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Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Drive It Like You Stole It Poker Run at Reflections
I had to check this one out! Personally I have never been on a Poker Run, so I was not sure what to expect at all, however, this was a Ronald McDonald House charity event so I had to go.
Let me tell you folks my thoughts on the charity they chose first, I think it was absolutely awesome. My family has had personal dealings with this organization a long time ago. My nephew became extremely ill at 1 year of age, and my sister in law (at that time was my brothers new girlfriend) did not have much money at all, and this organization stepped in to help her care for this child. He remained there until his passing (which was way too young), but they treated him and the other children there as if they were their own. I have to say that as a parent, I am happy to know that there is such an organization out there that really does love and care for terminal children!
That being said (can you tell it hit a soft spot on me), I want to tell you about this event! A local motorcycle club, The Predators, and Reflections hosted this event together. When I first walked in, there was leather as far as the eye could see (not in a kinky way .. although I guess it could be .. lol). There were representatives and bikers from several of the local motorcycle groups that were there signing up for this run. Since I had never gone on a "Poker Run", I had to get some information on it, which John (President of the Predators) was happy to give, and so now I am passing it on to you!
The concept of a poker run is that you begin at one venue, and there is a route that is given when you sign up here to go to other venues along the way. At each venue that you stop at, you are given a poker card, and once you return to the beginning venue, you are given your final card. At that time, you turn over your "hand" of poker to see what you have. At a specified time (which you need to be back by), the person who picked up the best hand on the way wins! Now I personally don't play poker, but this is fairly idiot proof, so I am game (no holding cards, drawing, its just blind luck).
One of my first questions after the actual run was explained to me, is "do I need to have a bike to do this run", and the answer is "No". As long as you have a means to get to each location in the time allotted, your good to go! I felt a little out of place at first (being one of the only ones without a vest), but everyone was very polite and friendly and I can not recall a time that I was sitting by myself without someone coming up and talking with me. So if your a bit rocked back because you don't own a motorcycle and such, don't be, they are some of the best folks I have met so far in a club!
Now on this run, they did it a little differently for the run: they made 2 other stops and then came back to Reflections where you drew all of your cards at once. So the time came for everyone to begin the run .. down to the wire, I figured what the hell, I going for it! So I get in my bad ass 4 cylinder car and rev up the hamsters to get them moving! The bikes pull out of Reflections parking lot and we are off!! First stop is Aww Shucks Oyster Bar, which I have never been too (but you can bet I am going back to review it). We stayed there for about 30 minutes, where everyone was having a few beers or some oysters on the back patio .. then the call goes out "lets go"! We continued down 231 to Hwy 14 and followed it into Tallassee to a Mexican Restaurant called Cozumel's. It's here where everyone decided to grab a bit to eat, food was great, cheap, and in generous quantity .. perfect combination!! After everyone was done eating and paying, its time to head back to Reflections.
The ride itself was amazing from my view. I held the tail end (since I was in a car), and there is something about being behind 30 motorcycles roaring down the highway that is just awesome to see. The only problem I had was that the hamsters didn't want to accelerate as fast as the bikes did, so I did find myself playing catchup a lot, HOWEVER, which ever bike was holding the traffic for the turns, always waited until I came through the turn as well before heading back into there place in the caravan (knowing I was following them in a car). Although I was not on a bike for this run, I still felt like part of the run and a part of the group, which in itself is a GREAT feeling. Now being in the car wasn't a complete disadvantage though .. I had air conditioning .. HAHAHA!!
As we pulled into Reflections, you immediately seen all the women who were on the back of the bikes uniformly dismount and rub their legs and butts out (it was quite comical really) as the bikes were being parked. Hot, sweaty and a little sun kissed, everyone entered the venue for a cold drink and some cool air! Once everyone recouped, and the burgers and dogs were being served, everyone began drawing their hands. The winner of the poker run (I failed to get his name or club so if you know it, please comment so I can add), was so very generous that he donated his winnings back to the charity!! There was also a raffle for a Ronald McDonald cake, and to up the "bounty" on this cake, the President (John) offered to donate his services: "whomever won the cake cake would have the privilege of smearing it in his face", which immediately caused more sales (seemed like a really popular guy .. lol). Even after the winner was drawn (Sweet Pea), the cake was so sought after, she was receiving bribes from other club members to sell it to them, which she did and donated the additional money back to the charity again!
It was really a great time, and was for a great charity, and although I was a little hesitant to participate in the beginning, I am so glad I did and wouldn't trade it for anything! Absolutely FANTASTIC event, fabulous people, and down right damn good time!! I also see that there was over $1,000.00 raised for the charity during this event .. GREAT JOB!! I would encourage EVERYONE to check out one of these charity rides in the future, you definitely wont be disappointed!!
Let me tell you folks my thoughts on the charity they chose first, I think it was absolutely awesome. My family has had personal dealings with this organization a long time ago. My nephew became extremely ill at 1 year of age, and my sister in law (at that time was my brothers new girlfriend) did not have much money at all, and this organization stepped in to help her care for this child. He remained there until his passing (which was way too young), but they treated him and the other children there as if they were their own. I have to say that as a parent, I am happy to know that there is such an organization out there that really does love and care for terminal children!
That being said (can you tell it hit a soft spot on me), I want to tell you about this event! A local motorcycle club, The Predators, and Reflections hosted this event together. When I first walked in, there was leather as far as the eye could see (not in a kinky way .. although I guess it could be .. lol). There were representatives and bikers from several of the local motorcycle groups that were there signing up for this run. Since I had never gone on a "Poker Run", I had to get some information on it, which John (President of the Predators) was happy to give, and so now I am passing it on to you!
The concept of a poker run is that you begin at one venue, and there is a route that is given when you sign up here to go to other venues along the way. At each venue that you stop at, you are given a poker card, and once you return to the beginning venue, you are given your final card. At that time, you turn over your "hand" of poker to see what you have. At a specified time (which you need to be back by), the person who picked up the best hand on the way wins! Now I personally don't play poker, but this is fairly idiot proof, so I am game (no holding cards, drawing, its just blind luck).
One of my first questions after the actual run was explained to me, is "do I need to have a bike to do this run", and the answer is "No". As long as you have a means to get to each location in the time allotted, your good to go! I felt a little out of place at first (being one of the only ones without a vest), but everyone was very polite and friendly and I can not recall a time that I was sitting by myself without someone coming up and talking with me. So if your a bit rocked back because you don't own a motorcycle and such, don't be, they are some of the best folks I have met so far in a club!
Now on this run, they did it a little differently for the run: they made 2 other stops and then came back to Reflections where you drew all of your cards at once. So the time came for everyone to begin the run .. down to the wire, I figured what the hell, I going for it! So I get in my bad ass 4 cylinder car and rev up the hamsters to get them moving! The bikes pull out of Reflections parking lot and we are off!! First stop is Aww Shucks Oyster Bar, which I have never been too (but you can bet I am going back to review it). We stayed there for about 30 minutes, where everyone was having a few beers or some oysters on the back patio .. then the call goes out "lets go"! We continued down 231 to Hwy 14 and followed it into Tallassee to a Mexican Restaurant called Cozumel's. It's here where everyone decided to grab a bit to eat, food was great, cheap, and in generous quantity .. perfect combination!! After everyone was done eating and paying, its time to head back to Reflections.
The ride itself was amazing from my view. I held the tail end (since I was in a car), and there is something about being behind 30 motorcycles roaring down the highway that is just awesome to see. The only problem I had was that the hamsters didn't want to accelerate as fast as the bikes did, so I did find myself playing catchup a lot, HOWEVER, which ever bike was holding the traffic for the turns, always waited until I came through the turn as well before heading back into there place in the caravan (knowing I was following them in a car). Although I was not on a bike for this run, I still felt like part of the run and a part of the group, which in itself is a GREAT feeling. Now being in the car wasn't a complete disadvantage though .. I had air conditioning .. HAHAHA!!
As we pulled into Reflections, you immediately seen all the women who were on the back of the bikes uniformly dismount and rub their legs and butts out (it was quite comical really) as the bikes were being parked. Hot, sweaty and a little sun kissed, everyone entered the venue for a cold drink and some cool air! Once everyone recouped, and the burgers and dogs were being served, everyone began drawing their hands. The winner of the poker run (I failed to get his name or club so if you know it, please comment so I can add), was so very generous that he donated his winnings back to the charity!! There was also a raffle for a Ronald McDonald cake, and to up the "bounty" on this cake, the President (John) offered to donate his services: "whomever won the cake cake would have the privilege of smearing it in his face", which immediately caused more sales (seemed like a really popular guy .. lol). Even after the winner was drawn (Sweet Pea), the cake was so sought after, she was receiving bribes from other club members to sell it to them, which she did and donated the additional money back to the charity again!
