This marks my first bar selection as a full-fledged Triumvir rather than a mere pretender. I think I need to take a moment....
Someone wise (Meredith Baxter-Birney, I think) once said "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Which is why, though I should be thanking Jay for his five years of faithful and tireless service to PubNight and wishing him well into his days of emerita, I'm instead going to reassure our no doubt nervous flock that the same quality drinking will continue under my quasi-leadership; that I have a fair stock of great places and awful jokes in mind. Because, you see, that brings the subject back where it should be: squarely on me.
For my first trick, I'm taking PubNight back where it all began -- for me. Googie's, once owned by my folks, closed last year and re-emerged as Zanza Bar. I avoided the place for a really long time, only to drop by impulsively a few weeks ago to discover that the place is so unrecognizable I don't have the opportunity to be haunted by old memories. And that it kind of rocks now; the new decor is really clean and beautiful, there's unobtrusive live music in the back (sometimes), and the kitchen is still serving a lot of the same food (which I hope is up to the same standard).
It's so new, there isn't even a CitySearch/Shecky's/Vindigo page for it yet. What more do you need to tell you I've picked a winner?
See you there!
Mike, Kris, Petro, TK and Jay