Group Gastronomy

You know how you have that friend who wants to go out to dinner for her birthday, and she wants to go to the new overpriced ultra-trendy restaurant with the $15 cocktails and $30 entrees? And then out of courtesy you're all supposed to chip in and pay for her meal and you end up paying $150 for your salad and two Cokes because the drunks at the table threw back 5 drinks each and ordered the lobster then everyone got a different dessert and espresso, and then you're still supposed to get her a present?

Screw that. Here are some ways to get out of birthday dinners or at least to reduce the damage if you're guilt-tripped into going. (Many more tips in the book! Please buy it.)