Secrets of the City

boomd posed the question, and ericaaaaa answered: If a bartender named a drink after you, what would it be called? What would be in it?

Back at you, folks: what’s your drink? ericaaaaa’s is the Double Dimple: vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and a big ol’ slice of lime as a garnish.

The 651’s Picky Eater serves up a list of favorite St. Paul drinking establishments, complete with drink suggestions. “Rock out with a Whiskey Coke” at the Turf Club. Let the bartender work his fancy magic at the Camp Bar. “Keep it real with Guinness or Jameson” at the Dubliner. Go for a classic Martini or Manhattan at the St. Paul Hotel.

Any other favorite St. Paul bars missing? What’s the best drink to order?

Alexis McKinnis, our local sex columnist and Girl Friday blogger, has been working hard over the past few weeks (and, yes, drinking can be very hard work sometimes) putting together her holiday drinks piece for Vita.mn in order to brighten our spirits. “This is the time of the year when twinkling colors are as much a requirement on the rim of your glass as they are on the glowing strands on your Christmas tree,” she writes, “when whiskey isn’t mandated for a hot toddy, and tequila turns into an affair you’ll actually remember.” (If I recall, which I really don’t, I may have had one or two of these affairs myself recently.)

“The holiday season is full of festive flavors and smells that professional and home bartenders are blending together in inventive, potable ways — and bestowing them with appropriately punny names,” writes McKinnis before introducing us to five exemplary cocktails from La Belle Vie, Om, The Strip Club, Azia, and Clubhouse Jäger. The best part — recipes included! But don’t feel limited by the list; if you have a favorite holiday cocktail, please share it with us here!

Looking for some eats to accompany your holiday drinking?

Here are a few solid articles on dining in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Stephanie March tells us her first visit to Subo, the newest restaurant to occupy the old Hell’s Kitchen space, was full of “good food with impressive flavors.”

Rick Nelson reviews Il Gatto, claiming “the reincarnation of Figlio in Uptown is decidedly feline, but quite feisty.”

Tom Horgan tells us a little bit more about the new NE hotspots Honey and Ginger Hop.

David, of Minneapolis MetBlogs, informs us that Duluth’s Hell’s Kitchen will be reopening as Hellburgers.

Philip Dorwart serves up some beef jerky tips for deer hunting season.

And Steve Marsh introduces us to Jim Christiansen, Corrine Sherbert, and Landon Schoenefeld, three of the area’s hottest up-and-coming chefs.

The Uptown Mpls blog looks into the possible (and, seemingly, increasingly likely) closing of the Uptown Bar: Is the Uptown Bar “historic”? I have mixed opinions on this point. I’m a strong believer in historic preservation, probably more so than many people in Uptown. I also like the Uptown Bar’s building, I like its sign, and I like its significance to not-so-distant Uptown history. At the same time, businesses come and go. That’s life, like it or not.

Your thoughts on the potential end of this venerable institution?

Steve Marsh dresses like a pirate and goes to the Bombay Sapphire’s Most Inspired Bartender Competition. DeRusha is interviewed briefly, and might have been drunk.

Richard Fleischman Photography offers a photo essay of the last day of D’Amico Cucina.
TC Eats samples El Paraiso.
The Heavy Table gets ice cream at Adele’s.
Aaron has pizza at Wildfire.
Lazy Lightning goes to the Strip Club.

The Star-Tribune reports: “I’m tired, and my hip kills me at the end of the night,” said the 62-year-old, who has tended bars from Chicago to his native St. Paul. Mussehl — an iconic figure at Nye’s, which Esquire magazine named “best bar in America” in 2006 — will hang up his towel at some fast-approaching unspecified date. As befits any barkeep who has spent a lifetime listening to other people’s stories, the old Rice Streeter has a few of his own.

The Business-Journal reports: University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks will ask the school’s governing body on Friday to disallow alcohol sales in the new TCF Bank Stadium.

I can’t really see a problem in this. After all, people don’t usually like to drink at sporting events.

A bartender at the Shout House went for a new world record for mixing the most cocktails in one hour. And he did it.

The Heavy Table points us to a very useful online Girl Scout Cookie locator.
The Foodie File notices better service everywhere.
Camatcho Watcho goes to Barrio.
We Got Served tries out Cosmos.