Do you have those friends who always drop a minimum of $100 on a night out?  $200?  $300?  One night of insanity may be fun, but your bank will hate you.  Waking up with a fist full of receipts and a mile long bank statement can leave you gorging off the dollar menu.

As an avid aficionado of happy hour specials, I am self-proclaimed master of saving money buying drinks.  How do people honestly spend $100 in one night?  Below are secrets to spending less money going out:

1. “Start a Tab?”

Does a one legged duck swim in circles?  By leaving a card at the bar, you rule out tipping every drink.  Guess what, that $3 beer was actually $4 if you pay cash.  That’s a 33% tip, do you normally tip 33% on a bill?   Start a tab and tip at the end – it will save you DiNero for a round of Silver Strike.

Note on tipping:  Always tip 20% or more.  What goes around comes around…even free drinks, don’t be tight.

2. Hustle for Local Specials

Never go out without looking for specials.  Get online, call the bar, or ask friends.  Your friends know a couple happy hours.  Bars run daily specials, but they are different everyday.  So unless you have been there before, it’s tough to remember.

Ever stuck asking a group of friends “where do you want to go?”  If you only knew where to find a special, life would be easy.  It’s the reason we built UrbanBacon!  Plus, who doesn’t enjoy dollar bottles?

3. Mob like Wu-Tang

Think about it.  If you’re with 1 friend, the likelihood of having them buy drinks is low.  Go to the bar with 10 friends, and you just increased the chance of free drinks by 900%.  Always mob to the bar with a small army of potential drink suitors.  

4. Become a Drink Sideshow…

If you have ever read Tucker Max “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” then you know the value of a good bar prop.  A breathalyzer totally gains attention and will surely increase your chances of drink stardom.

WARNING:  Bar Props are at your own risk at the possibility as coming off as a douche.  You’ve been warned.

5. Get OUT of the Corner!

The guy sitting in the corner has 2 things going for him

1.  He never meets anyone.

2.  Nobody buys his drinks.

Get out of the corner and get up to the bar!  Talk to people, yell, be loud and gain attention.  TAKE UP SPACE!  People buy drinks for people that are the center of attention.  Tell stories, engage, tell jokes, and most importantly tell more stories!

In efforts to make UrbanBacon the “one-stop shop” for restaurant specials, we have been working our knuckles raw on a re-design.  We want the experience to be simple, friendly, and fun.  When you go out for happy hour, dinner, or venues – we want you to think “Hey, Check Out UrbanBacon!”  Also, we wants restaurants to give our free service a try.  If you’re a restaurant posting daily specials on Twitter or Facebook, it only makes sense to try UrbanBacon.

Here are the changes:

1.  Users must log in to see daily specials

Honestly, this was a tough call for us.  We want to create community, allow people to follow their favorite restaurants, and make friends.  Now we can focus on building that community.

2.  “Here are Your Deals for Today”

Our current homepage is confusing.  By only showing deals for the current day, it’s much easier to check in daily and see what specials/events restaurants are posting.

3.  Highly Local, Real Time

We are opening the flood gates to 7 cities (which will come later).  Which means we need to know what city you live in.  You will only see deals posted by real restaurants in your city.  Making us highly local and real time.

I really hope you guys love it.  Our dream is to get every restaurant posting their daily specials, everyday.  We are making things easy.  So many restaurants already post to Facebook and Twitter daily at the risk of becoming spammers, and people hate spam.  UrbanBacon is restaurant specific, people visit us for that exact reason!

What we are NOT:  Groupon

Nothing against Groupon, they are an amazing company.  The reason I want to make this clear is to differentiate us.  We are not another deal site that focuses on group buying.  Actually, we are totally free for both users and restaurants!  Our goal is to keep people in-the-know about specials around town.

