Live Q&As

Honestly, I don't see much wassail out there. (It's mulled cider, for those who aren't familiar with the centuries-old tradition of wassailing.)

Glogg and hot toddys are the big drinks again this year. Anyone seen wassail anywhere?

Three restaurants in the same price range, with plenty of buzz to make you still feel hip: Estadio, where the food is on the upswing; Mintwood Place in Adams Morgan; or Hanoi House (get the banh mi), will all fit the bill with great cocktails and food. There's one secret to having a much better experience, though: Get to them between 5:30-6:30 for drinks, and you'll actually have a much easier time getting a seat, particularly on a Friday night.

There are carolers in the Willard's super-festive lobby from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. My tip: Go grab a warm (and pricey) cocktail from the Round Robin Bar and carry it out to the lobby with you instead of getting the blah coffee and cider from the coffee stand near the main entrance.

Check out Chocolate Moose in NW. Among the silly bacon wallets, rubber chickens and  tacky treasures are cards a plenty. I can't vouch that there will be something pornographic, but I know you won't leave empty handed.

 Old Ebbitt has been a go-to for holiday diners with families right now, with some festive decorations, including two large nutcrackers outside; but it's more likely that it's because it's an easy walk to the White House tree and the Willard. If you go to the White House tree, definitely take the kids to Santa's Workshop (they can even give Santa their lists) -- it's really cute in there.

I grew up here and I don't remember the last time there was an official fireworks show on New Year's Eve in D.C. proper. Alexandria has a big midnight display on the river as part of its city-wide First Night party. Annapolis actually has two sets of fireworks as part of its First Night: One at 7:30 at the City Dock so the kids can see them without having to stay up past their bedtimes, and one at midnight to welcome 2013.

Ace Beverage (upper NW), Plain Old Pearsons (Glover Park) and Schneider's of Capitol Hill all have great staff. I like the whiskey selection at 1 West in Dupont Circle, on P St. across from Pizzeria Paradiso, but I haven't talked to the staff too much.

I actually thought the potato chip poutine was clever -- somewhere between the traditional sort and nachos. They weren't trying to make it like, I don't know, the disco fries with cheese curds at ChurchKey. Everything there has its own little twist, from the cocktails to the snacks.

The drinks are my favorite part of the menu, though -- spiced cider, the silky-smooth vanilla-rum eggnog, the stunningly briney A&D cocktail, which I raved about here.

That said, the place has been open for a week. I know this is the internet age and all, but places need to be allowed to settle in...

I don't know... baby's first flask might send the wrong message. (Though if it said "milk," that would be kind of funny...)   I've got two nephews, and almost everyone I know has boys, so I kind of wish I could buy a frilly dress or adorable girl present just once.  But I do think the idea of shopping for a keepsake gift, whether for a boy or for a girl, is similar -- I don't see why a monogrammed swaddling blanket (useful and a keepsake!), or an offer to get the baby booties bronzed or somesuch would still be a lovely idea. Another thought: A lot of wedding photogs, etc., now do baby shoots, too. For a close friend, when they're ready to schedule, that could be a dream gift. 

If you just want traditional cocktails -- Rob Roys, Old Fashioneds, a terrific gin martini -- I'm a big fan of John Boswell, the bartender at Off the Record in the Hay Adams hotel. It's about as old-school as Washington hotel bars get.

For similar drinks in a more modern setting, we've been really happy with the Moscow Mules, martinis and Manhattans that Jon Harris is whipping up at Firefly. (And they're $5 every day, too!)

Another suggestion for the card hunter... except that I am not seeing where the cards are listed. Help?

Sounds like a good place to start. Thanks.

I think you might be thinking of the Paper Source.

If you've got reservations, you have nothing to worry about. The whole "check to see if the place is open" process is more for those  who are just dropping in. I haven't found the Gibson to be pretentious -- just overly complicated sometimes, and occasionally more experimental than needed. Then again, I went nuts over a PX cocktail that involved duck-sauce-flavored soda. So there's that.

I think people dress a little more nicely for the Gibson than they would for going to Marvin or Tropicalia, for example. Feel free to glam it up.

That's a great idea! I've seen a Chihuly show before, and this particular show looks amazing from the photos I've seen. They're always a little Las Vegas, with music and videos and amazing lighting, so you feel like you really got a show. For things to do, Fritz suggested this fabulous guide in Garden and Gun magazine (bear with me): Here are some worthy food and drink ideas. And here are some things to do. None of us have had a chance to head to Richmond recently, but Fritz said this guide definitely had things he wanted to try.

That's it, we are starting a best bets list of where to get funny/offensive cards. Clearly this is an issue that our readers care about!

Justin and I were talking about this, and we haven't seen too many places. I mean, it's a Monday, and not a federal holiday.

Firefly, at the Hotel Madera, is doing one.

I just had to share this...

First Night is really family oriented (lots of storytime and kids music) but there are bands galore, dancing and magic shows. A bunch of Old Town bars are celebrating NYE with no cover, including Tiffany Tavern (which has live bluegrass) and Virtue Feed and Grain.

As for food: I've eaten on my own at the bar at Pizzeria Paradiso and Eamonn's recently, and there's the Nando's.

Darn. Well, it is still a cool site to visit. I just finished my Christmas shopping!