It was really a great time, and was for a great charity, and although I was a little hesitant to participate in the beginning, I am so glad I did and wouldn't trade it for anything! Absolutely FANTASTIC event, fabulous people, and down right damn good time!! I also see that there was over $1,000.00 raised for the charity during this event .. GREAT JOB!! I would encourage EVERYONE to check out one of these charity rides in the future, you definitely wont be disappointed!!
Saturday Night Update
So of course I went to the charity event on Saturday afternoon, but while I was there, I noticed some changes to the venue that I felt rated an updated review, so that night I was out there again!
The first thing that I have to right about is the back patio area, since it was not open (or at least being utilized) the last time I was there which was a weekday. This is such a very unique area for a night club, this takes you out of the night club feel and into a beach bar feel. As you come outside, you will find a small stage on your left which is elevated about 3 feet from the ground for bands to play on. They have a separate music selection out here too, which is much more relaxing and unwinding from the nightclub portion of the venue. There are a few fire pits around that are sparked up when it get a little chilly, and several wrought iron table sets to sit at. Next to the bar they have Big Freddy's Wings & Things were you can get a generous portion of food. You don't even have to ask .. of course I tried it out, and it tasted awesome, I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries and there was so much I couldn't eat it all (easily enough to feed 2 people for $9 and this is a meal). Also, they have installed a sanded volleyball court back in this area, which really brings the theme of this area together!
I also noticed that the lounge area now has sliding walls, to separate the club from private parties I am assuming. I watched all of the bartenders and every one of them were smiling and looked happy to be working there. They all chatted with almost all of the customers as they came up and had 4 bars open with 6 bartenders which meant no one was waiting for a drink. Excellent customer service all around from these bartenders, I couldn't find one that was not smiling or dancing along with the music when they weren't cleaning or restocking.
Watching the crowd was amusing in itself, again it is a true large city nightclub feel. For a while I noticed about 10 women (age 21-26 area) walking in for every one guy, so I changed my seating to get a better view of the dance floor. The ladies who were dance were not shy about what they wanted. I watched a few guys go up and start dancing with them and get dismissed, but a lucky few were selected to stay and dance by these lovely ladies. Everyone was either dancing on the lighted dance floor or standing around the dance floor moving to the music and mingling. It is a really energetic feeling especially with the great club music that DJ JayTee was playing and the fog and light show he was mixing in, a perfect display.
I also pulled a new favored crawler out of this group, Josh Corley! Very charismatic guy and was talking and mingling with everyone. Great club attitude and the girls seem to like him as well! If you happen to see him out and about, great person to say hi to!
Updated Review:
1. Atmosphere: 10
2. Service: 9
3. Physical Comfort: 8
4. Safety: 7
Updated overall rating: 8.5
The first thing that I have to right about is the back patio area, since it was not open (or at least being utilized) the last time I was there which was a weekday. This is such a very unique area for a night club, this takes you out of the night club feel and into a beach bar feel. As you come outside, you will find a small stage on your left which is elevated about 3 feet from the ground for bands to play on. They have a separate music selection out here too, which is much more relaxing and unwinding from the nightclub portion of the venue. There are a few fire pits around that are sparked up when it get a little chilly, and several wrought iron table sets to sit at. Next to the bar they have Big Freddy's Wings & Things were you can get a generous portion of food. You don't even have to ask .. of course I tried it out, and it tasted awesome, I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries and there was so much I couldn't eat it all (easily enough to feed 2 people for $9 and this is a meal). Also, they have installed a sanded volleyball court back in this area, which really brings the theme of this area together!
I also noticed that the lounge area now has sliding walls, to separate the club from private parties I am assuming. I watched all of the bartenders and every one of them were smiling and looked happy to be working there. They all chatted with almost all of the customers as they came up and had 4 bars open with 6 bartenders which meant no one was waiting for a drink. Excellent customer service all around from these bartenders, I couldn't find one that was not smiling or dancing along with the music when they weren't cleaning or restocking.
Watching the crowd was amusing in itself, again it is a true large city nightclub feel. For a while I noticed about 10 women (age 21-26 area) walking in for every one guy, so I changed my seating to get a better view of the dance floor. The ladies who were dance were not shy about what they wanted. I watched a few guys go up and start dancing with them and get dismissed, but a lucky few were selected to stay and dance by these lovely ladies. Everyone was either dancing on the lighted dance floor or standing around the dance floor moving to the music and mingling. It is a really energetic feeling especially with the great club music that DJ JayTee was playing and the fog and light show he was mixing in, a perfect display.
I also pulled a new favored crawler out of this group, Josh Corley! Very charismatic guy and was talking and mingling with everyone. Great club attitude and the girls seem to like him as well! If you happen to see him out and about, great person to say hi to!
Updated Review:
1. Atmosphere: 10
2. Service: 9
3. Physical Comfort: 8
4. Safety: 7
Updated overall rating: 8.5
Friday Night Updates
Friday night we made it to two places to do updates do to the changes I heard about! I know you folks all want to hear about new places, and it is coming up, however, when major changes occur I really want to get them out there!
Rewind
On this night, they had a live band .. Erica and Soulshine. They played some great pop/rock and top 40's. They loved to engage the audience and the song selection was great! I am not a music critic at all as there are some genre's that I don't like, so I try to stay away from reviewing live bands if I can, but I can say that I really did enjoy this one! As usual, you could find Mackie mixing it up with the crowd and the band, and generally energizing the place (I really wonder how many red bulls she must drink a night to keep so fired up and energetic .. might make that a contest .. lol).
During this visit, I had found some updates on the club that should be noted. First, a booth has been installed that sectioned off the bar area from the dance floor, giving great definition to the club side of the venue. From the looks of it, the females really like this new area as they can still be tucked away when they want to party, but can easily look over the booths and enjoy the slightly raised perch overlooking the dance floor. Did I mention how comfortable this area is too, great idea to add to the venue!!
I also got a chance to go back into the VIP section and check it out. Now from what I gather, this area can be rented out for special events such as bachelor and birthday parties. The back wall is lined with several very comfortable booths, and several tables and chairs are located throughout this area. I am estimating that you could comfortable fit a party of 30 back there. Also, the VIP bar is bumped up against this area so you can have your drinks ordered without leaving this area.
Also, I found that they have installed a UV light pool table in front of the VIP area which is pretty unique as well (the rest of the tables can be found in the bar area of the venue). Although this is a very unique table, it takes away from the night club feel of that side (one might consider moving it into the VIP area since its separated).
Updated review: after checking out the changes here, the following changes have been made to their initial review:
1. Atmosphere: 9
2. Cleanliness: 7 (still no hand soap or paper towel in the men's bathroom)
Overall updated review: 8.0
Stuckeys
Stopped in for a brief check of Stuckeys to update on some of the changes as well!
One of the most notable changes here is that the stage/dance area has been re floored and a guard railing has been installed around the floor. They have also improved their lighting effects for the dance area and added another base speaker to really pump up the club. This is one of the most focus forward dance floor I have seen, and gives this area a quasi cage feel making you feel quite special when you are up there!
1. Atmosphere: 8
2. Safety: 9
3. Originality: 8
Overall updated review: 8.2
Rewind
On this night, they had a live band .. Erica and Soulshine. They played some great pop/rock and top 40's. They loved to engage the audience and the song selection was great! I am not a music critic at all as there are some genre's that I don't like, so I try to stay away from reviewing live bands if I can, but I can say that I really did enjoy this one! As usual, you could find Mackie mixing it up with the crowd and the band, and generally energizing the place (I really wonder how many red bulls she must drink a night to keep so fired up and energetic .. might make that a contest .. lol).
During this visit, I had found some updates on the club that should be noted. First, a booth has been installed that sectioned off the bar area from the dance floor, giving great definition to the club side of the venue. From the looks of it, the females really like this new area as they can still be tucked away when they want to party, but can easily look over the booths and enjoy the slightly raised perch overlooking the dance floor. Did I mention how comfortable this area is too, great idea to add to the venue!!
