Ok, so I admit I used to hate on Fashion at the Park. "All that money for a fashion show?" I'd think. "How Dallas!"
Maybe I'm officially a yuppie now, or something, because I have changed my mind. Fashion at the Park is totally worth it. A co-worker and I went to the Intermix and Miss Sixty shows on Friday night (tix were $65 and $50, respectively, although we were on the media list) and we were greeted by staff asking if we wanted our picture taken. (Me: "Lil' old us? Awww, you're so sweet!") Actually, everyone got their picture taken, but it was a papparazzi-like moment that made you feel good.
Waiters holding trays of strawberry and white-grape martinis greeted us at the tent's entrance, so we grabbed some free drinks and people-watched. Then we had some more free drinks (I wasn't driving) and people-watched some more, and jammed out to the DJ. Then the shows started.
The seats are only four-rows deep, so everyone is close to the action. They dim the lights, the music pumps, and the models start strutting. You can literally see their celluite, if they have any. That's how close you are. It's just a lot of fun to watch -- the designer clothes part, not the fact that insanely gorgeous models have cellulite.
Unfortunately I broke the swag-bag etiquette rule -- which I swear I didn't know about until I read this -- and dug into my gifts right away. Next time I promise not to be as lame.
A press release should go out later today, but Smile Smile's Ryan Hamilton was nice enough to give me the heads up that the group is now on the Kirtland Records roster.
Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme considered several labels, big and small, but decided on the hometown one because of the relationship they'd built with John Kirtland and his staff.
"They are huge music lovers, and we trust fully that they will really take care of us the way other labels wouldn't," Hamilton said.
The first product of the new relationship will be a remastered re-release of debut full-length Blue Roses (new cover art above), featuring a longer version of "Sad Song" and some video extras. No release date yet.
The idea of the re-release is to give the music on Blue Roses a wider reach, and find Smile Smile more fans across the country. Then, the band can move on to the next CD, which is already recorded. The working title of that one? Truth on Tape. And that's all I can tell you without getting in trouble.
I'll update later when the official press release goes out. Congrats to Smile Smile.
Here's a story from today's Quick, featuring some of his beloved lines from past comedy specials. And above is another great moment from his classic Dress to Kill special.
I caught A Fine Frenzy, a.k.a. Alison Sudol (above), last night at an intimate show in the space formerly known as The Gypsy Tea Room. To tell the truth, I was initially turned off by her subdued sound when I caught the video for her slow, mournful tune "Almost Lover" in the wee hours on VH1. But at the show, Sudol's breezy and assured vocals and impassioned piano-playing on bouncier and more hopeful songs such as "Come On, Come Out" made me a fan. And after she threw in a couple of soaring covers by Rufus Wainwright and Deathcab for Cutie and gave us a sneak peek of a guitar-heavy, twangy song from her next album, I couldn't wait to download her entire CD.
Doesn't hurt that Sudol's as cute as a button, with personality to spare. She complimented the audience when we provided backing vocals (I have to say, we did hold the notes well!) and offered to meet fans by the merch table. Talented and sweet -- gotta love her!
Double Dribble has hit a nerve. A reader named Danny just emailed me with a complete "Ten Bars in 10 Miles" route, drawn up on Google Maps. (Image above.) He's got names of bars and everything. Unfortch he didn't know about the $3 beer limit (my fault), but the route is pretty cool nonetheless.
All this running and beer talk has me wanting to try this baby out for myself, whether or not the Hash House run happens. I wonder how far I'd make it? The Lesley version would probably have to be five pubs in five miles.... but we would have awesome T-shirts.
Danny's route, with the help of Google maps, after the jump. Note: Whatever you decide to do with this information, Quick is not liable. So please don't stumble drunkenly into the street and get hit by a car.
We've been waiting a couple months for news, and Caven Enterprises has finally come through: the new-and-improved Sue Ellen's will open Thursday, April 17.
