Timbaland is scheduled to make an appearance at Ghostbar on Friday. He won't be performing though -- they say. Who knows what'll happen once the drinks start flowing.
Just heard from Blake Bogus, the owner of Knox Street Pub. If you visit the bar during happy hour with a group of four or more -- ideally more -- they'll give you (the group organizer) a free gas card. The dollar amount is completely at their discretion, and I believe most of it is in small increments (i.e., $10), so don't go expecting $20 or $40 or something. But a little bit here and there seems helpful, no? Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If you really want to get crazy with the gas thing, there's also a DART bus that drops you off on McKinney Ave and Armstrong, directly across the street from the pub. I've taken it before. It's nice.
Myst, the new lounge next to Purgatory, has technically been open for a few months now, but as is the case in Nightlife Land, they're throwing a huge debut party to officially announce it to the world. It's tomorrow at 10 p.m. DJ Adam Rush out of Hollywood is on the decks. (Expect hard trance/techno.)
I'm curious as to how this place is going to do. They're taking over the old Babylon spot, a place that fared horribly, but they've spruced things up to make it feel upscale. They're also eschewing the usual upscale Dallas lounge formula by having (gasp!) African-American and Latino nights, right off the bat. Most places wait four or five months before appealing to the minority crowd. I don't know why that is. Do minorities not have money to spend?
On a personal note, sorry I've been gone for awhile. I was on vacation in Mexico City and then I came back to the worst stomach virus EVER. But I'm better now. Although the thought of drinking tequila makes me want to gag.
Presale tix are $20 for Kim Kardashian's party at Purgatory next Wednesday. If you're planning on going, I'd purchase now. (You can't buy online, but you can apparently purchase by phone.) The door price hasn't been set yet, so it could even double to $40 on the day of. On the decks are DJ Krave, Funk-E and Jesse Jam.
Word is that Kim will be mingling with the crowd and not just holed up in VIP all night.
Unfortch (or, rather, fortch for me) I'll be in Mexico City that week, so I can't give you a full report. But if you go let me know how it is.
I wrote a little bit last week about Godspeed, the new Monday night party at HOB. (It's an import from HOB's Vegas location.) Basically, they open up the members-only Foundation Room for one night only, and they've got DJs and drinks.
Got a preview of the place last night, and it's actually really cool. The entrance -- a red-draped area off to the side of the main building -- feels hidden and secret.
Once upon a time -- actually, last year -- downtown was where all the nightlife action was in this city. Main Street is still crowded on the weekends, but the Henderson/Capitol neighborhood has quickly become the new place to be. They've already got Barcadia (photo above), Capitol Pub, Glo Lounge and the newly revamped Slip Inn.
Coming soon are Sushi Axiom, a hip, Fort Worth-based restaurant; Veritas, a wine retail shop and bar; and Soley, an upscale Mexican restaurant. And this has only been THIS YEAR, people. How crazy is that?
Similar to downtown, the only downside here is the parking. On weekend evenings, the shopping center's entire parking lot (where Jerry's used to be, to give you a point of reference) closes for valet only. That leaves the only free parking on the residential streets, which I'm sure neighbors aren't going to be very happy about. DART should get a trolley out here. Too bad it would take like five years before anything happens.
For more detailed info on what's opened in the neighborhood, check out Tracy Achor Hayes' recent article in F!D Luxe.
On Monday night, House of Blues is opening up its private Foundation Room for a new weekly party called Godspeed. They've already been doing this with the Vegas location, apparently successfully.
No word yet who the Dallas DJs are going to be, but the party starts at 10 p.m. Flyer says the dress code will be enforced.
Just heard via MySpace that National Sports Lounge will open up soon next door to Kinki, near the Granada. Plan is for 50 TVs, a full patio and bar.
This place has been in the works for years (ever since the Red Jacket closed), so it's great that they're finally making some headway. Look for it in July.
The Fish in the West Village just launched happy hour all night on Sunday, with music from the 12 Inch Pimps from 6 to 10 p.m. The prices are pretty good -- it might actually draw me out of the house.
