Last night Ned and I bailed on the Builders and the Butchers show at the Wonder, after I proved unable to contain my irritation at the band's old-timey schtick. (Three times I've seen them! I've tried. I could see getting excited about them in a smaller venue, but I've only seen them in big rooms where it's way too easy to stand in the back and think about how much I dislike their lyrics.) We wandered next door to the Secret Society Lounge, a tiny little bar tucked in next to the Secret Society Ballroom above Toro Bravo.

Open for about a month, the bar features some really well-mixed old-fashioned cocktails, including a few made with now-legal absinthe. The Chrysanthemum Cocktail, with Italian vermouth, benedictine, absinthe, and an orange garnish was floral and subtle, really very good, though thanks to its name, ordering the drink effectively functions as a sobriety test that I barely passed. They make their Sazerac with an absinthe rinse (I think I've only ever had them with Pernod before) and I really liked the woodsy flavor the absinthe lent to the drink, though Ned thought it tasted "mentholated." He was happier with Moscow Mule--the pretty unfuckwithable combo of vodka, lime, and ginger beer is served over ice in a copper mug.

The bar is tiny, decorated in red, and feels very fancy and exclusive--an impression thankfully countered by extremely friendly bartenders and completely reasonable drink prices (I paid $6.50 for my Sazerac, a mere $2.50 than the tallboys of PBR I would later consume at the Wonder. Don't mix those, BTW*.) There's also a $7 panini menu with both vegetarian options (the "number thirty-three" has fennel, artichoke, and fontina) and meaty ones (coppa and mortadella).

Secret Society Lounge, 116 NE Russell, open Fri-Sat 5 pm-1 am, Sun-Thurs 5 pm-midnight. Closed today, because, you know. Explosions. Happy fourth of July!

(*Update this blog, please, it is a comfort.)