Where: Renfield's Corner, 2603A Routh St., 214-397-0300
When: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
What: $2.75 domestics or $1 off any draft, house drink, well or call liquor
Why: Because drinks aren't the only thing discounted at Renfield's on Wednesdays. Stick around till 10 p.m. and you're in for free music every week -- live, local and original. In fact, the booking is such a refreshing change from Uptown's usual DJs and cover acts that we made up a Best Of Dallas Award for the place. Lalagray performs tonight, and indie hip-hop group Dem Southernfolkz, a Dallas Observer favorite, perform next Wednesday.
Even without the promise of live music to come, though, Renfield's happy hour is fine on its own.
Drafts include Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, imperial pints of Guinness and Franconia Hefeweizen as well as Crispin Cider -- all very fairly priced at $5 or $5.25 before the discount. Or, if you're feeling cheap, PBR is regularly $3.50 and just $2.50 during the special. House drinks include the intriguing Purple Jesus, a chilled mixture of Tito's vodka with grapefruit, cherry and orange.
The bar is part of the Old Monk/BlackFriar family of pubs, and definitely has a similar vibe, with its dim lighting, warm dark woods and cheese boards on the menu. But with an emphasis on American food and drink and a big upstairs patio (with its own bar), it doesn't have quite as much of a European feel.