Drinks:
$2 draft beers, $3 large hot sake, $3 you-call-its and $4 house wines.
Food:
$3 for hot edamame, cali roll, spicy tuna roll, philly roll and chicken/beef kushiyaki
My one-armed husband and I checked out the new Dali Wine Bar at One Arts Plaza a few days ago. It's not bad. A wee bit too upscale, for my tastes, as a neighborhood place to visit, but I guess that's what the Wine Therapist and Vino 100 are for.
Meant to post this last week at the height of SATC mania, but I think it's still applicable, especially because everyone who's seen the movie is talking about seeing it again. (Me included.) Must. Have. More. Fashion Porn.
So, if you do go see it again this weekend with your girls (my Dallas chicas: Who's up for it?), here's a playlist I came up with the car. You'll notice that all the artists are women. That was kind of my theme.
It appears that this evening's Lost Generation at Fallout Lounge, featuring the offbeat selections of DJ Wanz Dover, will be the last of its kind. Wanz sent a message via MySpace announcing his weekly musical tour of the underground at the Expo Park bar had been dropped from the calendar.
"In true Dallas fashion I am being canned for another hip hop night. I like hip hop, but do we really need another night of it? After tomorrow there will be no place to go have a drink and hear some cutting edge underground toonz," Wanz wrote.
A call to Fallout Lounge to confirm this info wasn't answered (understandable, since it's daytime). Wanz wrote that Lost Generation tonight will be his last, and he plans to go out in style.
"I am starting at 9 p.m. so I can play an extra long setlist. I will be joined by special guests for a special live set at some point during the night."
They've got pool, amateur poker on Saturdays and tango on Tuesdays. And a bottomless mimosa brunch on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pics of the new place after the jump, courtesy of owner Shelley Martinez.
If you've been there, feel free to share what it's like. Seems more like a bar than a cafe to me, but I guess it's hard to shake that feeling when the place was once a nightclub. Judging from the pics, they've done a nice job, though.
The Party's skating-rink bash didn't start until 11:30 on Saturday, and that combined with the fact that it was in Duncanville had me thinking that maybe I should stay home. (I'd been antique shopping with my mom in the god-awful hot weather all day.) But I'm so glad I powered through.
How many times do you get to skate to bumping 90's music as an adult? And bring your own alcohol in a plastic bag?
OK, so it's been open since late last year, but I hadn't been to the reopened Lakewood Tavern since, so I decided to check it out last night. It's in the space next to Matt's Rancho Martinez, where the new owner, Steve, used to work. We were the only ones there, which led Steve to close early, but he said they get a good crowd on weekend nights.
It looks very similar to the old Lakewood Tavern, but one difference is that it's a nonsmoking bar. Steve said they would have had to put in a new, pricey air filtration system, so it just wasn't cost effective to allow smoking. He said anyone who's wanted to smoke there has had no problem with chilling outside on a bench. I think eventually this could be the case for all Dallas bars, like New York, so the Tavern might be doing people a favor by getting us used to it!
Have any of you heard about this place? I was at Cosmo's last night, and got to chatting with a friendly young woman about pool patios. She asked me: "Do you know the faux?" Or maybe it was "fo."
I said: "The faux?"
She said yeah, it's this place in East Dallas that's like a country club with a pool, only the drinks are really cheap and no one cares what you look like. (I love this idea. The pool deck in my apartment building intimidates me. And also... cheap drinks?)
I asked her what the exact name of it was, but she didn't know. She said it was something like Fellowship of the Eagles. But everyone calls it "The Fo." Or Faux. (Aaagh, whatever.) I've tried Googling that, but can't come up with anything.
UPDATE: It's the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, or "Foe." They have a page on Pegasus and everything. Apparently it's a charity group that raises money for heart disease and cancer, and they also pushed for the founding of Mother's Day. (The nationwide order did back in the day, not this specific chapter.)
If you're been to the pool -- or you know of any other hidden ones out there -- feel free to share a story.
