After a dinner at Red Lobster (or "The Lob," as Kristen Wiig called it on last week's otherwise atrocious SNL) that I was almost embarrassingly excited about, I hit the new Bar Céline at Park restaurant on Henderson.
Decorated in rich, dark colors and sumptuous, buttery textures, Bar Celine is dolled up like a French salon, and the room was like the interior-design version of Swiss chocolate -- decadent.
A long bench, backed by velvety corduroy pillows, lined the wall of the small space located past the Park dining room. Eclectic chairs were interspersed throughout, as were handsome tables, lamps and overhead light fixtures. The place was cozy and low-lit, perfect for cozying up to a date, and a smart playlist -- Ingrid Michaelson, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cut Copy -- served as an interesting backdrop.
Celine serves a handful of specialty cocktails, including the Lychee Thyme (left), an herb-y, delicately sweet concoction, though our waitress informed us that the bar was crafting more than a dozen to add to the menu. Nice! There's also a small menu of snackie-sized bites.
... I finally connected with a friend I'd been meaning to hang out with for ages. What a fun night out! We met at Trece, which, along with Villa-O across the street, offers a special free menu on Monday nights. Free, with a capital free!! Now, of course, they must hope that most patrons will buy a bottle of wine or two or order a specialty cocktail or three. And who wouldn't want to -- I felt nekkid in this lavish, low-lit spot until I had martini glass in hand. And my Pomjito didn't disappoint -- sweet but not cloying with a tiny bit of tartness, it woke up my taste buds, just in time for the grub. I started with chicken nachos (above), which pretty much filled me up. But I still had a fish taco entree coming! I could only stuff down one fabulous fried snapper taco before my stomach waved the white flag.
From Trece, my friend and I made an unusual detour to Oak Cliff, so he could get a haircut. Yes, a haircut appointment at almost 10 at night. He gets his hair cut and styled at Sweet 200, which I had previously thought was either a bakery or an organization of local businesses. Nope! It was the cutest little salon you ever did see, with wood floors, big suspended mirrors at each station ... and a pool table. Nice! So as homeboy got styled, I worked on my game.
Once boyfriend got his hair did, it was off to the Library bar at the Warwick Melrose hotel. Sadly, we missed the fabulous Monday night happy hour, but we found a cozy corner, listened to the singing pianist and caught up on major dish, cocktails in hand. A fabulous evening all around.
I visited the Cavern's second-floor lounge for some karaoke Tuesday night, which is a great place for singing and cheap drinks. Come to find out the Lower Greenville bar is expanding their karaoke night to Wednesday happy hour, with terrific drink specials, too. So before you sign up for that retro-tastic Toto song, grab a longneck or a well cocktail for $2.50. Unlike the Tuesday 10 p.m. karaoke, Wednesday night's gig begins at 7 p.m., which is much friendlier to worker bees who don't want to stay out too late.
As part of Hard Rock Cafe's "Pinktober" celebration benefiting cancer support center Gilda's Club North Texas, the restaurant is silent-auctioning a black and pink guitar signed by singers Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift (above, autographing the axe). The auction is only part of the celebration: a $10 ticket gets you into the Halloween-themed party, emceed by Dallas Maverick Jason Terry. With a $30 VIP ticket, you're invited to a private reception with Terry and receive a memento signed by him and one drink coupon. The fun starts at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, and tickets are limited, so get a move on!
In this week's issue of Quick, we shared 50 fabulous things to do on the town in Big D. Agree or disagree? Have some better ideas? Wanna skewer us for an omission? Let it all out and leave a comment for us. You'll feel better that you did.
On rainy days like today, you really feel like being pampered. Why not check into the Hotel Capri for some TLC? All night tonight they'll be serving $3 shot specials and $4 wells and beers. Plus valet is complimentary. Sweet! So sit back, relax and groove to the thumping music. Just don't fall asleep, k?