That means, of course, that the current Sue's on Cedar Springs will close at the end of business Sunday, April 13. No word yet (but we'll be getting updates soon) on what'll happen to the existing spot. Or what'll ever happen to TMC.
Yep, it's true. We're starting our own local-music awards show, called Quick's Big Thing. April 24 at the Palladium. Who's performing? Polyphonic Spree, Record Hop, PPT, The Party, Ghosthustler, Headkrack, Playdough, King Bucks, Salim Nourallah, Sarah Jaffe, Doug Burr, Johnny Lloyd Rollins.
I know. You're already in. But I haven't told you about the awards yet! Check out our special Web site to see the nominees for all 10 categories, picked ever so thoughtfully by our 12 local-music-lovin' panelists. Then vote for your favorites. It's that simple.
Stay tuned in coming weeks for more on the individual categories. Get free tickets for the show by visiting one of three Mockingbird Station stores. All the info is on the Web site and in today's Quick.
Break Out (aka The Party Vol. 7) is now up on Central Booking. Having downloaded the last two -- or three? -- I can tell you that this is something you don't want to miss.
Here's the track listing "for folks who Google themselves," as they write on their blog:
1. Missy Elliott - Ching-A-Ling
2. Ricky Blaze - Wifey
3. South Rakkas Crew - Madd Again
4. Faux Fox - Dirt City Rollers
5. Ghosthustler - Someone Else's Ride (10" Version)
6. Kid Cudi - Day 'N' Nite (b/w) Crookers RMX
7. 77Klash - Brooklyn Anthem (feat Jahdan)
8. Mykal Rose - Police and Theives
9. Santogold - Shove It (Switch RMX)
10. Dark Again - The Party RMX
11. Chino - Punga Don A Pebble
12. Dr. Evil - See Dem A Pree
13. Vybz Kartel - Send Fi Mi Army
14. Esau Mwamwaya - Chalo
15. Santogold - Creator
16. Blaqstarr - Shake It To The Ground (Switch Santogold RMX)
17. Mapei - Date Rape
18. Decale - Alaji
19. BLK JKS - Lakeside
The SUP deadline was supposed to have already passed. Last fall, city officials told me that every bar and club in Deep Ellum/Expo Park must apply for their permits and get city approval (or not) by December.
Bar of Soap didn't do it on time, but luckily the deadline wasn't a hard and fast rule. The oldest joint in Expo Park faces the Council today, most likely after lunch.
The SUP, or Specific Use Permit, is what every bar and tavern in the neighborhood now need to stay in business legally. In December, the Council denied Uropa and Club One their permits (the former for having scantily clad pictures of women on their website; the latter for crime issues) and both clubs have since closed.
City Staff has recommended approval for Bar of Soap, and the bar hasn't had any vocal opposition. I'm guessing it will go through. We'll see.
Also: July Alley is asking for an SUP, too. They are also slated for approval and had not had any vocal opposition.
As a sidenote, tomorrow's column is on Bar of Soap, so look for more details and history about the place there.
UPDATE: Save Deep Ellum says the City Council approved Bar of Soap, and July Alley.
Congrats to the members of Lovie (above-y), whose fans voted them the champions of Quick's second annual Battle of the Bands bracket contest. They sailed past many heavy hitters on their way to the top, as evidenced by all the names on the bracket. Click here to read their blog entry about winning, and here to hear some of their music. Again, congrats!
A reader who liked my $20 or less on Greenville story emailed me with an interesting question: Where is the oldest bar in Dallas?
He writes:
A light bulb went off that the Windale Tavern may well be the oldest bar on Lowest (Lower is up by the Grape) Greenville Avenue. In fact it is likely the oldest bar on either of those parts of Greenville Avenue. I am positive that the Windale is the only bar on Greenville that opens at 7 AM. Back in the olden days, the mid to late '60's, numerous bars opened at 7 AM for the graveyard shift workers.
