How Arts District gem Velveteen Rabbit survived and grew during the coronavirus pandemic | Eater Vegas

"Extending its eccentric Arts District charm to the patio, co-owners Pamela and Christina Dylag removed the stage and created a pretty-in-pink outdoor space complete with whimsical umbrellas and a large mural by Sloane Siobhan; Siobhan's "magical" energy drove the project and inspired a circus-like, soothing escape enhanced by Heather Hermann's glossy cosmic flooring, refinished interior furniture, and curtains from Nancy Foster of FoMo Design Lab that can create intimate areas. The sisters weathered pandemic closures—shuttered in March, briefly reopening in June before a July closure for bars that didn't serve food, then resuming at the end of September after bringing in an oven to start serving food—and used the downtime to rethink service (hosts now seat customers, bartenders double as servers, and the bar top stays closed) and improve the customer experience. The cocktail program got a music-themed makeover presented as a zine (available to buy for $2) featuring local photography and art by Peter McDeal, Shahab Zargari, Daniel Ayala, Narble Art, and Lauren Ashley, plus translated excerpts of Colombian radio plays by Gigi Guizado; seasonal drinks include the Runaround Sue (pepper-infused vodka, apple juice, celery, and lemon), the Pictures of You (cucumber and black pepper gin, sweet basil, lavender, lemon, and humic acid), and Lovers Rock, a four-to-six-person pour with spiced and dark rums, golden falernum, smoked blackberry agave, lime, sparkling coconut water, wood smoke, and rock candy. Velveteen Rabbit also introduced "magic hour" happy hour from 5–7 p.m. daily with $2 off cocktails, $6 punch by the cup, an $8 Montucky lager plus a shot of rye, and $6 wine and bubbles, and the sisters say customers are appreciating the new space and feel safe there as they approach normalcy." - Susan Stapleton