You know, Madison is a town of DIYers. Everyone is always pursuing some sort of "project" and enlisting others' help and dollar bills for the sake of Doing it My Way. With the advent (invent, revent?) of the Project Lodge space on Johnson (and my recent visit to a rock show there, that was, actually, pretty awesome) I thought about how I, as an inbiber of libations, might be able to assist in this concept of DIY...and it dawned on me, simply...you know what the DIY version of a cocktail at a bar is? B-Y-O-B. I mean, for real. And since there is such a nice population of created spaces for arts, crafts and rock and roll, I thought I might share with y'all how to, in the spirit of self-assurance, never get caught sober at a non-bar event.

I have recently (and really, this is sad, since I have lived here, for like, five years) started going to shows at places that do not serve alcohol. I took my first and second trip to Nottingham Co-op for a couple of punk shows (the most recent being last Thursdays' Zebras, Czarbles, and A Bomb for the Pentagon show, which was going to include A Capillary Action, but they, yikes, flipped their van in Ontario, so all the proceeds for the show went to them), and also visited the new Project Lodge space for a show two weekends ago, for The Cowboy and The Frenchman, Crochetd Machete, The Dark Horse Project, The Scarring Party, and Sleeping in the Aviary. When I first thought of going to such places-- like, you know, where someone lives--to see a show, I was unsure. I mean, part of the allure of any event, for me, is the thought of a lovely cocktail in my hand as I rock out, so you can see the dilemma. But, as soon as I was concerned, I was relieved because it then so marvelously dawned on me that this meant I could bring along with me whatever I wanted! I mean, that's great! I could literally buy a case of gummy worms and dip them in chocolate milk spiked with strychnine! The world was my oyster! And even more darling is that Project Lodge is literally less than 45 steps from Cork and Bottle Liquor store. Yabba! So then, my fine readers; what do we drink when we drink whatever we bring? Let me continue.

My newest and most favoritest thing to drink now, whenever I'm DIYing my alcohol, is champagne. Well, no, that's not true. As any wine expert or Everyday Food Magazine editor will have you know, actual champagne hails from the Champagne region of France. What I drink is Andre Spumante, a bastardized, unbelievably cheap impersonator of champagne. I mean, for god's sake, it's $4.99. That's like ONE drink at a bar. I mean, damn. Mix that with a PBR now and again and you've got yourself something to grow on. Cheap, fake champagne makes everything into a party; a big, drunk, spit-swapping party. Pass the bottle around. Make a few new friends. Feel classy. Real classy.

When there's no bartender around to boss you into drinking what pathetic excuse for a drink special they have going, you can create your own ambiance, and be your own bartender. No one's around to tell you that you can't mix together Hawaiian Punch and Jim Beam, or Grape Juice and Bacardi. No one's telling you that you've "had enough" and need to "find somewhere else to go"...well, actually that can still happen, BUT, usually it's way after you've had all that you want to have. This is your time, Madison Drunks, to get creative. Next time you go to a Nottingham show, bring a cooler. And a blender. I bet they won't even care! And you can make Mudslides for everybody (except those with dairy restrictions...sorry)!

Now, I know that this is not really a review of an actual bar that serves actual cocktails, but, you know what? I don't care. I find it compelling and important to report on all the places where people are drinking and rocking and being awesome. So whether it be at DIY spaces, hole-in-the-wall clubs, or someone's basement, if people are drinking concoctions of various types of alcohol, I'll be there. Martinis, Sex on the Beaches, Alabama Slammers, Purple Passions, Jungle Juices, Bottles of Night Train, cans of Joose; I'll be there for all of it. So let's party.

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