Over the weekend, I finally got to check out Liam Flynn's Ale House, the unlikely Irish bar in Station North that opened in July. I have found that there's a pattern. These great places always open up right after my Best Bars deadline, which is truly a shame because this place is a contender.

This bar was opened by the former manager of Liam's Pint-Size Pub, an Irish bar in Mt. Vernon that closed three years ago. I got a chance to visit that pub as well, and I loved its cavernous basement feel, but the "pint size" was certainly accurate—it felt cramped with more than 20 people there.

Manager Liam Flynn's newest endeavor, though, is much more spacious. There's an L-shaped bar up front, table seating on the left, and an area for darts and more tables towards the back. The night we went, it was crowded enough to feel fun, but it was still roomy enough to get a drink.

Speaking of drinks, beer nerds will surely appreciate the selection here. The bar always has two rotating cask ales (fresh and unfiltered beer that matures in the cask), about a dozen beers on tap, and even some gluten-free options. The bottle selection is even more vast, with 12 ciders alone.

I tried one of the cask ales available, Oliver's 3 Lions Ale, which was creamy with a slight oaky flavor. My favorite beer was from the Williams Brothers, a microbrewery in Scotland. They had an alcholic ginger beer that was just fantastic. The flavor was crisp and full of ginger, with accents of lemon peel and citrus. 

The overall vibe of Liam Flynn's Ale House was lively but mellow as songs from The Cure, MGMT, and Green Day played on the juke box. There were some louder revelers in the back on the high-top tables, but mainly the bar was filled with people sharing casual conversation over outstanding beers. The ale house is a great and unique addition to the Station North landscape.

[Image: courtesy of harmcityhoops.org]

Infusions have been all the rage this year. It's hard to walk into a bar that doesn't feature large carafes of liquor that have been infused with herbs, spices, or fruits. We even gave Best Cocktail to the Strawberry Martini at Vino Rosina with vodka that was infused with rhubarb, strawberries, and basil.

So for my holiday cocktail recipe this year, I want to feature candy cane infused vodka. It's pretty simple to make and turns out delicious. (Also makes a great gift!)

1. Use a jar with a tight seal. A mason jar or old pickle jar (thoroughly cleaned) both work well.
2. Place candy canes in jar. The ones without a hook are easier to work with.
3. Pour in vodka. Use a non-flavored one or else, what's the point?
4. Close jar tightly and store in cool, dark place.
5. The times for infusions vary, obviously. But you'll get flavor in three hours. I'd recommend two days for a more intense flavor.
6. Once you're ready to serve, strain the vodka into a martini glass (garnished with chocolate chips maybe) or it would be great in hot chocolate!

Enjoy and happy holidays!

[Image: courtesy of scarymommy.com]

Money has been tight for everyone in 2011, so many companies have decided to forgo their holiday parties.

That's why Merritt Athletic Clubs is hosting "Baltimore's Biggest Holiday Office Party," a free event tonight from 7-11 p.m. at Merritt's downtown location. The club is inviting companies to bring their staff and friends to enjoy live music, food from top restaurants, gaming tables, a silent auction, free beer (yes, that's right), and a cash bar for other drinks.

The event's theme, "Spotlight on Baltimore," features a special VIP section and highlights from some of Baltimore’s favorite neighborhoods.

While the event is free, VIP tickets are available for $75 in advance or at the door. Proceeds from special VIP tickets, silent auction items, and gaming tables will benefit the GIVE (Getting Involved in Volunteers Experience) program from Business Volunteers Unlimited Maryland. The program helps to raise awareness among the next generation of civic leaders about the growing need for volunteerism. 

To RSVP to the party visit http://www.merrittclubs.com/locations/baltimores-best-holiday-party-2011.html or to purchase advance VIP tickets visit www.spotlightonbmore.eventbrite.com. 

I attended The Bridge's final show at Rams Head Live, which I blogged about last week. As expected, the show was pretty intense, as the band celebrated its past 10 years together. 

The band covered its entire catalog, from early stuff off of 2002's self-titled album ("Chains," "Brother Don't," and "Angelina") to their newer releases from National Bohemian ("Rosie," Geraldine," and "Colorado Motel.") As promised, the band brought out former members like drummers Paul Weinburg and Ed Hough, bassist Ryan Porter, guitarist Chris Bailey, and fiddler Patrick McAvinue (pictured, on stage with the band).

While The Bridge stuck mostly to its original material, there were also a couple covers including Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street" and Band of Gypsies' "Them Changes," which showed off some amazing guitar solos. 

The sold-out crowd had immense amounts of energy throughout the four-hour show. The Bridge originally wanted to play three sets, but cut it down to two after they fell behind on time. The end of the massive second set is where things started to get emotional for the band and crowd. Fans held up a "thank you" sign with the "o" being an Orioles logo, as the band tore through the bluegrass tune "Bury My Bones Back in Baltimore."

The band then exited the stage, came back on, and vocalist Kenny Liner started to beatbox, something he hadn't done in recent years, for "Drop The Beat." Then Liner and Jacobs did a beautiful, acoustic cover of Bob Dylan's "Restless Farewell" as the band's family and friends shed tears. The Bridge concluded the show with oldie but goodie "Coming Home." Liner, who is moving to Oregon, declared, "I don't care where I move, if someone asks me where I'm from, I'm always going to say Baltimore."

To still follow members of The Bridge, check out these projects: Cris Jacobs Band, Yellow Dubmarine, The Late Ancients, and Smooth Kentucky. 

[Image: courtesy of me]