Lately, Binghamton has been getting chilly. Nay, not just chilly; it’s been downright cold. Cold and wet. So Release took a wild sa-bar-i to search for a solution — a place that would not just serve us super-delicious brewery confections, but would also warm our hearts and lift our spirits.

When Cosmo’s Tiki Bar appeared to us, we thought,“Ignore it, ’tis just an apparition. The saddened state which a bleak Southern Tier October gives its denizens has left us delirious.” Nearly content to be miserable, we nearly bypassed this establishment, but then we realized that Cosmo’s Tiki Bar is not merely a mirage.

Cosmo’s is primarily known for its pizza ($1.25 per slice), wings ($4.95 per dozen) and cheeseburgers ($3.75 with chips, or $4.50 with fries), which are served at the restaurant which accompanies the Tiki Bar; however, their unique and fun pub deserves some attention, too.

As we walk into their bar, we are immediately warmed by this tropical-themed bar. Faux palm trees and coconuts greet customers as they prepare for an alcohol-fueled walking of the plank. Being a themed bar, Cosmo’s has made sure to drape much of their establishment in seasonal d√É.√©cor as well. Skeletons, Jack-O-Lanterns … and beer, oh my!

Like any non-State Street drinkery, cheap beverages are to be expected. Pints run at a pocket-pleasing $2.25, so it’s easy to come out in the frigid air and get toasted.

Considering its distance from Downtown, this bar is unusually student-friendly. While, ordinarily, students at a non-student bar might be met with grimaces at their intrusion by the bar’s usual patrons (and maybe even the bartender), at Cosmo’s we never bore the weight of the student reputation.

In fact, the Binghamton sa-bar-i team was so impressed with the quality of Cosmo’s Tiki Bar that we’ve actually made the two-mile trek from campus to this alco-tropical paradise on several occasions. We recommend going for lunch: $6.75 for a cheeseburger, fries and a pint in the middle of the day. Se magnifique!

So next time you feel like the world of Binghamton is getting you down, what with its annual six to 10 months of rain and snow, gather some friends and make a trip to El Ciudad de Johnson and revel in Cosmo’s Tiki Bar. At least for that fleeting moment, you’ll feel as if you actually got that full ride to the University of Miami that you so desired in high school.

Cosmo’s is located at 695 Riverside Drive, Johnson City.