I got into all kinds of mischief all around town. The good kind, of course ;-)
On Friday, I attended a private reception preceding Dallas Rocks' gala Diamond Dinner. The party was hosted by Russell Simmons (above -- thanks, Elijah Wheaton, for the pic!), who is founder of D.E.F., the Diamond Empowerment Fund, which teams with major players in the diamond industry to empower and educate Africans. I briefly met with Russell, who was warm and personable and mingled with everyone. About 30 minutes after chatting with him, who should enter the party but Louise, one of the Dallas contestants (recently kicked off) of this season's Project Runway! Had to corner her ...
Ever had happy hour in the sky? Well, now's your chance. Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck just launched its own happy hour, and it's perfect for having a raise-your-pinkie kind of time after work.
Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., the restaurant offers a rotating menu of "tiny temptations" such as kobe beef sliders and tempura spicy tuna sandwiches. In addition to the five daily small plates, there'll also be five offerings of beer, wine and cocktails, with food and bevs priced at $5.60 each -- get it? Then get up there ...
Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck, 300 Reunion Blvd. 214-741-5560.
I attended the open-to-the-public launch party at Kush (above), the new lounge and hookah bar on Lower Greenville. Since there were free glasses of champagne and vodka cocktails being served, the crowd was pretty good -- all the hookah tables outside were taken. Inside, the vibe was ... eh, kinda nondescript. There were quite a few older folks and suburban-looking adults -- totally not the typical Greenville crowd. But no one really moved or mingled, and no one certainly danced, until the belly dancers shimmied in the middle of the bar, that is.
If Jeff Tweedy and his Wilco bandmates weren't having the time of their lives on stage earlier tonight at the Palladium, they sure fooled me. During a mammoth 135 minute performance (which included two encore sets), Tweedy seemed giddy when interacting with the capacity crowd.
He commanded their handclaps, directed them during singalongs and even traded shirts with a lucky audience member. That dude ended up with Tweedy's flannel getup, and the singer found himself performing in a cheesy '80s gold-lamé top for the remainder of the show. Admiring himself in his new shirt, Tweedy told its old owner, "Yeah, you got screwed on this deal, I'm pretty sure."
Silliness aside, the six-piece Chicago band delivered the kind of expansive, experimental takes on tunes that drew so many fans to the groundbreaking albums Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. Even some of the more back-to-basics songs from the latest two Wilco records, Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (the album), benefited from added live muscle.
Tweedy's voice was in top form; he sounded particularly strong and clear on fan favorite "Kamera," and let out piercing rock 'n' roll screams on the very last song, "I'm a Wheel." But the biggest revelation in seeing Wilco live in its current lineup is guitarist Nels Cline. He proved as versatile as they come, creating chaotic, rapturous noise with pedals during some songs and finding countless ways to attack melody lines during others.
There's no question that Wilco's one of the most skilled rock (or, if you insist, alt-country) bands you can see live. And the players seem to enjoy the concert experience just as much as their audience does.
Done with the gushing; find the set list from tonight after the jump.
With 18 flat-screen TVs in the place, Stan's Blue Note sounds like the ideal place to catch a game. And if that game happens to fall during one of Stan's two happy hours, the better! Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., it's a dollar off drinks and beer. Then -- on Monday through Thursday -- there's a late-night happy hour from 10 to close, featuring $4 you-call-its. Sweet.
Stan's Blue Note, 2908 Greenville Ave. 214-827-1977
Yeah, there are tons of bars to crash at to watch tonight's game against the Carolina Panthers, but how many of them serve sushi? Geisha House and Roppongi Lounge will host a free-admission party where guests can enjoy free sushi from 6 to 8 p.m. with a drink purchase and watch the game on four plasma TVs and one huge screen. Pitchers of Roppongi Ritas or sangrias can be had for $20 whilst you watch the 'Boys clobber -- we hope! -- Carolina.