Below are screen-shots of our new designs.  Please let me know what you guys think.  In the next few weeks I plan to get FREAKING WETARDED active on our Twitter account (@UrbanBacon).  I want to meet new people and new restaurants.  If you are on Twitter, hit me up, I’m always online.  So far it’s been an amazing journey, and it only keeps going.  Thanks to everyone who has helped us along the way

–Phil Novara

Current Homepage (cluttered and confusing)

New Homepage (Neat and Simple)

New Deals:

As sweat pours down your face, the constant beating of techno and pop music pounds through your heated veins.  It’s hitting 3am, and you haven’t stopped dancing for 5 hours.  Colored neon lights twist and twirl over the dance floor as smoke fills in the blanks.  Warm bodies in constant movement dance like possessed silhouettes.  This place is a breathing party and fantasy is on everyone’s mind…This club is hawt!  The question is, are you too old for this?

About 3-5 years ago, I loved tearing up clubs.  Now, I’m perfectly content chilling with friends at a local pub or occasional upscale trendy bar.  I almost prefer VFW Hall Weddings coupled with pitchers of Busch Light, an overweight DJ who announces everything, and “Return of The Mack” on repeat (now that’s livin)!

Anymore, complexes with multiple dance floors that blast top 40’s pop music and crammed neck to neck with people sounds annoying.  Like punch me in the face repeatedly annoying, or that cheerleader chick in high school annoying, or that meathead in the Affliction shirt annoying.   Don’t get me wrong, I still love dancing, but maybe I’m getting too old for clubs?

I prefer a nice club with tons of places to chill.  Keep things low key, house music bumping, and people are sitting back enjoying drinks.  There is tons of room away from the dance floor to hold great conversation.  Who knows, I just turned 27 years old, and maybe that’s just me?

What do you guys think?  Do you like going to clubs anymore?  What age does that happen to us?  Would you rather hold great conversation or dance the night away?  Give us the scoop below and share your comments.

Imagine you have a date tonight.  The night is special, and your date is totally into you.  Imagine the excitement as you sit down to a candlelit dinner.  The smell of surf n’ turf and fancy wine glasses clinging quickly dance around your table.  For most people, this is heaven.

As the wine menu arrives, your palms begin to sweat.  You slowly scroll through each page, struggling to keep small talk in an effort to look calm.  In reality, you’re clueless.  Completely lost and buried alive under mounds of different varieties, regions, and years.  Have you ever been in this situation?

I am in no way a wine connoisseur (our friend STL Winegirl can answer specific questions), but I have ordered bottles of wine on countless occasions.  I know, me, drinking?  Get out!

We are talking about legal adults who get nervous about ordering wine in a restaurant.  Most upscale restaurants have an extensive wine list.  It can be daunting to the Average Joe, especially on a first date!  God forbid you order the wrong bottle, clumsily spill it down her white dress, and douche the entire night.  While I cannot offer wine specifics, I can at least share 5 tips that have helped me along the way:

Your Date Knows Best

Ordering wine is not a macho ordeal.  You’re not James Bond.  Ask your date right off the bat what they prefer.  If they have a specific preference, simply go with that.  This makes life easy and gives piece of mind knowing they’re pleased.

Red Meat Loves Red Wine (and vice-versa)

This is much tougher than asking your date.  I prefer eating steak and pork chops, you know, things that still bleed on a plate.  Typically, pair red meat with red wine, and white meat with white wine.  It’s a simple rule of thumb.

NOTE:  This is NOT ALWAYS true, wine is 100% paired by preference and what works.  If you are struggling to make a decision, then match wine with protein.

Severs Make Great Wine Salesman

Servers sell wine all day.  It’s their job.  Pick out 3 wines you are interested in and ask their opinion.  Chances are they’ve tried it, since the restaurant carries it on the menu.  Be careful, because servers work on tips.  They may suggest a higher priced bottle to up-sell the bill.  If you pick 3 bottles around the same price, this shouldn’t be a problem.  Most people know what they are looking to spend anyways.

In-House Sommelier = VICTORY!

This is the golden goose of opportunity.  You’re job is complete, a Sommelier on staff eliminates all work on your part.  They are the wine expert, why wouldn’t you ask for help?

This can lead to small tastings as the professional searches for the perfect wine.  I call this “The Bonus Round.”  It really makes an enjoyable and fun experience to ask a Sommelier their opinion.  Take advantage of the situation! 

Wine List Roulette

This is a variation of Credit Card Roulette.  Have your date open the wine list to a preferable page.  Close your eyes, and point.  Whatever wine bottle you land on, that’s what you’re drinking.  The easiest decisions in life only seem really hard.  Bite the bullet, point, and enjoy!

