Bar Guide 2014: The Secret Society

By MICHAEL MANNHEIMER

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The Secret Society

116 NE Russell St., 493-3600, secretsociety.net. 5 pm-midnight Sunday-Thursday, 5 pm-1 am Friday-Saturday.

Long a refuge for the overflow crowd from neighbors Toro Bravo and the Wonder Ballroom, this is your typical fancy first-date bar: The interior is dark but not mysterious, decked out with tea lights, American history books that leave a faint musty scent, and enough framed black-and-white photos to make you believe time travel may be a reality. The drinks are sturdy and sophisticated, so it’s best to stick to the American classics, like a fine Sazerac ($9) embellished with a slight touch of absinthe. It can be a little disconcerting when Tom Petty’s “Refugee” comes on and you realize that, though the Victorian-era hall next door is probably hosting live old-timey music, the song remains the same. MICHAEL MANNHEIMER.  

Happy Hour: 10 pm-close Sunday-Thursday: food specials, $6 cocktail specials, $1 off wine and draft beer. 5-7 pm Sunday-Thursday: food discounts; $1 off Moscow Mules, wine and draft beer.
Entertainment: Live music. Feel the jazz, man!

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