Jumps Bar and Grill

H-Town's pollution has its perks. Saturday night, the chemicals in the air created a psychedelic sunset that entertained me as I ventured way the hell out west to Jumps Bar and Grill (13180 Westpark Drive #301, 281-870-8463). This good ole neighborhood bar had a spacious deck, several pool tables, a few customers and three bartenders. Tee, good-will ambassador and day bartender, was getting her drink on; Margie, the kind of gal you want on your side in a brawl, looked tired and cranky as she slid a beer in front of me. The boyishly charming Maury wanted to make me the perfect shot to complement the psychedelic sunset: a Radioactive Rainbow. This almost too-sweet shot took much longer to make than to drink, and as they started setting up for karaoke, I started wishing for a yellow brick road. Even though I do a mean rendition of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking," there just weren't enough chemicals in me. I headed east looking for a hazy star to lead me home.

1/2 ounce Midori liqueur

1/2 ounce Blue Curaçao

1 ounce Bacardi 151 rum

Splash sweet & sour mix

Splash grenadine

Mix Midori and sweet & sour mix over ice, shake and strain into a shot glass. Carefully pour splash of grenadine into the glass and let it sink to the bottom. Mix the Blue Curaçao and 151 rum over ice, shake and pour carefully as the top layer in the shot glass.