Tiki pop-ups, wine fests, and duck Sloppy Joes

Boston Event of the Week
This Friday night is for lovers, but the rest of the weekend is for drinkers. Enjoy all things vino at the 23rd annual Boston Wine Expo held at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm. The event has an overabundance (if that's possible) of tastings, seminars, chef battles, and area restaurant treats. Get your passports here

Goorin Brothers

Thursday, February 13th: Channel your inner Bogart as the Harvard Square Goorin Bros. Hat Shop crew doffs their collective caps to the greatest "hat movie" of all time: Casablanca. From 5-8pm, sip complimentary gin cocktails from Berkshire Mountain Distillers (Great Barrington), enjoy the mellow smooth jazz of the Harry Fix Trio, and shop for the perfect fedora. Free to attend... so here’s looking at your new hat, kid.

Continue Reading

Ducali Pizza

Friday, February 14th: If you are proudly not participating in this Hallmark holiday, then celebrate anti-Valentine’s Day at these venues: Ducali Pizzeria with reruns of classic Bruins finals games and ‘za; Area Four (Cambridge) with "angry/spicy" menu items, breakup tunes, and sappy "love gone awry" movies; Abby Lane with a full pity party (Broken Heart Bash, 9pm) including a DJ, dancing, and special menu items (Mini Big Macs, Fried Snickers Bars!); and M.J. O’Connor’s (Park Plaza) with their second annual Tainted Love party (free, 10pm) loaded with warm fuzzies like a Guinness sampling, a $6 "Love Bites" menu, anti-love songs, and a contest with prizes.

The Sinclair

Sunday, February 16th: Get ready to RUMBLE as Cocktail Wars descend upon The Sinclair (9pm) with local mixmasters Crystal Kelley, Will Tomlinson, Jason Cool, and Ray Tremblay battling for Cocktail Champ. Try one of their four signature cocktails ($5 each all night!) with complimentary snacks, and then watch the tumbler takedown as contestants go head to head in the Mystery Challenge for drink domination (winner = you).

Empire

Monday, February 17th: Boston native and craft cocktail legend Brother Cleve takes over the bar at Empire Asian Restaurant and Lounge for a tiki-inspired Industry Night. Enjoy tropically themed cocktails ("Brass Monkey" with vodka, rum, Galliano, and OJ), a $25 unlimited sushi menu and pupu platters from Executive Chef Kevin Long, and tunes from DJ Costa all night long. Doors open at 5pm, Brother Cleve starts pouring at 8pm.

Fairsted Kitchen

Wednesday, February 18th: Hump day is here again (calm down, talking camels), so top it off with the newly launched late-night eats menu at Fairsted Kitchen from 11pm until last call. The daily rotating, handwritten menu from Chef Scott Osif includes unique fare such as Korean-style duck wings with gochujang sauce, pig’s ears fries, and BBQ duck Sloppy Joes. SUPER extra bonus: most items will be under $10. Go nuts.