Traveling Lush sings Hannah's praises

It's the time when you wake up early on a Friday morning, use the bathroom, drink a glass of water, and roll back into bed when you truly realize the sheer magnificence of "no-class Fridays."

Not only does it make you snicker at all the unfortunate underclassmen who trudge by your window at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m., but it also gives you that extra reason to stay out an hour longer, down that extra drink, or go that mile further for Thursday night fun.

For all its benefits, however, ending your week on Thursday impairs all attempts at simply taking it easy. Any attempt to lounge on the couch effortlessly screening NBC's Thursday night lineup almost always falls peril to one rally call: "We don't have class tomorrow."

And so it happened last Thursday night as my efforts to catch up on the zzz's and nurse a nagging cold were shattered by my housemates' call to arms and a short cab ride out to Hannah's for Thursday Night Karaoke. After starting the night off with some spirits over on Fairmount, I relentlessly tagged along with a group of Bromfielder's, destined to make a fool of themselves in front of the mic.

As it turned out we were not alone.

It seems as if Hannah's _ rejuvenated by the work of some ambitious bartenders and an all out effort to filter out the clientele _ has established a warm rapport with some of the Tufts community. After just a few years of restructuring, Hannah's has transformed from a haven for tattoo-laden bikers to a decent mix of local and college crowds. Despite the lingering need for a "No cut off T-shirt" rule and a fair share of local regulars, Hannah's has become a great second choice for those of who can't make it all the way into Boston and are weary of the Davis scene.

The spacious interior complete with an extensive rectangular bar, multiple pool tables and two seating areas is large enough to hold a decent size crowd and intimate enough not to get lost among the masses. As an added bonus, the fairly high ceilings help thin out the smoke, leaving your Thursday night outfits wrought with less of a cigarette stench then you would find in many other local bars.

Then there's the singing. Of late, Hannah's has capitalized on its patrons' desires to sing themselves silly, instituting a Thursday Night Karaoke contest with a grand prize of $300. As with all karaoke, some of the performances are good, some better and some just down right ugly. Tufts representation varies; a short while ago, a well-known Tufts Beelzebub sang himself into the finals.

Unfortunately, our Thursday night crew did not reap as favorable results. Wailing away at "I Will Survive" and serenading us with R. Kelly's "Bump and Grind," a flock of Fairmount seniors and two suave gentlemen of Tappa Kegga pulled out all the stops in attempts to make it to the finals. Yet, despite their efforts, their singing careers were stifled by a late night judge's decision.

Personally, I think they got screwed..."I don't see nothing wrong, with a little bump n' grind."

But after all, it's not whether you win or lose that really matters in the scheme of things _ it's whether or not you can remember making a fool of yourself the next morning. For my own part, a tranquil night at home had turned into an all-out rager. After introducing myself to the bartender as a writer for the Daily, my wallet remained closed and full while my palate quenched. Grey Goose after Johnny Walker Red after Johnny Walker Black passed though my lips and all hope of getting rid of my cold faded with each delicious cocktail.

And then came the killer.

Looking for a way to cap the night off, one of the bartenders offered me a specialty, his "signature drink," I was told. It was a drink so fantastic that he had yet to find a name worthy of its majesty. And after a few rounds of "taste-testing," I had to admit... it was that damn good.

So I named it. Next time you find yourself down and out on a Thursday night, looking for a night spot closer than downtown and outside the confines of Davis, head down to Hannah's, sing your lungs silly, and ask Nathaniel for a round of "White Jumbos." With any luck, you won't have to wake up for class the next morning.