Saturday night I attended the opening-night bash for Stephan Pyles' latest local restaurant, Samar. The cuisine available for tasting at the new downtown spot reflected a fusion of Middle Eastern and Indian foods and flavors: samosas (potato and chocolate), piping-hot pitas and hummus, marinated cheeses and a Lebanese-esque beef quesadilla-like dish were all I got a chance to sample, because this place was PACKED! Although belly dancers drew a sizable crowd to the patio, things were elbow-to-elbow indoors, especially at the bars, where the food and the signature drink, the Pama-infused Samartini, had everyone glued to their spots.
Still, the nibbles and sips I had were flavorful, and the harem-esque decor quite delightful. Probably the best part of the evening, however, was the people-watching ... or should I say fashion-watching? Shout-out to the gent who wore a handsome pinstriped button-down paired with tight shorts.
Before you get your undies in a bunch wondering how you can afford a fine-dining joint like Abacus in the middle of a recession, know that the Knox-Henderson-area restaurant is trying to help out. Not only do they have recession-beating deals all week, but on Wednesday nights, eats in the luxe bar are half off! And -- bonus -- if you stick around for the late happy hour from 9 p.m. to close, you can enjoy $2 off all beer, wines by the glass and cocktails! So treat yourself to a bev and a specialty sushi roll, recessionistas and recessionistos.
Knox Street Pub owner Blake Bogus has informed me that an upcoming karaoke night at the bar will benefit a great, local cause.
On Oct. 1, a portion of every drink sold will go to Shelley's Heroes, a local team participating in and raising money for the Alliance for Lupus Research's annual walkathon.
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the sufferer's immune system attacks the body's own cells and tissue. It most often harms the joints, lungs, heart, skin and kidneys.
Shelley Shuttlesworth was a recent college grad when she learned she had lupus in 2000, and now she raises awareness and funds for the Walk With Us event, which takes place Oct. 3. Find more information on the walk here, and raise your glass to fighting lupus at Knox on Oct. 1.
I've known for months that beloved local celebu-chef Blythe Beck was having a reality show filmed about her kitchen life at Central 214. Still, I was pleasantly shocked to see her in living color on my TV the other day, on the Oxygen network. The ad showed clips of the upcoming debut season, and from the looks of it, food, drinks and drama will be on the menu.
Central 214 is joining in the pre-show excitement, hosting watching parties every Tuesday when The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck airs. To ratchet up the fun factor, the restaurant is offering drink and food specials to enjoy while watching episodes. The fun kicks off next Tuesday at 9 p.m., though it's recommended you get there earlier to snag a seat. Go support our local lady!
DART's new Green Line is up and running, and that means ... easier access to local happy hours!! Meridian Room, right across the street from the gleaming new Fair Park station, is celebrating with happy hour all day on Mondays and half-price food on Wednesdays. That's worth hopping off the train, wouldn't you say?
I hit a lounge party at the soft opening of Bailey's Prime Plus, a new steakhouse in the Park Lane development. The bar area was swank-casual, dotted with soft red seating and bathed in light from tall windows and funky red chandeliers. A private dining room held numerous appetizers to snack on, with the tasty standouts being decadent crab cakes, supremely fresh shrimp cocktail and hearty Kobe sliders. Yum. I didn't get to sample any of the signature cocktails being whipped up at the handsome bar -- I stuck to the complimentary house red wine, which was delightful -- but living so close to this new outpost of Bailey's, I'll definitely be back to do so.
After the Bailey's bash, I headed to the House of Blues for the Moskova Affair, a fete to celebrate the launch of Stoli's new apple-flavored vodka. The cocktails were flowing freely, but the centerpiece of the show was the Vau de Vire Society, a troupe that performed an exotic blend of ballet, burlesque and circus trickery. Fascinating. Between the evening's complimentary cocktails and the fluttering dancers, my head was abuzz ...