Anyway, in 1976 or '77 Dick Hitt, who was the front page Metro columnist for the Dallas Times Herald, did a piece to name the oldest bar in Dallas. I don't know how he arrived at his first winner, which was Sol's Turf Bar in the Adolfus Hotel. Maybe he just took the word of the people who wrote or called in (no email then, really).
[snip]
Turns out that Sol's lost the designation because either it had moved once, or had closed and re-opened briefly under another name. ...The Greenville Avenue Bar & Grill was the oldest bar in Dallas, having opened right after Prohibition. It remained so until one or two years ago, when somebody bought it and changed the name for a few months, when they belly-upped.
Anyone else have any thoughts on what would be the oldest bar around here? I know Club Schmitz opened in the 40's, but surely there's another place older than that. Unless it's been torn down.
Don't know if you've been to the Dutch-themed West End pub, but it's a pretty cool place. They've got a nice wine and beer selection and a menu of Dutch bar bites. (i.e., fried cheese with curried ketchup and horseradish sauce; fried pieces of cod with Dutch tartar sauce.) Plus you can eat regular lunch and dinner there too.
I stopped by last night after work and owner Ronny Smeink mentioned that they're going to change the name of the place. "Cafe," while the correct Dutch term for a pub with food, confuses people, he said. They're going to exchange it for the word pub, in hopes bringing in more traffic.
If you don't have plans on Saturday, they're hosting an exotic car and bike night, with Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, RUF Porsches and Ducatti bikes displayed in the parking lot. The Velvet Kittens will do a burlesque show at 10 p.m.
Also, Ronny mentioned that you can park for free there during a game at American Airlines Center, assuming you obviously stop in an order something first. I didn't realize until yesterday how close it is to Victory Park. Just a stone's throw from Hooter's and Luna de Noche.
His first American tour in 17 years stops at American Airlines center on July 13. I will be coming home from Seattle that day, but I'm tempted to see if I can change my flight. Can you imagine "Father Figure" live?
I've never been to the Mansion (always been too intimidated to go, and under the impression that I'm not old enough), but a friend recently stopped by the bar for cocktails and couldn't stop raving about them.
They're $15 each, which is pricey, but listen to the names (which I have memorized since my friend rattled them off): Lavender-vanilla Mojito. Fresh ginger margarita. A "string of pearls" martini, with real bits of pureed strawberry. A gin and tonic with house-made tonic and cucumber-infused gin.
Apparently you can also eat dessert there, and there's a cozy patio/courtyard area with hanging tin laterns. The music playlist is also surprisingly young -- Radiohead, Moby, etc.
Obviously it's not an everyday kind of spot, but it sounds great if you just want one dreamy, fancy cocktail. I've already added it to my list.
Got an interesting email from a reader who belongs to the Hash House Harriers, a local running and drinking club. (To be honest, I'm not quite sure how that works, but Ultimate Frisbee players also consume insane amounts of beer, so I'm sure it all goes together somehow.)
Anyway, he's putting together a pub crawl in July, and wants to stop at 10 bars within 10 miles of each other. People would walk, run or bike or roller skate (?) between each one. The starting and ending points should be near DART stations, so the runners/exercisers could take public transportation. And the end spot would hopefully have an outdoor beer-garden type atmosphere, with inexpensive food.
Any suggestions for the Hash House guy? I told him it might be best to start at Mockingbird Station and then meander over to Lower Greenville. The Gingerman in Uptown would be a great ending spot. But that might be too far from Mockingbird Station.
If you think of something, email me or leave a comment. Hopefully the runners will be wearing these, 'cause it's gonna be hot.
The Rockers Vs. Mods rally has always sounded interesting to me. Maybe because I'm a mod at heart. The party kicks off tonight with a meet-and-greet at the Amsterdam Bar, and then an after-party with The Smoke at Pawn Gallery. More events are happening tomorrow (including breakfast at All Good Cafe, yum), so check out their website for details.
