In preparation to this festive day, this Saturday, July 3rd, why not head on down to the Puma Social Club located at 210 Front Street, South Street Seaport, NY  Entry will be free with RSVP, open bar from 9pm till 10:30pm.  Ping Pong, Fooseball and tunes courtesy of Runaway (Jacques Renault and Marcos Cabral), My Cousin Roy & Nick Chacona.  Nothing crazy, no jazz hands, just a nice spot to chill with friends before July 4th madness starts. Free drinks, no cover, good music.  Sound like a plan?  Check it out.  http://www.danceright.net/puma/index3.html

Puma Social Club – The Calm Before The Storm is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

This limited edition bottle is a Spike Lee Collaboration.  Although Spike was not born in Brooklyn , he lives here, has made films here and considers himself a New Yorker.

The flavor is apple and ginger (I don’t get why…anyone have any clues!), although as far as flavored vodka goes, it sounds like it could be quite tasty. The bottles will be 1 liter and are the typical 80% proof.  Expect to pay around $22-$30.

Some interesting information about the new Absolut Brooklyn bottle:

• Spike Lee’s house number on the stoop depicted on the bottle’s label, no. 165, is Spike Lee’s actual address, although the street was omitted.
• Absolut has promised to donate $50,000 from the proceeds of the limited-edition bottling to Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to build affordable, green homes in Bed-Stuy.
• The bottle’s iconic Lars Olsson Smith medallion has been altered to look like Lee with glasses and a baseball cap.
• Absolut Brooklyn will be sponsoring Blogfest 2010. The Fifth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest will take place Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Brooklyn Lyceum, located at 227 Fourth Avenue at President Street in Park Slope. Blogfest 2010 is being organised by http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com.  For more information about Blogfest, head over to http://www.brooklynblogfest.com/

UPDATE: Since Blogfest 2010 there has been a whole lotta drama towards the event organizer Louise Crawford regarding promotional blog posts and tweets for remuneration that are not identified as such. So in the case of full discosure “I did not receive any free gifts, money, Flip video camera, shoutouts or anything; except I did receive a nasty hangover the following day!. Should Absolut wish to donate anything to me here at Salooned.com I will be happy to disclose it to my readers. Just for the purpose of clarification I will repeat that last part “Should Absolut wish to donate anything to me here at Salooned.com, I will be happy to disclose it to my readers”.

Classic Absolut Vodka advertising from AbsolutAd.com

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Absolut Brooklyn Vodka Sponsoring Blogfest 2010 is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

Alcohol Knowledge

Beer Sommelier (iPhone) – While wine and food pairing has been common practice for years, many people are discovering that beer, with its extraordinary variety of unique flavor and aroma characteristics, as well as the benefit of carbonation, can rival and often exceed wine in its ability to harmonize with food. With the growing stylistic diversity in today’s beer scene, people are discovering ways that unique beer styles enhance their culinary experience, however few resources exist to help guide the beer and food pairing decision. That’s where Beer Sommelier can help.

PocketBar (iPhone) – A full index of thousands on drink recipes to access at any time, anywhere. Forgot how to mix your drink? pick up your iphone and search fast and easy.

Android Beer App (Android) - Beer Aficionados, keep track of your tasting notes and ratings the next time you try a new beer.  Have a history of your favorite beers on your phone at all times.  Track which beers you drink the most.  Scan the bottle barcode to simplify data entry.  Share your beer ratings and notes with others or keep them private.

Remembeer (Android) – Remembeer lets you track and rate the beers you drink. No more trying to remember the name of that microbrew from last night, quickly check your log and see what you thought.

Beer Bible (Android) - The Beer Bible lets you browse through the beers of hundreds of breweries from around the world and includes hundreds of beautiful full color images, brewery profiles and descriptions of their beers, records notes about the beers you try, search for breweries and beers by name, introductory text describing beer and its history as well as a glossary of common beer terminology.

Cocktail Mixer Remixed (Android) - Containing all the classics, seasonal drinks and the coolest new mixes on the scene, they are all guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds. Cocktails are broken down by their name, ingredients, glass types and measurements, with easy to follow instructions – create the perfect Pina Colada in no time at all!

