Throwing Myself on the Mercy of the Internet

I knew exactly what I was going to do for my birthday this year. A place near our apartment (and very convenient to the F and G trains) makes great cocktails and has a back room that can be reserved for private events. But I found out, more or less simultaneously, that (1) they wanted a much bigger guaranteed check than I had expected, and (2) my wife was about to lose her job. So much for that.

Now it appears that money is not going to be as tight as I had feared, but, even if I could find a place, eleven days seems too short to set up a party. (My birthday is December 17, which is a Thursday this year.) And I am at a loss. So, oh great and wise LJ Genie, what ought I to do for my birthday? (Poll answers are screened, but comments are not.)

[Poll #1495551]