The Happy Hour Issue: Sunday funday

Sunday afternoons can be a complicated time, emotionally speaking. The party part of the weekend is usually over. The chores are usually done. Time to just chill, right?

Oh yeah, that. Work. It looms, gloomily.

But that’s where Sunday happy hours come into play—consider them the sweet spot on your weekend’s socializing schedule, one last hurrah before you hunker down into productivity. Go forth, sip and nosh, and allow yourself to forget The Man for just a few more hours.

All the pretty people

Strings Urban Kitchen

This downtown Italian spot is located inside the Capitol Towers building, a high-rise apartment building that seems to be home to an overwhelming number of pretty young people, many of whom are on display on any given hot Sunday afternoon, sunning at the adjacent pool. As it turns out, the weekend happy hour here, which runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., makes for good people-watching sips and snacks. A ginormous glass of fruit-infused sangria (red or white) is only $4, or go for a specialty cocktail like the Ricky Ricardo (mint, vsimple syrup, Malibu rum, Absolut vodka and cucumber) for just $4. There’s a small wine list that tops out at $3.75 a glass. Strings also usually has a decent craft beer on tap—on a recent visit we enjoyed a Fieldworks Brewing Co. I.P.A. for $5. Bites are quotidian but they get the job done: A formaggio pizza ($5) is big enough for two to split and the aglio frites, crispy and coated with garlic, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese, make for a nice base for all those afternoon drinks. 1500 Seventh Street, http://stringsurbankitchen.com.

Arrive extra early

Lou’s Sushi

The popular Midtown sushi spot is always busy—even on a lazy Sunday afternoon. So, word to the wise (and hungry), arrive before the doors open if you don’t want a half-hour (or longer) wait. Heads up, on Sundays, happy hour prices are good as long as the restaurant is open (5-10 p.m.). That means things could get dangerous with $1.99 sake bombs and $4 draft beers. The generous happy hour menu includes the refreshing Veggie No. 1 roll ($6), made up of asparagus, cucumber and avocado topped with spinach, and the Midtown roll ($8), a panko-crusted, fried spicy tuna and avocado roll that comes with both a Sriracha and sweet sauce. Plus, there are the miso spicy chicken wings (four pieces for $6) and the fragrant agedashi tofu ($5), fried tofu, soy broth and grated ginger. 2801 P Street, www.lousushi.com.

Easy like Sunday afternoon

Shine

A quiet coffeehouse on a weekend afternoon is my happy place, and Shine makes it even better with a daily happy hour that includes weekends. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. get 20 percent off all draft beers (Shine features a rotating tap of local brewers), plus 20 percent off “select cafe items.” That essentially means whatever wraps are left by that point in the day. Oh, and $2.75 Polish dogs, too, if you’re into that sort of thing. Shine, tucked away from the Midtown hustle, is a nice place to post up with a laptop and write that Great American Novel. Or, you know, just idly people-watch. Both are worthy pursuits. 1400 E Street, www.shinesac.com.

Get cheeky

LowBrau

This Midtown mainstay offers a generous Sunday happy hour menu. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy a smaller portion of the restaurant’s popular duck fat fries, the slider of the day or chicharrones for just $2 each. For $4 you can nosh on pretzel bites, mini corn dogs or chicken schnitzel strips. There are other snacky options, too, but let’s get to the all-important drinks; the selection includes Pabst beer ($2), selected draft beers ($6) and the house red or white wine ($6). All good, but I’m saving up coin for the $2 “cheeky shot”—a three-quarter ounce serving of any well spirit. Cheers, mate. 1050 20th Street, www.lowbrausacramento.com.

Go until last call

Firestone Public House

Firestone’s Sunday happy hour, which runs 9 p.m. to midnight, puts a cap on the weekend with $1 off all beers, $2 off all glasses of wine and $5 well drinks. The real bargains, however, are found in the food. Half-off all pizzas and half-off select appetizers? Yes please. Try the mushroom pie—rich and filling with mozzarella cheese, truffle oil cream, basil and Parmesan, and a steal at under $7. Or, go big with the Firestone Combo ($7.50), with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil and a ton of meat: salami, pepperoni, pork sausage and black forest ham. Heavy meal for so late at night? Maybe, but come Monday morning will it matter? 1132 16th Street, http://firestonepublichouse.com.