Hatch green chile is in popping up in so many places, I'm shocked there's not a Hatch-tini or Hatcherita. Joining the trend is Plano's new bar-restaurant Urban Crust, which is serving a pie full of the spicy pepper. In addition to roasted Hatches, the pizza is loaded with sirloin, pepper jack cheese, queso fresco, cilantro and shoestring onion rings. Mmmm.
The dish sounds great, but you knew there had to be a cocktail involved here, right? Whilst the chile pizza is available -- through the month of September -- you can pair it with Urban's $5 drink of the month, the Absolut Crush, a blend of ruby red vodka, orange liqueur and fresh orange juice.
At The Boardroom in Victory Park, hump day isn't Wednesday, it's Wingsday. At the upscale sports bar that means 25-cent wings and $2 tequila drinks from 5 p.m. till closing. Fabulous! But that's not it, folks -- Wednesday's a double whammy here because they also have a traditional happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., with half off pitchers of beer and 25 percent off signature cocktails. And now that the DART's Green Line will soon be serving Victory Park every day (sted of only on event nights at AAC), you can hop on the train and be chillin' out on The Boardroom patio in no time.
What you're looking at above is a slice of pizza paradise. Sunday night marked my third visit to Oak Cliff eatery Bolsa, and I ordered the same thing yet again -- Jimmy's sausage flatbread. I've never veered off this course, and you can see why (and maybe you've tasted why). The crumbly Italian sausage gets a little kick from the banana pepper slices as sauce and melty cheese round out the flavor. Mmmm. And the pizza crust? I generally never eat crust, but every shred of this pizza was gone.
Just as delicious was a treat from Bolsa's expanded cocktail menu -- the Oak Cliff Creeper (below). Basically a vodka-spiked fruit punch slushie, it was definitely potent enough to make me want to slow my roll and crawl home. Can't wait for my next Bolsa visit ... and pizza.
Or perhaps I should call this an update of yesterday's Hump Day Happy Hour. I indeed took advantage of Monica's Wednesday drink special, enjoying 75-cent margaritas with the purchase of my entree. Have to say I've never been thrilled by the fare at the Deep Ellum location, but the fish tacos I had last night -- with perfectly fried fillets topped in chipotle mayonnaise and wrapped in flour tortillas -- was a home run of a dish. And the house queso was outstanding, as well, a cut above many others I've had. But the star of the show, of course, were the cheap margs -- cheap in price only. They were perfect cocktails, all, and I'm glad there was a three-drink limit with the special price -- I could've sipped these all night! Be warned -- the place fills up quickly on cheap marg night, so get there early ...
Sometimes you need a really good happy hour deal that goes well past 7 p.m. Luckily, Monica's in Deep Ellum's got your back. Every Wednesday until 10 p.m., the Tex-Mex resto serves 75-cent house margaritas with the purchase of an entree. (For all you lushes out there, they cut you off at three drinks.) This is why Monica's is the site of a girls-only happy hour amongst my friends tonight. Perhaps I'll see you there, too ...
I had the chance to sample the menu at the upcoming steakhouse Bailey's Prime Plus, located in the new Park Lane development across I-75 from NorthPark Center. The menu will be pretty much the same as the one at the chain's Cedar Hill location (except the North Dallas site will also offer baked potatoes as a side), and the decor will be similarly as lavish, too. Above is a photo of the unfinished bar, featuring some of the most comfy seating I've ever had the pleasure to set my tuchus in, and funky red chandeliers and tall windows. Next door is a giant central dining room, featuring banquettes framing a water fountain and a row of trees. There'll be a couple of private dining spaces as well.
But what about the food? The kitchen churned out a little of everything: wet-aged filet mignon, a crisp fillet of Texas-raised striped bass, and a slew of sides including a sweet, polenta-thickened creamed corn I wanted to marry. That scoop of goodness in the lower corner? Peruvian potato mashpots, topped with a bit of bleu cheese. Mmmm.
