BEST PLACES TO WINE BUT NOT DINE: 4TH STREET VINE, VIN DE PAYS AND THE WINE COUNTRY Long Beach’s budding oenophiles have a lot to celebrate when it comes to sipping in the city. At Vin de Pays and the Wine Country, it’s the carefully-cultivated selections of wine (and beer) that are as accessible to amateurs as they are enthusiasts. And at Retro Row’s 4th Street Vine, it’s all about savings: every Thursday, the shop pours glasses of select reds and whites for a mere $3. 4th Street Vine, 2142 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.343.5463; 4thstreetvine.com; Vin de Pays, 252 Elm Ave., Long Beach 90802. 562.495.4499; vindepayswines.com; The Wine Country, 2301 Redondo Ave., Signal Hill 90755. 562.597.8303; thewinecountry.com. MILES CLEMENTS

BEST VAMPIRE BAR: ALEX’S BAR/FANGTASIA Owner Alex Hernandez’s eponymous bar already had a place in our hearts with its dark red walls, photo booth, oversized 1959 Johnny Cash publicity photo from the Foothill Club and a stage that’s hosted everyone from Dexter Romweber to Dengue Fever. Scoring a recurring role in HBO’s now-granddaddy-of-them-all vampire series True Blood (as the vampire bar Fangtasia) is maybe just the last nail (sorry!) in the cool coffin. Plus it’s always been a great day bar. Probably because it’s so quiet. And dark. 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach 90804. 562.434.8292. alexsbar.com. THEO DOUGLAS

BEST COCKTAIL TO ORDER IN YOUR KITCHEN: BANANA DAIQUIRI OK, maybe it’s cheating to recommend a drink you can make yourself, but seriously, go whip up one of these. Originally featured in The District’s throwback summer guide, our recipe originates from a 1958 issue of the now dearly-departed Gourmet magazine. And while summer has come to an end—or so they say—I see no reason to cut this out. Bananas, rum, sugar, lime juice, ice. Perfect. DAVE GOOCH

BEST UNEXPECTED ALCOHOL: BENSON’S LIQUOR You’ve probably been to Benson’s before, maybe to suck a few bucks out of the ATM or to grab an aperitif before breakfast at Egg Heaven. But what you might have overlooked is the store’s secret specialty: craft beer. The stock here goes far beyond token cases of Fat Tire; there are bottles from heavyweights like Stone Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head as well as solid Belgian imports. There’s all kinds of unexpected booze here—just look to the pistol-shaped bottles of rum and boots full of whiskey for evidence. 4337 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.438.6512. MC

BEST PSYCHEDELIC IMPORTER: BILLGAZER With a hand in nearly every psych show booked within city limits, Bill Ross (aka Billgazer) expanded outside his dive-bar domain this year to the revamped Art Theatre, where Long Beach was treated to shows by the likes of the Entrance Band and Dead Meadow. No word on what’s ahead for the rest of 2009, but here’s hoping he squeezes a few more in. myspace.com/billgazer. ELLEN GRILEY

BEST PARTY PHILOSOPHY: DJ ELLE JAY We like District Weekly cover girl Linda Russom for more than just her uncanny ability to entice us on to the dance floor—there’s also her style, trademark snarl and sweet-ass heart of gold, as evidenced by her yearly fundraising efforts for Team Tough Titties and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Look for her at the Pike this Saturday, Oct. 17, with partner in crime Professor B-Rad. EG

BEST HOLIDAY TRADITION: GOOD FOOT CHRISTMAS For some, it’s the meat that makes the ‘mas. For others, it’s where you dance it off later that evening—especially if it happens to be at Alex’s Bar with DJ Dennis Owens, a handful of your nearest and dearest and plenty of James Brown. Best of all, since Christmas signals the return of friends who’ve long since moved away, you can always count on special Good Foot guest DJs, like co-founder Rodi Delgadillo—now a resident of Japan—who’ll be joining Owens in his rightful place behind the decks. goodfoot.org. EG

