Por Dr. Ink

Rather than abandon several open computer files and unanswered emails upon taking a much-needed break, I instead transferred everything to my iPhone and resumed work at Harley Gray Kitchen & Bar, arriving purposely at the start of happy hour. It isn’t something I do often, but being self-employed allows for such dandy perks.

Free Wi-Fi and significant discounts allowed me to complete multiple tasks with a looser head and fuller stomach. My discounted elixir of choice was a tall glass of watermelon lemonade, an innocent-looking drink hiding a decent shot of watermelon-flavored Burnett’s Vodka.

Priced at $4, the tall cocktail also receives various measures of triple sec, fresh lemon juice and 7-Up. All combined, it’s sweet, summery and just tart enough to avoid falling into the sticky-lips category. Had I chosen to up my buzz and downgrade my work performance, I could have opted for a double shot in the drink for $2 extra.

Bringing my “desk” to Harley meant taking care of business in pure sunshine, with a warm breeze blowing across my back. An entire wall opens up to Goldfinch Street as rows of paned windows in front suck in additional light. The tastefully designed interior also affords plenty of wiggle room to stretch out at either the bar or in the dining areas.

The cheapest drink deals at happy hour are the $2 margaritas made with Giro tequila. For a buck more you can have pureed fruit added in. In a past visit, the traditional version hit the spot, a recipe that tasted as good as any without drowning out the booze.

Or if red Sangria calls, a full glass of the stuff enhanced with fresh fruit, peach schnapps and raspberry liqueur will set you back only $3. The bargains extend also to mojitos, select wines and a “beer of the month” for $5 each.

Harley’s happy hour is well stated on both a separate menu card and a sandwich sign perched on the sidewalk. Several discounted appetizers priced at $6 or less add to the allure, such as white fish ceviche, nachos and excellent fried calamari that I tried previously.

This time around I ordered a quintet of chicken wings, keeping a few fingers clean and free of the spicy hot sauce to protect my device. Tricky business eating wings without all 10 digits, but it somehow worked. The wings, however, weren’t crispy enough for my liking, which didn’t surprise me when they arrived only seven minutes after ordering them.

But so what? I came mainly for a drink and a change of atmosphere and came away with a couple of projects completed for under $10.