The restaurant plans to keep the bar open till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, bringing in DJs and serving up small-plate snackies. Since it's literally two minutes from home, I will prolly be checking it out with some frequency. Even more exciting (to me, anyway), general manager Chris Rowberry promised (jokingly? I hope not!) to engrave my name into one of the red velvety seats in the lounge. You better believe I'll hold him to that ... stay tuned, chickadees.
Sometimes you want to enjoy a fine glass of wine for a happy hour treat, and when that craving hits, you can satisfy it -- and your hunger -- at Vickery Park. Every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., the Henderson Avenue haunt takes half off the price of a bottle of vino when you buy a large order of mussels or a cheese board. So even though Vickery's a pretty casual joint, feel free to raise your pinkie finger a bit and class up your happy hour.
All you whiskey (and whisky) connoisseurs best find yourself a seat at Bandera on Wednesdays a.k.a. Whiskey Wednesdays. Every hump day, a serving of the spirit costs only $3. That's something to raise your glass to. If you wanna raise a ruckus, mosey on over to the dance floor at the country-western-themed Lower Greenville bar and start a line dance. YES, even by yourself! Learn more about Bandera in this week's Quick ...
I had the chance to check out a new downtown sports bar-- Draft Media Sports Lounge in the downtown Dallas Sheraton. The word "lounge" is the better term for it, because this place didn't feel like your typical sports bar.
First off, the walls weren't papered with ginormous flat-screens in every corner that the eye could see -- one can just relax here and tune out the games if one wants. If the big game is what you're here for, though, the place will accommodate you nicely. If you want to have some other type of fun, there's plenty to be had.
My group and I hung out in the loungier area of the restaurant-bar (above, behind those slinky curtains), where big sofas surrounded handsome tables. In this grown-up playroom there were also Nintendo Wii stations set up with Wii Resort (fun!), as well as a coupla pool tables and -- get this -- two private karaoke "salons" (very, very fun). My posse and I belted out tune after tune for hours. I can defs see myself stopping by for more on any random night after work.
It's not every day you find a fantastic happy hour at a burger joint, but Jakes in Uptown has an incredible one jam-packed with specials. Hold on to yer hats. Every weekday from 4 to 7 p.m., guests can enjoy: $2 cosmos, appletinis and domestic bottles; $3 you-call-it cocktails, schooners and you-call-it appetizers (including fried pickle chips and stuffed jalapenos), and $3 frozen margs all day long. Whew! Sound too good to be true? I guess you'll have to mosey up McKinney to see if it's for real ...
I got the chance to attend a celebration at Candleroom in honor of three local nightlife bigwigs (above, from left): Avi Adri, owner of Aura, Wade Hampton, marketing director at ghostbar (and several celebu-haunts in Las Vegas), and Tommy DeAlano, who owns Sunset Lounge and Candleroom. The music was poppin', the drinks -- courtesy of Tres Generaciones tequila, Sauza's upscale relative -- were flowin', and Candleroom was uncharacteristically not packed. I don't know how the boys have kept their respective lounges buzzy and popular these past few years, but I suppose that's why they were bestowed the big kudos last night ... congrats, gentlemen!
Bryan Street Tavern is one of my favorite new-ish haunts. I love to sink into a sofa in the living room area of the bar, order a cocktail and just relax or play Jenga. Best part is, it seems like there's a drink or food special every time I'm there.
As it just so happens, BST's actual happy hour is pretty darn generous. On Wednesdays guests can enjoy 25-cent wings and $8 pitchers of Shiner or Bud Light as well as the everyday happy hour (4-7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight) special of a one-topping, 16-inch pizza for $10. And if you haven't had the pizza here, my friends, GO, MANGIA, DO IT! I've never been a fan of thin, crispy pizza crusts like they serve, but the pie here is melty, meaty (you gotta get Jimmy's spicy sausage) heaven on a plate. Trust.
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check out the entire series in this week's Quick.
