Beer, meet Art.

What's better than a great watering hole in the city? When it doubles as an art space. After hours drinking is so much more in Baltimore when it includes more than booze.

Hampden's Rocket to Venus hosts the art of one artist a month. This month's artist is Sam Holden; the opening was Sunday p.m. and will continue through January 6, with a closing party from 5-7 p.m.

While it's true that many cafes, bars and restaurants already offer art on its walls, that art doesn't move until sold. Hampden's Holy Frijoles has filled its walls with atmospherically relevant paintings and prints, but until those prints are purchased, they will remain part of the decor. At Rocket to Venus, however, a patron can grab a pint, join friends, and bask in the feeling of sophistication for multitasking the evening into low key entertainment and high art (which varies based on the type of art on the walls).

Of course, multitasking the after hours entertainment isn't new. Instead, it's just special. The spring saw Fells Point's tattoo studio Saints and Sinners hosting work from Jason Snyder. The website is currently out of date, but the studio doubles as an art gallery (aside from its flash work for the tattoo space) on a regular basis. In this case, however, Saints and Sinners has its primary goal of body modification, and not evening entertainment.

Now if every neighborhood pub offered sculpture and fine art with its Miller Lite...