Stopped by the dive/dance bar on Saturday, because we're doing a short segment on the place for Young Street. The velvet rope was still there. Got to speak with GM Shane, who told me about some more changes happening there. News after the jump.
It sucks to fill up your gas tank these days, but at least you can stop at a classy bar and have a cheap drink. (And, on Wednesdays, free food!) Here are some new specials at the Library Bar, inside the Warwick Melrose Hotel.
Tuesdays: Jazz and $6 classic cocktails from 4 p.m. to midnight. Or you can get a regular mixed drink such as gin and tonic, or rum and Coke.
Wednesdays: Complimentary five-spice calamari from 4 to 7 p.m., and $5 house cocktails
Thursdays: The World's Best Cosmo for $7. (I haven't tried it, but with SATC around the corner, I'm eager to try.)
So last night around 10 p.m., I was innocently having a $2 Miller Light draft on the patio at City Tavern, when suddenly this group in black clothes comes scurrying up to the curb. One dude carries a boom and a few others have cameras.
The girl sitting next to us suddenly stands up and hits the guy she's with.
"Who the [expletive] is that?" she yells. Her comments are directed at a long-haired girl in glasses, standing next to the cameramen. This girl, the hitter, is wearing a short blue dress and a string-bikini top underneath. (Yeah, I didn't get it either.)
Aura opened a week ago and takes the place of Babalu on McKinney Ave. I just got off the phone with one of the owners and he said Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris stopped by last weekend. (Lil Devin was apparently in town from New Jersey.) This weekend, the tables for Saturday are already sold out. Friday is half-sold, too.
It's a bottle-service driven place, so you can count on a list at the door.
"Absolutely," said Avi Adri, one of Aura's founding partners. "We're trying to create more of a members feel to it."
Adri says there isn't a cost associated with becoming a member. "You have to be the crowd that we want in there," he says.
There are one-, two- and three-bottle minimums, so if you aren't a sky-high baller, you can still get a bottle of champagne or something. Here's the DJ lineup they've got so far:
Tuesdays -- Willie Trimmer from the 12 Inch Pimps
Thursdays -- Longtime Dallas DJ Rob Vaughan
Friday -- Feezy
Saturday -- Feezy and Brad F.
"For 10 years I've been dreaming about that one perfect place," Adri says. "That's why it's called Aura. I want everyone who comes in there to have a good aura. No fights, no arguments. From the second you park the car to when you pay your tab, you've got nothing but one of the best treatments in the city. That's the whole idea behind the bar."
I'm checking it out this weekend. Will give ya a full report.
The guys and gals at Caven Enterprises gave a preview party of the soon-to-be-reincarnated Sue Ellen's last night. People should be impressed by what they've done in a few short months. Who would have thought that knocking out a wall or two would have opened the place up so much.
The last time I went to Sunset Lounge was way back in the day, maybe two years ago. It had just opened and was this chic, dark hotspot with valet. I remember hearing Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid" and going crazy. And a mix of Kelis' "Milkshake" and Madonna's "Holiday." Thought that was clever. Remember when mash-ups seemed new?
Anyway: The place has undergone a makeover, and there's a party to celebrate next Friday, April 18. Among the new additions: A patio bar, a VIP area, a new DJ booth and an "off the hook state-of-the-art sound system."
I really liked the patio back then, so the addition of a bar seems like a great idea. If anyone goes, let me know what you think.
A friend and I stopped by Barcadia last Thursday, which apparently opened quietly a few weeks ago. I didn't know until I got a MySpace bulletin about the place's Wednesday draft special -- $3 and you get to keep the glass.
The place is pretty cool. They've got 1940's pin-up art on the walls, a huge patio and of course, lots of old-school arcade games. We saw about a half-dozen lined up against the wall: Super Mario Bros, Gallaga, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Junior and more. They also have three skee-ball machines, which make these cool 80's laser sounds. Everything's a quarter, just like the olden days. But there are no tickets and stuffed animals.
They have 24 beers on tap -- including Lone Star -- and are adding a pub menu soon. I predict that patio's going to be hopping this summer.
