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.

Do y'all know that Mickey's (you know, the bar right next to the Yahara river, on the East Side) was the first bar I ever went to, the first time I came to Madison? I remember that I had no idea that there was a "rest" of the bar. I thought it was only the first room---which, really, wasn't my fault, because the people I was visiting brought me to the bar, and they themselves had no idea that it had back rooms. When I moved to Madison, about a year or so after that, I went to Mickey's soon after, and realized there was a Ms. Pacman machine, and I was pretty much sold. Over the next almost 5 years, I've developed a rapport with Mickey's that I can only describe as akin to that of an older brother you have that you love to death, but is sort of a d-bag. Like, that one Christmas, he actually bought you that Emperor Tomato Ketchup record, and it was totally awesome, but then, most of the time, he's calling and asking you for money, or showing up at your apartment at 3 a.m. because he left his keys at the bar when he got thrown out.

Oh, yeah, I know that the new year is, like, already here. I mean, I understand that in order for me to do some sort of "Look Back" to 2007, I probably should not have waited until the 3rd week of January, but let me level with you; for the past month or two I have been a crazy person. Taking remedial classes, applying to graduate school, interviewing for a grown-up job--I mean, damn. It's been busy. And so, after being absconded with by my editor-in-chief during the fanTAStic Furthermore Brew-Ha-Ha last weekend, I've decided to get back on the horse, and start out with a brief reminiscing of how this past year proved to be a true test of my abilities; both as a socialite and drinker, and how, for yet another year, I have emerged victorious and stomach-pump free.

Here is a list of my favorite drunken moments from my favorite "watering holes" from 2007, in no particular order, because, to be honest, I can't really remember when they happened.

Back to school! Back to school! I am a back to school girl! How exciting it is to be a student again, with books and pencils and statistics homework and reaction papers and exams and...um. Oh. Uhhh. School's hard. I forgot. I suck at math. Hmm. What can assist me during my Back To School Boo-Hoos? Oh, yeah! Booze! Yeah! That's the ticket! I forgot! Let's go somewhere new! I'm feeling adventurous.

So. Have y'all ever been drinking out, you know, past Olbrich Gardens? You know, close to Monona? Look, don't spread it around, but I've been out there. Among the Forgotten. I went to this bar once called the Packer Inn. Was that the name? Um. I think so. And really, I sort of thought I might get beat up. Like, I mean, actually pounded. Some woman kept givin' me the evil eye real hard for playing Hall and Oates on the Jukebox or something. It was scary. But, couple weeks ago, me and my birthday celebrators (happy b-day Lia!) decided to roll up our sleeves and drive down Atwood Street and hope for the best.

I think I owe all of you - my dane101 fans (and by all of you I mean my friend reem, her friend sarah, and my dad) - an apology that will echo through the ages. I sincerely promise you that I haven't been SOBER during my absence, but I have committed an even more tragic folly; I haven't TOLD you about how DRUNK I've been. It just isn't fair. And I apologize. It will probably happen again, but I will remain apologetic. Forever. But, on the positive side, I just re-enrolled into school for the first time in, um, 5 years? And if any of you knew me in college, which I doubt, you'll remember that I was not only a fantastically obsessive student, I was an even better drunk. So, while still in the midst of the marvelous summer haze, we'll keep those pencils sharpened to await the arrival of class schedules and student loan checks. Word!

OK-OK. So, do you guys remember when Elimidate came to Madison? Did you watch it? You KNOW you did, because I did, but I didn't tell anyone about it. Do you remember where they went? I do. The Cardinal Bar was their first stop.

Something I have learned to understand about the awesomeness of Southwestern Wisconsin is that during the summer people want to rock. The weather is fantastic, the people are hilarious, and the booze flows without end. Two fantastic examples that I attended this past weekend were the Beloit Riverfest and the Maestri Pig Roast in Spring Green, Wis. Now, while I know these events weren't exactly Madison or Dane County based, I think something great about where I live in Madison is that I can go a short distance and find myself amidst a cornucopia of festivals, carnivals, music shows and cocktails. It's part of what makes Madison rad. Accessibility, bitches.

The only time I have ever been to a piano bar in my life, was in Minneapolis, MN about 5 years ago. I think the name of the place was Nik’s (anyone know what I’m talking about?) and it was a huge, very kitschy sort of place. As far as I can recall, I didn’t enjoy the piano-playing very much, but I had a good time. So, you know, it was fine. In theory I feel like a fan of piano bars and the idea of a group of people sitting around an older gentlemen, belting out old WWII favorites, but when I am presented with the reality of a man singing Elton John to a pretty much empty bar, the fantasy sort of dies.