Why it's fabulous: Before the drink is even placed in front of you, you know you are about to get something special. The bartender gathers up fresh strawberries, lime and big basil leaves and places them in a measuring glass. A dash of this and a dash of that later, he's pressing the ingredients together with a wooden pestle. After some shaking and straining, a glass full of pink goodness is handed over.
Whew! A lot of work for a refreshing treat that tastes somewhere between strawberry jam and strawberry limeade.
-- Jennifer Kyle
Tell us ... Where do you go for an herb-infused cocktail?
Coming soon to Park Lane is Bailey's Prime Plus, a steakhouse whose new site will be its second location in the area. But I'm not so much excited about the cuisine as I am the cocktails ...
The restaurant will feature a cozy, red-accented bar/lounge "with curved banquette seating and subdued lighting, with space for live music performers ... or a DJ spinning." In fact, the lounge plans to have two rotating house DJs. And a mixologist and sommelier will be on-site, so I expect fantastic bevs of the vino and spirit variety. For now, the cocktail menu includes a peach rickey, strawberry basil mojito and a Coco Chanel -- vanilla vodka, white Godiva, coco real and Hershey's syrup. I have to see if it tastes as ooh-la-la as it sounds.
The cherry on top of the sundae of this news is that the new bar will be right smack in my neighborhood -- at last, we'll have a bar to chill at other than Sherlock's! Nothing wrong with Sherlock's, but it'll be nice to have some variety ...
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the final installment Wednesday.
Why it's fabulous: Unlike most slushy bevs that are light on flavor from the get-go and only get more watery as they melt, the frozen hurricane at the Grill is brightly flavored, with a strong fruity taste from start to end. It was way tastier than the hurricane I sipped (OK, slammed) on Bourbon Street during a recent trip. Considering that the drink is touted as a native bev of New Orleans, that's saying a lot!
Tell us ... Where do you go for an old classic cocktail?
... was an evening of utter abandon starring fanciful beverages, Tex-Mex food and cake-flavored frozen treats. Let's get on with the show ...
As an aperitif of sorts, I attended a tasting event at Abacus celebrating the Macallan Cooler (above), a mildly fruity cocktail made with -- get this -- scotch whisky. I'm not the world's biggest fan of the spirit, but even though the cocktail contained a shot and a half of it, there was hardly a trace of whisky flavor, or burn. Instead, the mint, lime and fizz from the ginger ale gave the bev a vaguely mojito-y taste. Can't complain about that ...
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment Monday.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Martini
Where to get it:The Social House, 3699 McKinney Ave., in West Village
Why it's fabulous: This tastes exactly as if someone put a PB&J into a
blender and poured it into a chilled glass. The Frangelico gives it it's nutty properties while the Chambord offers a grape jelly-like accent. Now, instead of eating the childhood delight off of a picnic table in the park, you can sip the oh-so-adult treat while chilling with your friends at a patio table and watching all the buzz in the village.
-- Jennifer Kyle
Tell us ... Where do you go to get a cocktail that tastes like anything but a cocktail?
I ventured into the remote north for dinner at Plano's new pizza joint/lounge, Urban Crust. Not content to move into the city's Old Downtown as simply a pizzeria, the eatery also features 32 Degrees, a bright rooftop lounge, half of which is indoors under a bright skylight surrounded by urban loft touches and half of which is outdoors offering a lovely view of the surrounding albeit unspectacular scenery. But first let's talk drinks...
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment Friday.
Why it's fabulous: The cosmo and vodka/cranberry are a little overdone, so you might back away when you see the cran-colored cocktail, but this one is anything but typical. The combination of orange, cranberry and vodka is done in such a way that spotlights the tartness of cranberry as your flavor "top note." The taste left in your mouth is more of the orange. It's smooth, so it's refreshing when cooling off from your serious booty shakin'. Stop by tomorrow and give it a try at their Midsummer's party. You'll be talking about even after summer ends.
