Lush Life Top 5 for 2010
And the rundown....

Anchorage “Happy” Hour: This year several of my favorite places relocated and revised their menus to include a half-priced timeline of deliciousness for appetizers (not necessarily beverages, but we can’t have it all). Standouts are Muse Restaurant (half price apps from 4-7 p.m. at the museum), Spenard Roadhouse (happy hour from 4-6 every day – tater tots for $2? Yes please…), and the Tap Root Café (also 4-6 p.m. every day, and in the new and improved location, no less! BUT NOTE THE CAVEAT - I discovered this week that in order to get the half price deal, you have to bring in the printed notice in the Taproot newsletter. Urgh....).

Guilty Pleasure – Jerseylicious: Because I’ve been doggy and goddaughter-sitting a lot lately, I’ve taken to watching a lot of reality TV to pass the time and have some fun while contemplating the best type of boxed wine under $20 I can find. I’m slightly abashed to admit this, but my absolute favorite guilty pleasure show is Jerseylicious. I mean – just picture it: fake tans, fake nails, fake hair, fake, er….frontal body parts. Even the bitchy fighting is kind of fake, but I love it. It’s like Jersey Shore but WAY better (because JS is just a bunch of punks who shouldn't be on TV, in my opinion -- I mean, if you're going to be on an MTV show, at least acknowledge you're only on it because you're a serious case, okay? You're not on the show because you have your sh*t together) – I mean, first of all everyone has a job. Second, they definitely prefer parking lot run-ins and gossiping behind each other’s back to working out. Third, I kind of want to hire them for my wedding. Plus, those girls down more brightly-colored cocktails than an entire season of Sex in the City episodes.

Brown Bag “Mystery” wine: Yes, it’s the Spenard Roadhouse again but I can’t help it, this was a great find this year. For just $5, you can get a hefty pour of either red or white “mystery” wine from your favorite bartender. The good thing is, it’s usually pretty good wine (something that’d most likely run $7 or $8 a glass), but since it’s hidden behind a brown bag (literally), and you aren’t sure what you’re drinking, it’s cheaper. It’s my new favorite game.

Mixx Grill’s Padded Bench Seats: This is a random throwout but recently I attended a baby shower (the swankiest shower this side of Dallas) at the bar in Mixx Grill, and not only do they have the most adorable plush bench seats in the bar (with added foot rests at exactly the right spot), they have wine, appetizer, and cocktail deals from $4 to $6 weekly. Check!

Anchorage International Film Festival: This is a favorite of mine every year, but this year it grew and gained some serious heft. Also, this year I got to watch a short film by a student filmmaker who attended the premiere and his excitement and nervous anxiety was so adorable and inspiring that you couldn’t help but grin at the movie (which was actually pretty good). Also, if you want a standby good time with friends, the Bear Tooth is a great bet – and during some of the earlier AIFF films you don’t even have to wait in a long line! (No one appreciates true art….)