$2: Whiskey, Iggy's
Wednesday nights at Iggy's in Lakewood are awesome. First of all, it's jam night. Musicians bring in their gear to thrown down covers and originals all night (with plenty of Grateful Dead stuff, so you know you're in the right place at the right time). But beyond that, whiskey drinks are $2. Get it straight-up, neat, on the rocks, with Coke, whatever. They renovated their bar a little more than a year ago, updating the lighting and the overall look of the place. As an aside, there aren't too many great spots to shoot pool on the west side — particularly in Lakewood. Iggy's boasts three tables, and the crowd is usually pretty laid-back. Good company, good tunes, good whiskey (at a great price, duh).
13405 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-472-4449.
Twenty-five cents: Thirsty Thursdays Drafts, Lake County Captains
Um, we have no idea why this hasn't been publicized with greater fervor, but every Thursday at Classic Park, the Eastlake Home of the Lake County Captains, you can get twenty-five cent Labatt Blue drafts during a special pre-game happy hour. (During the game, domestic draft beers are half-off, which is a great deal in and of itself, but come on, twenty-five-cent beer!) Minor League baseball has always been home to some insane promotions, but this is probably the best beer deal in Northeast Ohio. If you can't make it out Thursday nights, the Captains always have special promotions going on, including fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights and family fun day at Sunday matinees.
35300 Vine St., Eastlake, 440-954-9467, milb.com.
$4: Beer With a View, Azure Sun Lounge
Metropolitan at the 9's swanky new sun lounge opened up earlier this month, and wow! We are impressed. Perched 150 feet above city streets, Azure offers unadulterated views of downtown Cleveland, Live Music Thursdays, and happy hours where folks can enjoy $4 beers, $5 glasses of wine, and half-off cocktails.
2017 East Ninth St., 216-239-1200, metropolitancleveland.com.
$15: A Year of Cheap Beer, Polish Legion of American Veterans, Post #58
Where the Tremont lifers drink: a real neighborhood bar that's been around since before Tremont became "cool." It's a membership bar that costs $15 annually, but go there a few times and you'll more than get your money's worth. Two cheap American beers on tap, cheap liquor, a jukebox, and a pool table; what more do you need?
2442 Professor Ave., 216-241-1788.
$0: Happy Hour, Mix at the Museum
This monthly after-work shindig hosted in the gloriously beautiful atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art includes wine, beer, cocktails and live entertainment. Every first Friday of the month, the CMA spotlights unique art, artists, poets, live performance artists and other artsy type fun with music from bands or DJs.
$5 or so: Wine Pour, Heinen's Downtown
Not everything has to be done outside. At some point, you'll want relief from the sun and a blast of air conditioning. So why not stop by the grocery store? Yes, the grocery store. It's no secret Heinen's downtown location is a bit more than a place to buy food. It's also a place to admire beautiful architecture and, on the second floor, a place where you can sip on wine by the ounce for as long as you'd like. It's the perfect way to sample a bunch of new vintages without grabbing a whole bottle.
900 Euclid Ave., 216-302-3020, heinens.com.
$1: Tall Boy, Bac
It's become one of Cleveland's go-to restaurants, even in the competitive and foodie-driven neighborhood of Tremont, but while we love Bac's noodles and pho, what brings us back after work during happy hour is the $1 tall boy. From 3 to 6 p.m. every weekday, you can grab a PBR for a buck. Oh, and there's a bunch of $5 food specials too, in case happy hour turns into late lunch or early dinner.
2661 West 14th St., 216-938-8960, bactremont.com.
$4 or less: Mystery Beer, Merwin's Wharf
Nestled on a bend of the Cuyahoga River, this might be the Metropark's best-kept secret. The place is built on the old Lock 44 ("Sloop Lock") that once was located beneath the Merwin Street Bridge between West and James streets. As a result, it offers great views of both the river and the city skyline, and the enormous deck stretches out to the banks of the river. The place regularly has a great selection of craft beers on tap — including several local brews — and when a keg nears its end, it's placed on the "mystery beer" list so you can order it at a great discount, making the brew and view thing all the more appealing.
785 Merwin Ave., 216-664-5696, clevelandmetroparks.com