Five!

Five dollar!

Five dollar footlong! pitchers of beer, bitches.

If you’re looking for an affordable bar night, check out the “Ice House” on Yale Boulevard, close to the intersection with Greenville Avenue. It’s owned by the same people who own the “Across the Street Bar” immediately next door, but you wouldn’t guess that from looking at them side-by-side.

“Across the Street Bar” is usually jam-packed on Fridays and weekends, while the “Ice House” seems like a relative ghost town all the time. Apart from the lone bartender who works there, I have yet to see anyone inside. In addition, “Ice House” is a cash-only, beer-only establishment with a mere 4 or 5 beers on tap to choose from, which contrasts with the fully stocked bar over at “Across”. Plus, “Ice House” looks like the kind of place you might go to quietly rape someone or do meth. Pretty it ain’t.

But underneath these cosmetic setbacks lies the golden nugget. $5 pitchers of beer, everynight, from 8 till close. Five bucks, including a Shiner pitcher. I don’t care what part of Dallas you’re from – that’s a steal.

The place does have its own unique charm too. In addition to a spacious patio with tables (summer’s on the way people), you get a bartender named Delmo who knows magic. Not tricks, but real deal magic (as he put it, “tricks are for whores”).

So if you want a quiet vibe with cheap, refreshing beer for a weeknight, I suggest skipping the noise and expense of your typical joint and visit the “Ice House” instead.

Keller's Drive-in

Drive-in burger joints are becoming a rarity in big cities, victims of today’s “need-it-now” culture. People don’t have time to sit and wait while food is brought to their car anymore, not when they can get to the food and begin eating two minutes sooner. But for fans of a simpler, slightly less lazy era the drive-in offers all the comfort of immediate meals without the hassle of rising from a chair.

Keller’s Drive-In off of Northwest Highway is a great example of why these places worked. One look at this decrepit parking lot will tell you what the spot is all about: cheap food, beer, and cars. The menu consists of six basic, fast-food categories (strips, dogs, burgers, fries, shakes, and ‘mystery meat’) and you can get a full meal for four bucks. The waitresses are all pushing retirement age but their jovial, slightly sassy style is a treat compared to the generic smiles at your local Chili’s.

In another surprising twist, you can also order and (gasp) drink a beer or two in your car. I was surprised this was legal anywhere in town. Though I won’t try to sell the merits of drinking while driving, there is something sublime about reclining a-la-lazyboy and sipping a cold one while engines softly hum in the background. It strokes your inner Easy Rider.

Stop by one Saturday night and you’ll catch a gathering of vintage roadsters and muscles cars, along with the motley crowd that accompanies them. Even if you’re not hurting for a corndog, the people watching makes it worth a visit.

Being a pretty geeky geek, I thought this was a pretty sweet gift for under $20. Kind of looks like Uncle Dan’s get-up during holiday festivities. Just keep these sweaters honey ham free. The Post Family via Inhabitant

And for the athletic geek, here‘s a track jacket slip cover.

The name itself should evoke images of a grimy, local joint dishing out hearty slices of New York-styled pizza. Crispy dough, thick sauce that burns your tongue, melty cheese, and sausage so flavorful only Everybody Loves Raymond’s Marie’s recipe could produce. And while the pizza wasn’t a complete letdown, less could be said for the rest of the restaurant.

I was surprised to discover the restaurant relies completely on a self-service system. Our party walked in and foolishly waited for a hostess to seat us. After 15 minutes of self-consciousness, we finally decided to grab one of the waiters racing by. We were instructed to get in line, order, and seat ourselves. We even had to get our own utensils! Call me spoiled, but the least I expect from a restaurant is not having to get up to get your own silverware when the food comes.

Their tag line: “We make it like we made it back in Brooklyn. Where we made it like we made it back in Italy.” I may not be Italian, but I’ve eaten enough Italian food to deem myself certified. Unless by Italy they mean Generic Factory Town, America, the ad is definitely slipping on some infringement issues.

Bottom line: For $3.49 per ginormous slice, the food’s decent for the bargain. If you’re really hungry, order a slice of the Stuffed Meat Pie ($4.99/slice). One slice could probably feed an appetite and a half. With a vast variety of toppings, you’ll certainly find something suitable to your palate. However, if you’re feeling like some pasta, do yourself a favor and drive down the street to Olive Garden.

Locations: Allen, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, and Plano.