I also got a chance to go back into the VIP section and check it out. Now from what I gather, this area can be rented out for special events such as bachelor and birthday parties. The back wall is lined with several very comfortable booths, and several tables and chairs are located throughout this area. I am estimating that you could comfortable fit a party of 30 back there. Also, the VIP bar is bumped up against this area so you can have your drinks ordered without leaving this area.
Also, I found that they have installed a UV light pool table in front of the VIP area which is pretty unique as well (the rest of the tables can be found in the bar area of the venue). Although this is a very unique table, it takes away from the night club feel of that side (one might consider moving it into the VIP area since its separated).
Updated review: after checking out the changes here, the following changes have been made to their initial review:
1. Atmosphere: 9
2. Cleanliness: 7 (still no hand soap or paper towel in the men's bathroom)
Overall updated review: 8.0
Stuckeys
Stopped in for a brief check of Stuckeys to update on some of the changes as well!
One of the most notable changes here is that the stage/dance area has been re floored and a guard railing has been installed around the floor. They have also improved their lighting effects for the dance area and added another base speaker to really pump up the club. This is one of the most focus forward dance floor I have seen, and gives this area a quasi cage feel making you feel quite special when you are up there!
1. Atmosphere: 8
2. Safety: 9
3. Originality: 8
Overall updated review: 8.2
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Rage in the Cage at Rewind
This event was AWESOME! The first thing I noticed off the bat coming into Rewind was a 8 foot tall, hexigon, MMA style cage .. great first impression! This looked like a true professional event. Soon after arriving, Will (the promoter) arrived and double checked the cage and had some adjustments made for the safety of the participants. I had the pleasure of speaking with Will for a while, and found that he is a fight promoter, and knows the rules and regulations to a "T" when it comes to events like this.
The fights started around 11:30 pm, and the venue was packed by this time. As the first fight started, you got the impression that you were in the "Mad Max Thunderdome". About 5 minutes prior to the fighters squaring off in the ring, the crowd pressed around the cage stacking 5 or 6 deep. The first fight started and the crowd erupted into cheering and screaming for the fighters. The feeling of the event was almost primal as if two gladiators were battling it out in an ancient arena, and the energy of the crowd and fighters was amazing. The promoters commentaries and music selections by the DJ kept the crowd roaring which in turn kept the fights energized. This repeated with every bout.
I was lucky enough on this night to see a knock out fight in the heavyweight catagory by Justin Coleman, and a few damn close decisions. The fights were only broken up when absolutely necessary, which wasn't very often as most of the fighters were pretty well trained. Each winner received $100.00 and the best fight of the night resulted in an additional $100.00 tatoo certificate. I was so hyped up, I can't remember the exact number of fights, but I would rough guess between 8 and 10 for the night.
There is a $5.00 cover to get into this event, and they do have special ringside VIP seating available for an additional charge, which is well worth it but limited! All in all, it was a fantastic night on the town, and an amazing event. If you want tons of energy, wild fights, and lots of company this is the place to be on Wednesday nights!!
This event, along with the choice of venue to host it made for a great combination. This would be my top pick of the weekday to go see if you have to make a choice of only going out once during the week and needing to reenergize on hump day!
The fights started around 11:30 pm, and the venue was packed by this time. As the first fight started, you got the impression that you were in the "Mad Max Thunderdome". About 5 minutes prior to the fighters squaring off in the ring, the crowd pressed around the cage stacking 5 or 6 deep. The first fight started and the crowd erupted into cheering and screaming for the fighters. The feeling of the event was almost primal as if two gladiators were battling it out in an ancient arena, and the energy of the crowd and fighters was amazing. The promoters commentaries and music selections by the DJ kept the crowd roaring which in turn kept the fights energized. This repeated with every bout.
I was lucky enough on this night to see a knock out fight in the heavyweight catagory by Justin Coleman, and a few damn close decisions. The fights were only broken up when absolutely necessary, which wasn't very often as most of the fighters were pretty well trained. Each winner received $100.00 and the best fight of the night resulted in an additional $100.00 tatoo certificate. I was so hyped up, I can't remember the exact number of fights, but I would rough guess between 8 and 10 for the night.
There is a $5.00 cover to get into this event, and they do have special ringside VIP seating available for an additional charge, which is well worth it but limited! All in all, it was a fantastic night on the town, and an amazing event. If you want tons of energy, wild fights, and lots of company this is the place to be on Wednesday nights!!
This event, along with the choice of venue to host it made for a great combination. This would be my top pick of the weekday to go see if you have to make a choice of only going out once during the week and needing to reenergize on hump day!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Foam Party at Stuckey's
I attended the foam party at Stuckey's this last Friday, and let me tell you, it was AWESOME. If you have never been to one, you need to come!
The dance floor was walled off and the foam came pouring in, everyone was having a great time!
I would suggest wearing a bathing suit, and bring a towel as this gets wet and sticky! They had 3 DJ's mixing up the music and there wasn't a moment that the floor wasn't packed. All of the bartenders except 1 were wearing bikini's, and were definately dressed for the event making it feel like a prepared party.
I heard rumor that the next one will be with blacklight scented foam .. I CAN'T WAIT! All I can say is this is a MUST GO TO EVENT!!! Great job Justin, Stuckey, and staff! Although I didn't see Chris in his speedo (thank god hahaha)!
The dance floor was walled off and the foam came pouring in, everyone was having a great time!
I would suggest wearing a bathing suit, and bring a towel as this gets wet and sticky! They had 3 DJ's mixing up the music and there wasn't a moment that the floor wasn't packed. All of the bartenders except 1 were wearing bikini's, and were definately dressed for the event making it feel like a prepared party.
I heard rumor that the next one will be with blacklight scented foam .. I CAN'T WAIT! All I can say is this is a MUST GO TO EVENT!!! Great job Justin, Stuckey, and staff! Although I didn't see Chris in his speedo (thank god hahaha)!
Club 322
I must apologize for this being so late as I have had a family emergency to attend to, that being said .. here comes the reviews!
On Friday night I decided to check out Club 322. This club had 2 sections, the first one as you enter which is the bar area, which is accessible by the front bar area or the pool table room. The music was quiet in this area, but you could still hear the music. The dance area was done really well, elevated center stage, cages for dancing, music was pumping by Terri, and the 2nd bar off to the side.
Both bartenders from either bar were very friendly, offered suggestions for drinks including the specials, and let me know what was going on since it was my first time. The drinks were mixed very well, they definitely knew what they were doing and offered great service.
The crowd picked up around midnight, it was slow till then. The crowd demographics were about 70% white, 30% other, and everyone was having a good time. I estimate that there were about 100 people here on average which was great for a medium (101-400 people) club. The groups seemed to keep to themselves, except when you were playing pool, lots of folks interacted with each other there.
The mixed drinks were fabulous and cost around 5 - 7 and were served in a 12 oz cup. They had a large variety of liquor available, but did not have many tap beers (most were served in bottles). There was no food available, but I did not think to ask about bringing food in on this night.
The men's room was out of soap on this night, however, all the tables, stools, etc were in great condition and caused no safety issues for drunkards, except for a few floor elevations that should have been marked. There was one cage that had caution tape around it and was not being used, but it was clearly marked. They also had movable railings for the center stage area to avoid falling hazards. All in all, their safety and cleanliness was really good.
I did not see a posted dress code, most people were dressed fairly well though, more of a sexy club appeal from my point. Whether you were male or female, if you looked sexy and clubbish or well dressed, you were good to go.
I found that they have a drag show every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night here around midnight. Let me tell you, if you have never seen this show, it is a must go to!! I must admit that I was a bit hesitant at first on what I would expect for an alternative club with a drag show, but it was one of the best times I have had thus far. The men and women who perform in this show are absolutely AMAZING. Everything was very well done, and the show itself lasted a few hours and was very well performed .. I really can't say enough about this, just make sure you bring your 1's as tipping the performers is not only allowed but encouraged!
The DJ played excellent club mixes. Terri was just great on the sound, and song selections. The sound system was designed perfectly for the club feel while not overpowering the front bar area. The music being played is in my mind what would be considered true club music. If you are familiar with larger city night clubs and their music and vibes, this will make you feel right at home. This is the best music selection for a nightclub that I have heard so far.
There were no notable people that stood out here except for the performers, they definitely know how to work the crowd. They also come into the crowd to speak with people, and were happy to have pictures taken with you and chat with you about the performances.
