Free drinks, free hors d'oeuvres, free admission: this is what college students' dreams are made of.

Tonight, those of legal drinking age can have their dreams come true at Tony's Big Easy Bistro, McAllister Alley, as they celebrate the 5th annual Mondo Martini.

From 5 to 10 tonight, the doors will be open for free to anyone with a special invitation, coupon or a copy of a newspaper article about the event. Those without one of these items must pay a $10 cover charge.

Additional donations will be accepted throughout the night. Proceeds will go to Easter Seals, a fund that provides services to children and adults with disabilities and other special needs and support to their families.

Once inside, patrons can sample over 30 cocktail garnishes, chow on free food, learn how to make the perfect martini, and watch 10 amateurs compete in a judged martini contest.

"This is billed as the greatest cocktail party you'll ever attend," Anthony Sapia, owner of the Big Easy, said.

Students can also donate money to play the roulette wheel. Participants can win anything from a T-shirt to a trip for two to Aruba. As an added bonus, the roulette wheel is made entirely of ice.

Rich Bubin, who Sapia said was responsible for ice sculpting becoming an Olympic sport, will design the standard size 30-inch wheel entirely of ice, and he will also create an ice bar and ice sculptures.

Sapia said the food will be top-notch and includes smoked chicken quesadillas, shrimp cocktails, crab cakes and salads. And yes, it's entirely complementary, because as Sapia said, "It's like you're coming to a cocktail party."

Brittany Matuszny (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) is a server at the Big Easy, and she said the event gets bigger every year. She said this year she is looking forward to the martini competition most because the two-time defending champion will try to defend his title.

Sapia said the winning martini will be given a prominent space on their martini menu for the coming year.

Also, Paul Rupeka, a tattoo artist at Ink, Inc., 110 Hetzel St., might create a tattoo of a martini to celebrate the event, but no one knows yet who would receive it.

"Possibly, I might be the one who receives it," Sapia jokingly said.

The president of Bacardi is flying in for the event, and representatives from Cuervo, Skyy and a multitude of other alcohol companies will be in attendance.

And to top it off, Sapia's twin 14-month-old sons, Jack and Enzo, will be dressed as olives.

WGMR-FM (101.1), will be broadcasting live from the event, which is expected to attract nearly 1,000 people.

"It's a chance to see something you'll probably never see again, and it's very low key, no suit or tie required, and it's an opportunity to meet people," Sapia said.

"You can make a whole night of it without spending a dollar," he added.