Christmas is a time for family and for making memories. Sometimes, though, you just need to extricate yourself from the people who share your genes and repress the memories you made with them. For those times, The Rustic will be open on Christmas night. They've fashioned a Christmas tree out of PBRs, and for $3 a bottle, you can help them take it down. There will also be homemade tamales and plenty of tequila on hand: because that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
What it be: Drink the Tree
When it do: Thursday, December 25, from 6 p.m. until midnight
Where dat is: 3656 Howell St.
People like the Gaylord. During winter, they go there and put on big coats and take pictures of inflatables. It's a thing. Do you know what people also like? Buffets. So it stands to reason that the Christmas brunch buffet at the Gaylord will attract North Texans by the droves. The menu reads like a buffet's greatest hits, with sushi, crab, carving stations, made-to-order omelets and even a chocolate fountain. So go, people, go. Put on the big coats. Take all the pictures. Eat all the food. Cost for adults is $73 (includes sparkling wine), $30 for kids 4-12 and free for children younger than 4. Call 817-778-1000 for more information.
What it be: Christmas Day Brunch at The Gaylord
When it do: Thursday, December 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where dat is: 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine
The Mansion restaurant will serve Christmas dinner in true Mansion style. For $105 per person, diners will be treated to three courses. Starters include warm potato and black truffle salad, seared duck foie gras and vichyssoise. Some highlights of the main course options are chatham cod, beef tenderloin and roasted pheasant (because really, would you have pheasant any other way?) And last but certainly not least: the dessert buffet, the highlight of which has to be the seasonal churros. How do seasonal churros differ from non-seasonal churros, you ask? You're one reservation away from finding out; call 214-559-2100 for reservations.
What it be: Christmas Dinner at The Mansion Restaurant
When it do: Thursday, December 25, from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where dat is: 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd.
Boxing Day takes its name from the "Christmas boxes" employers' would give their servants the day after Christmas. The boxes contained things like food and small gifts, items which the servants would presumably take home to show their families how stingy and cruel their masters were. Nowadays, Boxing Day is a banker's holiday in England and a call-in-sick-and-go-drinking day in America. Both The Capitol Pub and The Gin Mill will be open and ready to receive you in your, ahem, state of diminished health.
In addition to their regular a la carte menu, Capitol Pub's offerings will include chicken fried steak and eggs, Capitol and Farmer's omelets and $5 Bloody Marys and mimosas.
What it be: Boxing Day Brunch at Capitol Pub
When it do: Friday, December 26, at 11 a.m.
Where dat is: 2401 N. Henderson Ave.
Meanwhile, The Gin Mill will be serving potato pancakes with smoked salmon, brioche French toast, buttermilk griddle pancakes and house made crepes. There will also be mimosa and Bloody Mary drink specials, select brunch specials and the full a la carte menu.
What it be: Boxing Day Brunch at The Gin Mill
When it do: Friday, December 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where dat is: 1921 N. Henderson Ave.