SATURDAY
Vince Young is at Opus Lounge. Surely there will be a cover -- I'm guessing $15 or $20 if you deign to arrive after 11 p.m. Doors at 9:30.
The Green Elephant's got Dub Assembly, with guest DJ Parson out of Austin. Mundo & Lifted MC, Keith P., Royal Highnuss and Capa are also on the decks. 10 p.m., $7 cover.
The Loft has a big shindig with the Ruby Revue burlesque troupe, local B-girl crew Femme Fatale, and music from Sober and Big J. Doors at 9 p.m. $5.
The Lizard Lounge has a DJ set from Rabbit in the Moon's David Christophere and Bunny. Doors at 9 p.m. Tix here.
I originally wanted to go to Josh Howard's Thursday party at Kenichi last night, but the cover was $20! (Why don't they ever say that on the flier?) VIP was $40, which is probably where J-Ho was hanging out. None of us wanted to spend that kind of cash, so we walked to the Living Room Bar inside the W Hotel.
I'm not usually the biggest fan of hotel bars, but the Living Room always seems to have really good energy. It's probably from the mix of people hanging out -- hotel guests, locals, tipsy businessmen, couples on their way to Ghostbar who decide at the last minute to drink in the lounge instead.
The first time I went there, a tipsy businessman suddenly started talking to me in very energetic Spanish. Last night, as jazzy house bumped, there was a man peddling a pair of Puma sneakers for $200. No one knew why. He wanted to trade them for someone else's shoes. Women, men, it didn't matter. He eyed mine and pronounced them "too cheap." (The nerve! Actually, I don't care, they're comfy.)
Somehow he ended up giving his money to a woman in our group. She got to keep her own shoes and did not take his Pumas. (I still don't understand how this transaction happened.) Hopefully he's rich and didn't need the money for his mother's surgery or something.
Anyway, the Living Room Bar staff is friendly, and they will pour drinks the way you like them. Just do not attempt to give someone a lap dance, or security will put the kibosh.
Stopped by Minc last night for the first Ghetto Blaster Thursday, an old-school hip-hop night with A. One and Phooka. Both of them usually spin this at the Slip Inn on Thursdays. But, unfortunately for the night's longtime fans, the bar owners recently decided to change the format -- the Slip Inn Thurs, according to what I'm told, is now house and Top 40.
I loved Thursdays at the Slip Inn, and I'm happy the DJs are moving to a cool venue. But house and Top 40 at one of the coolest dive bars in Dallas? It hurts. That kind of stuff belongs on Lower Greenville, or at an ultra lounge downtown. The whole point of going to the Slip Inn is because it isn't mainstream -- it's one of the few places where 'hood folks, SMU kids, hipsters and drunks can all dance and be sweaty and maybe hook up.
So disappointing to think that may not happen anymore.
On a brighter note, keep up with Minc's MySpace (or A.One and Phooka's) because they will be launching a "grand opening" of the new Thursday night format at the bar. Last night was fun, but they needed more people.
Round after round, we've seen unlikely warriors rise up and answer the call to be great, to never give up, and to, like, get as many online votes as possible. And it's all come to this, our final round.
In one corner, we have feel-good girl group Lovie. In another, it's jammin' rockers Bridges & Blinking Lights. Quite a matchup. A battle of the sexes, even.
But who will win? That's up to you, friends. You have until the 25th to vote. We expect you to answer the call of greatness, now. DUN DUN DUN!
So I went to Spiral Diner last weekend and absolutely loved it. I had the barbecue chicken sandwich (really marinated, grilled seitan with homemade barbecue sauce) and it was tangy and toothsome and good. Didn't taste like meat, but I wasn't expecting it to. The best part was that you could order seasonal fruit on the side -- it's nice to have apples instead of french fries sometimes, you know? Especially when a girl has to fit into a little dress. And, you know, the whole healthy-heart thing.
