Countdown to spring ... and the beach

We've had it with winter. Spring arrives on March 20, while we wait for it to arrive, we have a ton of ideas for ways to get in the spirit of the season. Every weekday through March 19, we'll offer an idea to put some Spring in your step.

Let's start tonight with an event that looks forward to ... summer. The Front Page is bringing the beach to Ballston at its 100 Days to Dewey party. (Technically, it's only 94 days until Memorial Day, but who's counting?) DJ Smoky, who keeps Dewey Beach's Starboard grooving every weekend during the summer, provides the tunes, and staff will be giving away Starboard T-shirts, beer koozies and other promotional items. (The Front Page and the Starboard share an owner.) While we're not promising that this will live up to those wild-and-crazy nights on Route 1, it's an excuse to start dreaming of Suicide Sundays, bloody marys and bartenders announcing "15 hours until last call!"

The fun begins at 8, but you have plenty of reasons to arrive early: half-price appetizers, $3 draft beers (including Guinness, Bass and Molson), $2.75 rail drinks and $3.25 wine from 3 until 8. Getting to the bar in the afternoon to get some cheap drinks? It's just like being at the beach.

-- Fritz Hahn