’t like martinis, not to worry, they have plenty of beers on tap and a full bar so anything you ask them, even if not on the menu, they can most likely make for you.

With great drinks there is usually great food, and this is so true for the Mix Lounge. When I went I had one of their specialty pizzas, which was just amazing. With goat cheese, spinach, mozzarella and garlic I was truly in heaven. They offer plenty other options if you aren’t in the mood for pizza, such as salads sandwiches and appetizers. Great food overall but the pizza is always a crowd favorite.

I know you must be thinking how can this bar get any better? Well, their happy hour specials will make you want to come here every night. They have happy hour at varying hours throughout the week, with $3 off pizza and cocktails and $2 off salads, sandwiches, wine and beer. Better yet, on Monday nights they offer the happy hour specials all night long, what better way to start off the workweek?

Hannah Kate