Peanut Butter and Jelly Shot at Mozart Lounge

Rock me, Amadeus. I've been going to the Mozart Lounge for years. It's just down the street from my friend Hayley's house, and we'd made a habit of celebrating her birthday by getting a big group of friends together at "the Mo," where we always drank too many exceptionally strong, exceptionally cheap drinks and ended the night dancing as a big group, joined by the very drunk, very bum-looking men who were always at the bar. But at this year's birthday celebration, we were in for a big surprise: The owners of the Barker Lounge have taken over the Mozart and re-concepted it as a piano bar. While it's sad to lose another dive, it was not necessarily a bad surprise — especially after we saw the new restrooms (the old bathrooms were scary, at best). The former piano player from the long-defunct The Grand was playing the piano (there's live music Thursday through Sunday), and while some bum-looking members of the old guard were still hanging at the bar, the feel was definitely cleaner (who doesn't love the smell of fresh paint?), more refined and gay-friendly. Not to say that the Mozart is now a gay bar — the Barker's website proclaims that the owners "prefer the term 'Stray Bar' (Straight & Gay). All are welcome." The drinks have also gone upscale. While a beer and a shot was a standard order before, our urbane bartender started out suggesting martinis. We settled on a Peanut Butter and Jelly shot ($4.50), made with Frangelico and cranberry juice. It hit the spot, particularly since we'd all been afraid to eat peanut butter for months. Hayley was the biggest fan, exclaiming, "It's so good, I'm packing it for lunch tomorrow!" You go, birthday girl. You go, Mo.