The age to get in is 19, and this night the cover charge for minors was 11, and of age was 7. I was a bit hesitant on this until I seen the show, and I would be willing to pay more to see this show again. The age range seemed to be from 19 to the early 50's, and although I thought I would feel out of place, I really didn't at all. I seen straight couples, gay couples, multiple couples, everything you can imagine, but the mood was very jovial.
I really can not stress enough how you must see this show at least once! So much, that even though I attended on a Friday, I am posting this as the Thursday place to be since the shows start that night!
On a Friday Night:
1. Atmosphere - 8
2. First Impression - 6 (Not an unwelcoming experience, but it was not memorable either)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 7
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 7
9. Originality - 9
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating (note that this is on a Friday and does not reflect a weekday): 7.8
On Friday night I decided to check out Club 322. This club had 2 sections, the first one as you enter which is the bar area, which is accessible by the front bar area or the pool table room. The music was quiet in this area, but you could still hear the music. The dance area was done really well, elevated center stage, cages for dancing, music was pumping by Terri, and the 2nd bar off to the side.
Both bartenders from either bar were very friendly, offered suggestions for drinks including the specials, and let me know what was going on since it was my first time. The drinks were mixed very well, they definitely knew what they were doing and offered great service.
The crowd picked up around midnight, it was slow till then. The crowd demographics were about 70% white, 30% other, and everyone was having a good time. I estimate that there were about 100 people here on average which was great for a medium (101-400 people) club. The groups seemed to keep to themselves, except when you were playing pool, lots of folks interacted with each other there.
The mixed drinks were fabulous and cost around 5 - 7 and were served in a 12 oz cup. They had a large variety of liquor available, but did not have many tap beers (most were served in bottles). There was no food available, but I did not think to ask about bringing food in on this night.
The men's room was out of soap on this night, however, all the tables, stools, etc were in great condition and caused no safety issues for drunkards, except for a few floor elevations that should have been marked. There was one cage that had caution tape around it and was not being used, but it was clearly marked. They also had movable railings for the center stage area to avoid falling hazards. All in all, their safety and cleanliness was really good.
I did not see a posted dress code, most people were dressed fairly well though, more of a sexy club appeal from my point. Whether you were male or female, if you looked sexy and clubbish or well dressed, you were good to go.
I found that they have a drag show every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night here around midnight. Let me tell you, if you have never seen this show, it is a must go to!! I must admit that I was a bit hesitant at first on what I would expect for an alternative club with a drag show, but it was one of the best times I have had thus far. The men and women who perform in this show are absolutely AMAZING. Everything was very well done, and the show itself lasted a few hours and was very well performed .. I really can't say enough about this, just make sure you bring your 1's as tipping the performers is not only allowed but encouraged!
The DJ played excellent club mixes. Terri was just great on the sound, and song selections. The sound system was designed perfectly for the club feel while not overpowering the front bar area. The music being played is in my mind what would be considered true club music. If you are familiar with larger city night clubs and their music and vibes, this will make you feel right at home. This is the best music selection for a nightclub that I have heard so far.
There were no notable people that stood out here except for the performers, they definitely know how to work the crowd. They also come into the crowd to speak with people, and were happy to have pictures taken with you and chat with you about the performances.
The age to get in is 19, and this night the cover charge for minors was 11, and of age was 7. I was a bit hesitant on this until I seen the show, and I would be willing to pay more to see this show again. The age range seemed to be from 19 to the early 50's, and although I thought I would feel out of place, I really didn't at all. I seen straight couples, gay couples, multiple couples, everything you can imagine, but the mood was very jovial.
I really can not stress enough how you must see this show at least once! So much, that even though I attended on a Friday, I am posting this as the Thursday place to be since the shows start that night!
On a Friday Night:
1. Atmosphere - 8
2. First Impression - 6 (Not an unwelcoming experience, but it was not memorable either)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 7
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 7
9. Originality - 9
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating (note that this is on a Friday and does not reflect a weekday): 7.8
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday Night - Floating Around
Checked out a few places that were having some things going on last night, didn't stay to long at any one place though (since I have to be ready for the Thursday parties!):
Stuckey's
Place was pretty busy last night, and I noticed a few changes here, which I am going to up their score for:
1. First Impression - 6 to an 8 (my favored club crawler Chris was at the door checking ID's and welcoming folks, and the bartender Melissa had a welcoming smile while asking for your drink).
2. Safety - 6 to a 7 (Chris was doubling as a bouncer, which raises the security rating).
3. Cleanliness - 7 to a 9.
This changes their overall rating from a 7.3 to a 7.8 .. Way to go!
Tonight this venue had free pool going all night long, and 'DJ G' was spinning the songs along with Karaoke. I have to admit that he does a fantastic job of working the song genre's into the Karaoke songs coming up. I also noticed that he adjusts the mic for the singer based on the volume of their singing, which is a detail not to be overlooked. Patrick was assisting him when it came time for the Karaoke contest at midnight. They had some good singers and some not so good singers, but it seemed like the crowd was the judge at this one (didn't have much to do with talent, but with how many friends you brought with you). All seemed to have a great time though!
I would say on average there were 100 people, some there to drink, others to socialize, some took advantage of the free pool, and others were just dancing and having a great time! Definately a good time! There is also no cover charge on this night.
Boomerangs
I went back here mainly to see if the place cleaned up a bit. I did notice that toilet paper was in high supply this time (but not in the holders), but other than that, nothing was fixed, and the mirrors and poles on the dancefloor were still not cleaned. Wasn't much effort placed to clean up in my opinion.
The fights, yet again were pretty good, very talented folks out there, and the crowd seemed larger tonight than last week. Again I would still recommend watching the sporting event if that is the mood you are in, but be sure to bring your own soap and papertowels if you need to use the restroom.
I also pulled out a crawler from this one. He is one of the referees for the matches, but during his down time, he is very social with everyone and very easy to approach, even to people he doesn't know - Action Sims - If you get by, make sure you say 'hi'! There also is a $5.00 cover charge on this night.
Stuckey's
Place was pretty busy last night, and I noticed a few changes here, which I am going to up their score for:
1. First Impression - 6 to an 8 (my favored club crawler Chris was at the door checking ID's and welcoming folks, and the bartender Melissa had a welcoming smile while asking for your drink).
2. Safety - 6 to a 7 (Chris was doubling as a bouncer, which raises the security rating).
3. Cleanliness - 7 to a 9.
This changes their overall rating from a 7.3 to a 7.8 .. Way to go!
Tonight this venue had free pool going all night long, and 'DJ G' was spinning the songs along with Karaoke. I have to admit that he does a fantastic job of working the song genre's into the Karaoke songs coming up. I also noticed that he adjusts the mic for the singer based on the volume of their singing, which is a detail not to be overlooked. Patrick was assisting him when it came time for the Karaoke contest at midnight. They had some good singers and some not so good singers, but it seemed like the crowd was the judge at this one (didn't have much to do with talent, but with how many friends you brought with you). All seemed to have a great time though!
I would say on average there were 100 people, some there to drink, others to socialize, some took advantage of the free pool, and others were just dancing and having a great time! Definately a good time! There is also no cover charge on this night.
Boomerangs
I went back here mainly to see if the place cleaned up a bit. I did notice that toilet paper was in high supply this time (but not in the holders), but other than that, nothing was fixed, and the mirrors and poles on the dancefloor were still not cleaned. Wasn't much effort placed to clean up in my opinion.
The fights, yet again were pretty good, very talented folks out there, and the crowd seemed larger tonight than last week. Again I would still recommend watching the sporting event if that is the mood you are in, but be sure to bring your own soap and papertowels if you need to use the restroom.
I also pulled out a crawler from this one. He is one of the referees for the matches, but during his down time, he is very social with everyone and very easy to approach, even to people he doesn't know - Action Sims - If you get by, make sure you say 'hi'! There also is a $5.00 cover charge on this night.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Rewind
Well last night (after recovering for a few days), I decided to check out Rewind since last weeks Fat Tuesday party revealed that they have Karaoke on Tuesday nights now.This is a large venue (401-700 people) and had about 75 people at the high point during my visit. They had a few things for everyone there to include pool, darts, and of course the Karaoke!
"Storm Troopers" kept the Karaoke going all nights long. When no one was brave enough to sing, Storm and her partner (I can't find his name on Face Book) were up there singing. Occasionally a line dance was requested that she happily played, but otherwise is was straight from the crowd. They had a great sound system for this set up and everyone sounded great. I don't think they were playing the songs in the order received, but they kept the type of songs rolling together smoothly. Storm also was not afraid to work the crowd over the mic and also assist a few folks vocally when needed.
