Do try to contain your guffaws.) Seriously, I've been in a couple of times to chat with girlfriends over a Marstini (Absolut Citron, Grand Marnier and a lemon twist) or Martian (raspberry bellini) or wine or bourbon. The Pacific Rim food smells good and looks delectable as it passes us by, but we like chatting over dim lamplight and red and black décor and consuming tasty beverages, even if we've never made the 5 to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday happy hour specials. That's OK; the intimate seating arrangement -- 25 people would be quite a crowd -- encourages lovely conversation: how to change careers, for example, or what it means to take risks in writing and in life. Or where to acquire hip new glasses and official geek status for wanting to see the "Firefly" movie sneak previews.
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