NOTE:  There is a difference between this and CC Roulette.  If you accidentally point to a $300 bottle of wine, take a mulligan.

I would love to know your thoughts…what are quick easy ways to order wine in a restaurant?  Something easy that the average wine novice can understand.  Please comment below!

Remember the SNL skit/movie “A Night at The Roxbury?”  Steve and Doug Butabi frequent clubs with an arsenal of head bobbing, bad techno, and purple slick suits.  Sure-fire cheeseball tactics every dude carries in their weaponry, right?

Well, not exactly.  Steve and Doug struck out with countless ladies.  They loved going out clubbing, loved dressing nice (hey they DID wear blazers), but weren’t cool.

Obviously, it’s a comedy.  The writers over compensate typical mistakes guys make when going out, which is freaking hilarious.  If anything, something can be learned from their mistakes.  Here are 10 things you can learn from A Night at The Roxbury:

1.  Don’t try too Hard

In the words of Frankie Goes to Hollywood:  Relax, don’t do it, when you wanna go do it.  Stop trying so hard, chill, enjoy the moment.  People pick up when someone is trying hard to impress.  It comes off as cheesy and overcompensating.

2.  Dress to Impress

Every girl goes crazy about a sharp dressed man.  Not suggesting you wear purple crush velvet suits, but a nice jacket over a cool button shirt with designer jeans does the trick.  Make sure the shirt has texture/patterns.  First appearances are everything, and dressing nice portrays you’ve got life together.

Note:  Yes, as dumb as it sounds…

3.  Ditch the Slick Gel

A Night at The Roxbury sported greased hair matched with a poodle fluff.  Unless you’re auditioning for Jersey Shore, lose the slick gel.  Dep, L.A. Looks, and Aussie hairspray are totally 1980’s.  Pick up a matte paste like American Crew or Sumotech by Bumble and Bumble.  Rub a bit on the fingertips and apply to semi-dry hair.  You’re looking for a messy casual look versus a Mafioso hit man.

4.  Dance:  If you Can

If you have skillz to pay the bills, show them off!  If you resemble a drunken panda on skates, then stay off the dance floor.  It’s better to flex social skills than looking like a fool.  Steve and Doug are terrible dancers.  Aggressive grinding, head bobs, and air humping definitely scream “get the hell away from me.”  Take notes and work at perfecting your social skills.

5. Positioning:  Back Against the Bar

If you read our post how mafia bosses use confident body language, you understand positioning.  Always keep your back against the bar.  This is a socially powerful position.  Think about mob movies, where is the boss always placed?  At the head of the table, back against the wall, with a plate full of pasta.  Steve and Doug do the same exact thing, actually it’s one of the few things they do correctly!

6.  Head Nods = Creepy

Like seriously, creepy dude…

7.  Don’t be so Obvious

Steve and Doug constantly strike out with the ladies.  Not only did they jump at every occasion, they are way too obvious about showing interest.  If you are interested in a woman you just met, make her friends your best friends first.  If you can win over her friends, you’re 1000 times more likely to win her over.  Show interest in her friends first, and then you can obviously show her your interest.

8.  Leave the Corner

You look like a dunce…get out of the corner!  Be seen, be heard, talk to people, have fun, smile, show you know how to have a good time.  Humans have a subconscious sense for attractive behavior.  We can sense fun people, we are attracted to those people, and we want to be those people.  Make yourself that person.  If you are comfortable in the corner, slowly edge out.  I’m not suggesting you go crazy, but slowly step out of your comfort zone.

9.  Drinks are Mutual Purchases

Never buy a woman a drink, at least right off the bat.  If you just meet a woman and she immediately asks to buy her a drink, there are two possible scenarios:

1.  She has honestly left her purse at home and cannot pay for a drink

2.  She is looking for someone to buy her drinks

Steve and Doug are quick to buy drinks, only to watch them disappear.  Don’t make this mistake!  If a woman asks you to buy her a drink, make a deal.  Say “Sure, no problem, but you got my next one, right?”  If she agrees that shows interest in hanging out, and not looking for free drinks.