The bartender, Mackey (got it right this time!) was just a awesome as the first time I met her. She was very welcoming, and even picked on me a bit tonight .. makes you feel like your one of her regulars .. great feeling! The crowd seemed to love her too as they were picking on her a bit here and there as they went up to the mic, all in good fun of course. Great blending of the drinks, and gave special attention to her customers when she wasn't slammed with drink orders. I do have to say that at this point in the reviews, which is still young, Mackey is my favorite bartender! During the busy part of the night though, service was a little slow, not due to the bartender, but I think they could have used another hand for an hour or 2 last night.
The crowd tonight seemed to be in groups, but I seen almost every group mingling with others and everyone was very supportive of anyone who got on stage. Lots of conversations going on, which the music didn't overwhelm, which was nice. I seen a few folks playing pool in the side area, but most were singing or having conversations, and towards the end of the night (after a few drinks I suppose), there were a couple of people testing their strength on the punch bag machine.
Mixed drinks were around 6-7 and sodas were free. The mixed drinks came in a smaller cup this time, a 12 oz vice the 16 oz I got last time, but I also didn't tell her I was a lightweight this time. I also noticed a snack machine that you could purchase some munchies if the needed. Well stocked bar with a variety of liquors and beer.
There was a good amount of seating for the night, however, if your going when it is packed I would not expect to find a seat so expect to be standing. Not a whole lot of dance floor for a place this big, but the Karaoke stage was also fairly large and was in the middle of it. I am sure that they rearrange the seating a little during busy nights to allow for more dance space.
The dress was casual, T-shirt and jeans, some polo's, to include the employees. The temperature was a bit cool to start with, but as the crowd picked up it got very comfortable. There was no cover charge getting in either .. BONUS!
I did find a new crawler to add to the list! Jayson Carey was making his rounds from group to group, he also did some awesome singing. Whether you knew him or not, he would talk to you and had some great conversations with him. If he wasn't a regular, I wouldn't have been able to tell, as he looked as if he was right at home and made you feel the same. If you see him out and about, or maybe singing with his band that plays locally, I would definitely say 'hi'!
The venue was clean and in good order, few spots high on mirrors and glass that could have been cleaned a bit better and the men's bathroom was out of soap and paper towels throughout the night. I was told that the girls bathroom was in fine order and it was quite the impressive "powder room". Again I got the feeling of a split design between a night club and bar, so whatever your preference, this could serve you. The pool and darts area was off to the right side of the main bar as you walk in which kept it separated. Aside from the main bar, you also had a smaller bar on the far left of the venue (not open this night), and in the back left hand area is a VIP section that looked very nice which could hold a great private party (I didn't peek around it too much, but I will snoop around on my next visit). The club area (left of the main bar) was darkened with mirrors around and they had the lighting up on the stage for the singers which was strategic in that it made it a little difficult to see the crowd clearly (for those a little crowd shy).
There was about an even split of males to females throughout the night, and all Caucasian. Ages ranged from about the early 20's to mid 40's. I don't think anyone would feel uncomfortable.
Overall, this event for a Tuesday night was pretty good, definitely something to help keep you going through the rest of the week. I must warn you, that there were a lot of country slow songs being sung this night, and the crowd of course dictates what they want to sing, so it could change next week, but wanted to make note of that. I would say that if you are looking for something to do on a Tuesday, keep this place in mind!
1. Atmosphere - 9 (4/10)
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service -8
4. Sound System -8
5. Cleanliness -7 (updated 4/10)
6. Physical Comfort -8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills -9
8. Safety -8
9. Originality -7 (Split night club and bar feel, seeing this a lot in Montgomery, but they have a VIP lounge)
10. Staff Appearance -8
Overall Rating (Note this is on a Tuesday and may not reflect a weekend): 8.0
"Storm Troopers" kept the Karaoke going all nights long. When no one was brave enough to sing, Storm and her partner (I can't find his name on Face Book) were up there singing. Occasionally a line dance was requested that she happily played, but otherwise is was straight from the crowd. They had a great sound system for this set up and everyone sounded great. I don't think they were playing the songs in the order received, but they kept the type of songs rolling together smoothly. Storm also was not afraid to work the crowd over the mic and also assist a few folks vocally when needed.
The bartender, Mackey (got it right this time!) was just a awesome as the first time I met her. She was very welcoming, and even picked on me a bit tonight .. makes you feel like your one of her regulars .. great feeling! The crowd seemed to love her too as they were picking on her a bit here and there as they went up to the mic, all in good fun of course. Great blending of the drinks, and gave special attention to her customers when she wasn't slammed with drink orders. I do have to say that at this point in the reviews, which is still young, Mackey is my favorite bartender! During the busy part of the night though, service was a little slow, not due to the bartender, but I think they could have used another hand for an hour or 2 last night.
The crowd tonight seemed to be in groups, but I seen almost every group mingling with others and everyone was very supportive of anyone who got on stage. Lots of conversations going on, which the music didn't overwhelm, which was nice. I seen a few folks playing pool in the side area, but most were singing or having conversations, and towards the end of the night (after a few drinks I suppose), there were a couple of people testing their strength on the punch bag machine.
Mixed drinks were around 6-7 and sodas were free. The mixed drinks came in a smaller cup this time, a 12 oz vice the 16 oz I got last time, but I also didn't tell her I was a lightweight this time. I also noticed a snack machine that you could purchase some munchies if the needed. Well stocked bar with a variety of liquors and beer.
There was a good amount of seating for the night, however, if your going when it is packed I would not expect to find a seat so expect to be standing. Not a whole lot of dance floor for a place this big, but the Karaoke stage was also fairly large and was in the middle of it. I am sure that they rearrange the seating a little during busy nights to allow for more dance space.
The dress was casual, T-shirt and jeans, some polo's, to include the employees. The temperature was a bit cool to start with, but as the crowd picked up it got very comfortable. There was no cover charge getting in either .. BONUS!
I did find a new crawler to add to the list! Jayson Carey was making his rounds from group to group, he also did some awesome singing. Whether you knew him or not, he would talk to you and had some great conversations with him. If he wasn't a regular, I wouldn't have been able to tell, as he looked as if he was right at home and made you feel the same. If you see him out and about, or maybe singing with his band that plays locally, I would definitely say 'hi'!
The venue was clean and in good order, few spots high on mirrors and glass that could have been cleaned a bit better and the men's bathroom was out of soap and paper towels throughout the night. I was told that the girls bathroom was in fine order and it was quite the impressive "powder room". Again I got the feeling of a split design between a night club and bar, so whatever your preference, this could serve you. The pool and darts area was off to the right side of the main bar as you walk in which kept it separated. Aside from the main bar, you also had a smaller bar on the far left of the venue (not open this night), and in the back left hand area is a VIP section that looked very nice which could hold a great private party (I didn't peek around it too much, but I will snoop around on my next visit). The club area (left of the main bar) was darkened with mirrors around and they had the lighting up on the stage for the singers which was strategic in that it made it a little difficult to see the crowd clearly (for those a little crowd shy).
There was about an even split of males to females throughout the night, and all Caucasian. Ages ranged from about the early 20's to mid 40's. I don't think anyone would feel uncomfortable.
Overall, this event for a Tuesday night was pretty good, definitely something to help keep you going through the rest of the week. I must warn you, that there were a lot of country slow songs being sung this night, and the crowd of course dictates what they want to sing, so it could change next week, but wanted to make note of that. I would say that if you are looking for something to do on a Tuesday, keep this place in mind!
1. Atmosphere - 9 (4/10)
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service -8
4. Sound System -8
5. Cleanliness -7 (updated 4/10)
6. Physical Comfort -8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills -9
8. Safety -8
9. Originality -7 (Split night club and bar feel, seeing this a lot in Montgomery, but they have a VIP lounge)
10. Staff Appearance -8
Overall Rating (Note this is on a Tuesday and may not reflect a weekend): 8.0
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Unexpected Stop Yeilds 2 Club Crawlers
So after my 2nd stop for the night at Santa Barbaras, a friend called me and asked to meet them at Stuckey's, and although I am not reviewing them on this night, I did find 2 new crawlers from this place. They were both extremely friendly, funny, and made you feel welcome there. One was actually a barback, however, he is unlike any I have ever seen. I would make him the poster child for any employee if you want your newcomers to become regulars!