Did you all ever go to The Slipper Club? I went to The Slipper Club. I actually really liked The Slipper Club. Once, me and my bff went as "punk is dead" zombies and got hit on by a Jack White. Once we went to see our favorite Madison band, The Window Smashers, and somehow someone ended up with a full bottle of vodka in their jacket pocket. I have many fond memories. So, when I was going to do my Tuesday rounds, (you know, buy one get one and karaoke at the Shamrock, and 1.50 rails at The 'dise)and my friend suggested that we go to Adair's Lounge, I was skeptical. She had been to a show at Adair's not long ago and said she had a very good time...AND since I had yet to find a new place to go for my reviews, I thought why the hell not?

(ed. note: Due to a lack of having an image of the Mercury Cafe on hand, please accept this illustration of Mercury, Messenger of the Gods, artist unknown)

Hi! How ARE all of you? It's getting so COLD, isn't it? Goodness! Well, I don't know about the lot of you, but one thing I like about the impending doom of the wintry months, is the warm caress of booze as it cascades down my gullet, and this past week I found such a fantastic deal of a steal of a boozery I HAVE to tell you all about it! Yippee!

I am sure many of you have been to Cafe Montmarte, especially on wonderful Mondays where you get to hear a Hammond organ and drink wine for half-price, BUT, how many of you have been to The Mercury Cafe and Lounge? Oh, that many of you? Well, where the hell was I? Dang.

Alright alright. Fresh from my Dane101 kickoff third place costume, with Halloween over for some of us and just beginning for others, I thought I would discuss a liquor that, while probably really has nothing to do with Halloween whatsoever, is a booze I have been favoring lately, so, well, there. BOO! (oh my god, wait, I mean BOOze! ha!). Tequila is a booze that many people have a very, uh, particular relationship with--many middle aged ladies that work in call centers speak to the "wackiness" that ensues if they have one too many frozen strawberry - mango - raspberry margaritas at TGIFridays. Word! Others claim that their voracity for the liquor usually ends in fistfights or random, um, encounters. But, whether you are a purist or a pokey puppy, tequila can thrill and delight.

oh. my. god.

I am so so sorry.

I have been away for so long.

After moving, contending with a flu that I am sure rivaled the e. coli-ridden spinach, and after starting a new job, I must say, with disdain, that boozin' had been put on the back burner for a short time. But the prodigal daughter has returned! With a thirst more unquenchable than ever before! So, please, don't be cross with me, I fell off the wagon, into sobriety. But I am back. And, god, I need a drink.

About 2 months ago, I went with my brother to Springfield, Mo, for a wedding of friends of ours that I hadn't seen in, well, about 10 years. My mother's family is all from the South (Arkansas, to be embarrassingly exact), so in some ways I feel a sense of comfort in many things southern: biscuits, sweet tea, fried okra---well, ok, mostly with food. But, whatever. Anyway, when my brother and I went to the beautiful wedding of our beautiful friends, I was quickly whisked away to the free booze table, where, to my surprise, there stood before me a liquor that I have always regarded with disdain and skepticism: Bourbon. Eight huge bottles of Knob Creek loomed before me, and I quickly flashed back to all the brown liquor misadventures I had faced in my early drinking life:

Now, I am going to be totally honest with you; I am completely and totally biased when it comes to Fyfe's Corner Bistro (1344 E. Washington Ave).

I think Fyfe's is one of the MOST underrated, awesome bar/pubs in Madison, and I actually have reservations about writing about how awesome Fyfe's really is, because one of the reasons I love it so much, is because it's always at least partially empty whenever I go, so me, my date or my friends always get to feel like we have the place to ourselves. But I have to be realistic; everyone deserves to know the awesome deliciousness of Fyfe's, and in order to further my massive acclaim and esteem in the unbelievably devilish realm of mixed drinks writing, I must be honest. Fyfe's is a gem.

Oh my gosh, hi! My name is mercy and I like to drink a lot! I have joined the ranks of Dane101 to bring you the best news from the best part about Madison: the alcohol! I think we've all faced the endless beer and cheese-based humor from our out-of-town friends, family and parole officers, but now it's time to show those jerks that we know how to drink ALL sorts of liquor, not just ales. My purpose around Dane101 will be to, well, basically, get drunk sometimes, and tell you guys all about it. And while I do enjoy a 40 oz. of Mickey's on occasion, my main topics will range in the cocktail variety. So let's get to it!

Last Thursday, after a marvelous night at the Monona Pool's Adult Swim (from 8:30 - 9:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, which totally RULES and is only $3.00 if you say you're from Monona, $4.00 if you don't lie), my friends and I were not only thirsty but quite hungry, but once we were all dried off and dressed, it was well past 10:00. So we decided on The Glass Nickel, a late-night snacky staple and the site of many a long evening, among me and my friends (one day I'll tell you all about the Bloody Martini Fiasco, but we don't know each other that well yet). Their food is tasty, and they've got a nice drink menu that features some nice-sounding, classy-ish sorts of drinks.