I haven't been to NoMad yet, but wow, does it inspire some kind words. Looks like Chez Billy has the same sumptuousness and nooks and crannies, and elevated French-ish fare such as marrow (though, I think NoMad's James-beard winning chef might be hard to beat). Personally,  I think a great time to check it out is New Year's, when you also get the live jazz.

That's right around happy hour, which makes it tough. Places we think might work: Hill Country or District of Pi in Penn Quarter, maybe the new Woodward Table at 15th and H? I've seen people doing just this at Cafe Mozart, btw.

I highly suggest Montgomery County Airpark. My friend's husband had a groupon for a one-off that you are talking about and had a blast. I think if you are only going to do it once, you might as well head up there. Also I thought about the College Park Airport but can't find anything more helpful. Chatters?

Thanks for the suggestion and the history lesson!

Thank you for the suggestion.

The range between, say, $15 and $65 is a wide-open one this year. Under $50 is a little low for open bar (only one I've seen at that price point is at Blue Banana, which has DJs and a toast). I'm kinda cised for Tropicalia's party, with Fort Knox Five DJing, a live set of Latin Funk by Empresarios and three drinks and a midnight toast for $40.

Wassail is cider-based. Gluhwein is wine-based. Bit of difference there.

The open bars I've seen around Dupont are pricey, like $100 at Madhatter or Sign of the Whale, $90 at Public Bar, etc, which is a consideration. With 15 people, I'd say somewhere like Buffalo Billiards might work. You could definitely stake out a spot of your own. Science Club is taking some table reservations,a nd they have Nacey of Nouveau Riche DJing, which guarantees people will be dancing. It's free, but there's an option for $40 that gets you four drinks, including a can of Sofia at midnight...

For atypical, you can't beat Nerd Night (can you convince her to celebrate her birthday on Saturday?). You could start the date with an early dinner at Hanoi House (you don't have to drink). If it must be Tuesday, how about starting an evening checking out the Nam June Paik exhibit (open till 7:30, which is always handy), then zipping over to see the new Pajamamen sketch comedy show at Woolly Mammoth? We're hearing it should be awesome, and funny. You can start the night with Oyamel's taco happy hour (at the bar) or just settle in for a cool dinner there.

Eh, I'll pass this along to our thoughtful gifter. But I feel like giving useful gifts isn't always memorable  (and frankly, some people already have a child and so have all the gear, or a full set of hand-me-downs coming), so occasionally it makes sense to do something that's sentimental.

Dino always does a multi-course Feast of the Seven Fishes, and it's $59 per person. They open at 4:30, and St. Matthew's Cathedral is doing a 10 p.m. mass. Sound like a plan?

Beer bars have kind of moved away from the whole "flight" program, since most of the good ones (ChurchKey/Paradiso/Meridian Pint/etc.) now offer all beers as 4-ounce pours in addition to full-sized glasses. (Brewpubs are an exception; I'm pretty sure Capitol City and District Chophouse still offer flights of their own brews.)

What I might do is go to the bar at Birreria Paradiso, Meridian Pint or Smoke and Barrel and ask the bartender to put together a flight of four beers for you. You might want four wildly different, four pale ales, or just four things you don't see all the time. The guys and girls know their stuff.

First half: ChurchKey would work. Acre 121 has low-country eats in Columbia Heights. You might want to check out the all-you-can-eat bbq buffet at Smoke and Barrel, where you can get jalapeno grits, roasted hash, brisket, even tacos, for $14.95. I'm also in love with the Kentucky Hot Brown at Bourbon (Adams Morgan or Glover Park). 

Sorry to hear that it's a bummer Christmas, but I think your ideas are spot-on. For a spa day, can I suggest Spa World? No hoo-ha, because it's Korean, and particularly if you go on a weekday, you'll get a calm day away from phones and computers and TVs, where you can sweat out all of your toxins in the half-dozen saunas. And I love ending the whole day with the hourlong body scrub with the massage; be sure to get some of the red bean shaved ice (covered in condensed milk). It's not only a sweet treat, it's a good way to cool off between 100-degree plus rooms.  I never feel leaving just pampered> I feel  refreshed, and relaxed.

I was just talking to someone about this at Jack Rose last night. It's $75 for open bar starting at 9 p.m. with passed hors d'oeuvres and a DJ on the second floor. At that price, I might go to Jack Rose, which is $100, but a bigger space.

Not married, and don't think it would change my perspective on bars -- I think whether I've had a girlfriend or been single when reviewing a place, I looked at it the same. (Well, maybe you look at whether there are more cute ladies if you're single.)

Wow. Any bar that makes wassail like this would get a ton of business from me, especially if they swapped the Strongbow for, oh, the Samuel Smith's Organic cider.

Just walking up and down King Street is plenty Christmassy -- and that's before you get to the Christmas Attic, which is a large all-Christmas store. There are good Christmas beers on tap at Pizzeria Paradiso, Virtue has some seasonal cocktails ... and the antique stores between the Metro and Washington St. have lots of old ornaments and gifts in the windows.

It's not in Old Town proper, but the Del Ray Artisans Market, which runs tomorrow from 6 to 9 p.m.,  is a nice place to find handmade jewelry, ceramics and other gifts. 

Yep. Lavanya just wrote about the Tom and Jerry cocktail at Firefly. Winter classic.