Social Sips
BAR VASQUEZ
Local restaurateur (and natty dresser in his own right) Tony Foreman has unveiled his latest concept: Bar Vasquez, a new bar, lounge and restaurant with an Argentinean theme. According to Foreman, it celebrates “the Holy Trinity of Argentine cooking: meat, fire and seasonal ingredients.” Think lots of meats and steaks. The gorgeous, rustic space that formerly housed the popular Pazo has been refreshed and redone by local designer Katie DeStefeno, with new light fixtures, furnishings in the lounge, and bold, graphic wall treatments.
FIVE & DIME ALE HOUSE
Can a sports bar be stylish? It can if it’s the new Five & Dime Ale House on the Avenue in Hampden. Housed in what was originally a G.C. Murphy’s 5 & 10, it’s the latest project of Justin Dvorkin and Donald Kelly of Oliver Brewing. The interiors are warm, expansive and inviting. The menu is upscale American pub food, and lots of craft beers are on tap (including the full range of Oliver’s ales).
SUGARVALE
Last Thursday, Nov. 4, Sugarvale, the chic little cocktail bar nestled a few steps off of Mount Vernon Square (look for the doorway a few steps down off the sidewalk) hosted a ‘Chicken & Cocktails’ one-night pop-up for the new BRD chicken stall at the soon-to-open R House food hall in Remington.
The event was so popular that patrons spilled out onto the sidewalk on the pleasant fall evening. The crowd was young and attractive, the chicken sandwiches were delish…
…and my sazerac cocktail was, as always here, perfect.
CITRON
Longtime popular local caterer Charles Levine and wife Susan invited us in to their friends-and-family night to preview their new, two-years-in-the-making Citron restaurant at Quarry Lake.
The place is huge and the spaces are gorgeous. (Charles and Susan worked with Jay Jenkins on designing the stunning interiors.) There are multiple dining rooms to choose from, and a big, beautiful barroom, presided over by head bartender Jon Blair.
My personal favorites: the main dining room that has a retro, Mad Men-feel, with lighting that makes everyone look their best…
…and the pitch-perfect Manhattan, was served up in interesting glassware.
THE ELEPHANT
The upstairs bar and lounges at The Elephant were the place to be this week on Wednesday night, to discuss the results of the Presidential election in a salon-style setting (and with cocktails to get the conversations flowing). Lots of movers and shakers from around town showed up, and were greeted by restaurant owner Steven Rivelis. The gloss-black walls of the chic upstairs lounge were a perfect backdrop for my chilled Manhattan.
