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Beth: Can I get a picture with you? Yago: Sure. Do you want to hold the microphone or is that too JV? Beth: Uhh, no. That's OK.

Seeing as the last time I chimed in on Portsmouth nightlife the decks were still open, I thought I'd open the New Year reviewing all the changes in town I've neglected to mention:

The Sports Page changes it's name to "The Page"

Much like the new owner of Tequila Jack's changing the name to TJ's, the new owners of everyone's favorite sports bar to slag on made the executive decision to turn the page on the Sports Page. Don't worry ladies, it's the same sweet pick up joint for prematurely balding men, young professionals hanging on way too long to their frat boy days and those hunky middle-aged men who are "self-employed" and wear their Nextel on their belt. Yuuuuummmy!

Brazo opens

When I think about how this restaurant came about, I imagine the owner of the Green Monkey looking out her front window at the hideous sandwich joint that moved into the old 43 Degrees North location and thought, "Dear God, will someone just PAINT that building already! Must I do everything!?"

My take on Brazo is it's a great place to get a drink, but if you want to drop some dough on a nice dinner, you could probably do better elsewhere. Not that the food is bad, it's just not kick ass. And the menu has the same drawback as the Green Monkey. Too short and sorta boring.

As for the atmosphere, the drink selection and the scene at the bar, it's an A+. The bartenders are flirty without being dickish, the seats are comfortable and plentiful, and the people watching is FABULOUS. Great place to start the night with a stiff drink before moving onto the Press Room.

Rudy goes to Rudi's

You're the former mayor of New York City, you've just spent an hour freezing your ass off in a podunk New Hampshire town shaking hands with Red Sox fans and you're famished. Where do you go? Well, Rudi's of course! The presidential candidate made a stop in to the new restaurant after this year's Christmas parade. He also stopped by the Federal Cigar, which stayed open late to cater to Rudy's every need. If you didn't read about it in the New Hampshire Gazette, you truly missed a comic Portsmouth moment. Request a back issue here and check it out.

Federal Cigar stopped selling mainstream cigs and loosies.

WTF? Now smokers have to walk all the way across downtown or pay a gazillion dollars in a bar for a pack? What about those people who used to smoke and want a heater once in a blue moon. Must they now buy a pack?! Example #426 of why the gentrification of Portsmouth is bogus.

The New Hampshire Primary

Simultaneously the reason why I drink and the reason why I haven't gone out for a drink in days. While I covered the primary, I met most of the candidates and the entire Clinton family (including Chelsea), I rode on McCain's bus, had my photo taken with Gideon Yago, flirted with George Stephonopolis, was pushed by Secret Service, had lunch with Mike Huckabee and walked into the shot when Sway was dispatching from Durham. Pretty sweet resume, I think!

As far as Portsmouth goes, the end of the primary season brings the following benefits:

No more supporters cheering for their candidates for hours on end in Market Square

The mailbox will no longer be jammed with direct mailings

No more college kids from NYU knocking on your door asking to support Obama

You no longer have to watch those NYU kids texting and gabbing on their cells while on your way to and from the Coat

Best of all (for me, especially) drunk people will no longer engage you in a political debate on the Ron Paul Revolution