-- Jennifer Kyle
Tell us ... Where do you go for a sexy-monikered bev?
If you're into sushi, then you and the Dallas Fish Market's happy hour should get along swimmingly. Every Wednesday, the downtown seafood resto offers $5 specialty martinis and glasses of wine and free sushi. That's right, free -- of course, there are caveats. Happy hour celebrants must keep the party in the lounge and one drink purchase is required. Still, $5 is a steal for a coupla rolls at this fine eatery, methinks.
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment Wednesday.
Jalapeño Peach martini
Where to get it: The Dragonfly inside the Hotel ZaZa, 2332 Leonard St.
Why it's fabulous: It's sweet, cool and spicy all at the same time! At first sip, a refreshing burst of peach dances across your tongue, but a few sips later, you'll notice a mild heat on your lips. The jalapeño is a subtle hint and not too overpowering, so don't worry about setting off any alarms with this one. Think peach Jolly Rancher with a kick of cayenne. Just don't eat the slices left at the bottom unless you are ready to sweat.
Friday night was kind of a whirlwind, considering how the evening started. I was driving my irritable self home, waiting to plop on the sofa and make it a Blockbuster night. Instead I slept ... but at least I woke up feeling better! Then I got to the business of nightlifery ...
I kicked off the evening at House of Dang's moving partay. Fashionable and fun! I'll certainly miss Doug and Andrew's (above) cute and cozy space on Bryan Street but wish them all the best in their new Bishop Arts digs. As always, you can keep up with the boys at their blog.
After hobnobbing a bit amongst the frugal fashionistas, my partner in crime and I walked over to Bryan Street Tavern. I hadn't been since I had one of my three birthday parties there in April, and it's just as comfy as I remember ... without the smoke. The patio's open now, too, and has a playful, rustic feel to it, what with the strung-up holiday lights and the rock-garden terrain underneath picnic tables. But what we really came for was the $3 wells (on a Friday? Nice ...) and the pizza -- I'm generally not a fan of thin-crust pies, but BST's pizza is fantastic. Granted, it's hard to dislike anything that contains Jimmy's spicy Italian sausage. But still, get thee there for a taste if you haven't already ... I'll prolly return on Tuesday for their $16 beer pitcher-and-pie deal.
I closed out the evening at Lee Harvey's, which was hopping inside and out (I finally saw a menu there for the first time -- can anyone comment on their grub?). As I mingled with my friends, I had a star sighting: John and Taylor from The O's were chatting at a nearby picnic table ... man, are they cute. They've got big things poppin' careerwise, too, including filming a TV pilot. Find out more at their Facebook fan page.
I attended a veritable feast of the senses at Pyramid restaurant, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite upscale haunts. Thursday night the Hotel Fairmount resto hosted Vive Le Coqtail -- Part Deux, a celebration of the blazingly unique, handcrafted libations of house sommelier Hunter Hammett, with each drink paired with mostly off-menu chef creations. How blazingly unique were these drinks? You ever have a wasabi martini? Fabu! Or a vodka infused with cantaloupe in a way that causes the fruity finish to creep into your palate well after you've taken a swig? Very nice. Among the small plates served were a house-cured salmon gravlax with chive cream cheese and, my favorite, the house-cured peking duck (above). Just look at those perfectly prepared slices, ringed with crisp, sumptuous slivers of fat. Duck fat makes everything better ...
After rolling out of the Fairmount, I hit the closing fete of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas at Sushi Axiom, where I enjoyed healthy discourses with fest-goers on Japanese horror films, Korean theater's rise and China's movie censorship. I skipped the free Chang beer and was pretty much elbowed out of the way when a gigantic tray full of free sushi landed on the table near me.
Finally, my accomplice and I closed out the evening by sharing a Trashcan Punch at Barcadia ("Are you trying to get me messed up?" he asked me after a hearty sip; see more below) and having a late-night snackie off of Old Monk's late-night snackie menu. I highly recommend soaking up the evening's liquor with a tray of cheese fries, made with skinny frites. Num, num, num.
