A split personality never sounded so sexy. Luxe Lounge (643-1100) is suddenly open in the Monterey venue that was previously Doc’s – and yes, it enjoys several identities.

By day (starting at 11am), owner Dennis Barwick says, it will be a family sports bar banked with dartboards and big-screen TVs. By evening, he says it will transition into a dueling piano bar. By night, he’s talking thumping disco action, with touring DJs on the ones and twos. Come 2am, he’s thinking coffee shop-dance hall fueled by cappuccinos and late night grub. The “corner” – which includes the connected eateries Bellagio Pizzeria (643-9500) and Habanero’s Grill and Cantina (375-3700) that Barwick also owns – will stay open until 4am Wednesday-Saturday.

Barwick, a consultant who’s done handsomely rescuing service industry businesses (among others), seemed nonplussed at mention that other local spots have struggled to stay open late. “There’s a social life after 2am,” he says. “It’s something we have to build up. Denny’s is full. When folks find that there is a place here, they will eventually migrate.”

Several times a month, meanwhile, he’s pledging to pull in big-ticket musical acts – he says he’s in negotiations with Randy Travis and Michael Bolton – and comedy acts from Vegas.

“I’m looking at this as a long-term project,” he says. “We have to walk before we run, but it’s a dream to not have to drive 100 miles to get real upscale entertainment.”

His team has loaded the bar with 60 tequilas and 30 beers by the bottle to complement the 20 beers on tap – “We believe we have one of the best stocked bars in Monterey County,” Barwick says. “We spared no expense” – and patrons can order from Habanero’s and Bellagio or from Luxe’s own limited lineup of grill-style stuff like hamburgers, dogs, onion rings and wings.

While some renovations remain, Barwick is eager to get going. “My work as a consultant gave me an appreciation for bringing in something different,” he says. “We’re trying to come in with a concept that’s fresh and innovative.”

Just send the shrink bill for schizophrenia treatment to the city, which has to be stoked to see such a key spot back and (hopefully) bumping.

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New Aquarium culinary commander Cindy Pawlcyn (Mustards Grill) has named Jeff Rogers – known best for his farm-fresh tastes at Quail Lodge – as executive chef. The guy sources as well as he seasons. Looks like a great choice.

Across the bay, Aquarium cousin Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is looking to boot its most famous tenant, Phil’s Fish Market (633-2152), so it can construct more labs. Anticipate the FREE PHIL t-shirts any day now. “The community is against having that happen,” Phil says. “They need what we do here every day.”

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Came across an under-reported Rio Grill-related nugget the other day. We already knew Cy Yontz was a sharp chef and a cool-ass dude; last week I discovered that his wife Inga – with fourth bun in the oven, due by Christmas – is a talented baker. The pumpkin cheesecake from Inga’s Pie Whole ($25 at the restaurant) won unanimous affection from my friends and me, especially those among us who are over pumpkin pied: The big round wasn’t too sweet, and arrived lighter than casual cheesecakes, with a fresh and tasty crust.

The best holiday pie party of the year, meanwhile, is 2-4pm Saturday, Nov. 20, at Sweet Elena’s in Sand City (393-2063). Just $5 for all kinds of tastes – ollaberry, apple-cran-crumb and mincemeat among them – and coffee.

The holiday hoopla isn’t limited to cakes and pies. Matt Bolton and Pacific’s Edge (622-5445) have a head-spinner of a Thanksgiving menu for $90. Dory Ford’s ever-creative and sustainable Aqua Terra (917-6502) outfit has lavish spreads for as many as 14 for pick up or delivery, starting at $375. Edison and Melrose (393-9479) is doing a robust turkey-and-sides bundle for $150. And Alberto’s Ristorante (373-3993) presents a familial and fun way to do a holiday party in P.G. Call the indomitable Alberto and design the menu together.

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A fine find at last weekend’s Great Wine Escape: Winemaker Dan Karlsen’s work with Talbott grapes. Resisting the silky, smoky, elegant 2008 Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir is futile (and foolish). His ’08 wines are selling out already. That bodes well for a wine dinner at Esteban (375-0176) with Chef Thomas Snyder and Karlsen’s own little label Chock Rock Vineyards. Five paired courses, $65, 6:30pm Tuesday, Nov. 23… TreeBones! (805-927-2390) is bringing back locals night. Every Tuesday, 15 percent off, in Wild Coast Restaurant and Sunset Sushi Bar… Tonight (Thursday, Nov. 18) there’s a nice Zeph’s One Stop tasting worth making a run at: 5:30pm for Pinot sips with winemakers on hand, and a special Beaujolais Nouveau session too; $25 is a steal, especially with snacks included… Another zinger tonight, 7pm at Jose’s Mexican in Monterey: 50 tequilas to taste, snacks, schwag, only $10, er, wow… “A multiple personality,” George H. Mead said, “is in a certain sense normal.”