It's amazing what you learn when you go to enough bars.
For example, while at trivia night at The Ruck on Monday (it's a really good trivia night, by the way, I highly recommend it 7pm on Mondays), a friend told me that he heard there would be a new free birthday libation at the Olde English Pub that opened this month and, on top that, there was a new birthday challenge.
I facebooked owner Matt Baumgartner about it and he got back to me today and sent out this Twitter announcement around the same time.
Here's the deal: You can go to any of his three bars (Bomber's, Olde English Pub, or Wolff's Biergarten) to pick up a postcard. Upon finishing that establishment's birthday drink (the huge margarita, the massive teacup, or das boot, respectively), you get a staff person to check off the postcard that you completed that section of the fun challenge. Or, as I'm calling it, the BOW chicka postcard. (get it? I've made each bar's first initial into an acronym and paired it with...oh, never mind....)
After you drink all three, you get a T-shirt (the one pictured, actually).
I know, I know.....that's a lot of alcohol for just a T-shirt. And, personally, I do have a lot of T-shirts just piling up - got another one at the Over the Edge rappelling thing last week too. But, as a Troylette and native Albany area resident, this seems to be almost a rite of passage. Not necessarily just for the just-turned-21 folks but for anyone who has drank that sour, sour margarita or been belligerent after the boot.
And I'm looking forward to checking out the tea cup (which, again, I hear can also be filled with cider like Strongbow instead of just beer).
This birthday T-shirt activity starts officially on Sept. 23. As it turns out my boyfriend's birthday falls on that day.....I have a feeling it's going to be a long - but fun - day/night.
(BOW chicka postcard)

Update: The postcard now also includes Sciortino's Pizzeria, which is the old Miss Albany Diner and next door to the Biergarten. You get a free slice of pizza there and have your postcard checked. If they're closed, you'll get a stamp at one of the other businesses and still get your T-shirt.
Also, for those wondering, the tea cup is fabulous - w/ options of beer or cider in it - and my boyfriend's 30th of doing this trifecta was memorable, from what he can remember. ;)