Choose 3 ingredients in the Mobile Drinks Cabinet and find the recipes that best match what you have. Email recipes to friends and try out the drinking games, Cocktail Mixer Remixed gives you a fun, complete experience, served straight up from your mobile.

Shake It Up! Cocktail Recipes for S60 3rd Edition (Nokia) - Browse thousands of drink recipes by type or ingredients, or just search for a particular cocktail.  You’ll find about 3,000 popular cocktail recipes grouped in the following categories: Classic, Holiday, Island, Martini, Party, Shot, Specialty, Virgin and Others.  Recipes include all the necessary details ranging from ingredients, recommended glass types, mixing instructions, recommended garnish, drink history, serving size, calories and carbs! The Menu provides the option to view an image of that particular drink, email it to friends, and view the previous or next recipe in the list.  Add up to 25 of your favorite recipes to this list! You can update this list at any time.  Browse our alphabetized database of liquors, and read descriptions of each type of liquor.

BarBack Cocktail Drinks (Android, $7.99) - BarBack Cocktail drinks guide has it all! You can now impress your guests with exotic drinks that look and taste great! Get great value for money with easy-to-follow recipes for 1900+ drinks from across the world.  Includes Martinis, Mixers, and exotic drinks for every occasion. The search feature lets you easily search for drink recipes by drink name as well as ingredients.

Mobile Bartender (Blackberry, $4.99) - Tired of ordering the same drink each time you’re out at the bar? Looking for a fun new shot to order with your friends? With Mobile Bartender in your BlackBerry, you’ll be armed with an impressive knowledge of cocktails, shots and drop shots at the touch of a button!

This full-featured cocktail guide includes hundreds of recipes that can be searched by drink type, liquor type or drink name. Shots can also be chosen by specific categories, including Candy Shooters, Sultry Shooters, Fruity Shooters and Deadly Sins.  Have a favorite drink that we missed? Now you can add your own recipes to the hundreds that are already there. Earmark recipes as Favorites for future reference or let Mobile Bartender select a random drink for you at any time. With Mobile Bartender, you’ll never be without a new cocktail at the tip of your fingers.

BeerCloud (iPhone, Free) – Powered by GreatBrewers.com, BeerCloud is a revolutionary mobile app that helps you pair beer with food, track down your favorite beers in your neighborhood, discover the world of beer styles, and pull up a full description of nearly any beer in seconds.

Gallagher’s Beer Guide (iPhone, $0.99) – Have you ever found yourself gazing at the tap handles of your local watering hole without a clue of what beer to choose? Or have you found yourself aimlessly wandering the aisles of your local convenience store not knowing which of the many brews available fit your taste? Gallagher’s Beer Guide can help you discover lesser-known gems from brewers around the world.  Gallagher’s believe there is a beer for everybody and we want to be your on-the-go resource to help you find and enjoy beers.

Possibly addictive, totally stupid.  Apps that pertain to alcohol or nightlife

99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall (iPhone, Free) – 99 bottles of beer on the wall… if one of the bottles should happen to fall… 98 bottles of beer on the wall… this game gives you another.  You’ll be presented with 99 bottles, and your job is to eliminate the adjacent bottles.

iBeer MegaPack (iPhone, $0.99) – Brew and drink beer on your iPhone and iPod touch. “Best iPhone add-on” (CNN & New York Times).  Also available: iBeerKeg™ for iPad.  This hilarious visual gag behaves like a real glass of beer thanks to the iPhone sensors and our spare time.

Apps that point you in the right direction for a good night out!

Happy Houred (iPhone, Free) – So, how does Happy Houred make you happy? Well, they give you access and control over every happy hour in their national database. Yep, they are national. And, to make sure all of the happy hours they offer are as up to date as possible, they let you tell them where to find the cheapest beers, tastiest half priced burgers, and craziest shot specials in your city.

Yelp For Mobile (All of them, Free) – Some of what this powerhouse of a website gives you is location aware technology to find bars, restaurants, drugstores, etc. nearby.  Read reviews for a business, browse photos, and map its location.  Text business information to friends or save it for later in your Contacts.