Santa Barbaras
So after Wahoos, I made my way down the road to Santa Barbaras to check it out. This is a very unique bar to say the least! Now first, I need to note that this is a very small bar .. 50 people would fill this place, but it is very quaint.
I wasn't to impressed initially by the dress of the door people, however, they were very friendly and inviting. Once in, I made my way to the bar (big shocker there). The bartender, Stevie (female), has taken the cake on bartending service thus far. She was very witty, friendly, smiling, flirtatious, and generally appeared to be enjoying her evening. Her bartending skills were great, but no flair in the drink making. The drinks were served in 10 oz cups, and were about 5-6 for a drink. Soda's for designated drivers were free.
The music was a mixture of Indy and Folk, which is very unique for this area. Now mind you, I have never heard this type of music before, and at first, I was a little offset, but actually found myself enjoying the calming beats after a few songs. The bar itself had a very mellow feel with the colors and decor. The sound system wasn't great, just a few small speakers by the stage, and the acoustics weren't real great for the layout. The songs themselves were good, and the volume throughout the place was good as well.
It looked like they had a small patio area, although it was way too cold for me to check it out on this night, so I will have write about that on a different day. It is a very interesting bar to say the least, and the service is fabulous, the bar itself was clean, except again, the bathrooms need to be checked regularly for clogs and such.
I also found my first club crawler here!!! Her name is September, and she was very social to everyone that I seen, including myself. I personally like to come to a venue and feel welcome not only by the staff, but by its patrons as well, and I know others do too, so if you make it here, see if you can find her and say hi .. she will make you feel like you belong!
Almost forgot about the demographics and dress! Most people where wearing very relaxed clothes (jeans and comfortable shirt), and there were more women than men. All the customers I seen there were caucasion but anyone who is laid back and wants to chill out to some good music would fit in great here! There was also a $5.00 cover for the live music that should be mentioned.
This was such a unique experience, I would really suggest that you check this little place out for yourself!
1. Atmosphere - 10
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service - 10
4. Sound System - 6
5. Cleanliness - 7
6. Physical Comfort - 7
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 8
8. Safety - 9
9. Originality - 7
10. Staff Appearance - 7
Overall Rating: 7.9
I wasn't to impressed initially by the dress of the door people, however, they were very friendly and inviting. Once in, I made my way to the bar (big shocker there). The bartender, Stevie (female), has taken the cake on bartending service thus far. She was very witty, friendly, smiling, flirtatious, and generally appeared to be enjoying her evening. Her bartending skills were great, but no flair in the drink making. The drinks were served in 10 oz cups, and were about 5-6 for a drink. Soda's for designated drivers were free.
The music was a mixture of Indy and Folk, which is very unique for this area. Now mind you, I have never heard this type of music before, and at first, I was a little offset, but actually found myself enjoying the calming beats after a few songs. The bar itself had a very mellow feel with the colors and decor. The sound system wasn't great, just a few small speakers by the stage, and the acoustics weren't real great for the layout. The songs themselves were good, and the volume throughout the place was good as well.
It looked like they had a small patio area, although it was way too cold for me to check it out on this night, so I will have write about that on a different day. It is a very interesting bar to say the least, and the service is fabulous, the bar itself was clean, except again, the bathrooms need to be checked regularly for clogs and such.
I also found my first club crawler here!!! Her name is September, and she was very social to everyone that I seen, including myself. I personally like to come to a venue and feel welcome not only by the staff, but by its patrons as well, and I know others do too, so if you make it here, see if you can find her and say hi .. she will make you feel like you belong!
Almost forgot about the demographics and dress! Most people where wearing very relaxed clothes (jeans and comfortable shirt), and there were more women than men. All the customers I seen there were caucasion but anyone who is laid back and wants to chill out to some good music would fit in great here! There was also a $5.00 cover for the live music that should be mentioned.
This was such a unique experience, I would really suggest that you check this little place out for yourself!
1. Atmosphere - 10
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service - 10
4. Sound System - 6
5. Cleanliness - 7
6. Physical Comfort - 7
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 8
8. Safety - 9
9. Originality - 7
10. Staff Appearance - 7
Overall Rating: 7.9
Wahoos
My first stop of the night was Rock Bottom, but I was being cheap and was not paying a $10.00 cover for the band, so it landed me at Wahoos. You have to be looking for this place as it is off Vaughn Road on a side street, it is well lit when you turn on Watchmen Dr., but you won't see it from Vaughn.
There is no question about it that this place is a bar, but let me tell you that this place is great to start off or end a night on the town! The drink prices were about 7 for a mixed drink in a 10 oz that was pretty damn stiff ... I was feeling pretty damn good (every hear that country song "10 rounds of Jose Cuervo", well this bar perfected the concept). Basically if you come here, expect to get your moneys worth in alcohol, but if your looking for taste, you should stick to the beer. Designated drivers were treated to free soda.
The wooden chairs are a bit uncomfortable, but for a small venue (under 100 people), the tempeature was excellent! They had a live band last night, and no cover (BONUS!). They also have some pretty good food. The waitress, Stephanie, was fun to talk to and made me feel welcome. Getting drinks was a bit slow, but there was only one bartender and from the looks he was pretty busy .. they probably could have used a second bartender.
I would say that there were about 50 people there (pretty packed) and there was lots to do. When the band wasn't playing (which was a bit loud), they had the jukebox going (much better volume). They have a pool table that stayed busy and 2 dart boards that were pretty used as well. You could tell everyone was having a good time, and although there were no bouncers, you got he impression that if you started anything, the regulars probably would have beat your ass. So while there was no security, you felt fairly safe!
The food was either really good or I was really buzzed, but either way, I would have to rate their food fairly well. Although I am not to into country music, the band wasn't too bad, and it didn't spoil the evening. While I was there, it was half females, half males, and 100% caucasion and you had to be 19 to get in, but the age ranged seemed to be mid 20's to mid 40's. T Shirts and jeans were welcome, but everyone there was dressed a bit better. The people kept into their own social groups, but didn't make you feel unwelcome.
The bar was pretty clean, well lit, comfortable, everything you would look for it a good bar. There wasn't any special motif, it was just a good bar. If your out in the Montgomery area starting off your night, definately stop by and check it out, it is worth the drive!
Mind you that the ratings for a bar are a bit different from a club, and some items are rated differently for a pure bar than a club.
1. Atmosphere - 10
2. First Impression - 6 (no particular greeter and the bartender was too busy to be social)
3. Service - 7 (getting drinks was a bit slow, 1 bartender was just not enough for this place on this night)
4. Sound System - 7 (band was a bit loud for such a small area)
5. Cleanliness - 8
6. Physical Comfort - 7 (cant say I'm a fan of wooden bar stools)
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 5 (drinks were 90% liquor, 5% ice, 5% mixer - Very strong)
8. Safety - 8
9. Originality - 5 (it was a bar, nothing particular or cool to note)
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating: 7.1
There is no question about it that this place is a bar, but let me tell you that this place is great to start off or end a night on the town! The drink prices were about 7 for a mixed drink in a 10 oz that was pretty damn stiff ... I was feeling pretty damn good (every hear that country song "10 rounds of Jose Cuervo", well this bar perfected the concept). Basically if you come here, expect to get your moneys worth in alcohol, but if your looking for taste, you should stick to the beer. Designated drivers were treated to free soda.
The wooden chairs are a bit uncomfortable, but for a small venue (under 100 people), the tempeature was excellent! They had a live band last night, and no cover (BONUS!). They also have some pretty good food. The waitress, Stephanie, was fun to talk to and made me feel welcome. Getting drinks was a bit slow, but there was only one bartender and from the looks he was pretty busy .. they probably could have used a second bartender.
I would say that there were about 50 people there (pretty packed) and there was lots to do. When the band wasn't playing (which was a bit loud), they had the jukebox going (much better volume). They have a pool table that stayed busy and 2 dart boards that were pretty used as well. You could tell everyone was having a good time, and although there were no bouncers, you got he impression that if you started anything, the regulars probably would have beat your ass. So while there was no security, you felt fairly safe!
The food was either really good or I was really buzzed, but either way, I would have to rate their food fairly well. Although I am not to into country music, the band wasn't too bad, and it didn't spoil the evening. While I was there, it was half females, half males, and 100% caucasion and you had to be 19 to get in, but the age ranged seemed to be mid 20's to mid 40's. T Shirts and jeans were welcome, but everyone there was dressed a bit better. The people kept into their own social groups, but didn't make you feel unwelcome.
