After my parents divorced when I was around the age of 8, my sister and I shared limited time with my father. So we always looked forward to my dad pulling up in his '79 Fleetwood Cadillac. It was our time with him. He was all ours.
Each time he picked us up, it was a group trip to my dad's favorite happy hour. It was fantastic! We would head up to the bar area and survey the showcased feast. As my dad ordered a beer, my sister and I would load up on delicious appetizers from the bar's buffet. Then we would nestle into a booth and just hang out. I remember feeling so cool that I was underage and drinking with my dad in a bar, well, Shirley Temples that is. Those are some of the fondest memories I have with them.
Wow, times have changed. Only now I'm not drinking Shirley Temples anymore. I moved to California, my father lives in Cabo San Lucas, and my sister passed away. I grew up, and I realized how important it is to make the most of the time with the people I love and care for. Happy hour is a time to hang out with friends and family, create memories and not break the bank. For all these reasons, I LOVE HAPPY HOUR!
Nowadays, everyone is usually always on the Internet, checking email, Facebook, Twitter or texting away. I am completely guilty of this. We seem to be connected online but not really to each other - a connected-disconnection. Especially with the recent financial hardships this country has faced, the majority "stays in" more often to avoid overspending. We have eliminated the fun extras in our life because we can't afford it.
Well, now we can. Happy hour has made a huge comeback and it's time we celebrated. Now is time to go out again and meet friends, make friends and enjoy ourselves. We've suffered enough. Los Angeles is a city that thrives on social interaction, entertainment and the hospitality industry. Let's take advantage of it.
Lovehappyhour.com can help. This site was created to help customize your happy hour search. With over 1000 participating restaurants and bars, each guest on our site will have access to pertinent happy hour information, articles, blogs, categorized hot spots, highlighted cocktails from mixologists all over L.A. and a calendar. Finding your next local happy hour excursion will be a cinch.
I hope all of you can re-kindle your love for happy hour as I have. You, Los Angelenos, are cordially invited back to Happy Hour.
Happy Times,
Maren Swanson
"Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink to the days that are gone in the shortest while."
Simon Fowler |