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment tomorrow.
Why it's fabulous: Continuing our streak of blue drinks (although it looks greenish in my photo) is the liquor-riffic Trashcan Punch at Barcadia. Part of what makes the Henderson hangout's mai tai-esque concoction fun is that it's served in a Mason jar. And keeping with the bar's retro-tastic vibe, the punch comes with an old-fashioned cocktail umbrella. But these accoutrements don't steal the show from the bev -- it features several liqueurs but manages to be tropically fruity more than anything else. It's definitely something cool to sip on while you're kicking butt and takin' names at the skeeball machines!
Tell us ... Who serves your favorite summer cocktail?
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment tomorrow.
The Chad
Where to get it:Loft 610, 5760 State Hwy.121, Plano.
Why it's fabulous: Because it's bright blue, duh! OK, there's way more to The Chad then its bold color -- would ya believe this bev tastes of peach? Its potent blend of fruity schnapps, blue curacao and lime powered through my allergy-addled head like a lightning bolt. It was sweet, though not overwhelmingly so, and despite the three liquors present in the mix, fruit was still the prevailing flavor. Fantastic!
Tell us ... Where do you go to get a colorful summery cocktail?
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment on Monday.
Mai Tai
Where to get it:Trader Vic's, 5330 E. Mockingbird Lane.
Why it's fabulous: OK, there's nothing new about this tropical bev, but there's a reason it's been a popular cocktail since its creation in the '40s -- it's sweet and fruity heaven in a glass! And if you're going to savor one, you'd best do it at one of the places that claims to have concocted it -- Trader Vic's. Of course, the island-themed resto-bar has the drink perfected, and the lime and orange flavors make the Jamaican rum go down like a spoonful of sugar. If this drink doesn't scream summer and transport you to a white-sand beach (in your head), I don't know what does ...
Tell us ... Where do you go to get a summery cocktail that tastes like a vacation in the tropics?
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment on Monday.
Why it's fabulous: Park, the newest restaurant-lounge to pop up on the vibrant Henderson stretch, is hip, modern and fresh, so why shouldn't its cocktails have the same qualities? The Jack Lord Daiquiri mixes premium 10 Cane rum and blends it with white peach, creating a clean, sweet yet refreshing summer bev. One sip, and my companion ordered one, stat. This is the drink to have in hand on Park's cozy patio, taking in the wonderful interior design and the laid-back atmosphere.
Tell us ... Where do you go to get a summery cocktail that takes advantage of the fruits of the season?
Not sure if there'll be a happy hour, but the mood will be hella festive today, which is the new Hard Rock Cafe's opening day. Located in Victory Park across the street from the House of Blues, the new (well, not really -- there was one in Dallas that closed) spot will feature music memorabilia we've all come to expect from HRC. Gawk at the cowboy get-up Madonna wore on the cover of her CD Music. Stare at the ZZ Top guitars that its former owners wanted to always be on display at HRC Dallas. Or just order a cocktail! That is what hump day happy hour's for, isn't it?
Quick is spotlighting terrific summer cocktails over the next few weeks, and we want you to weigh in on your favorites. Check back for the next installment on Friday.
Pomegranate-cucumber mojito
Where to get it:Pyramid restaurant and bar, 1717 N. Akard St.
Why it's fabulous: The Pyramid's sweet and refreshing twist on the mojito has the distinction of featuring cucumbers and mint grown in the rooftop garden of the Fairmount Hotel, which houses the restaurant. The veggie is a fantastic ingredient in any drink, but in this mojito, its cool, fresh taste plays nicely against the sweet pungency of the pomegranate. But it's the localvore touch that makes this bev a fancy treat.
Tell us ... Where do you go to get a summery cocktail that's got that something extra?
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