The bar was pretty clean, well lit, comfortable, everything you would look for it a good bar. There wasn't any special motif, it was just a good bar. If your out in the Montgomery area starting off your night, definately stop by and check it out, it is worth the drive!
Mind you that the ratings for a bar are a bit different from a club, and some items are rated differently for a pure bar than a club.
1. Atmosphere - 10
2. First Impression - 6 (no particular greeter and the bartender was too busy to be social)
3. Service - 7 (getting drinks was a bit slow, 1 bartender was just not enough for this place on this night)
4. Sound System - 7 (band was a bit loud for such a small area)
5. Cleanliness - 8
6. Physical Comfort - 7 (cant say I'm a fan of wooden bar stools)
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 5 (drinks were 90% liquor, 5% ice, 5% mixer - Very strong)
8. Safety - 8
9. Originality - 5 (it was a bar, nothing particular or cool to note)
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating: 7.1
Friday, March 11, 2011
Reflections
Last night I wanted to check out the new Hard Body Contest at Reflections (no guy on guy jokes .. lol). This is a large venue (401-700) and had an average of 100 people there during the visit. The DJ was playing a solid mix of dance music keeping bodies on the dance floor, 2 pool tables were tucked away and being used, see a few folks using the dart boards, and the occasional person sitting in the back patio and lounge area. Most were by the bar and dance floor.
"DJ JT" did a great job with the music, he was playing some mixed genres but all were great dance songs and weaved perfectly together. He was interactive with the crowd, but without interrupting the music and this was the first DJ that I seen that encouraged audience participation in exchange for free drinks (great idea!). Music level was excellent, and the directional hanging speakers were perfectly aligned to the dance floor for great base and focus. He also did good job with the light shows, fog and lighting the dance floor when more then a few people got on it.
The hostess and front security folks were pretty good. They were the first ones that I have seen that appeared not just courteous, but happy to be there and it reflected on my initial entrance. Women got in for free, however, men had a $5.00 cover charge for this event. They seemed happy to answer all my question and I didn't feel like I bothering them when I asked. Great initial welcome!
The crowd, although in separate groups at the time, did intermingle with each other, especially on the dance floor. This gave it a great club feel instead of the segregation scene I have witnessed at other venues. This is definitely a place to mingle and meet new people/friends. The majority of the people were clustered between the bar and the dance floor, with only a few occasionally sitting in the outside or lounge area (probably because it was cold as hell in both of them). The pool tables were constantly being used, and a couple were playing darts .. badly .. lol.
The event was like sex for the first time - alot of build up, very anti climatic and over way to fast. The event lasted maybe a total of 10 minutes with 4 constants. Within 2 songs they had the winners picked. I expected so see something more along the lines of the female contests that I have been too, giving each contestants individual time to strip, dance and work the crowd. Instead they brought all 4 contestants on stage simultaneously, had them bare their chests, and gave them about 30 seconds to dance before moving on to the next. I really think that this could have been developed better, although this was their first night doing this event. On a side note, the contestants that did join were pretty chiseled and the girls seemed to like them.
Mixed drinks ranged for $3.00 for their specials to $7.00 and soda's were free of charge for designated drivers. The drinks were served in 12 ounce cups, but were mixed excellent! When the bartender was asked for a suggestion, she recommended the sex on the beach special, not trying to up charge me. The only bartender that I got to serve me that night was Crystal Nash, but she makes one hell of a drink! There were no munchie available for purchase, however, I heard that on weekends they do on the back patio (not confirmed).
If you have ever been in a club in NYC, Miami, or Los Angeles, you will experience the same seating concept here. As you first enter the venue, to the left you will find the bar and dance floor area's. They have very limited seating, but do have tables and islands to put your drinks on, and a few tall chairs scattered about to keep everyone on their feet and dancing. The dance floor itself is very unique, it is raised and lit from under the near opaque panels, with a step up stage area with mirrors, and on the side of the dance floor is a fairly decent size dance cage. The DJ booth sits elevated and cornered to the dance floor on the right with a small bar and pool table behind him. The other pool table is off in its own room by the restrooms, which also leads out to a outdoor patio (was not open this night). Main bar is horseshoe shaped in the main area. In the reception area, there is a small bar straight ahead, and to the right you will find darts and the most inviting lounge that I have seen so far. Several overstuffed leather couches and chairs, lounges, a few small tables and perfect low level lighting. There is a speaker in this area, but this night it was wisely not turned on, making the lounge a very comfortable area to recoup in after dancing or to get to know someone better in (great place to have a conversation in). GREAT club feel!
I did not see a published dress code, however, all of the employees were dressed in night club clothing (females were dressed to impress, males wore polo's), although we did see some customers in 2 piece suits. Everyone looked well dressed, no sagging or ripped clothing. The minimum age is 21 to get in, the majority of the crowd was in their 20's but there were a few that stretched into their 40's.
There were no notable people that stood out in the crowd this night .. Top club crawlers still remains empty! I did not feel out of place, but got the feeling that I should have been bringing someone home with me. The bartenders were keeping the bar clean throughout the night, and the restrooms were well stocked, however, they should have been checked regularly throughout the evening by staff (broken beer bottle for 4 hours!). The lighting was absolutely perfect, dance floor lit up from below, soft lighting above the bar, and a blue glow in the lounge and main bar area, very relaxing.
The split for male to female was about even, and about 70% white, 10% oriental, 20% other, which was different from what I have experienced so far. Anyone well dressed will feel comfortable here (I even seen cowboys)!
Overall the event left much more to be desired, but the club itself is fantastic! I would suggest checking out the club but not particularly the event unless there are some drastic changes.
On a Thursday Night:
1. Atmosphere -10 (updated 4/10)
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service -9 (updated 4/10)
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 7 (top of mirrors were a bit dirty, bathrooms needed to be checked throughout the night)
6. Physical Comfort - 8 (updated 4/10)
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 7 (updated 4/10) (lights were partially out going from floor to dance floor, no lights from dance floor to stage)
9. Originality - 10
10. Staff Appearance - 9
Overall Rating: 8.5
"DJ JT" did a great job with the music, he was playing some mixed genres but all were great dance songs and weaved perfectly together. He was interactive with the crowd, but without interrupting the music and this was the first DJ that I seen that encouraged audience participation in exchange for free drinks (great idea!). Music level was excellent, and the directional hanging speakers were perfectly aligned to the dance floor for great base and focus. He also did good job with the light shows, fog and lighting the dance floor when more then a few people got on it.
The hostess and front security folks were pretty good. They were the first ones that I have seen that appeared not just courteous, but happy to be there and it reflected on my initial entrance. Women got in for free, however, men had a $5.00 cover charge for this event. They seemed happy to answer all my question and I didn't feel like I bothering them when I asked. Great initial welcome!
The crowd, although in separate groups at the time, did intermingle with each other, especially on the dance floor. This gave it a great club feel instead of the segregation scene I have witnessed at other venues. This is definitely a place to mingle and meet new people/friends. The majority of the people were clustered between the bar and the dance floor, with only a few occasionally sitting in the outside or lounge area (probably because it was cold as hell in both of them). The pool tables were constantly being used, and a couple were playing darts .. badly .. lol.
The event was like sex for the first time - alot of build up, very anti climatic and over way to fast. The event lasted maybe a total of 10 minutes with 4 constants. Within 2 songs they had the winners picked. I expected so see something more along the lines of the female contests that I have been too, giving each contestants individual time to strip, dance and work the crowd. Instead they brought all 4 contestants on stage simultaneously, had them bare their chests, and gave them about 30 seconds to dance before moving on to the next. I really think that this could have been developed better, although this was their first night doing this event. On a side note, the contestants that did join were pretty chiseled and the girls seemed to like them.
Mixed drinks ranged for $3.00 for their specials to $7.00 and soda's were free of charge for designated drivers. The drinks were served in 12 ounce cups, but were mixed excellent! When the bartender was asked for a suggestion, she recommended the sex on the beach special, not trying to up charge me. The only bartender that I got to serve me that night was Crystal Nash, but she makes one hell of a drink! There were no munchie available for purchase, however, I heard that on weekends they do on the back patio (not confirmed).