Other Spiral Diner goodies: The agave limeade, the black bean burrito, and the chocolate chip cookies. The latter were fluffy and almost looked like cake, but they had the dense texture of a cookie. Interesting. Wonder what's in there.
On a not-so-heart-healthy note, but a FABULOUS one nonetheless, you have to try Don Panza in Oak Cliff. It's the only Argentinean pizza joint in this whole damn city. And totally worth the drive, if you don't live anywhere near there. Toppings include ham and blue cheese and garlic, and other weird things Argentines like on their pizza. Their empanadas, pictured above, are all savory. They are to die for -- covered in a crispy, flaky crust, and stuffed with meat or meat/cheese combo. The little numbers distinguish which flavors are which, so you don't have to take a bite and pass it on.
If only they served Quilmes, I would seriously be there every night. Or one night at Spiral Diner and one night there. But Don Panza doesn't have a liquor license, so it's BYOB.
If you go to DP, expect leisurely service. That's like Argentina, too.
I'm going to spoil the ending of my column today in Quick: Turns out, it is indeed possible to spend less than $20 on a night out on Lower Greenville. (Yay for the pocketbook!) The question is -- are the bars any good?
That's totally subjective, but overall I wasn't the hugest fan of most of the places we went to. They couldn't decide if they were a club or a bar. The Service Bar felt like a pub, with free popcorn, cheap drinks, pool, etc. But the music was too loud to have any real conversation.
Malibu actually had some neat island-inspired decor. I could totally see myself going there and sipping on a fruity drink and listening to music from a jukebox. Again, though, it was a nightclub, with flashing lights, loud music, etc. ("Loud music"? God, I sound old.) It was empty at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday.
The whole experience made me wonder: Who actually hangs out in these bars? Is it college students? People who live in the neighborhood? People who don't know any better? (Tourists?) Gezellig, the Cavern, the Libertine, Billiard Bar and Zubar draw people from all over the city. But who is it that's keeping all the other places between Ross and Belmont in business?
Ok, so there are lots of reasons to drive to FW, including the Kimbell and the Modern and the Rahr & Sons Brewery (which I've been dying to visit), but I just stumbled on a new one on Monday.
Has anyone ever been to Embargo? It's a Cuban-themed bar on 8th Street. A new friend was telling me about it, saying it was really cool. And he lives in Dallas, so obviously he thinks it's worth the drive. The bar won "Best Decor" from the FW Weekly last year. From that article:
We're going to miss the Wreck Room. Within its dingy environs lurked the iconic, cinematic murals of Jesse Sierra Hernandez and Pussyhouse Propaganda, classic punk and metal posters, and layers of stickers from the best bands you never got around to seeing. But damned if Embargo hasn't charmed us right out of our guayaberas. If you couldn't guess by the name, the downtown club, which used to be co-owned by Wreck honcho Brian Forella, is built around a Cuban theme that's convincing enough to have brought a tear to Papa Hemingway's eye. Amid the flicker of votive candles, patrons flit between smoky shadows and Havana-inspired murals, their murmurs mingling with the jazzy, Afro-Caribbean soundscapes. After a few mojitos, the walls and palms and rusty ease will make you think you're in The Godfather, Part II. Johnny Ola and Hyman Roth would be proud.
The mojitos and caiparinhas are supposed to be excellent. They've also got salsa on Thursdays and a poetry night during the week.
Sorry we haven't had a lot of posts lately. Blame it on the post-SXSW coma, and tons of other work that's keeping us busy. If you've gone to a cool bar lately or seen a show that you want us to know about, by all means, drop a line.
Here's what's up for tonight -- lots of solid weeklies:
Jay West of Argentina is the guest at tonight's Bang!, a weekly event at the Green Elephant. He's on his way to the WMC in Miami. Kelle Marie, 4Peace, J. Caprice and John Walker are local support.
