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03/04/2010

A sampling of local wine bars

File photo

Hit a vino bar. Wine not?

Wine bars can provide the perfect destination for lounge lovers looking for a vintage experience. Many are as lively as any bar patio, without the chill of the outdoors. Food offerings tend to be more thoughtful and unique. Servers seem to delight in sharing their extensive knowledge of vino regions, history, flavors and ideal food pairings.

02/25/2010

TABC's vibe is easy as 1-2-3

Jason Janik/Special Contributor

Guests enjoy the scene at TABC.

Residents in the trendy State-Thomas neighborhood are good at keeping the local haunts buzzing. And why not – who doesn't want a variety of bars within walking distance from home?

02/11/2010

Pizza Lounge piles on charm ... and toppings

Jason Janik/Special Contributor

Meagan Hill mixes drinks at Pizza Lounge

It's always fun to see what new owners can do to an old space. At Pizza Lounge – formerly Exposition Park Cafe – the transformation has been like night and day.

02/03/2010

AMPM Lounge keeps the party going

Jason Janik/Special Contributor

Guests shake their rumps at AMPM Lounge.

In its first few months of operation last year, AMPM Lounge quickly distinguished itself as a place to be when it hosted a visit by Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, and numerous Dallas Cowboys parties. Six months on, the downtown bar- restaurant retains its high energy and excitement, as evidenced by the enthusiastic crowds that still come out to play.

01/27/2010

Kick back at Patio Grill in Uptown

Jason Janik/Special Contributor

Matt Schulze mixes drinks at Patio Grill

Uptown's newest bar, Patio Grill, has a prime location on McKinney Avenue, in the same drag as popular haunts Quarter Bar and Primo's. The always hopping Lumi Empanada and Dumpling Kitchen is right next door. So why is Patio Grill underpopulated most nights?

01/21/2010

Rustic meets modern at LaGrange in Deep Ellum

Jason Janik/Special Contributor

The Charming Gardeners perform at LaGrange

There's a new bar in town, and it has the feel of an old-time, small-town Texas watering hole, with the modern touches of a cool Deep Ellum hangout. LaGrange, only a few weeks old, still has that new-club smell. Or maybe that's the hearty scent of the burnished hickory plank that makes up the bar. The works of local artists hang on the walls on either side of an intimate stage at the back of the club.

01/25/2010

Cozy cocktails: Warm up with these hot drinks
It's the dead of winter, and Mother Nature has swiped Dallas twice in the form of recent cold snaps. What's a lounge lizard to do to combat the winter chill while bar hopping? Order a hot cocktail, that's what. Nowadays, the list of warm alcoholic beverages goes way beyond the typical toddy. Local lounges are experimenting with a host of unique flavors to create cool (read: hot) drinks. Here's a sampling of what's out there.

Seeking the Grail? Try Plano.
Don’t let its low-key strip mall location deceive you — the Holy Grail Pub in Plano has as much hustle and bustle as any bar you’ll find on Lower Greenville or Uptown. It just happens to be farther north.

Luxury awaits at Bar Celine
You have to walk through part of Park restaurant to get to Bar Céline, a new lounge in its back room. But that's a good thing: You'll appreciate the differences between the eatery and the bar. While Park features a bright, minimalist design scheme, the low-lit Bar Céline is decked out in sumptuous fabrics, sexy furniture you sink right into and gilded mirrors galore, all nods to its French salon inspiration.