It's a favorite haunt for many of Washington's lawmakers, journalists and lobbyists, and it's closing its doors in less than two weeks. We hear that Town & Country, the bar at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, will close Jan. 15. Storied bartender Sambonn Lek tells us that he will continue on at the Mayflower, but that the Thomas Pink store, already on premises, will move to Town & Country's old spot. "I was opposed; this is my life," said Lek, who has spent 35 years working at the establishment. "But it's OK, maybe a new bar will be better," he said, explaining that the plans call for some sort of combined restaurant and lounge as a replacement.

Lek has garnered various accolades for his bartending, including being profiled in Esquire in October, being named bartender of the month by the Washington Post and having his cocktail recipes listed in the New York Times. In addition, Lek runs the charity Sam Relief, which helps poor children in his home country of Cambodia.

The Mayflower's publicist had no comment.