CitySearch For Mobile (All of em, Free) – It’s the other powerhouse! (One day Salooned.com will be there!).  Need a restaurant for a first date, a bar for boy’s night out or a place to take your parents when they come to town? Whether you’re planning it all in advance or just want to know what’s happening in your area, cityseries has the answer. Find the best restaurants, bars, shopping and spas to explore in your metro. Get tips on popular places to visit, all based on the acclaimed advice of Citysearch editors and expert users across the United States.

Foursquare (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Free) –  See where all your friends are going!  Get some great tips from nearby establishments, and maybe even get a free pint or two with the various promotions local bars and restaurants run in conjunction with Foursquare.

NightLife App (iPhone, Android, Other Web Phones, Free) –  Instantly find NightLife events around you, find clubs, bars, promoters, happy hours and more.

Zagat For Mobile (iPhone, Android, Free) –  Find restaurants, nightspots, and shops nearby.  Experience Augmented Reality: See what’s around you in a 360-degree view.  Includes Zagat Ratings for Food and Cost.  Syncs directly with ZAGAT.mobi for detailed information.

Food, drink and health related apps

iBrewMaster (iPhone, $4.99) – iBrewMaster is a full functioned application for home brewers to manage the entire brewing process. Not only can you add, edit and manage your own recipes, iBrewMaster comes complete with 50 pre-installed recipes as well as hundreds of grains, hops and yeasts from around the world. Unlike other programs that simply let you manage a beer.

DrinkFit (iPhone, $1.99) – Drink Fit is a great app that provides users with full nutritional information for more than 1,600 drinks (including beer, cocktails, wine) and also offers a “My Night” feature where users can tally their caloric consumption for one evening of drinking. It’s a great app for anyone who is conscious about their dietary intake.

Beer Match (iPhone, $0.99) - Beer, Food and Cheese Pairings.  This app has paired 31 beer styles from around the world with over 500 foods. A smattering of cheeses are included as well. What beer goes with the pretzels on the bar, or that smoked salmon you’re having for dinner? How about with pumpkin pie? OK, what are you going to eat with your Saison?

Best Nightlife Related Apps For Cell Phones is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

Kicking off this years line up of events is Nora jones, with more great acts to follow.  Other great artists include Bitches Brew Revisited with Graham Haynes, James Blood Ulmer, DJ Logic, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club®, OkayAfrica with The Roots, Sonic Youth and Grass Widow to name just a few.

Below is  a list of all the events taking place at Prospect Parks Bandshell.  Celebrate Brooklyn does an amazing job of organizing these events, make sure you visit their website.  You can also help support the cause by signing up for one of their membership programs.

JUNE 9th (Wed) – OPENING NIGHT GALA – Norah Jones

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert starts: 8:00pm

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JUNE 12th (Sat) – Allen Toussaint / Davelle Crawford

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert starts: 7:30pm

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JUNE 17th (Thur) – Eugene and Pretty Good Friends

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm

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JUNE 18th (Fri) – JG Thirlwell’s Steroid Maximus / Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 8:00pm

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JUNE 19th (Sat) – Bitches Brew Revisited with Graham Haynes, James Blood Ulmer, Marco Benevento, DJ Logic, Lonnie Plaxico and Cindy Blackman / Mike Stern Band

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 8:00pm

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JUNE 24th (Thur) – Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® featuring Omara Portuondo with an opening set by Nelida Tirado

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

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JUNE 25th (Fri) – Kid Koala / Short Attention Span Audio Theater Vs. the Slew along with Hess Is More

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

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JUNE 26th (Sat) – The Texas Tornados / The Red Clay Ramblers

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert starts: 8:00pm

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JUNE 29th (Tue) – BENEFIT SHOW – The Passion Pit (SOLD OUT)

Concert Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 1st (Thur) – ZOOM: Zvidance – also Son Lux with Lottdance

Gates Open: 7:00pm - Concert Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 2nd (Fri) – The Fab 5 / Uzalo

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 8th (Thur) – Itutu: Armitage Gone! Dance featuring Burkina Electric

