A Worthy Cause: Cheap Summer Outdoor Drinks

village voice > nyclife > Liquid City by Corina Zappia: "Liquid City
Cheap and Outside
Bars with inexpensive drinks and a backyard
by Corina Zappia
May 12th, 2006 6:12 PM


Summer BBQ at East River
photo: Corina Zappia
New Yorkers who have shelled out for summer drinks at Luna Park or a rooftop hotel bar will at some point ask themselves the very wise question: Why does booze cost more outside? There are no walls. There are no English rose gardens at these places, no topiaries in the shape of Mickey Mouse, nothing that would require an army of gardeners to maintain. The Bud Lite still tastes, unfortunately, like Bud Lite.

There are other options. We gathered together some cheaper alternatives, bars with outdoor patios or gardens and a happy hour that extends at least until 8pm (the sad 4pm-7pm, buck-off deal is a joke, unless you are the 0.0003% of New Yorkers who leave work at three). Add to our list the usual beer gardens—Bohemian Beer Garden, Gowanus Yacht Club—and you have an inexpensive start to the summer.

In Manhattan:

Boxcar Lounge, 168 Ave B, East Village
Boxcar wins our vote for best outdoor happy hour.
The time: Mon-Thurs 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sun 4pm-8pm
The deal: Buy-one-get-one-free (per person) on all drinks except top shelf and a few drafts

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