Exception:  This rule DOES NOT apply to mothers, grandmothers, wives, fiancés, girlfriends, sisters, aunts, nieces, and step-sisters.  If they ask you to buy them a drink, you say “how many?”

10.  Guys Night Out = Fail

The final lesson from Steve and Doug is extremely important:  Make friends with more women!  You can’t always mob like Wu-Tang with all guys, it’s like a pack of wolves hunting, which can be extremely creepy.  The Roxbury brigade always traveled with all dudes to their downfall.

Humans rely on social proof to make initial judgments and first impressions.  If you are already with girls, that means those girls approve and you’re not a psycho weirdo.  Females have to make these judgments to protect themselves, they can’t just go around talking to every random guy they meet.  Letting other women make the decision first proves that you are safe and trustworthy.

It’s Friday night, you’ve spent 3 days in the gym this week.  Or maybe you stayed home rocking a sweet headband and sweating it out to the oldies with Richard Simmons.  Regardless, you’ve worked hard to slip into that black dress/man speedo.

Next thing you know, your friends are pounding drinks over pizza at an alarming rate.  That little voice in your head screams “Don’t do it!”  That little voice is Billy Zane…you should listen to your friend Billy Zane, he’s pretty cool.

You workout, we get it.  Everyone needs a cheat day for the sake of sanity, but let’s not go overboard.  Certain cocktails are freaking LOADED with calories.  The UB blog is looking out for you guys…here are 5 maxed out cocktails that are sure fire ways to crash your diet:

1.  Long Island Iced Tea (780 Calories)

Black and Green teas are relatively low in calories.  There is nothing “tea” about Long Island Iced Tea.  Long Island’s are straight booze, and lots of it.  While it’s generally a good time to suck down 15 Long Islands, for the sake of this post, it’s terrible for the diet.

Substitute:  Icepicks – Vodka and Iced Tea (lemon is optional).  Tea is low in calories and actually masks vodka really well, proceed with caution…

2.  Margaritas (740 Calories)

One Margarita is the equivalent of sucking down 6 Mountain Dews.  Ranking in at a whopping 740 calories per serving.  Dude, that’s pure freaking sugar and syrup.  Most restaurants (especially Mexican restaurants) load their margaritas with sweet and sour mix to cut down on the cost of booze.  Sweet and Sour mix is evil.

Substitute:  If you’re going to enjoy tasty margaritas, make them at home.  Pour it half full of tequila, a quarter full with triple sec, and a quarter of sweet and sour.  This will cut down on the calories and continue to kick you in the face for obvious reasons.

(Bonus:  Use a splash of OJ to mask the tequila – now carry on with being awesome)

3.  Pina Colada (644 Calories)

Getting caught in the rain, making love at midnight, and champagne rank among my favorite things.  While these things rule the universe, crashing a diet with a whopping 644 calorie drink is not cool.

Substitute: Coconut Rum and Diet Sprite/Coke.  Get the coconut effect, with half the calories!

Exception: On a beach, in Mexico, you are allowed to pound the ever living crap out of Pina Coladas

4.  White Russian (425 Calories)

While walking around in a bath robe sipping White Russians while dreaming about bowling does sound like a perfect world, they are killer on the diet!  Milk, Kahula, and Vodka = calorie overload.  Quite delicious, but you wouldn’t drink 5 milkshakes in a row, would you?  Mark it dude!

Substitute: There is no substitute for a White Russian, the drink is totally by itself.  One suggestion is a Colorado Bulldog made with Diet Coke to cut down on the calories.

5.  Mai Tai (350 Calories)

Honestly, I can’t believe people drink these.  Dropping a 350 calorie diet bomb for something this nasty is amateur.

Substitute: Anything

What are your favorite drinks?  Let’s see how they weigh in on the calorie counter!

Sometimes life calls for it…your girlfriend needs moral support after leaving a 3-year relationship, you finally get that job promotion, or you checked our site and found a hawt happy hour.  Regardless, no time to ponder work the next day, it’s time to celebrate!  Who cares if it’s a school night, right?  Who cares if you’re buried in mounds of TPS Reports due to Lumberg by 8am, right?  Screw it – let’s go out!