Gates Open: 7:00pm - Concert Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 9th (Fri) – Ozomatli / Fidel Nadal / Toy Selectah

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 11th (Sun) – OkayAfrica with The Roots and Talib Kweli with Sahr Ngaujah, Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew, Blitz the Ambassador and more

Gates Open: 4:00pm - Concert starts: 5:00pm

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JULY 17th (Sat) – African Festival with Konono No. 1 / Omar Pene & Super Diamono, Chiwoniso, Meta & the Cornerstones and Djarara

Gates Open: 1:00pm - Concert Time: 2:00pm – 9:00pm

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JULY 20th (Tue) – BENEFIT SHOW – Rufus Wainwright

Concert starts: 7:00pm

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JULY 22nd (Thur) – The Chaplin Mutuals: Carl Davis with the Two Man Gentlemen Band

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert starts: 7:30pm

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JULY 23rd (Fri) – Bomba Estereo / La Secta Allstar / Rita Indiana

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 24th (Sat) – Field of Dreams (Un Mundo Nuevo) Andres Levin & the Bruce High Quality Foundation

Gates Open: 3:00pm - Concert starts: 4:00pm

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JULY 27th (Tue) – BENEFIT SHOW – The National (SOLD OUT)

Concert starts: 6:00pm

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JULY 29th (Thur) – MI21: Mother India 21st Century Remix with DJ Tigerstyle / Falu

Gates Open: 7:00pm - Concert Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 30th (Fri) – The Swell Season / The Low Anthem

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

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JULY 31st (Sat) – Sonic Youth / Grass Widow / Talk Normal

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

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AUGUST 3rd (Tue) – BENEFIT SHOW – The Dead Weather with Harlem

Concert starts: 7:00pm

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AUGUST 5th (Thur) – Metric / Joan as Police Woman / Holy Miranda

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

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AUGUST 6th (Fri) – House of Usher: Marco Benevento with White Magic

Gates Open: 6:30pm - Concert Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm

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AUGUST 7th (Sat) – Daptone Review: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings with Budos Band

Gates Open: 6:00pm - Concert Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm

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AUGUST 8th (Sun) – Celebrate Brooklyn’s Annual Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert with Brady Rymer / Elizabeth Mitchell

Gates Open: 3:00pm - Concert Time: 4:00pm

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Prospect Park Bandshell – Prospect Park West & 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Directions

The Bandshell is located inside the Park at Prospect Park West and 9th Street.  Click here to view this location using an Interactive Map.

By Public Transportation: (MTA maps)
• F Train to 15th Street/Prospect Park station or F Train to 7th Ave & 9th Street
• 2 or 3 Train to Grand Army Plaza
• B-68, B-69, or B-75 Buses to Prospect Park West & Ninth Street.

By Car:
• From Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges: Take Flatbush Ave. to Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West exit to 9th St.
• From BQE: Take BQE to 38th St. exit. Make left on 4th Ave, then right on 9th St. to Prospect Park West.

Celebrate Brooklyn 2010 – Prospect Park Bandshell – Full Lineup With Videos is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

In their own words…

Discover how the rise and fall and rise again of the beer brewing industry tells a larger story about the neighborhood of Williamsburg, the borough of Brooklyn, and even the country as a whole. The tour starts at the Brooklyn Brewery, where you are get a private tour of the brewing facility and sample all of the beers on tap. From there, you will be taken to the heart of the old Brewers Row in East Williamsburg, once a German immigrant neighborhood known for its brew houses and beer gardens. You’ll see some of the last remaining brewery buildings; explore the diverse cultures and mom and pop businesses that make the neighborhood what it is today; and discover how beer brewing has returned to Brooklyn. Along the way, you’ll visit a couple of restaurants and merchants, hear the stories of residents past and present, and, of course, have a taste of some of the finest food and beer Brooklyn has to offer today.

This doesn’t have to be for the tourists, for those of you currently living in and around NYC, get yourself over here, this is an awesome way to spend a well earned day off; grab your friends and get yourself out there! There is a whole other world out there that you haven’t even seen yet!

To find out more about this tour and the many others that Urban Oyster offers click here. Note: For this tour you need to be 21 or above. Advanced tickets are required.

