For most of us, the week leading up to the holidays is a very
broke week indeed. If you’ve done your shopping, there’s barely any change left
in your pocket; if you’re waiting until the last minute, you’ve got to keep your
loot on tight surveillance. But I think that everyone should treat themselves
to a festive night out, if for no other reason than to help out the bartenders
and servers who deserve festive tips as well. So in that spirit of giving,
check out these nightspots with great menus in the next week:

Rooney’s at 90 Henrietta
Street has the best holiday vibe around.
Deep and dark with angelic lighting, it’s hard not to get into the spirit. Sit
at the beautiful bar and try one of the wines from the extensive list, like the
2001 Robert Mondavi
Cabernet Sauvignon, NapaValley.

For another first-class joint check out Tournedos at the Inn on Broadway;
this is an expansive restaurant, but tucked in the back is the quiet bar with
live piano tunes on the weekends. Enjoy some of the restaurant’s appetizers and
curl up in the comfy chairs with a cognac.

If you’re looking for a louder, more populated and upbeat
atmosphere check out 2 Vine on Winthrop. On the weekend
it’s the go-to place before hitting A-Street or East Ave; a large crowd of
people you may or may not want to see consumes the bar area.

Remember, in the holiday season please tip well and feign the
holiday spirit even if you’re a scrooge at heart — it’s much more attractive.
Have a happy holiday everyone!

LastweekCity ran a story on the sale of Milestones, and soon-to-be-former owner
Mike O’Leary’s plans to open the Temple
Bar and Grille on the site of the Eastman Lounge. Here are some more
details: current renovations are being made to add a kitchen to the old Lounge
location, and to make the place into something altogether different. According
to O’Leary, “We’re planning on serving light fare, great soups, sandwiches, and
of course late-night bar food.” Here’s hoping that the Temple Bar will be a
success; there can never be too many locations serving late-night grub. Once it
gets going Temple Bar and Grille will start serving lunches as well, which will
add another option for the East
Avenue crowd. O’Leary says, “We’re looking to make
this a high-energy and fun place.” We all should look forward to it.

This article appears in Dec 20-26, 2006.