As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse or live-music venue is fair game.

10. RA SUSHI RA is technically a sushi bar, but anyone who has headed up the stairs knows it's basically an escalator to sake heaven -- especially at happy-hour prices. Luckily for you, it opens at 4 p.m. Christmas Day so you can indulge in one of those naughty fishbowls. Don't worry, you have 364 days before next Christmas to be nice.

3908 Westheimer, 713-621-5800, rasushi.com

9. THE GINGER MAN PUB Ginger Man's "Pint Night" is happening this Christmas, so we encourage you to put down the mashed potatoes and indulge in some healthier carbs -- beer! You really can't go wrong with a festive Christmas ale on Christmas day at Ginger Man, now can you?

5607 Morningside, 713-526-2770, houston.gingermanpub.com

8. COACHES Outer-loopers, listen up. Coaches is open on Christmas, helping you get into the post-family holiday spirit, the with a little thing called Christmas Shots. Although we don't know exactly what those are, we like to imagine them topped with sugarplums.

17754 Katy Fwy., 713-466-7773, coachesjv.com

List continues on the next page.

7. FIREHOUSE SALOON How about a little rockin' country music to warm your soul on Christmas, with a little beer on top of that to make it even merrier? That's "Christmas Night with Brian O'Toole," and we think that sounds awesome any night.

5930 SW Fwy, 713-977-1962, firehousesaloon.com

6. NOTSUOH Notsuoh is great any night, but think of all of the strange, magical things that will happen on Christmas night, when it's also the bar's open-mike poetry night. We suggest you order a hot toddy and read some slam poetry about your dislike of Christmas poems.

314 Main, 713-409-4750, notsuoh.com

5. BOONDOCKS Christmas dance party at Boondocks! Pop open a can of Lone Star, throw on your skinny jeans, and get down to the tunes Gracie Chavez, OG Bobby Trill, and Navo will spin at Boondocks' Holiday Getaway. You'll like it here.

1417 Westheimer, 713-522-8500

List continues on the next page.

WEST ALABAMA ICE HOUSE West Alabama is open on Christmas, but they think it'll be just a tad later than the normal time. Try them around 2 or 3 p.m., and we promise you'll be thanking your lucky stars you ducked out of that awkward family get-together to come down and celebrate with your new bar family.

1919 W. Alabama, 713-528-6874

3. LOWBROW The scene's new kid on the block, Lowbrow has a lot checking out, starting with delicious food and a fantastic "For Your Liver" menu full of Scotch and Mezcal. Don't pop in too early, though. Wait until mid-afternoon to come down, but it'll be well worth it.

1601 W. Main, 281-501-8288

2. WARREN'S INN Warren's is a Houston institution, and one of the greatest places around anytime -- but especially on Christmas. It's old, drafty and super friendly, with those alleged 15-second pours and all. Those suckers will have you jolly in no time.

307 Travis, 713-247-9207

List continues on the next page.

1. CHAR BAR Need a stiff drink on Christmas somewhere with more personality than your kooky uncle? Well, then head to Char Bar. It's part tailor shop, part bar, and nothing less than awesome. Be sure to check out the jukebox -- surely you could use a break from the horrible holiday music that's plagued you during the last few weeks, and Char Bar's will do just the trick.

305 Travis, 713-222-8177

ROCKS OFF'S GREATEST HITS

The Ask Willie D Archives Houston's Top 10 Patio Bars Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In Midtown Daddy, Why Is Numbers Called Numbers?