By -Aaron Peart
Let’s face facts. The dreaded Shoulder Season is upon us. So where is the best place to get your après on during May? Assuming you’re coming straight off the hill after a sunny day, how were you not destroying a six-pack on the chairlift? That’s practically the best part of spring skiing!
There are a couple of rules to abide. First, you no longer have a signature drink. The only thing you will be imbibing for the next month or so is “whatever is on special”. Look at it as a way of broadening your horizons. You only drink Molson Canadian? Step one: grow some taste buds, step two: cheap pitchers taste best. You never know; you might find you like dark beers now that you’re a little older and a little wiser. Or maybe you swear by vodka/cranberry. Guess what, lady; it’s only $4.25 1/7th of the week. And who knows, you might find you actually like whisky! (If so, call me. There are few things sexier than a girl with a glass of single malt.) My point is, the chalkboard is your friend, my friend. Study many, and commit to memory your favourite choices. Don’t forget some places like the Amsterdam or Citta will offer a shot special as well, and use that to make your decision.
Secondly, double check to make sure your local hangout isn’t closing entirely. With the economy still limping along, and the exorbitant rent on most businesses – you think you’re the only one getting dinged? – it makes more financial sense for some places to shut the doors for a couple of weeks. Nevertheless, it’s such a panic making plans to meet somewhere, only to show up and see a “Gone Fishing” sign (I’m looking in your direction, Sachi Sushi).
Most exciting for me is our answer to Cheers, Brandy’s at The Keg: Starting April 30th, they will be offering a bottle beer and cocktail special every day. This is in addition to their popular $13 beer/sandwich deal, including, to my knowledge, the best Beef Dip in town.
Uli’s Flipside offers half price appetizers from 5 till 6, and offers the best burger in town, said by many to beat even heavyweight champion Splitz at their own game. With daily drink specials at $4.50 including tax, and Whistler Brewing on tap, it’s quickly making a name for a place to hang, and the patio is a total sun trap.
Kypriaki’s ubiquitous 80’s menu returns, and if you haven’t had the lamb, now is the time to try it. Don’t forget to say hi to Kike. He’s the guy at the bar with the white hair and the bottomless glass of red.
For those of you looking to have a quiet night that eventually spirals out of control Sushi Village offers $10 Sake Margarita Jugs. Innocuous at first glance, some of Whistler’s most memorable and debaucherous parties started off sharing a few Mango Caterpillar rolls and a jug or three. Order the near obligatory Dumbo sized bottle of sake, and for an added treat, ask for the Wiens’ special, named after longtime local Greg Wiens. Just make sure there aren’t any children present… as if you’d bring children to.
As for the nights, many clubs will be shutting for at least a couple of weeks, but the weather will be getting warmer so the patios will be open later. Take advantage of the weather (hopefully) improving. After all, the only thing better than people watching is girls-in-sundress watching.