Brewed In Brooklyn Walking Tour By Urban Oyster is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

This bar has to be one of the more sociable bars in Brooklyn; everyone from the the bar staff to the patrons, to the owners are all very friendly.   If you are a football (soccer) fan, then this is one of the few bars in the area that will show every Premiership game on their large screen TV (game schedule can be found on their website)

For such a new bar, the Black Horse Pub looks to be doing things right.  It has gained a loyal following in a very short time and with the constant tweaking, this is one bar that could help define the style of South Slope nightlife.

What the others are saying.

Soccer fans, get your pint-drinking hats on: Black Horse Pub is a handsome neighborhood spot filled with high pressed-tin ceilings, exposed brick and a long wooden bar, offering a full menu of English, Irish and American grub, as well as a full English breakfast when matches are on, which roughly translates to “all the live soccer you can handle” (on multiple flat screens). There will also be a traditional Sunday Roast, featuring Yorkshire Pudding and all the trimmings. via Metromix

Who needs bells and whistles? This British pub with Brooklyn style (bare bricks, pressed-tin ceiling, windows opening onto the sidewalk) is an unpretentious hangout for South Slope neighborhood folks looking to unwind with a pint and sports on the telly. The 16 taps include microbrews and imports like crisp Radeberger (priced at $5 a pint), plus a well-poured Guinness and Belgian standout Delirium Tremens ($6). The Black Horse is busiest on weekend morns, when soccer fans cheer on teams like Chelsea and Manchester. via Citysearch

The Black Horse Pub – Park Slope, Brooklyn is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

I tried out this recipe over the weekend and got mixed reactions, nearly all going from the ‘better than I expected’ to ‘freakin awesome’ so, if you are planning to make that something special for this years Suprbowl, go on, give this a go, just make sure they come out after a bucket of bevvies as the more you have drank, the better they taste.

Do you have a crazy food or drink recipe that you would like to see featured here?  send me an email to Matt [at] Salooned.com

Beer Cheese Super Bowl Cupcake Recipe

• 1 cup beer (I used Old Speckled Hen)
• 1 stick, plus 1 tb, unsalted butter
• 1 cup grated cheddar (Sharper the better)
• 2 cups dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 tb vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking soda

Combine the beer and the butter, chopped into 1-inch chunks, in a large sauce pan, and heat to melt the butter. Add cheddar. Remove from heat, and whisk in the sugar. In a bowl, whisk the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla, then add to the beer mixture. Sift together the flour and baking soda, and fold into the batter. Pour into cupcake wrappers and bake for 25 minutes, or until inserted cake tester comes out clean.

Makes 18 cupcakes.

Bacon Cheddar Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• 1 8oz package cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup grated cheddar
• 1 cup bacon bits (You can make your own by cooking some bacon in a glass pan in the microwave for 3 minutes between paper towels and food processing it.)

Make sure cream cheese and butter are are room temperature and beat them until creamy. Add grated cheddar. Slowly mix in powdered sugar. Stir in bacon bits.

Slather the frosting over the cupcakes, consume several beers and enjoy!

Here are a few facts about bacon (“but why”, I hear you ask….”why not”, you will hear me cry)

• Bacon is cured and smoked pork. In the U.S. pork bellies are used, Canadian bacon is made from the rib eye of boneless pork loin, and most European countries use the ham (thigh) or shoulder to make bacon.
• More than 2 billion pounds of bacon is produced in the U.S. each year.
• Regular sliced bacon is .062 inches thick (1/16 inch) 16 – 20 slices per pound.  Thin sliced bacon is .031 inches thick (1/32 inch) 28 – 32 slices per pound, and thick sliced bacon is .111 inches thick (1/8 inch) 10 – 14 slices per pound.
• The BLT, (Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich) became popular when fresh lettuce and tomatoes became available year round with the rapid expansion of supermarkets after World War II.
• It’s one of the oldest meats in history; the Chinese were preserving and salting pork bellies around 1500 B.C.
• While heavy on salt and kind of high in calories, bacon has no trans fat at all. Several slices of bacon are healthier in terms of calories, salt, fat and cholesterol than a hot dog, hamburger or glazed donut.
• The firmer the fat, the less sliced bacon will curl as it cooks.

