Take happy hour outside at Clyde's

It's a beautiful day outside, and here's one way to enjoy (a) the lovely weather and (b) the end of the work week: The new outdoor happy hour at Clyde's of Chevy Chase.

The patio bar at Clyde's, tucked around the back of the building away from busy Wisconsin Avenue, has long been one of my favorite "secret" al fresco dining spots. It's shaded, a nice breeze blows through the shrubs and trees that line the edge of the property, and the sound of water flowing from a nearby fountain obscures the sound of traffic.

It's all very nice, but it's about to get better. Starting this weekend, Clyde's is offering a Thursday and Friday happy hour between 5 and 10 p.m., with $3 frozen drinks and sangria, $3 Coronas and $2.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. The food menu seems inspired by summer picnics: BBQ pork and char-grilled pit beef sandwiches, grilled spiced shrimp, foot-long chili dogs, tortillas with carnitas, all $6 and served up with cole slaw or potato salad for an extra $2.

-- Fritz Hahn