New York

264 Elizabeth St, near Houston; 212.966.9640

From three LES/EV bar vets (White Rabbit, 90s fave Torch), this cozy bistro's fronted by a homespun parlor (dark blue walls, chalkboard menus, curvy, white-marble bar) that leads to a rustic, wood-planked dining room sporting softly glowing lights on the banquette backrests, an antler chandelier, and sliding stable-like doors to an unfinished third room. Food's affordable American (slow-roasted duck breast, 10-hour pork shank, grilled trout), while drinks're $9 classic cocktails, four draughts (Victory Prima, Ommegang Witte...), and ten bottles, including Lionhead, Victory Golden Monkey, and PorkSlap -- available with Jamaican-style jerky as "Jerk and a Slap" (or, what you get when you ask for a rub and a tug).

Begins Thursday at 6pm, and runs thereafter 6-10pm Tues-Fri at 59 W 21st St, near 6th; 212.727.7775

The club-lounge is part-time operating as a happy hour annex for downstairs Markt, offering a limited selection of the Belgian brasserie's dinner menu (grilled sirloin burger on brioche, steak tartare w/ frites, poached oysters...), plus mostly half-price hooch, including $4 beers down from $8, $8 cocktails (from $16), and $9 premium drinks ($12-$15). Bonus: 2-for-1 booze from 5-6pm, for white-collars just coming off work, and shiny-collars just coming off roofies.

Available online and at Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store: 365 State St, Brooklyn; 718.522.9848

This heavy gauge stainless steel skewer sports a pronged fork for sausage/steak/dog flipping and a hand guard evocative of the Three Musketeers (bun for all, and all for bun).

From just-launched NJ streetwear line Amivectio ("friends of the revolution"), this 100% cotton tee rocks B&W photos of hand- and machine guns crawling with vines and flora, for peace through superior flower power.

1220 Ocean Drive, South Beach, FL; 305.604.5070

Because recessions make for great travel deals, get 50% off an array of crazy-luxe Tides rooms, including the over-the-top Tides Suite (unlimited alcohol from the kitchenette; rooftop terrace w/ panoramic views of South Beach), the Coral Suite (one BR penthouse w/ huge plasma, plush king bed, and expansive terrace), and a spacious one BR with "sweeping views of the Atlantic" and Ocean Drive called the Amber Suite, which also includes the possibility of bringing back dinosaurs from extinction.