BEST PLACE TO KEEP IT COOL: HOUSE OF HAYDEN The discovery this summer that a lot of Long Beach bars don’t bother with air conditioning inevitably led to a trip downtown to House of Hayden, a cool, well-appointed neighborhood place where you can actually keep a conversation without shouting over a deafeningly loud jukebox. Every hour is happy at Hayden, but consider an afternoon visit when it’s just you, your bartender, a couple old-timers and a cool, quiet conversation. 421 E. First St., Long Beach 90802. 562.435.5699. ALEX ROMAN

BEST CHEAP CHIMAY: LBMA AFTER DARK The Museum’s semi-regular After Dark parties—coinciding with openings, like the museum’s recent “Surviving Hard Times: WPA Artists”—are hands-down your best bet for good tunes (courtesy of such DJs as Scotty Coats, Nobody and Lithuanian Prince), cheap drinks (Chimays are available for $5) and, of course, a priceless view. All this for just $10 at the door. Mark your calendars for the next one: Oct. 22. 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach 90803. 562.439.2119; lbma.org. EG

BEST WAY TO DRINK YOUR WAY INTO ADULTHOOD: THE MADISON BAR Leave your quarters at home, can your requests for Bud Light and tuck your shirt in while you’re at it, dammit. Kid, the Madison is all class, see, the only place in town to don your best Don Draper and sip a gimlet the way God himself intended you to: surrounded by beauty, with one hand in your pocket and a wink in your eye. 110 Pine Ave., Long Beach 90802. 562.628.8866; themadisonrestaurant.com. EG

BEST WAY TO DRINK YOUR DINNER: MEAT LOVER’S SPECIAL Meat Lover’s Special remains an uninviting name for a cocktail, but for those who hate Bloody Marys, this is surprisingly delicious. Sadly, last I heard, the restaurant was considering taking it off the menu. I guess people aren’t so into a drink whose claim to fame is that it includes beef jus. I humbly disagree with those people. 6272 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach 90803. 562.431.1414. DG

BEST WAY TO GAIN YOUR SEA LEGS: THE OBSERVATION BAR Long Beach’s most recognizable landmark (or is it a seamark?), the Queen Mary is also home to one of the city’s more overlooked watering holes: the Observation Bar. With much of its original art-deco decor intact—like the inexplicably creepy mural above the actual bar—and an outside patio with a one-of-a-kind view of the Long Beach skyline (albeit through panes of Plexiglas), the bar boasts a blend of first-class ’20s charm and Haunted Mansion oddities—perfect for ordering up classic cocktails. My pick? The Manhattan. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach 90802. 562.435.3511. queenmary.com. DG

BEST BANDS AMONG BOOKS: {OPEN} We’ve written up {open} in previous Best of Long Beach issues for its arts appeal and quality service to the city as a used bookstore, but as of late the quaint Fourth St. space has also become an (albeit early) evening destination for fans of musicians both local (Greater California) and not so much (Billy Corgan). Now, if they could just bottle that used-book smell. 2226 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.499.6736; thestoryofopen.com. EG

BEST WORK AWAY FROM WORK: THE PIKE BAR & GRILL Whether you toil from home or are an office drone, if you’ve got a laptop, the Pike has a booth/cubicle and a cold pint of PBR waiting for you. With free Wi-Fi, bomb ceviche and a wait staff that seems to have its timing of beer refills down to a science, this power lunch can last as little or as long as you’d like. 1836 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90802. 562.437.4453. EG

BEST STREET SCENE: PINE AVE. (!) They laughed when John Morris sat down at the piano—but when he started to play. . . ! Seriously, Morris’ bringing of New Year’s Eve back to downtown by plunking a stage with live bands in the middle of Pine Ave. might have sounded a bit daffy in late ’08, but it wound up being a surprise success (maybe because we remember how Dave Alvin used to rock nearby Blue Cafe every New Year’s for years). Perhaps they should try it on Pacific Ave.—or at Pine Ave. and Eighth St.? TD

