Mondays don’t always get the best rap. For many, it is the first day back to work or school and the next weekend seems nowhere in sight. Monday nights, though, really have been reinvented and are one of the hottest nights in town! The new Manic Mondays at the Brass Rail take the cake. Every Monday, almost everyone I talk to tells me they are headed to “’80s night.” The evening features an 80 cent cover, 80 cent drinks, and hot ’80s tracks all night long. Visit www.brassrailsd.com for more information.

Bourbon also hosts a fun Monday night event called Beat the Clock Mondays. Well drinks and domestic drafts are 50 cents starting at 9 p.m., and increase in price 50 cents every half-hour, capping at $3 at 2 a.m. There is music by DJ Kenny and the hot Bourbon Boys sell two dollar body shots with proceeds benefiting Mama’s Kitchen. Visit www.bourbonstreetsd.com for more information.

Mo’s is also a great place to be on Monday nights for its Noches Caliente event. Drag entertainment begins at 10:30 p.m., DJ Fariba spins, and Bud Light draft specials and extended happy hour prices are available until 11 p.m. And, of course, Mo’s serves amazing food and appetizers. Visit www.urbanmos.com for more information.

When spring and summer begin to heat up, it can be hot inside local bars and clubs. Patios are cool reprieves that still allow bar flies to booze it up. Flicks has a great outdoor patio along University Avenue, which makes for prime people watching. On Mondays at Flicks, $2 shots are available with every drink purchase, and karaoke runs from 9 p.m. to close. Visit www.sdflicks.com for more information.

#1 Fifth Avenue, with its great back patio, hosts happy hour every weekday from noon to 7 p.m. and all well drinks are $2.75. On top of that, all well cocktails are $2.75 on Monday’s, making it a good place to kick off the week.

Over in North Park, Redwing Bar & Grill has a quaint back patio. Even though Redwing is surrounded on all sides by buildings, it managed to carve out a little urban oasis in the back of its bar. Monday nights include guest bartenders and a tasty spaghetti dinner.

And, of course, Baja Betty’s, with its indoor or outdoor seating areas, has some of the best margaritas, food and atmosphere in town! Select menu items are half-off from 6-11 p.m. on Monday nights. Baja Betty’s has amazing chips, too. I try to stay away because if I don’t watch myself I can easily go through three baskets of those chips in one sitting. Betty’s is always packed on Monday nights and is certainly a fun place to kick off the week. Visit www.bajabettyssd.com for more information.

And you thought Monday nights were boring – from ’80s music and Latin nights to karaoke and partying on patios, Mondays in Hillcrest are huge!

Believe it or not, the corner of Vermont and University is almost ready for you! Next week is the long-awaited opening of Universal. The public will get to check-out San Diego’s hottest new lounge on Saturday, April 12 at the grand opening party. Universal and Dish certainly have aroused our curiosity this year with preview parties and clever marketing campaigns. With all of the hype surrounding Universal the last two years, expectations are high. My next column will feature a review of the opening of our newest Hillcrest playground. Information about Universal is available online at www.universalhillcrest.com.

April promises to be another exciting month out there! Enjoy it and be safe!