drinking

Here's a good way to become the most popular person at a party or bar--suggest and mix interesting cocktails. But if you're only interested in the most common drinks of our day, you may want to wait for version 2, which will feature more shots and modern drinks; this set will make the classics new again.

Regardless, Drinks for iPhone and iPod Touch is still one of the better bartending applications in its category, featuring great navigation to quickly get you to your favorites, the entire drinks library, or a search by mixers, liquor type, or garnish (in … Read more

Cocktails recipes may be the sustaining purpose and anchor for the bartending application Party Pro, but the drinks library isn't the only character in the cast. An international unit converter, basic bartending tips, and a blood alcohol calculator make up the other three-fourths of the application, along with those recipes for the Lady Love Fizz and the Bloody Brain.

While the library is excellent, the application's organization could make the recipes more readily accessible. Instead, it favors a list-like architecture. The search function would be better were it predictive, and the application's bar locator misses an opportunity … Read more

Announcing a new way to get your friends drunk: GiveReal.com, a Facebook application (and standalone Web site) that just emerged out of private beta. It's hoping to pioneer what the founders call "social e-commerce" by letting people send virtual drinks to each other that can be translated to a real-life libation.

The concept is, in theory, very similar to start-ups like buyyourfriendadrink.com. But services like that are only compatible with participating bars, and Give Real has found a workaround that will make its gifting service compatible with any bar that accepts credit cards. You opt … Read more

Mood lighting is important in any situation. However, when a bottle of wine is opened the need is even more pronounced. It just calls for having the lights down low and some pleasant tunes on the hi-fi. Of course some friendly company is an agreeable accompaniment too.

But what of the times when the lights just aren't right? Too low or too bright, sometimes it's tricky to set the proper mood.

Enter the Drink Light Bottle Cooler. Or rather, turn it on.

This combination designed by Jorge Najera takes the lowly ice bucket and transforms it into something … Read more

If you're a United Kingdom dweller feeling left out of U.S.-only services like BuyYourFriendADrink.com there's light at the end of the tunnel. Launching Friday is Get Them In, a new way to buy your friends food and drink items right on Facebook which can be redeemed at various U.K. pubs and retailers.

Unlike BYFAD, Get Them In is not just centered around bars, and it works in grocery stores too. Purchases of drinks and snacks are made through Facebook using PayPal, so you've got your entire list of friends available in one place. … Read more

When there's snow on the ground, I practically live on hot chocolate. However, I'm not a big fan of most of the mixes. They're just not as smooth as hot chocolate made from the real thing. Real hot chocolate is more work, of course, you have to melt chocolate, mix in your milk, and froth the drink. Firebox has a Hot Choctail Maker on sale, though, that can do all that, and more.

The Hot Choctail Maker is a blender combined with a coffee pot, with a few extra features added on for good measure. You pour … Read more

Dr. Michael Breus aka "The Sleep Doctor" drops by the studio today to catch up on some Zzzs and give us a few tips to improve the quality of our sleep. The good doctor answers our pressing questions about sleep walking, energy drinks, and spooning, and dispels a few sleep-related myths.

We're all excited for Dr. Brues' appearance on our show. This is actually his second appearance on The 404, but we're happy to get him back in the studio to answer our pressing questions about sleep cycles, naps, sleep talking, snoring, and lucid dreaming. Personally, I have a big problem with sleep talking (or so I'm told--I've never actually heard myself). One time, I apparently jumped out of bed and yelled "THE VORTEX!" for absolutely no reason at all, then proceeded to fall back into a deep sleep. Another time, I answered a phone call, made plans to go out, and had a full on conversation with a friend all in my sleep. Am I clinically insane? Listen to the show to hear Dr. Brues' professional opinion!

Who says you have to go to a bar to experience mixed drinks that come from a spout? Meet the Super SideBar, a countertop gadget that allows you to make drinks from up to five kinds of liquor without ever having to handle a bottle.

The visible part of the SideBar consists of a row of five buttons attached to a spout. This user interface sits on top of your counter, ready for you to dispense drinks. The bottles can be stored up to 10 feet away, under the counter, under your picnic table, or around the corner. The buttons … Read more

On the show today: Guest Alex Green shows us his Web site "GET OVER IT", Space Beer T-shirts, 404 Dark Knight Meetup Wrap-up, Pussy Natural Energy Drink, Monster of Montauk, and Seth Rogan on the pot.

Last night's 404 meet up to see the Dark Knight was a resounding success! Our buddies showed up well before the movie and we chewed the fat for awhile. Big thanks and much appreciation goes out to Issac and Matt (the Intern) for dropping by to say hi. We missed you in the theater dudes! No surprise or complaint here, but … Read more