At Fallout, they've got The Scoop, with "brokenbeat+nu+jazz+hip-hop+electronica+etc+etc+other+our original (expletive)." $2 Shiner, $2 PBR, $3 Bacardi.
For Addison-ites who like to party, Billy the Kidd's hosting and DJing a Ladies Night event tonight at Sting. DJ Avi and DJ JQ are also in the house.
If you're really hurting for cash, Sugar Shack on Lower Greenville has $1 Bud Light and Miller Light drafts, $1.50 domestic bottles and $1 wells all night.
He'll be at Opus Lounge this Saturday, courtesy of the Dallas Peeps and Party Chaser crew. Also, it'll be the debut of a new space called Myst, which, if I'm reading the flyer correctly, will take over the former Babylon basement spot. Oh Babylon, we hardly knew ye....
From the Facebook message I just received:
Myst Ultra Lounge will provide an eclectic setting and vibe for our most discerning party goers. Music selection will include Top 40, Hip-Hop, R&B, Old School, Salsa, and more each and every Saturday Night. If you've been in search of the ultimate connection in nightlife culture, Myst & Opus Lounge are your answer!
DRESSCODE STRICTLY ENFORCED - NO T-SHIRTS, NO TENNIS SHOES OR SNEAKERS, NO BASEBALL CAPS, NO OVERLY SAGGY JEANS AND NO ATHLETIC ATTIRE AT ALL
The Dallas media market is getting interesting, y'all. I've seen two new, free mags lately aimed at promoting arts, culture and nightlife in this city. This makes me happy -- the more people we have talking about how cool Dallas is, the more we can convince folks that it's actually true.
I feel a little dirty having attended the St. Patrick's Day parade afterparty sponsored by the Observer, but hey, I did it for Ghostland Observatory. And they were phenomenal as usual, although I think you need to see them at night for their cool light show to really get the whole experience.
But day or night, they totally rocked the crowd, which seemed small to me. I don't know what kind of turnout was expected, but there was plenty of room to carve out a little dance floor for you and your friends. And I have to say, the small-ish crowd probably contributed to the portable toilets being the cleanest on Greenville. Thanks, Observer!
As countless hungover musicians pack their bags and load their equipment into vans and (for the lucky ones) airport shuttles, I try to remember last night. The ol' brain's a little cloudy from what my Austin friends call "party weekend." And that's a good phrase to describe South by Southwest -- it's an extended weekend where there's something going on in every nook of the city. It's much like the weather was during these four days. You never know what to expect.
That's why I gave up the idea of "having a plan" last night. I wanted to go where the wind took me (and it was mighty windy in Austin). First stop in the afternoon? Auditorium Shores, a large outdoor festival stage next to the river. Large enough that everyone could get in free to see one of the best showcases of the festival. N.E.R.D. made me jump up and down the night before, but rapper Lyrics Born and his full band had me wavin' my hand from side to side. His set was all upbeat, in the style of his best song, "Callin' Out." I've always wondered why he wasn't more famous.
Next up, after an intermission of recorded smooth jazz (?) was DJ Pete Rock, who would handle the beats for Jean Grae, Talib Kweli and others. After a few minutes of classic hip-hop, Grae came to the stage ready to challenge the large but lazy crowd: "Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought this was a bill with me and Talib and Ice Cube. What did y'all come here expectin' to see, Kenny G?" That lit a fire under some folks, and all kinds of people from babies to grandmas got into her sometimes boastful, always intellectual rapping.
Kweli, also smart as a whip, joined Grae on stage for a couple tracks and then took over. I've always loved the way he attacks beats with unconventional rhymes, so seeing him at the top of his game was a thrill.