Beer, Cheese, Bacon, Cream Cheese…In a Cupcake! is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

You probably already know that alcohol is a diuretic and, therefore, induces dehydration. Headaches, particularly migraines, are often caused by poor hydration, which occurs with hangovers after a night of heavy drinking.

However, alcohol is also a vasodilator, which means it expands your blood vessels, including the ones in your brain. The increased pressure can lead to pain. Finally, different types of alcohols contain different chemicals that may affect chemical balances in the brain. Red wine and brandy have the most of these chemicals and are, therefore, more likely to cause headaches. Scotch, vodka, other “clear” spirits, and Riesling wines have the fewest.

Does alcohol cause ulcers?

If consumed in excess, alcohol can irritate the stomach lining that protects the tissue from digestive juices and can increase the production of stomach acids. This is called gastritis. However, it’s unknown whether this alone can cause an ulcer or if it needs the H. pylori bacteria as an accomplice. So far, there is no clear, direct relationship between alcohol and ulcers.

Alcohol, however, can delay the healing of an ulcer; so, avoid it during recovery.

Does my body weight affect how quickly I get drunk?

Here’s the formula you need to remember: More fat = higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Why? Alcohol has a high affinity to water and will pervade all body parts that contain it. A person with a lot of body fat has a lower percentage of body water, so their BAC will be higher.

However, this formula applies only to body fat. Bigger people don’t necessarily have more body water than smaller ones. Therefore, a tall overweight guy will be less affected by alcohol than a short overweight guy, even if their body fat percentage is identical.

Are there health benefits to alcohol?

Many studies have shown that moderate drinking brings on a whole slew of health benefits, so much so that certain governments allow alcohol makers to advertise such boons on their bottles. For example, the French chalk up their high life expectancy to a glass of wine a day. It makes sense: Moderate drinkers generally live longer, don’t get sick as often, and are less stressed than heavy drinkers and abstainers.

Alcohol has also been shown to reduce the chances of heart disease, stroke and hypertension, as well as a decrease in bad cholesterol, the ability to stave off Alzheimer’s disease and prevent the common cold. However, the key here is moderation. That is, you should drink a maximum of one to three drinks a day. And before you fill your Big Gulp glass with booze, know that one drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.

Why does wine make you sleepy?

There’s an old German saying that goes: “Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo , drink wine and be saved.” Every wine drinker has felt that warm, euphoric drowsiness after a few glasses. Some even say wine is the perfect precursor to a good night’s sleep.

It’s actually more complicated than that. Alcohol can induce sleep, but not before a brief period of stimulation. And the sleep that alcohol does bring on is a shallow “knockout” sleep that trims your normal REM phase. As a result, you can feel more tired in the morning, and it can even aggravate sleep disorders.

Can you develop an allergy to alcohol?

Allergies to alcoholic beverages are uncommon, but they do occur. However, it’s not the alcohol that causes allergies, but the other chemicals in the drink. Your body actually produces ethanol naturally in small doses; if it was the alcohol you were allergic to, you’d feel it constantly.

Some of the substances in drinks that can trigger allergies are yeast, wheat-derived substances, and certain added enzymes and preservatives. Sulfites, used to preserve wine, are known to trigger asthma attacks. Red wine also produces histamine, the main substance that induces allergic symptoms.

Alcohol can also aggravate allergies, as it reduces the allergic threshold to allergens, and the vasodilation it causes can make symptoms worse.

Can you sweat out alcohol?

Before you start licking sweaty girls on the dance floor, know that the amount of alcohol eliminated through perspiration is almost nil; it’s mostly eliminated inside your body and through urine. If you feel you sweat more when you drink, it’s because alcohol stimulates your sweat glands. You’re just secreting more sweat, not alcohol. However, sensitive equipment that can detect alcohol in sweat is now being used as a substitute for the Breathalyzer.

What are some ways to rehydrate your body after drinking?