BEST KARAOKE FOR KICKS: THE PROSPECTOR The Prospector has long been a karaoke powerhouse (up there with ol’ reliable, the Silver Fox), but for those who are a little mic-shy, trust that the people-watching is just as good. Mosey over on a Wednesday evening and you may just be treated to a performance the likes of which you’ve never seen: Jesse Gomez’s rendition of “Me and Mrs. Jones,” replete with all the bar-stool-humping, floor-stomping and heart-thumping a tipsy audience of awful singers could ever ask for. It’s pretty fantastic, even if slightly less so when you catch him doing the same routine the following week. 2400 E. Seventh St., Long Beach 90804. 562.438.3839; prospectorlongbeach.com. EG

BEST NATURAL BUZZ: RISTORANTE DAVINCI There are few barmen in town better than DaVinci’s own Mark Frankos, and for this fact alone DaVinci merits a mention. But also, consider the following five words: Happy hour. Martinis. Helicopter rides. With the restaurant’s Soaring Saturdays package, $60 gets you three mini-tinis and a 20-minute flight around the city. Baby, you can’t get much higher. 2801 E. Spring St., #300, Long Beach 90806. 562.685.8111; davincilb.com. EG

BEST AFTERNOON BOUT WITH THE BOOZE: SNUG HARBOR There’s no better midday buzz to be found than at Snug Harbor. Nestled in the center of an unassuming suburban strip mall, the bar’s craggy façade looms behind a few tattered lawn chairs and a sign boasting the sailor-friendly opening time of 6 a.m. Inside, the wood-paneled walls make for a hospitable cave where grumbling conversationalists are interrupted only by the occasional burst of sunlight stumbling through the front door. Keep to yourself and keep it simple: well rotgut gin with a little fizz and a slice of lime. 5520 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood 90713. 562.425.0964. SEAN O’CONNELL

BEST ONE-TWO PUNCH: SUMMER AND MUSIC The outdoors is great (see: Best Street Scene), but sometimes you can’t argue with bands. Which is probably why the Summer and Music Summer concerts series wound up going out with such a bang—fueled by Cold War Kids at Busker Fest Aug. 21, and eight days later by Funk Fest with Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. “Express Yourself” Rhythm Band. Hard to beat that. summerandmusic.com. TD

BEST DRINK YOU’LL NEARLY FORGET: THE WISCONSIN LUNCH BOX My whole night at Max’s Steiner was a blur, but somehow I remembered the Wisconsin Lunch Box enough to write about it. (It was the subject of one of the first Drink of the Weeks I ever wrote. Ahhhh, youth.) A shot of whiskey dropped into a mug of OJ and Bud Light (I saw someone on the Web site complain that Bud isn’t Wisconsin beer; maybe you can try it with Miller Lite instead), it’s disgusting and yet somehow delicious . . . I think. 2500 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach 90804. 562.433.5823. DG

BEST HOURS OF HAPPINESS: YARD HOUSE Whether you’re here for a $4 pint of Racer 5 IPA or a half-off spicy tuna mountain, the Yard House remains one of the best happy-hour destinations for those arriving via bicycles and brodozers alike. It may be corporate—and you may hate every Eagles song that you’ll have to endure here—but these are easy trades for a lazy afternoon on the outdoor patio. Cheers. 401 Shoreline Dr., Long Beach 90802. 562.628.0455; yardhouse.com. EG

BEST REASON TO TAKE A CAB: THE ZOMBIE The Zombie—one of Don’s storied rum cocktails—comes with a strict two-per-person limited, and for good reason. Even just half of one of these cocktails—featuring three different shots of rum—is enough to nearly knock you off your barstool. There are no fruit punches—just booze, booze and more booze. So be prepared: the buzz comes on quick and, like the legends of original Beachcomber proprietor Donn Beach, lingers long afterward. 16278 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach 92649. 562.592.1321; donthebeachcomber.com. EG

Tags: billgazer, don the beachcomber, drinks, good foot, Long Beach, max's steiner, observation bar, ristorante davinci, wisconsin lunch box, {open}