Bliss, a new club on Griffin Street downtown, officially opens its doors tonight. I haven't heard a thing about the place so I have no idea what it's all about. (Besides the fact that blonde women seem to like it.)
Shrouded in a miiieu of black curtains, gold walls, mirrors, chrome decor, two island bars, posh voluminous seating, a state of the art luminous dance area, and elevated VIP bottle service options throughout the venue, attain Bliss the ideal nightlife getaway.
Relish music of some of Texas' notorious DJs exploiting a mod sound system with a progressive mix of: mash-ups, Top 40, hip-hop, electro, 80's and house.
Sounds like someone went a little crazy with the thesaurus, but I'm intrigued. Might try to check it out tonight, if the skies don't start spitting hail.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
Rich over at DC 9 at Night says he got a MySpace bulletin at midnight last night breaking the news.... can anyone out there confirm? Sloppyworld's website doesn't mention anything.
From what I gather, the place was operating pretty much under-the-radar anyway. I'm not sure they even had a certificate of occupancy, which means it was only a matter of time before code enforcement came out.
If anyone has any further info, please share! I would love to call the city and find out myself, but I have too many other deadlines today....
Hanging out at the Nodding Dog cafe this weekend -- their oatmeal is fabulous, by the way -- I saw a flyer with a half-naked guy on the cover, advertising a new club in Addison called Posh Ultra Lounge. Of course I was intrigued. (Anything with Posh in the title and I am so there, especially if it is followed by the word "Becks.") The address identified the place as being next to Carson's Live.
A new friend asked me that this weekend, and I confessed I hadn’t. Wrote about the dive bar for a New Year’s Eve roundup a few months ago, but I haven’t been since they moved in January. (Pic of the sign being moved above.) They were at Ross and Hall — now they’re at Bryan and Fitzhugh, catty-corner from Jimmy’s.
Stopped by last night for a beer, and I really like the new spot. It’s less gritty than the old one, but that also means (yay!) it’s cleaner and more open. There’s still too much neon inside, which is charming in a dive-y way. They’ve also got pool, Golden Tee and Big Buck Hunter. Sam Adams White and Blue Moon are among the beers on tap.
Unlike the old spot, they don’t sell food. But they will let you bring it in from outside. We got sandwiches from Jimmy’s and our very nice bartender supplied plates and paper “dinner napkins.” (Real napkins, not the cocktail kind.) Cost for two Miller Lites and a Sam Adams White: $8.50.
I could have stayed longer, but household errands called. Next time we'll try to stay for karaoke.
Mr. Dallas talked yesterday about the next wave of downtown nightspots, and it turns out most are coming this summer. (Maybe.)
First on deck is Joyce, the champagne lounge on San Jacinto. (I've tried to find this place while driving down Pearl, by the way, and I have no idea where it is.) It's now scheduled for March.
Noir Bar at the Joule is supposed to come in "early summer," and Canvas at One Arts Plaza, late may or June. Victor Tango on Henderson -- I know that's not downtown, but it's still been eagerly anticipated -- is looking at summer too.
Barcadia, the new 80's arcade game joint on Henderson and Ross, should be open in three weeks, says owner Julie Campbell. Look for it next to Cafe San Miguel.
Oak Lawn has a new bar. And it has cheap drinks. From the press release I got about Maple Ave Lounge:
Everyone is invite to celebrate with the staff of Maple Ave for its official grand opening on Friday, February 15, 2008 from 4pm to 9pm. This celebration will feature all of the staff and entertainment from Karaoke with DJ Jayden to HipHip, Funk, Retro and House with DJ Dave. You will also enjoy $1 Wells, Calls, and Domestics and our Complimentary buffet which is offered for happy hour everyday.
It's at 3910 Maple Ave. And I think they meant hip-hop, not hiphip.
UPDATE: An astute reader, also known as Mr. Dallas, has pointed out that this is the same location of the Maple Avenue Tavern. I never frequented the place, so forgive the error. I guess they've renamed the joint and done some renovations.
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