If you replace the fluids you lose through alcohol-induced urination, you’ll be fine. Just drink fluids that don’t contain alcohol while you’re drinking booze. Water is the best, but sports drinks like Gatorade and non-caffeinated, low-sugar soft drinks will do.

Do certain types of alcohol affect people differently?

Besides being allergic to certain compounds in drinks, people do not react differently to different types of alcohols. This is, of course, not considering gender, weight, the percentage of alcohol in the drink, whether the drink has other qualities (like absinthe, which causes hallucinations), and other such factors.

However, some people can develop an aversion to certain drinks by sheer conditioning. A person allergic to sulfites in wine can feel sick when he tastes any alcohol because he associates the allergic reaction with the flavor.

Why does alcohol lower inhibitions?

Alcohol acts as a sedative on the central nervous system, which explains the impaired speech, vision, coordination, and concentration. But the part of the brain it affects the most is the part responsible for behavior and emotion. Your sense of judgment is weakened, and suddenly speaking your mind doesn’t seem so bad. You feel braver since your socially conditioned safety stops or filters are circumvented. This is why drunken people sometimes think they’re OK to drive.

Can we develop a higher tolerance to alcohol?

Any fast-living college dude will tell you that it’s getting more and more expensive for him to get drunk. No kidding. Prolonged alcohol use does increase your tolerance to the stuff. The body becomes more efficient at metabolizing the alcohol — the process is up to 72% faster in alcoholics — so it takes more booze to achieve the same drunken state. But beyond that, your organs simply become less sensitive to alcohol, so you don’t feel it as much. Be careful; this is a precursor to permanent tissue damage. Good thing you read this FAQ on alcohol before you skin blisters yellow.

Why do we sometimes get sick when drinking?

Like many of us, you’ve probably had an upset stomach or thrown up at one point after drinking. A byproduct of alcohol breakdown by the liver is acetaldehyde, a toxic substance. It is, in fact, this molecule that causes impairment, not the ethanol in your drink. In high concentrations, acetaldehyde attacks the liver, the brain and the lining of the stomach. This is what causes the familiar upset stomach and heartburn. If it’s too much for the body to handle, it forces the stuff out, resulting in a make-out session with a toilet bowl. Acetaldehyde poisoning is compounded when different alcohols are mixed.

Is it bad to drink alcohol on an empty stomach?

It’s bad only if you plan on enjoying your night to its fullest. When you drink on an empty stomach, there’s no food to slow the absorption of the booze. Result: the alcohol gets absorbed faster (within five minutes) and you get intoxicated more rapidly. You’ll get just as drunk as if your stomach was full, but it will hit you harder. On the other hand, drinking alcohol on a full stomach allows you to go through a gradual ascent into tipsiness.

Why do we get dehydrated from alcohol?

The body starts breaking down alcohol as soon as you take your first sip, in order to safely excrete it. To properly dispose of it, your liver needs water to dilute the toxins, so it pulls water reserves from other parts of the body. But since alcohol is a diuretic (it stimulates urination), water leaves your body at a higher rate, so your liver must obtain water from other organs, including your brain, which essentially leaves you high and dry.

Can we die from drinking alcohol?

Yes, and in more ways than one. Conservative U.S. government estimates put the annual toll of alcohol-related deaths at over 75,000 in 2001. We’re talking about a variety of conditions, including liver and heart disease caused by alcoholism, suicide, drunk driving, and just drinking yourself to death. In fact, a blood alcohol level above 0.45 grams/100 milliliters of blood will kill you either from brain malfunction or respiratory arrest.

Not only that, U.S. government estimates put the years of potential life lost due to drinking at 2.3 million in 2001; that’s more than two million more years that Americans could have lived if they didn’t drink.

What effect does alcohol have on the liver?

Your liver is your body’s detox center, and it works full-time to rid your body of the poisons you ingest. Alcohol is one of the liver’s biggest foes, constantly attacking its cells. If you drink moderately, your liver has enough time to repair itself. However, persistently high alcohol levels in the blood will cause your liver cells to die, forming scar tissue. This is called cirrhosis, and it can be lethal.

Why do some men become emotional when drinking alcohol?