Rather than stay late for some Ice Cube, I hoofed it over the river and through the lushes to Opal Divine's on West 6th. Despite the venue being a leetle off the beaten SXSW path, Denton singer Daniel Folmer drew a few dozen folks to his 8 p.m. showcase, including members of the Theater Fire and Doug Burr, both scheduled to play there later. Folmer and his backing band did a handful of songs, and then he stayed on stage alone with his guitar to play a couple. Was glad to see a few faster songs (including "Shut Your Mouth" and a rocked-up version of "Final Scene") in the mix. I looked around to see if showcase headliner Deana Carter was watching, but I haven't seen her since the "Strawberry Wine" video, so I probably didn't know what to look for.
Imagine what you face today if you are headed to the St. Patrick's Day parade on Greenville. Now imagine having to navigate through that level of drunken insanity for three nights straight. Then you'll know where I am right now. Hesitant about going back at the beast. Doubting my own stamina. Questioning everything.
[Takes sip of diet soda.]
So, you'll want to know about last night. Decided to switch up the normal strategy and actually try to get into the highest-profile showcases on the schedule. That meant getting to each venue early (to avoid ze lines) and checkin' out the bands playing before THE bands. And I think it's important to do that a few times during SXSW. Stay at a single showcase for a few hours and see if you find any new obsessions in the process. Yeah, I like that.
Unfortunately for Vampire Weekend and its glorified opening acts last night, I came away from hours at Antone's an empty shell. The rundown of acts I saw before South-by sensation Vampire Weekend: Brooklyn damn-near jam-band Bear in Heaven; girl-heavy etherial pop group Basia Bulat from Canada and L.A.-based Foreign Born. Ask someone else about Foreign Born. I was caught in a crowded maze of hell trying to get to and back from the restrooms during most of it.
Greenville Avenue Stuff - The parade starts at 10 a.m. The block party, where the Dubliner and Stan's Blue Note are, starts at 9 a.m. (Really?! Yes... or at least that's what's in my notes.) Get there before 2 p.m. unless you want to wait in a supremely long line. Tix are $5 at the gate.
The Windmill Lounge has a free Irish whiskey tasting at 10 p.m., $4 Irish Car Bombs and Banshees, Guinness Beef stew on the menu, and FREE ALCOHOL for anyone with a tattoo of a leprechaun with a gun.
The Idle Rich hosts its annual Tent Party, with Bridges and Blinking Lights at 9 p.m., and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at 10:30. $5 cover after 9. For the love of God, someone try the cheese fries with corned beef on top.
For people who eschew St. Patrick's Day and just want to dance, Infected Mushroom is at the Lizard Lounge and The Bassbin Twins are at Thoth.
I could barely keep my eyes open last night at 10, and I almost didn't go to the show. So glad I did: Ghostbar, for one night, felt like Minc. The crowd was casual and hip and diverse, and tons of folks were dancing, all in a big cluster in front of the DJ booth. People were laughing, smiling, whooping - there was such great energy in there.
Louie Vega is short, so I could only really see his hat from where we were standing in back. But he got everyone pumped. He opened with these rat-a-tat-tat bongo drums that instantly got my shoulders' shimmying. (It was like a trance, I couldn't help it.) Then he played a bunch of classic-sounding house - just really good, danceable beats, laced with soulful vocals.
We left around 1 a.m. because I couldn't shake my tiredness. (Going out three nights in a row and working during the days can grate on a girl.) But next time I'm going to plan better so I can see the whole thing. He's worth it!
Friends and I stopped by Glo on Wednesday night, the new lounge on Henderson and Capitol. Apparently it was the "soft opening" - they'll have a bigger grand-opening party sometime later.
It was... okay. Very clean, music was fine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was partying in a strip mall. Maybe it was just the total newness of the space, and the lingering smell of paint, or new floors or something. Or maybe it was the glass window at the front of the bar that overlooked the patio - which overlooked a parking lot.
Also could have been the line of thick, overstuffed u-shaped booths against the wall, which said more "pizza place" to me than upscale lounge.
Maybe it just needed to be darker in there? Sunset Lounge (which the Glo owner used to own/manage) was supremely dark, which I really liked about the place.
Anyway, we'll see what happens in the coming months. It's early still.
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