Happy anniversary to the Varnish

The Varnish bar celebrates its one-year anniversary tonight, starting at 7 p.m. with complimentary gin punch (one teacup per guest) served from a punch cart manned by co-owner Eric Alperin. "I built a punch cart. Kind of like a go cart," he says. "I'll be rolling it around and doling out punch to our guests." Snacks provided by BabyCakes, the vegan bakery next door. "Swing by for a glass of punch," Alperin says.

118 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, (213) 622-9999, www.thevarnishbar.com.

-- Betty Hallock