You already know that alcohol dulls your judgment and your inhibitions. This may bring out some emotions that are usually kept in check by your “show no feelings” strongman persona. Although alcohol increases the female hormone estrogen in men, there is no evidence that this affects their emotions in any way. However, prolonged alcohol use and the related estrogen boosts can cause loss of body hair and muscle mass, enlarged breasts, shrunken testicles, and impotence in men.

How long does alcohol remain in the body?

There’s no single answer for all people since the rate of alcohol metabolism varies and you have to factor in the rate at which it’s absorbed. On average, healthy people eliminate alcohol at a rate of 0.5 ounces per hour. This can change according to how much you had to eat before, your body mass, your gender (men metabolize faster), your age, how hydrated you are, and how efficient your liver is (alcoholics tend to eliminate alcohol faster, though this changes once the liver becomes damaged).

Why does drinking red wine make our teeth red?

Like coffee, nicotine and some fruits, red wine has colored molecules that get deposited on the tooth enamel. The ones in red wine are called tannins and polyphenols, which are also antioxidants. Some dentures and treated teeth are especially susceptible to red wine stains, so ask your dentist about methods of prevention.

Why can’t we drink while taking antibiotics?

Despite a widespread myth that combining antibiotics and alcohol can be dangerous, alcohol can only diminish the efficiency of a few antibiotics, namely metronidazole, cefamandole and oral ketoconazole. Though not life-threatening, the mix can cause unpleasant side effects, like flushing and extreme drunkenness. Otherwise, alcohol can simply delay recovery.

However, mixing alcohol with certain painkillers, especially acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), can increase the risk of damage to the intestinal lining, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. In chronic heavy drinkers, excessive acetaminophen use can increase the risk of liver toxicity.

BOOZE IT UP SAFELY

Now that you know some of the effects that alcohol has on your body, use the information for your own benefit. Have fun, but always drink responsibly.

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Resources:

www.askmen.com
www.intox.com
www.alac.org.nz
www.jrussellshealth.com
www.mercola.com
www.cdc.gov
www.drweil.com
http://xtramsn.co.nz
How Alcoholism Works
www.healthsquare.com
www.alcohol.vt.edu
www2.potsdam.edu
www.wrathofgrapes.com
http://sleepdisorders.about.com
www.thesite.org
www.thevirtualbar.com
www.healthcentral.com

Beer Facts is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

Big Rick’s family have lived here for over 100 years, so if there is anyone qualified enough to give a walking tour of Brooklyn, it would be Big Rick. Trust me, you are gonna love this guy! He knows his stuff and he will have you smiling all the way. Check out his website and give him a call. Heck, I live in Brooklyn, and I feel like going on one of his tours!! BrooklynWalkingTour.com

Journey into the heart of BROWNSTONE BROOKLYN. Walk along Brooklyn’s 5TH AVENUE, where trendy boutiques line the street. Learn about the history of THE WILLIAMSBURG BANK, the borough’s tallest building. Visit THE OLD STONE HOUSE (pictured on this page), where George Washington’s troops battled the British in 1776. See America’s oldest piece of standing baseball memorabilia. Walk past the childhood home of AL CAPONE. See the beautiful architecture of the Raymond F. Almirall designed PUBLIC BATH NO. 7 where people bathed in the early 1900s. Visit the famous ARCH OF GRAND ARMY PLAZA. Enjoy beautiful PROSPECT PARK featuring the longest meadow of any park in AMERICA and over 200 documented species of birds! Also included with your tour is lunch at a real BROOKLYN PIZZERIA!

Brooklyn Walking Tour With ‘Big Rick’ is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars

The look is refreshing and whilst the feel may not be for those of you who like the more “spit ‘n’ sawdust” kinda feel, the drink selection boasts 12 microbrews on tap, premium tequilas, scotches and vodkas, as well as rare European Czech Bitters which are not typical of such surroundings.

All in all, this is a great addition to the Greenpoint hood. To find out more, follow them on Twitter, Facebook or MySpace

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t.b.d. – Greenpoint, Brooklyn is a post from: Salooned.com - NYC Pubs 'n' Clubs 'n' Bars