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Metro's Club of the Week The Elixir Lounge 420 S. First St, San Jose; 408.294.7800; www.sofapool.com Hours: Open 4pm-2am daily; 21-and-over; no cover charge, fashionable attire encouraged Amenities: Twenty-nine regulation-size pool tables, a variety of lounge music (DJ and piped-in), full-service bar, on-site ATM, video games, televisions, kitchen service By Jim Harrington SOUTH FIRST BILLIARDS celebrates its 10th anniversary this week by introducing the Elixir Lounge to downtown. The bar has been remodeled as a comfortable lounge that now seems more like a separate entity to the pool-playing venue. By dimming the lights, changing the music to a more laid-back lounge feel, and reconfiguring the seating arrangement, Elixir is now more of a destination than an afterthought. The drink menu has been drastically changed to reflect the new, hipper feel. The exotic offerings include such modern libations as the Guava-politan (a guava Cosmopolitan) and the Jelly Donut (mix of coffee liqueur, Irish creme and raspberry). Elixir will also enjoy stylized shots and the namesake "Elixirs," which are fruit-juice-infused sakes. The evening food menu has also received a makeover, going to a more group-based, tapas-style menu, and now lists such upscale items as tequila lime prawn skewers and cilantro lime shrimp pizza. During Happy Hour, which runs 4-7pm, Monday-Friday, patrons can select from a more typical menu of hamburgers and sandwiches. Other benefits of attending Happy Hour include half-off pool, $2.50 well drinks and cheap grub, such as chips and salsa for just a buck. The grand reopening of the totally reinvented bar arm of this popular pool-player's paradise will take place this Saturday night (Feb. 28). Sample the new drink and food menus, listen to a DJ spinning down-tempo. Of course, it will still cost you some cash to rack 'em up on one of South First Billiards' 29 regulation-size pool tables. But this reopening isn't about the nine-ball side of the venue. It's all about introducing Elixir Lounge as the new preclubbing spot on SOFA. Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]