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The curtained-off alcoves and velour couches of Bartini's provide refuge for that uniquely beleaguered soul—the eastern Queens resident longing for Midtown's swanky bar scene—without the commute. Cordoned off from both the teenage loiterers on 71st St. and the cobblestone plaza of Station Square, this basement-level bar boasts countless variations on its namesake beverage, along with a roster of exotic, far-from-PBR beers. With an eclectic combination of recessed lighting, an effective yet inconspicuous sound system pumping out house and hip-hop remixes, and Corinthian column capitals doubling as tables, this Forest Hills establishment lets 20- and 30-somethings find their own without leaving their own neck of the woods. Plush banquettes lining the mirrored walls make for a nice vantage point to survey the rest of the crowd. In the end, a nine-dollar martini seems a fair price for a night out on the town without the hassle of going into Manhattan. — Michael Silverberg