Take one look at the photo of the sunset taken from the deck at Jive. Picture yourself sipping on a glass of wine or a sophisticated martini, basking in the pink, amber, purple, and deep blue swirls of color that provide a nightly backdrop at Jive, where the fire-red sunset reflects in the bay.
    Located under the same roof as a fine dining establishment, Fresco’s on 83rd Street bayfront, Jive is a mod, trendy, beach casual destination. Enjoy an innovative cocktail at Jive before you dine at Fresco’s, or stay at Jive for live entertainment with a sassy ambiance. The inside dining area includes black-and-white checkered flooring, tall and dark table tops, and mellow lighting. Outside, the deck expands along the length of Jive and Fresco’s, offering umbrella-covered tall and short tables, leather sofas and lounge chairs, modern lighting fixtures, and popular music. “This is swank,” I commented when I visited Jive this week with my beautiful mom, Nancy Samuels, for our weekly “girls night out.”
    Jive is an exceptional destination for a “girls night out.” Each Sunday is “Strawberry Sunday,” when Strawberry Sundaes and all Strawberry Frozen Drinks are $5. Popular martinis and cocktails include Espresso, Lemontini, and Ponegranatini. Try the Chocolate Lust for a blend of chocolate liquor, vanilla vodka, and crème de cacao. Rum Runner and Orange Crush are mainstays, while the Strawberry Basil is a unique drink recipe.
    Wine enthusiasts can indulge in a variety of red and whites. Murphy-Goode Chardonnay is a crowd pleaser on a hot summer day, as are TAZ Pinot Gris, Palo Alto Sauvignon Blanc, and Bex Riesling. From the “Red” menu, try the Rutherford Ranch Cabernet, the Tierra Secreta Malbec, or the HobNob Pinot Noir. Australia’s Wolf Blass is a popular selection, and I opted to enjoy a glass of Banfi Chianti Superiore to complement my Grilled Flatbread Pizza. On a hot August day, I appreciated that my red wine is served slightly chilled at Jive, in an oversized glass.
    Our server, Arianna, recommended Cream of Crab Soup and Crab Louie from the food menu. My mom and I started with an order of Mini Crab Cakes, Crab Louie, and a California Spinach Salad. Served like sliders, the jumbo lump crab cake trio is polished off with a zesty dipping sauce that is lip-smacking good. Crab Louie is jumbo lump crabmeat on a bed of lettuce with a delectable sauce. The California Spinach Salad is comprised of tender baby spinach, onion, dried cranberries, caramelized walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese, and house balsamic vinaigrette. Each appetizer is very satisfying, and I recommend trying all three.
    Other Appetizers at Jive are fresh cut Idaho Fries and Jive Wings, which are served medium, hot, or jerk with Ranch or bleu cheese dressing. The Creamy Crab Dip is served with assorted crackers, while the Fish & Chips are cod, beer battered in Yuengling and served with fresh cut fries. Also on the Appetizers menu is the Jive Burger—homemade Angus beef.
    In addition to Cream of Crab, Jive also serves up a Soup of the Day. Salads include Classic Caesar and Tomato Caprese—fresh mozzarella, basil, capers, and tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil—and Garden salad, which is a mix of greens, seasonal vegetables, Gorgonzola cheese, and house balsamic vinaigrette.
    For our main dishes, my mom and I each ordered a Grilled Flatbread Pizza. Mom opted for the Meat Lover’s Pizza, which is piled high with sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and homemade tomato sauce. She also had her eye on the traditional Margarita—tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella. I ordered the Crab Pizza and thoroughly enjoyed the classic white pizza with fresh jumbo lump crabmeat. Classic White Pizza is mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Another tasty Flatbread is the Pollo—grilled chicken breast, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and homemade tomato sauce. Each flatbread is served on a large wooden cutting board.
    “Save room for dessert,” suggested manager Rodney, who came by our table several times during our meal to check on us. We ended our fabulous meal with a fresh slice of bumbleberry pie. Blueberries, Raspberries, and Blackberries are blended with a buttery, sugary glaze that is good to the last forkful. “It’s held together with love and magic,” jokes Rodney.
    Happy Hour takes place at Jive from 4:00 until 7:00 PM every day. Domestic beers like Bud, Coor’s, Miller and Natural are available, as are crafts and imports such as Guinness, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Stella Artois, and Dogfish Head 60min IPA. Mango, Banana and Strawberry Daiquiris can be blended. Piña Coladas, plus Mango, Banana, and Strawberry Coladas are frozen delights. Jive puts a unique spin on Mojitos, serving them frozen in lime, grape, guava, melon, mango, passion fruit, or black cherry flavors. Each Monday is Margarita Monday, and each Tuesday is $2 Beer. Wino Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday are the perfect way to kick start an early weekend.
    Live entertainment is at Jive every Wednesday through Saturday. This week, see Frank Curreri on Friday and Saturday nights (August 10 & 11), Bluesology on Tuesday (August 14) and Bryan Clark on Wednesday (August 15). The entire entertainment schedule, as well as the menu, photo gallery, and private party information, is all available online at www.ocjive.com <http://www.ocjive.com/> . Call 410-524-8202 for more details.