Outhier: Scottsdale has notable happy hours every day of the week

Conceived by U.S. Navy sailors, perfected by us land-lubbing civilians, the American tradition of happy hour is alive and well here in the Valley - so alive, in fact, that the mere prospect of half-price beers and buffalo wings seems kind of banal, considering the sheer variety of happy hour options.

Smart bar and food managers have stepped it up a notch, with tailor-made happy hour events that lead willing patrons off the beaten path. Herewith, a five-day guide to some of the most singular happy hours in Scottsdale.

MONDAY

Treat yourself - or your best gal pal - to the Martinis and Manicures deal at Furio's every Monday. In a fiendishly brilliant stroke of target marketing, the Furio's folks have paired salon-style finger pampering with discounted hooch. The total bill: Only 10 smackeroos. The regular, everyday happy hour deal is pretty solid, too, including $4 well drinks and a menu that includes built-it-yourself haute pizza ($7) and the savory Bistec del Furio steak sandwich ($8).

>> 7210 E. Second Street in Scottsdale. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Visit furio.tv or call (480) 945-6600.

TUESDAY

Talk about voodoo economics. Every Tuesday until Halloween, bargain-seeking happy hour patrons at Eddie's House in Old Town can get a tarot card reading from local occult fun girl Miss Rita ($20) while they nosh on toasted seafood wontons ($6) and sip their absinthe cocktails ($5). Frankly, we've always found tarot card reading much more reliable in the augury department than crystal balls and pigeon guts. Owner Eddie Matney calls it his Haunted Happy Hour, and it runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

>> 7042 E. Indian School Road. Visit eddiematneys.com or call (480) 946-1622.

WEDNESDAY

For a different, less scene-ytwist on happy hour, visit AZ Wine Company on Wednesdays, when they host twilight (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) tasting events by visiting winemakers. Next week, the Novato, Calif.-based Starry Night label will be pouring its quaff-able arsenal of petit syrahs and zinfindels. The tasting fee is a mere $10, which can be applied toward the purchase of a bottle. Usually, there's a Sterno-heated pan of bar snacks, too.

>> 2515 N. Scottsdale Road. Visit azwineco.com or call (480) 423-9305.

THURSDAY

Swank speak-easy Devil's Martini doesn't offer happy hour from Monday to Wednesday, but when Thursday rolls around, hold onto your hair plugs. The Thursday happy hour lasts all night, from 4 p.m. to close, and is good for two-for-one drinks and half-price appetizers. Two for one? Rarely does a reputable establishment so blatantly encourage you to drink to excess. This is a great happy hour if you plan to plead sick on Friday.

>> 4175 N. Goldwater Blvd. in Scottsdale. Visit devilsmartini.com or call (480) 947-7171.

FRIDAY

The Friday happy hour at Roaring Fork is identical to those on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - which is to say, it's bloody outstanding. Some of the high-end "campfire" vittles offered by the restaurant include green chili stew ($7), grilled grouper tacos ($9) and lamb haunch with a sinful fondue ($9). With gourmet grub of that caliber, why make reservations for dinner proper? Just get 'er done between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

>> 4800 N. Scottsdale Road. Visit roaringfork.com or call (480)947-0795.