NewYorkFirst.com:

150 Million Russians Can't Be Wrong.

Oh, how we miss the old, venerable Russian Tea Room -- the glorious, painting-filled, elegant, samavor-studded, red, gold, light-filled palace, the New York City shrine to the art of vodka drinking. At lunchtime, theater, movie and book agents all chowed down together. Producers, names that appeared in the credits for good productions, dotted the room. Famous people swept in and became instant royalty. There was a sense as you gave your coat in on the left and queued up at the maitre d's stand that many important things might happen in this preserve of glinting caviar, buttery blini, and chilled-to-the-bone vodka.

Vodka is a humble drink -- a flavorless, odorless spirit whose native name can be translated as "little water." And the Russians drink it as if it were indeed water -- about a half-billion gallons a year. True vodka aficionados insist that the proper way to drink vodka -- the only way -- is very, very cold. Drink it straight, and in good company. (Keep the bottle in the freezer).

Own a Piece of the Russian Tea Room.
Icons of hospitality and glamour, ashtrays from tables of the original Russian Tea Room have all but vanished into history along with the legendary restaurant. These authentic, well-bred ashtrays were used by the swells who called the RTR home, perhaps while lunching on Chicken Kiev, or while contemplating a Vodka Martini before dinner. Fortunately, a few authentic ashtrays have been rescued by collectors and offered here. Very limited. First come, first served.