In the snowbound East, “Snowmageddon” wiped out days of work and income for restaurants and bars in the last two weeks. Some fought back by going with the flow: at the Catherine Lombardi in New Brunswick, N.J., owners sent notices to their e-mail list advising that “fireplaces and warm adult beverages” awaited guests during both storms, including hot buttered applejack cider, hot buttered rum and warm Tom and Jerrys. In Washington, D.C., the second major storm in a week encouraged Bar Dupont in the Dupont Hotel to reopen its “Ice Bar” in anticipation of a repeat performance of the 5,000-participant Dupont Circle snowball fight that occurred during the first mega-storm. Employees batched up plenty of mulled wine, just in case. Additionally, bars along D.C.’s H Street NE — Little Miss Whiskey's, Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club, the Palace of Wonders, the Pug and Sticky Rice — banded together to offer wintry weekend happy hours: For every six inches of snow, customers got a dollar off any drink.
BLT Steak and BLT Prime restaurants across the country will celebrate their six-year anniversary by serving specially priced entrees, sides, desserts and cocktails. In addition to reduced prices on filets, rib eye and New York strip steaks, signature cocktails that are regularly $14-$15 will go for $3.04 (to mark the original restaurant opening date, March 2004.) John Rothstein is the corporate beverage director of BLT Steak restaurants, which have opened in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, Puerto Rico, Scottsdale, Ariz., Honolulu, Washington, D.C., and White Plains, N.Y.
The cachaca beat is once again picking up heat. Dozens of bars in Miami (including Sushi Samba and China Grill), New York (Hudson Bar and Son Cubano), Los Angeles (Samba), San Francisco (111 Minna) and Chicago (Park 52) are taking part in a “Caipi Hours” promotion that will feature the Caipirinha. The Leblon Cachaça promo will feature authentic Caipirinhas made with freshly muddled limes, sugar and Leblon Cachaça at special prices, along with music and a friendly party atmosphere. The promotion runs until fall 2010.