Happy hour anyone? After countless happy hour dominations, we have devised a set of “rules” to follow.  While they are not fail-proof, they will at least get you started.  Here are the top 10 lifesaving rules to going out on a school night:

1.  Stick to just Happy Hour

Happy hour starts directly from work, which is a great concept.  That means you’re home early and in bed early.  Granted, we have all survived the extended happy hour concept, but let’s try and make it home by 8pm.

2.  Dinner Dates are the Best

School nights make great dinner dates!  If you focus the gathering around dinner, it usually stays casual and keeps the wine to a minimum.  Use the opportunity to catch up with old friends, they love meeting for quick dinner during the week.

3.  Curfew is Midnight, Always

No matter what, you must leave at midnight.  Think of yourself as Cinderella and your coach turns to a pumpkin at midnight.  Regardless, you must leave at midnight.  Not necessarily in bed by midnight, but in the car heading home.

4.  Nightcaps are Golden

Same concept as happy hour, only reverse.  Don’t go meet your friends until 10pm.  If you stick to the midnight curfew, then you’re only out for 2 hours.  How much damage can be done in 2 hours anyways?  Right?  Of course…

5.  Slow and Steady Wins the Race

This isn’t power hour; it’s a Tuesday night!  Slow down there cowboy, enjoy yourself.  Don’t think you have to be a rock star, save that for the freakin weekend!

6.  Stay Local and Low-Key

Weeknights make the best nights to hit dive bars.  A local neighborhood bar is perfect.  Nothing too dressed up, have a couple beers, and relax.

7. Beer or Wine and you’ll be Just Fine

Stay away from the hard stuff.  Beer and wine are just fine.  There is a huge difference between 3 beers and 3 whiskey/cokes.  The goal is to not look hungover at office the next day.

8.  Shots, Shots, Shots – NOT!

NO SHOTS!  I don’t care what LMFAO says, reserve your inner party for Friday night.  If you must, only take one on the way out the door, this ensures the flood gates stay closed.

9.  Double Alarm Protection – Cover the Oversleep Phenom

If you happen to stay out too late, set your phone and nightstand alarm.  We all need the added protection sometimes.  Setting your alarm clock across the room also serves its purpose.

10.  Drink Plenty of Water before Bed

You would be amazed at how much better you feel after hydrating before bed.  Chug a couple glasses of water, and hit the hay.  7am rolls around pretty early, hopefully you’ll feel rested.

Got any tips?  Please leave them below!  (and yes “the best tip is to not go out on a school night” – blah blah blah, don’t you have a bingo club to attend?)

Why would anyone want to roll deep like Wu-tang?  There can be close to 50+ dudes at any given point!  It’s a force to be reckoned with, imagine the possibilities.

Even heading out with just 5-6 people increases your presence.  Whether that’s a club, local pub, or industry hot-spot…people begin to notice when you mob with an entire tribe.  Plus, think how easy it makes to successfully Houdini for the night!

For these simple reasons…Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuttin to what?  Below are the top 5 benefits of rolling deep in the club:

Power in Numbers

Ever had a Jersey Shore Guido pick a fight with you?  Did you look at someone wrong?  Who CARES!  You got 50 dudes that have your back.

This brings a whole new meaning to the saying “you and what army?”  Ummm, the 50 hard hitting dudes standing behind me?  That’s an army to ensure you’re never messed with.  Nobody rolls deeper than Wu-Tang, nobody.

Free Shot Domination

The power in numbers greatly increases the chances of someone buying you drinks.  Multiply that by a steady drinking buffer and you have drink buying madness.  It’s like a school of piranhas devouring a large buffalo.

1 buddy = 1 free drink.  50 buddies = free drink domination.

As Rza says “Absolut mixed with cranberry fruit juice, ginseng boost, I got yo neck in a noose.”  Was he rapping about all the free drinks he keeps in a noose?  I think so…

Leader of Your Tribe

A significantly attractive trait to females in evolutionary psychology is the “leader of the tribe.”  Show the club that this is your tribe, and you are their leader.  Women sense this power, it’s built into genetics.  Our primitive minds still follow old laws of attraction.  The leader of a tribe has access to the most resources, which ultimately increases chances of survival.

