After Hours Blog
The best in local entertainment, nightlife, culture, arts, fashion and more.

• School Ties: Where to Watch the Bowl Games With Fellow Fans
  

  Fiesta and Sugar and Orange—oh, my! With 32 bowls in 19 days, who has time to research the best places to watch the biggest games? Well, we’ve done some of the work for you. Here are our recommendations for where to catch your favorite teams with fans crazier than you. Did we miss any bars? Leave your suggestions in the comments and we'll update this post.

  Holiday Bowl: Arizona State (10-2) vs. Texas (9-3), December 27 at 8 pm
  
  Texas: Rhodeside Grill, 1836 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-243-0145; Metro: Court House.
  With every TV tuned to the Holiday Bowl (yes, on both levels), expect 200 diehard Longhorns fans by kickoff, fight songs galore, and game-time appetizer specials.
  
  Arizona State: Crystal City Sports Pub, 529 23rd St. S., Arlington; 703-521-8215; Metro: Crystal City.
  A small but rowdy bunch usually gathers at Crystal City for Arizona State games. The school’s local alumni group expects 25 to 50 fans for the Sun Devils first-ever match-up with the Longhorns.
  
  Champ Sports Bowl: Boston College (10-3) vs. Michigan State (7-5), December 28 at 5 pm
  
  Boston College: Porter’s Dining Saloon , 1207 19th St., NW; 202-0775-3797; Metro: Dupont Circle.
  During big games, this three-level bar is bumper to bumper with BC fans. The crowd sometimes congregates in the main bar—but if enough people show up, they get the entire upstairs bar to themselves. Game-day specials include $2 Miller Lites and Coronas and $3 rail drinks.
  
  Michigan State: Hawk ’n’ Dove , 329 Pennsylvania Ave., SE; 202-543-3300; Metro: Eastern Market, Capitol South.
  Dozens of Spartans fans gather at this Capitol Hill bar to cheer together during games. Wear team colors to get $1.95 domestic bottles and $3.50 microbrews; bring your MSU Alumni Club membership card to get a discount on appetizers.
  
  
• Last Hurrahs and First Hurrahs: Local New Year’s Eve Parties, Concerts, and More
  

  Looking to go out to ring in 2008? Here’s our guide to local New Year’s Eve parties. If you have suggestions or tips of your own, leave them in the comments, and we’ll update our guide with them.

  Hotel Parties | Concerts | Big Bashes | Free/No Cover Nights
  
  Hotel Parties
  
  The Hotel Washington (515 15th St., NW), a DC institution, is closing forever in 2008. So naturally, there’s a massive New Year’s Eve bash there. The group Professionals in the City is hosting a Last Hurrah party, which will take place all over the hotel’s bars and ballrooms—even on the Sky Terrace, well known for its great views of the White House and other parts of the city. Dress is black tie optional. 8 pm; tickets are $130 and up and can be purchased here.

  The organization Big Night D.C. throws a . . . well, big party tonight at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center (1400 M St., NW). There will be DJs galore plus performances by Gonzo’s Nose, Laura Lea & Tripp Fabulous, and Justin Trawick. There’ll also be buffets, a “Vegas casino” room for mock gambling, ballrooms for dancing, and a balloon drop. Dress is black tie optional. If you like, you can reserve discounted rooms at the hotel. Tickets for the party start at $119.99 and go up to $150 as the date draws closer; purchase them here.
  
  Euronet, an organization for international professionals, is throwing a party at the Sheraton National Hotel (900 S. Orme St., Arlington)—the License to Thrill Around the World Gala, inspired by international locales and (who else?) James Bond. Several rooms will have different themes, such as an Irish pub, an Icelandic martini bar, Bollywood dance performances, and more. Tickets are $149 and will rise to $189 as time goes on. Admission includes five hours of an open bar and buffets. 9 pm.
  

• Good Shopping at Goodwill
  

  Studio Ayanna hosts an evening of charitable shopping in conjunction with Goodwill of Greater Washington.

  An abundance of shoulder pads and ruffles at Wednesday night’s Goodwill Travelin’ Trunk Show only confirmed that ’80s fashion is making a comeback. Goodwill of Greater Washington imported racks of gently used, fluorescent sequined gowns and eccentrically patterned tops into downtown DC’s Studio Ayanna hoping to entice shoppers with inexpensive vintage items perfect for New Year’s Eve or holiday parties.
• Beyond Hot Toddies: Yummy Winter Drinks at Local Bars
  

  With the first snowfall of the season taking place this week, there’s nothing more appealing than bundling up, heading up to a cozy bar with friends, and sipping a heart-and-soul-and-stomach-warming drink. You can get an Irish coffee or hot toddy at any bar, but it takes a special bartender to come up with a proper winter drink for the dark days of winter. Here are some of our favorite cold-weather drinks at local bars.

  Central Michel Richard (1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-626-0015). Whiz-kid bar manager Justin Guthrie is at it again mixing and brewing—this time with his Agave Coffee. Served in a tall glass, it’s Mexican-inspired (hence the tequila) but not spicy. It’s pretty much a straightforward nightcap but topped with whipped cream sweetened with agave nectar—no humdrum sugar here. $11.
  
  Equinox (818 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-331-8118). Four boozy apple drinks are on the menu, all cold and available daily. Tuesdays from 5 to 7, however, is cider happy hour, running through December. From 5 to 7, chef Todd Gray walks around with trays bearing mini-cups of carrot-ginger soup, venison chili, or whatever else he feels like making, and the snug bar fills up with mmmm-apple scent. Most drinks are made with Laird’s applejack liqueur—such as the Apple Pillar (citrus  aftertaste), Falling Leaves (real lemongrass in there), and the Brown Mary (with manzana-pepper-infused rum). Then there’s the Pumpkin Cobbler for those who didn’t binge on enough pie over Thanksgiving. It’s made with cinnamon-infused rum and pumpkin-spice liqueur. Think spiked pumpkin juice—if there were such a thing. $10 to $11.
  
  
• “Pure Magic, Baby:" Mall Santas Tell All
  

  Did you ever wonder how Santa really delivers all of those presents in one night? Yeah, we did too. We decided to go straight to the source—four of them, in fact. We asked these mall Santas to answer a few Christmasy questions for us. So which of them is the real Kris Kringle? That’s for you to decide. Don’t believe in Santa? Keep reading anyway—you may get a few tips on what to buy your little niece/nephew/cousin/brother/sister.

  The Shops at Georgetown Park
  At this Georgetown mall, Santa is a musician—he plays a mean “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on the recorder. His North Pole is small, but he has everything he needs: a red velvet throne, a few bags of gifts, and a mini-forest of snow-covered Christmas trees.
  
  Name: Santa Claus.
  Favorite reindeer? “Well, you know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen—but of course, do you recall Rudolph? In the story it says ‘all of the other reindeer.’ You see, that’s probably my favorite. Olive, the other reindeer.”
  Favorite cookie? “Well, my favorite cookie really is the one that’s left for me. Oh, my goodness—well, look at me.” He pats his belly. “Gingerbread is good, oatmeal raisin is wonderful, peanut butter, chocolate chip, chocolate chip macadamia nut, all different kinds—yes!”
  Favorite gift for a boy? “Boys are quite fantastic because most of them really want books. Picture books. Young girls like picture books, too.”
  Favorite gift for a girl? “Well, the most fabulous gifts they’re asking for this year seems like American Girl dolls. That’s the number one on my list.”
  Favorite Christmas movie? “It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart. Oh, I love that part when he remembers his daughter and he goes