http://austin.citysearch.com/roundup/42625 My challenge: Bypass the usual high-dollar cocktails around Austin and track down enough drink specials to get me toasty for a fraction of the typical cost. Good thing this money-saving mission takes place in a lively city with a downtown area crammed full of drinking opportunities. Cheers! en Copyright 2007 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 http://images.citysearch.com/roundup/df/5b/42625r1.jpg http://austin.citysearch.com/roundup/42625 Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles The scavenger hunt for cheap drinks gets off to a purposefully slow start at this blink-and-you'll-miss-it outdoor bar. In a casual tribute to this great state (and to take advantage of the 4pm to 7pm happy hour,) I opt for an ice cold 16-ounce Lone Star for a whopping $2.50. Time to get this party started, right? Austin, TX http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/45698694/austin_tx/tiniest_bar_in_texas.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles Much like Cinderella, albeit with a slight buzz, I take off at the stroke of 7pm, heading straight for this spacious Warehouse District haunt offering $5 specialty cocktails and free live music, both until 8pm. Sipping a frothy strawberry cosmo (complete with swimming speckles of fresh berry) under the stars while enjoying a James Taylor cover--what more could I ask for...for $5. Austin, TX http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/10202644/austin_tx/cedar_street_courtyard.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles With $12.50 in hand and pleasantly surprised that some drinking establishments have extended happy hours, I make my way (with the help of a designated driver, thank you) a few blocks west to this Russian-inspired lounge, which happens to be filled to the gills with beer-drinking men watching a must-see Dallas Cowboys game. In the spirit of Texas football, I too opted for a beer, my usual bottle of Lone Star, which sets me back a paltry $2. Austin, TX http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/41654743/austin_tx/molotov_lounge.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles With the 9pm happy hour deadline quickly approaching, I hop one block down to this low-key, patio-driven bar that mixes tangy margaritas for an easy $3. One salt-rimmed glass of sweet-and-sour goodness (until I wake up tomorrow with a killer headache) later, I'm seriously tipsy and still have $7.50 burning a hole in my pocket. Austin, TX http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/43005842/austin_tx/key_bar.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 Citysearch Editors, Los Angeles Ending the night in a tiny chainsaw shop turned Johnny Cash tribute bar seemed perfectly appropriate for a random night of discount drinking, as did my somewhat odd final drink selection--a 12-ounce bottle of chilled Takara Sierra sake, split with a friend. For $5.25, I slowly sipped my portion of the cold sake from a cozy stool at the oversized bar, mentally chronicling my not-so-complementary drink choices, considering the repercussions the morning would bring and desperately racking my brain for the best use of my remaining $2.25 to fight my sudden alcohol-induced hunger pains. Austin, TX http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/41672403/austin_tx/the_mean_eyed_cat.html Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 http://austin.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/happy_hour Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 http://austin.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/singles_scene Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800 http://austin.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/mexican_food Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:55:33 -0800