And sometimes, a bar just seems like the best place on earth for a little while. It manages to capture, better than anyone else, a vital part of what we like about our city. So for the first time, this 2013 Bar Guide will be honoring our favorite bars of the year. They might be bars that have been around for a while but recently hit their stride, or they might be a shiny new bauble glinting in the late sun. What's important is that the bar feels pretty damn special to us right now.