Inauguration Day in NYC

Buh-bye Bush.   I'd say that's reason enough to celebrate this Tuesday, January 20th -- Inauguration Day.   A flurry of restaurants around the city will be hosting Inauguration festivities and honoring the occasion with everything from Obama-tini's, Chicago-style pies and my personal favorite, Hill Country's "Give Bush the Boot" cocktail...

Hill Country
30 W. 26^th St.
(212) 255-4544
http://www.hillcountryny.com/home.php
The soon-to-be-former President Bush may be from Texas, but Hill Country's all about Obama's inauguration. So much so they’re serving a Give Bush the Boot cocktail, made with Lonestar beer and a shot of bourbon or tequila.  Pair it with the Presidential Platter ($25), which includes brisket, pork and beef ribs, chicken and traditional southern sides.  You can even watch the inauguration action right at your table.

Bussaco
833 Union St. (btwn. 6^th & 7^th Aves.)
(718) 857-8828
www.bussacobklyn.com
Park Slope residents have taken to this newcomer in no time at all.  The cocktail party called "M'Obama Express" starts early with “B’Arak” Mojitos" and Hawaiian-style edibles in honor of Obama's birthplace.  Then, there's Matthew Schaefer's crab chowder.  What's more American than chowder?  (Besides apple pie.)

davidburke Townhouse
133 E. 61^st St. (btwn. Lexington & Park Aves.)
(212) 813-2121
www.davidburketownhouse.com
If you can’t celebrate on inauguration day, consider celebrating the rest of the week.  That’s what David Burke is doing in his UES townhouse-cum-restaurant.  From January 19^th to the 23^rd, there will be specials, the likes of “CarpacciObama,” with seared tuna, octopus, pineapple and taro. A main course of grilled halibut with citrus sauce, white asparagus and black trumpets comes straight from the White House family cookbook. And dessert pay homage to Obama’s African background, with a banana-kola nut bread in a Kenyan coffee glaze and served with passion fruit sorbet.

Bobo
181 W 10^th St. (btwn. 7^th Ave. S & 4^th St.)
(212) 488-2626
www.bobonyc.com
If you can’t make it to D.C., you can celebrate in style at bobo in the West Village.   They're going all out with a James Brown impersonator, band and bar party for $65.  The upstairs dining room will host a more civilized affair with cocktails starting at 7PM and dinner at 8:30. The best part of the evening? A photographer will be present to take photos of guests with Obama lookalikes!  

Klee Brasserie
200 9^th Ave. (btwn 22^nd & 23^rd Sts.)
(212) 633-8033
www.kleebrasserie.com
Klee will be offering a $50 three-course menu from now until the big Tuesday 2-0. Chicago-style brats start off the meal, followed by Bluenose bass with caviar (the blue party did win after all.)  You can finish with a green apple strudel to celebrate the “green” movement.

Bloomingdale Road
2398 Broadway @ 88^th St.
(212) 874-7400
www.bloomingdaleroad.com
$9.95 for a three-course is a pretty good deal any day.  But on January 20^th, patrons can come in for a special lunch featuring soup, a sandwich with fries or salad, and ice cream and watch the Inauguration on one of the restaurant's flat screens.  Order the Obamatini or one of the other seven Presidential cocktails on the menu for $6 – Nixon or Harding, anybody?

Chanterelle...