FEATURES

14 drinks in 14 nights
Squeeze the last drops out of summer BY WILL SPITZ

It went too fast. That's the line on your lips as you reinvade Boston for the fall. But while you're trying to re-acclimate yourself to the city, you might think about stretching the summer right up until the first class starts - or, in some cases, a little longer. Boston University, Boston College, and Tufts start classes on Tuesday, September 6; Northeastern and MIT start on Wednesday, September 7; and Harvard students have until September 20 (slackers). While you wait, here's a handy drinkers' guide to help you get the most out of your last two weeks of summer.

Thursday, August 25
Pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon at the Silhouette l $6.25
Start off with one of the best deals in town at one of the best dive bars in town. Rub elbows (or play pool or darts) with townies and Allston hipsters alike, all while gettin' a good buzz on for cheap and keeping the drunk munchies (via some tasty popcorn) at bay for free. Silhouette Lounge, 200 Brighton Avenue, Allston, 617.254.9306.

Friday, August 26
Mojito at Middlesex l $8
We didn't understand why everyone at this SoHo-style lounge was drinking mojitos until we tried one. Minty and refreshing, this is the perfect drink for a balmy Friday night. Despite the fact that the 'Sex is always packed on the weekends, the busy bartenders take their time to muddle the fresh mint with a pestle, so the plant's aromatic oil permeates the cocktail. Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.868.MSEX, www.middlesexlounge.com.

Saturday, August 27
Scorpion bowl at Hong Kong l $13
A Harvard Square mainstay for more than 50 years, Hong Kong boasts three floors, delectable Chinese cuisine, and possibly the biggest and best scorpion bowl in town. Definitely enough to get two people sufficiently sloshed, HK's bowls are made with a secret combination of nine different alcohols (mostly rums) and pineapple and orange juice. They're fruity, sweet, and deceptively strong, just like a scorpion bowl should be. Hong Kong Restaurant, 1236 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.864.5311.

Sunday, August 28
Bloody Mary at the White Horse l $5.50
We can't imagine a better way to cap off a long weekend of partying than relaxing with a nice Bloody Mary on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The White Horse makes one of the best in town - strong, spicy, and large - and when the weather's nice, the tavern's open front provides some welcome fresh air. White Horse Tavern, 116 Brighton Avenue, Allston, 617.254.6633.

Monday, August 29
Infused bourbon at City Bar l $10
The City Bar is a swanky spot inside the Lenox Hotel. With its comfy leather chairs, relaxed vibe, and great drinks, it's a perfect place to take a date. The infused bourbon - Maker's Mark with caramelized Turkish figs, Chinese cinnamon, and vanilla bean - is the most popular of chef Robert Fathman's three "Infusions Diabolique." While we're not sure what distinguishes Turkish figs and Chinese cinnamon from their American counterparts, we do know that they add a terrific touch to an already-tasty whiskey. City Bar in the Lenox Hotel, 61 Exeter Street, Boston, 617.933.4800, www.citybarboston.com.

Tuesday, August 30
Dark and Stormy at River Gods l $7.50
The funky ambiance at this little, slightly out-of-the-way bar makes it one of our favorites. DJs spin eclectic tunes, patrons sit on throne-style chairs, an old organ resides in the corner, and the armor of a medieval knight presides over the proceedings. We recommend the Dark and Stormy (ginger beer and Gosling's dark rum) - another palatable but potent drink. River Gods, 125 River Street, Cambridge, 617.576.1881.

Wednesday, August 31
Watermelon ale at Boston Beer Works l $4.50 (16 oz.); $5.25 (22 oz.)
As the city's largest and oldest brewery/restaurant, Beer Works offers some of the freshest, best-tasting brewskis around. While we recommend that you try as many of its award-winning beers as you can, the watermelon ale - a light and refreshing offering that's not overpoweringly fruity and is garnished with a slice of melon - is a perfect summer/early-fall beverage. It won't be available for much longer, so get there soon. Boston Beer Works, 61 Brookline Avenue, Allston, 617.536.BEER, www.beerworks.net.

Thursday, September 1
Espresso martini at Devlin's l $8
Forget the Red Bull and vodka: the classy way to kick off a thirsty Thursday is with this unique martini. Made with espresso, Stoli Vanil, Bailey's, Kahlúa, Godiva chocolate, and a few espresso beans as garnish, it's a strong drink, both in terms of alcohol and caffeine. Devlin's Bistro, 332 Washington Street, Brighton, 617.779.8822, www.edevlins.com.

Friday, September 2
Hercules Double IPA and a burger at Bukowski's l $5.25 for the beer; $1.69 for the burger (before 8 pm, Monday through Friday)
Talk about bang for your buck. While $5.25 for 16 ounces of beer sounds pricey, consider that Hercules is 9.1 percent alcohol by volume, and that you can't beat Bukowski's daily burger deal. The place itself is very cool - low lighting, loud music, and more varieties of beer than you can shake a stick at. And any bar named after the late LA writer can't suck. Bukowski's Tavern, 1281 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, 617.497.7077.

Saturday, September 3
Tanqueray and tonic at ZuZu l $5.50
A classic drink at a neoteric place. Sandwiched between two rooms of the venerable Middle East (and owned by the same brothers), ZuZu offers up delicious Middle Eastern grub, an eclectic array of music seven nights a week, and consistently cool visual vittles by local artists. What better way to wash it all down? ZuZu, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.864.EAST x 237, www.mideastclub.com/zuzu.

Sunday, September 4
B-Sidecar at the B-Side l $9
The B-Side's enormous cocktail menu is pretty daunting, so the sidecar is a good place to start. We can't pronounce half of the drink's ingredients - Domaine Labiette Castille Bas-Armagnac, Cointreau, grenadine, and lemon juice, with a sugar rim and an orange-wedge garnish - but boy, do we like it. If you get hungry, grab a free hard-boiled egg from the bar. B-Side Lounge, 92 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, 617.354.0766, www.bsidelounge.com.

Monday, September 5
Miller High Life and a round of bowling at Kings l $4 for the beer; $9.50 per game (includes shoes) before 6 pm, and a dollar more after that For many, the last night before classes. Although Kings is pretty fancy as far as bowling alleys go, there's nothing we crave more when we hear the sound of bowling balls hitting pins than the Champagne of bottled beers. Kings, 10 Scotia Street, Boston, 617.266.BOWL, www.backbaykings.com.

Tuesday, September 6
Guinness at Tír na nÓg l $4.50
One of the more "authentic" Irish pubs around, the nÓg is a small, cozy place in Union Square. For some reason, the Guinness just tastes better here, and at $4.50 for an imperial pint (that's 20 ounces for all you Yanks out there), you can't go wrong. Tír na nÓg, 366A Somerville Avenue, Somerville, 617.628.4300, www.thenog.com.

Wednesday, September 7
'Poon pang at Sunset l $3.95
You've been to your Wednesday classes, scanned the hundreds of courses, and picked the one that'll offer you the most enlightenment for the least work. Time to make your last decision in front of the 112 taps at Sunset. We recommend the "beertails" (like a cocktail, but with beer - get it?). Normally we'd tell you to try the Black n Tan, but since we had Guinness last night, we'll go with the 'Poon pang (Harpoon IPA and Champagne). The Sunset Grill & Tap, 130 Brighton Avenue, Allston, 617.254.1331, www.allstonsfinest.com.