So the first time I went to Finn McCool's was to catch a world cup game back in '06. The place was hopping and I instantly fell in love with Katie Jean's (then one of the bartenders) infectious energy and the bar's awesome familial camaraderie. It's so much more than just a neighborhood bar with the best owners, coolest bartenders and a pretty awesome collection of patrons: this past weekend that group raised over two grand to help out a patron who had been shot in the head in an attempted carjacking. The list of charitable organizations that have raised money at Finn's is seemingly endless because the owners Pauline and Stephen are just that cool.

Each week for the Saints games, they cook the competition in a pot luck style cookoff and everyone who brings food gets a free drink, gets to the front of the line each week and a chance to win a $20 bar tab for the best dish. I've always liked bringing desserts when I have a chance to make something, because no one else ever brings in sweets and I have such a sweet tooth even after I gorge on all the other deliciousness everyone else makes, I still always want a little sugar too.