Walk in front of your tribe.  Be the first in every door.  Move slower.  Your confidence will literally transform before the eyes of the club.  Gza is an excellent example of a tribe leader.

Side Note:  Watch for Cougars, they are exceptionally attracted to tribe leaders.

Raekwon Will Eat You…

It’s no secret, Raekwon is a hungry dude.  The power of numbers is a similar tactic large schools of fish use.  If you are alone, Raekwon will eat you.  In a school of 50 dudes, your chances of surviving an encounter with that dude generally increase by 500%.

V.I.P Works 60% of the Time, Every Time…

Think about splitting the cost of VIP between 50 dudes?  It’s like $5 a head to be ballinger for the night!  Grey Goose?  Serve it up.  Classy backup dancers?  No prob.  Who wants a limo ride?  Yes please. No wonder Wu-Tang always is loaded with cash…

Can you think of any benefits of going places in large groups?  Let us know, below, yo!

Have you heard about the hottest new craze?  All the kids are doing it!  Ok, well maybe just my immature friends…

The Game:

Credit Card Roulette

Requirements:

4-6+ Friends looking to go out for lunch/dinner

The Setup:

Everyone sits down at the table and orders.  Have beers, food, and whatever your heart desires.  Make sure nobody starts a separate tab.  Simple enough right?

The Game:

At the end of the meal, it’s time to play credit card roulette.  Take everyone’s credit card and throw it into a hat.  If there is not hat, ask your server for a bucket.  I’m sure the restaurant will find something that works.  Toss in everyone’s card.  Have one person close their eyes and pull out a credit card.  Whoever gets their card gets pulled, picks up the entire bill.

I’ve heard of some brutal games off CC Roulette.  Typically the setup is minimal, it usually happens when the waitress sets an unexpected $300 bill in front of your table.  People get ballsy at the idea of a free tab.  If you have 6 people, your chances of getting pulled are 1 in 6 or 16%.  Those are pretty decent odds, until your card gets pulled…

Would you play Credit Card Roulette?

PS:  Carrying cash vs starting a tab is a sure fire way to skip out of Credit Card Roulette

It’s no secret, everyone carries plastic these days.  For me, going out with cash is a rare occurrence.  The stars and planets have to align precisely at the stroke of midnight during a sausage festival in Israel.  It’s not gonna happen.

That’s just me, there are advantages of carrying cash vs starting a tab.  Let’s discuss the pros and cons:

Pros of Starting Tabs:

If you’re sole purpose is to drink, then start a tab.  With cash you end up tipping every drink.  If its $2 bottles at happy hour and you have 5 beers, then you just tipped $5 on $10 which is 50%.  By starting a tab you tip on actual price and not quantity.

CAUTION: There is a backfire, if you’re at a high end martini bar drinking $15 cosmos, tip on every drink.  Do the math…

Cons of Starting Tabs:

Overspending.  I don’t know about you, but if I don’t actually see any cash exchanged, then I didn’t spend it.  That mentality can get you in trouble if you’re on a budget.  Not to mention, people can throw drinks on your tab without you knowing.  It’s hard to say no once the damage has been done.

Pros of Carrying Cash:

I usually cringe at the idea of splitting tabs in large groups.  You know that feeling, 20+ sit down at the table and start ordering mounds of food with drinks.  Then the bill comes and the endless task of “what did you have” begins.  For most servers it’s not a problem, for some it can be a daunting train wreck of white copies to sign.  Accidentally getting overcharged $300 on a $30 tab is also no fun.

By carrying cash you won’t have to split anything.  Just pay for whatever you had and watch as credit card roulette goes down.

Cons of Carrying Cash:

Cash seems to go fast.  Money in, money out.  It’s good because you can physically see what your spending, but bad because it’s so easy to spend.  Hence the term “money burning a hole in your pocket.”  You can lose cash.  Not to mention, people don’t usually rob you for a Visa, they want cash.

In the end, carrying cash is probably a better alternative.  My father always takes out exactly what he wants to spend when going out to eat/drink.  Once the cash is gone, it’s time to go home.  That’s probably the best option vs starting a tab and blindly blowing through your bank account. Then again, that sends you home early, and we all know everything cool happens after midnight.

Any techniques or tips for saving money while going out?