All stories about "Bars"

London is no stranger to members-only clubs. But Victory, headed by Hedges and Butler alum and self-described as “a luxurious, opulent members club,” is no Soho House. The brainchild of Youcef Aden, formerly Dynasty’s costume designer and stylist to such icons as Jackson 5 and Elton John, Victory evaluates member’s applications on their merit as storytellers. That’s right, “membership is free, but granted on the premise that the applicant has a story to tell. Creativity and intellect will be encouraged – along with wit, humor and a passion for the anecdotal.”

As with all cosmopolitan cities, Berlin offers an ample selection of wild but run-of-the-mill world-capital nightlife: legendary nightclubs and trendy lounges where the young and successful (or at least hopeful) flirt and drink pricey cocktails. The style, patrons, music, and cocktails are akin to similar scenes across the globe. But then there is the other Berlin, the Berlin in which Berliners live, create, dance, and naturally, party. These are places from which the average local late-night reveler stumbles home. They have color, character, verve, and, as usual in Berlin, history.

The tiki bar was invented in Los Angeles, when Ernest Gantt opened "Don the Beachcomber" back in 1933. Since then, the concept of the Polynesian drinkery has bounced to the South Pacific and back, colonizing the rest of the West Coast and the world. Back in LA, summer is heating up. Weathered Angelenos can already feel the potential onslaught of a full-fledged heat wave. So, those interested in toasting the summer season with a cool drink in hand might consider (re)visiting your local LA tiki bar, as the city is home to several. Here are six of our favorites.

When thinkin' of drinkin' in South Beach, tourists mob the beachside cabanas and sidewalk cafes. Locals hit up the hotels. As big-city style hotels proliferate worldwide, so do their stylish nightlife components, and Miami is no exception. Classy drinks, cool crowds, and designy decor rule the day, especially at boutique and luxury hotels. They generally beat the crap out of any club on Ocean Drive or Washington Avenue, both in terms of patrons and service. As proof, here's our list of favorite SoBe hotel watering holes.

In San Francisco, where everyone seems to be a vegan/plastic bag-hating hippie, there are still vices that other San Franciscans hold dear: our alcohol and our smoking. Despite smoking regulations and the annoyed looks smokers catch while trying to get their fix, we're holding strong to our convictions and looking for bars that support our habit. Even more reviled than cigarette smokers are those that smoke cigars -- and while technically you can smoke anywhere cigarettes are welcome, it's becoming harder and harder to find places that welcome the sweet smell of stogies. Here are the best places to take your cigar and light up -- with the least amount of glares, anyway.

Everyday on Gridskipper we give you a new map. Some are new, some are fetched from our archive, newly updated. Happy Gridskipping. Whether it's rot-gut bourbon in a Waylon song or high-priced single-malt in a Wall Street boardroom, the lure of whiskey is universal. This brown elixir has long drowned the woes of everyone from hard-luck cowboys to the business elite, leaving its victims moaning with throbbing hangovers in the process. And in a city filled with breakups and bad investments, New Yorkers need a place to hang their head as much as anybody, hence the following list of noteworthy whiskey dealers in NYC. Feel free to supply your own favorite bronze elixir haunts in the comments or the tip jar.

When we wrote about downtown's Trifecta we were like "sure they're douchebags but at least they're douchebags running a sports bar in downtown LA." And then when we wrote about the Grand Sports Bar we were like "they kind of suck but at least they're running a sports bars in downtown LA." And then both of them went out of business. And then the Flower Sports Bar went out of business. And now downtown is more or less bereft of watering holes servicing both man's need for alcoholic nourishment and his need to drunkenly declare that he's about to fight that out-of-town sports fan over there. Luckily downtown still has a few bars and restaurants where you can catch the occasional game. If you show up at just the right time. If they happen to be open that day. If they haven't closed early. If you're lucky. Fuck. (photo)

As we mentioned last summer, Paris provides free Wi-Fi access from more than 260 public parks, gardens, and monuments. A beautiful idea, but those of us with real work to do need a table and a beer. Helping us out are a number of cafés and bistros that serve free Wi-Fi along with their liquid offerings. And profiling these joints is a nifty little website that rounds up more than 140 hotspots in Paris and plots them on an easy-to-use map. Cafés Wifi selects their monthly favorites -- those cafés that provide a free, fast, and always working connection, along with pleasant working atmosphere -- and reports on the price, the clientele, and the number of electrical outlets. It's a freelancer's wet dream. This very article, including the photo, was posted from #4, la Fée Verte.

Chelsea Clinton hit Philly on a gay bar crawl Friday, causing quite a commotion. The potential two-time First Daughter was "mobbed by local gays and lesbians;" at least one woman claims to have "grabbed her ass." In total Clinton hit four Philadelphia spots (the first four on our list), joining director Rob Reiner and Governor Ed Rendell on a crawl to gain Democratic support during the primaries. But, enough about politics... where to rub shoulders with Philadelphia's same-sex-oriented finest? Chelsea Clinton's stops supplemented with a couple other picks after the jump. (photo) [MSNBC]

A new trend has been taking place at nightspots around NYC: earlier closing times. The mayor and the State Liquor Authority are clamping down on liquor licenses, and the only ones being issued right now are only valid until 2am. Some NYers are predicting that in the future, 4am closing times at bars and clubs may be a thing of the past. [Gothamist]

NYC isn't the only east coast metropolis cracking down on bars and clubs. Beantown's "licensing czar says he's banning 'bottle service'." Boston Licensing Board Chairman Daniel Pokaski has said he will have a zero tolerance policy with regard to it -- his position is that it's against current city and state laws. [via]

The recent hot spell reminded all of us that summer -- glorious, sun-scorched, face-melting summer -- has officially arrived in LA. The possibilities for daytime activities are endless: hiking, hitting the beach, lying on top of the covers with the shades drawn sipping water and wondering if it's possible to sleep until October ... but hey, at least the sun eventually goes down, and when it does, what's better than a crisp, refreshing cocktail? Or seven? Here are some hot spots (har dee har) for finishing the day with a nice summery beverage. Do your part for the cause by adding your own favorites in the comments.

Although not always apparent to the Los Angeles newcomer, there are plenty of nightlife options available around town in places other than Hollywood or West Hollywood. East you'll find downtown, west gets you to Santa Monica, and North gets you to the Valley. But what about South? You may think the only real reasons to head in that directions is an airport run or road trip to San Diego, and you'd be correct. However, if you do find yourself on the wrong side of the 10 in search of some nightlife, you will find some pretty good options in Culver City. I've come up with a list to get you started, but add your own notables in the comments.

Last year we brought you free bar food in NYC. But as tax day approaches and the economy remains generally shitty, I figured the time was right to also embrace the more upscale snacks that are a staple of New York's fancier bars. It only makes sense that you should get a little somethin' somethin' to complement your $14 martini. After the jump, the most delicious snacks that come for free (as long as you don't count that overpriced cocktail). (photo)

Web design zine, Openers Gallery, has a preview of photographer Yabuta Osami's project "Tokyo Bunny Girls." For the series, Osami took black-and-white pictures of bar hostesses in Downtown Tokyo. The artist says his photos are "erotic/sexy but elegant." The racy shots show tired-looking waifish women writhing around in lingerie and their trademark bunny ears. Osami cites magazine photography as a major influence, and his bunny girl photos have a documentary quality. I see these images as portraits of a hard profession-- they're far more sad than they are sexy. Some of the photos show the bar bunnies out on the streets, while others seem to capture the hostesses in their places of employment. More Tokyo bar bunny shots after the jump. [via]