My 3-year-old grandson, Hayden, recently visited me here at the hotel (he loves it when I ride him around on a bellcart). He was wearing big sunglasses he got on a recent family trip to Hawaii. When I asked him why, he said, “’Cause, Grandpa, there’s so much shiny glass in here!” Sometimes I need to be reminded that I work at one of the most beautiful hotels in the country (just ask Conde Nast). It got me thinking—why not spend New Year’s Eve at the Hotel Murano?

Start the night in the Lobby Bar with a good, old-fashioned drink, like a gin martini, to remember the past. Next, a great dinner at Bite, maybe fresh grilled salmon, to celebrate the present. Take a walk around the neighborhood, stopping in here to warm up. Back to the Lobby Bar in time for a midnight champagne toast, in hopes of a great 2010. Head up to your room, leaving the rest of the party to keep going. Sounds perfect.

Happy New Year!
Dale

Cork Wine Bar, a fantastic Tacoma wine bar, which took second in the South Sound Magazine Best of South Sound wine list, is definitely worth checking out. A friend and I recently hit it up Wednesday night—all flights $8. We sampled two of their wine flights, with generous two-ounce pours.

Love the names, too: Forgive Me For I Have Zinned, with Alexander Valley Temptation zin, California; Tobin James Ballistic, California; and Writers Block zin, California and You Had Me at Merlot, featuring McGavick, Washington; Napa Cellars, Napa Valley, California; and Shooting Star, Kelseyville, California.

They offer a simple yet satisfying menu, featuring mainly Italian goodies like bruschetta, antipasti, yummy cheese plates, a delicious Caprese salad, and a great variety of topped flatbreads. Tuesdays and Fridays are all-night happy hour, Thursdays feature complimentary wine tasting, and Saturdays there’s live music.

Oh, and leave room for dessert. We had Amaretto Almond Biscotti Torte, layers of biscotti soaked in amaretto with a smooth amaretto almond mousse filling. In fact, maybe it’s just safer to start with dessert!

Ta ta,
Danielle

Ready for a spot where not only have you left the kids at home but everyone else has, too? Then Katie Down’s on the waterfront is the place for you. There are plenty of fancy places in town that are 21-and over only, but Katie Down’s is different: a fun, casual spot — without the crying and chaos (until closing time, that is).

A Tacoma institution, this spot consistently serves up great burgers, fish and chips, and salads, and they also have world class pizza (try the white sauce!). They have a good beer selection, a decent wine list, and a full bar (a relatively recent change for those of you who remember the days when you couldn’t get a gin and tonic on a hot day).

The service is sometimes leisurely, shall we say, and the crowd can be boisterous, but Katie Down’s is still the place to go when you want a relaxing afternoon or evening out. And a darn fine view. Remember to get there early for happy hour (1/2 price apps), and their deck is amazing on a sunny afternoon/evening.

Have fun,
Dale

When it comes to dining from the sea, one of my favorite spots here in Tacoma is Sea Grill. They do amazing things here with fish and shellfish, and the service is always top notch. I always walk out of here well fed and feeling like a million bucks. The Mackay Restaurant folks just took my brainstorm and decided to kick their Happy Hour menu up a notch or three with an all new menu that includes “Five items for $5”, plus a Bartender’s Choice martini for $5. Can’t beat that! And it’s just a three minute walk from the Hotel Murano. See you there!

–Dale

The Weekly Volcano’s Ken Swarner has been writing about food in Tacoma all year long, and then he hit the wall. He was reviewed out for a week, so he made a list of his top spots that he’d visited in the last year. Lucky for us, he made answering the question, “where should we eat tonight, honey?” a heck of a lot easier. You can get the full meal deal on his list here. But here are the highlights:

$    Tacoma Szechuan (9601 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood)
$    Opa Greek Cuisine (6104 Sixth Ave., Tacoma)
$    QB (213 Fourth Ave. E.)
$    Hot Teriyaki near Oakbrook (8013 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood)
$    Maxwell’s Speakeasy + Lounge (454 St. Helens, Tacoma)
$    Red Hot (2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma)
$    Meconi’s (5225A Lacey Blvd., Lacey)
$    L&L Hawaiian (10417 Gravelly Lake Dr., Lakewood)

–James

Yes, it’s true.  Our very own Hotel Murano was recently featured on the Today Show.  They were doing a show on art hotels and selected us as one of their top picks.  If you’re interested in watching the clip, we’ve posted a video of it right here.

In case you didn’t know and are new to the area, the Hotel Murano features all glass art throughout the entire hotel.  Each floor is dedicated to a different artist and best of all, you can buy any of it!  I’d say it’s time to start planning a trip to Tacoma.

- Danielle

Some of my friends are lamb fanatics. They’re always on the search for the next wild-tasting, deliciously oily kebab or rack or leg or whatever.  Lately, they’ve been talking up Pacific Grill. This is lamb that is sure to make the children (or, at least, the grownups) laugh and play.

–Dale

What with the economy on the skids, I say it’s time to party like it’s 1929. (That’s a joke about the stock market crash. Okay, never mind.) Our fair city has loads of places for you to visit. In fact, you might want to hire a cab and hit a handful of places, say, up on Sixth Avenue. But here are two places that you might want to put on your list for sure.

The Red Hot
2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229
Complimentary midnight champagne toast, drawings for all kinds of vintage stuff, gift certificates and more.

Jazzbones
2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169
Live music with The Paperboys and Vicci Martinez Band; champagne toast at midnight with party favors.

–James

It’s late at night. You’ve been out hitting the town, enjoying the finest in Tacoma’s food and drink scene. Maybe the emphasis is on the latter. If so, you may need something big, starchy, yummy and, best, deep fried. You’ve dressed to the nines, and Denny’s just won’t do. I suggest you drop by a local favorite – The Crown Bar, 2705 Sixth Ave.  With a late-night menu that includes fried oysters, a gooey mushroom quesadilla and thick and creamy Cougar Gold mac and cheese, you’ll be sure to go home for a full and restful night’s sleep. If you’re staying at the Hotel Murano, be sure to let us help you find Advil and/or Alka Seltzer – on an as-needed basis, of course.

–James

Okay. It’s pumpkin season. Time for pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, roasted pumpkin seeds, etc. and ad nauseum. I think I’ve found, hands down (and glasses up), the best use of pumpkin this season: the Pumpkin Martini. With props to About.com, here’s the drill:

Ingredients:
1/2 oz Sylk Cream Liqueur
2 oz vanilla vodka
1/2 oz pumpkin liqueur or pumpkin spice syrup
Cinnamon stick for garnish

Preparation:
Pour the Sylk Liqueur and vodka into a shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Add the pumpkin liqueur or syrup.
Shake again.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Am I right or am I right? I think I’ll drop by our lobby bar and see if Deborah can whip this one up – for you, sadly not for employees like me.

Cheers,

–James