The Arctic Club: Absinthe...Sure. But the Tea? Wow.

There it is, the absinthe fountain at the Arctic Club's new bar that everyone's talking about. But I'm more excited about the proper glassware and lovely spoons. The fountain is a showpiece, and certainly fits right in to the men's-club-gone-coed vibe of the newly opened hotel, especially the Polar Bar.

But what I'm most excited for as far as The Arctic Club: the tea. Specifically, the hotel's plans for an afternoon tea program. I think just about everyone in town half-asses it (wrote about it). The Arctic Club's presentation will address many of my pet peeves about tea time, which all have to do with laziness and lack of imagination. Expect a full report as soon as it's unveiled.

The hotel is working with the tea master at Starbucks to provide a solution to what ails most tea times. Already, you can end your meal with one of the specially made flowering teas as pictured above. Normally a way to dress up inferior tea, these tea flowers are made of high quality stuff. Mine smelled of jasmine so sweet, one sip completely ensorceled me.

Note to imbibers: JUNO, the hotel's restaurant, sits on the corner of 3rd Ave. & Cherry. The Polar Bar, however, is a completely different space, right off the main entry and a little farther up (east) on Cherry.