If you have ever been in a club in NYC, Miami, or Los Angeles, you will experience the same seating concept here. As you first enter the venue, to the left you will find the bar and dance floor area's. They have very limited seating, but do have tables and islands to put your drinks on, and a few tall chairs scattered about to keep everyone on their feet and dancing. The dance floor itself is very unique, it is raised and lit from under the near opaque panels, with a step up stage area with mirrors, and on the side of the dance floor is a fairly decent size dance cage. The DJ booth sits elevated and cornered to the dance floor on the right with a small bar and pool table behind him. The other pool table is off in its own room by the restrooms, which also leads out to a outdoor patio (was not open this night). Main bar is horseshoe shaped in the main area. In the reception area, there is a small bar straight ahead, and to the right you will find darts and the most inviting lounge that I have seen so far. Several overstuffed leather couches and chairs, lounges, a few small tables and perfect low level lighting. There is a speaker in this area, but this night it was wisely not turned on, making the lounge a very comfortable area to recoup in after dancing or to get to know someone better in (great place to have a conversation in). GREAT club feel!
I did not see a published dress code, however, all of the employees were dressed in night club clothing (females were dressed to impress, males wore polo's), although we did see some customers in 2 piece suits. Everyone looked well dressed, no sagging or ripped clothing. The minimum age is 21 to get in, the majority of the crowd was in their 20's but there were a few that stretched into their 40's.
There were no notable people that stood out in the crowd this night .. Top club crawlers still remains empty! I did not feel out of place, but got the feeling that I should have been bringing someone home with me. The bartenders were keeping the bar clean throughout the night, and the restrooms were well stocked, however, they should have been checked regularly throughout the evening by staff (broken beer bottle for 4 hours!). The lighting was absolutely perfect, dance floor lit up from below, soft lighting above the bar, and a blue glow in the lounge and main bar area, very relaxing.
The split for male to female was about even, and about 70% white, 10% oriental, 20% other, which was different from what I have experienced so far. Anyone well dressed will feel comfortable here (I even seen cowboys)!
Overall the event left much more to be desired, but the club itself is fantastic! I would suggest checking out the club but not particularly the event unless there are some drastic changes.
On a Thursday Night:
1. Atmosphere -10 (updated 4/10)
2. First Impression - 8
3. Service -9 (updated 4/10)
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 7 (top of mirrors were a bit dirty, bathrooms needed to be checked throughout the night)
6. Physical Comfort - 8 (updated 4/10)
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 7 (updated 4/10) (lights were partially out going from floor to dance floor, no lights from dance floor to stage)
9. Originality - 10
10. Staff Appearance - 9
Overall Rating: 8.5
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Boomerangs
So last nights pick was Boomerangs weekly Wednesday event - Jello Wrestling and Boxing! This venue is a medium size (101-400 people), and had about 75 people on average there during my visit. They had a DJ who was playing a good mix of music, a pool table in the main area and one in the back that folks were playing on, and two stripper poles on the higher level dance floor.
As the crowd came in "DJ Ken" kept the level of the music appropriate for the size, lowering and raising as needed. They had an excellent sound system that focused on the dance floor allowing the beat to vibrate off the floor, pumping your body up. The speakers were angled and anchored from the ceiling to give the solid pulse throughout the floor.
The first person to great me was the hostess who was checking ID's. There wasn't very much to note on the reception at the front door, but I found it was a private club that you are required to have membership with. I am not sure if the admission was $5.00 or the membership was $5.00 as it was not explained, but it cost $5.00 for me to get in with getting a membership. I did ask her about the fee, but she did not answer (pretty sure she heard me). They also had a cool computer system that scanned in your drivers license and all the info, and your required to sign a waiver. They also did a pat down before I could enter the club. So they were very detailed on who comes into their club.
I did not get the bartender's name, however, she was much more informative and inviting concerning the club, membership, and general questions. Again, no flair in the bartending, and the drinks were a little strong, but I think that is due to the smaller size of the cups that didn't allow much mixing. Generally a very nice person to chat with and very polite.
The crowd was quite interesting there. I seen quite of few people come in solo or as a couple, but very few groups. There was a group playing pool, some dancing, and others just having a good time. I had a few of the folks come and talk to me, not knowing me at all, and the two referee's were conversing with everyone. I loved the fact that the refs' were dressed for the part, and they were both very personable. They seemed to be the ones keeping the crowd going even with working with the sign ups.
The event itself is worth coming out to see. They did not have any sign ups for the jello wrestling (sigh), however, there were about 8 matches to include 1 female boxing match. The ref was great detailing the match, they also picked 2 people from the crowd to act as judges on the matches. I was expecting to see alot of "street" fighting, but these contestants were really talented! I am not personally into sports myself, but these matches are definately an event to see. People were coming in specifically to box, there was no trying to talk folks into it, they had a full agenda just from walk ins.
Mixed drinks ranged around 6-7 each and I didn't quite get the designated driver cost, it seemed to be that if you ordered something with a soda, the soda was free, but otherwise they were about 2 each. The drinks came in a 10 oz tumbler, so it was a bit pricey, but the drinks were also made a bit stiff. They had some food available to order which was priced pretty well (about what you would spend on fast food), and it was AWESOME! Their selection on liquer was good as was the beer.
The seating in the main area was a bit sparse, but it looks like because the ring was set up on the dance floor, the table area was cleared out to serve as the secondary dance floor. There is about a 2 inch dip coming from the bar to the dancefloor that if you don't watch out for, your gonna nose dive (it is not marked). The layout was really unique as well, they had an enclosed DJ booth, with a raised dance floor on either side with a stripper pole and mirrors on each side. Then they had stairs that led down to the dance floor, which was about 2 inches lower than the main floor. Across from the DJ booth on the other side of the main room was another raised area about 2 steps up which overlooked the entire area with seating. It was not mentioned to me (but I nosed around on my own), and found that there was a back room past the restrooms that had a small bar, comfortable seating, a pool table, and although the music could be heard from the main room, it was relaxing and much quieter back in this area. If you have ever been in a dance club in a large city (dark painted interior, lots of mirrors, seperate chill area), this is a very similar design although they had much more overhead lighting vice side lighting.
Now I do need to note a few major flaws that could easily be corrected as I know that these can be biggies for female clubbers and you should be prepared. The mirrors and poles really needed to be cleaned (to the point that I specifically watched one girl dancing and she was putting her hands up to the mirrors but kept a 6 inch distance from actually touching them). Also, in both bathrooms (yes I sent someone in to check the other bathroom .. I'm not a perv) just about every bathroom stall would not lock (or stay shut), and there were no paper towels, hand soap, and all of the toilet paper despensers were empty except for one small roll that was put in one of the stalls on the back of the toilet. The stalls also looked like they had not been wiped down in a while (stuff on them that I was not willing to touch or guess what it was). If the place had been checked / cleaned up either prior to opening or after closing the night before, I could have rated them much higher, but they are pretty easy fixes as it is just some attention to detail.
They do have a dress code here, no white T's, collared shirt, no bagging pants, etc (although the fighters of course had their boxing clothes on), so make sure that you dress a step up from street clothes (jeans and collard shirt for men). The tempature was adjusted throughout the night, and it was always very comfortable. The staff all adheared to the dress code from what I seen as well.
The was a mixture of half and half male to female ratio there, and a pretty even racial mix as well. Ages ranged from 19 to about the early 50's. You definately will not feel out of place here no matter what your demographic.
My overall opinion for this event on a Wednesday night was very high. Although the place was not packed, I think if more people knew about or seen this event, they would definately make the trip. I am hoping the next time that I see a change in the cleaning and functionality of some of the area's since it has such great potential to be a really hot nightclub. About 11:30 seemed to be when the event kicked off and it hit its high point. I would love to come back to see some of the jello wrestling as well (maybe its a bit too cold still), but I will definately come back for this event and I would suggest that anyone looking for something to do on a Wednesday night come check it out .. it was really well done!
1. Atmosphere - 9
2. First Impression - 4 (didn't answer a question, just kind of ignored it and could have been a bit more welcoming and introduced the club better knowing I was not a member)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 3 (mirrors and poles needed cleaning - handprints everywhere, bathroom stalls needed to be wiped down, seemed to be a sweep and mop on the floor and wet cloth wipedown on counters and bars)
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 7 (drinks were a bit stiff although not ordered that way)
8. Safety - 7 (unmarked area going to dance floor about a 2 inch step down that will catch ya)
9. Originality - 8
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating (not that this is on a Wednesday and does not reflect a weekend): 7.0
As the crowd came in "DJ Ken" kept the level of the music appropriate for the size, lowering and raising as needed. They had an excellent sound system that focused on the dance floor allowing the beat to vibrate off the floor, pumping your body up. The speakers were angled and anchored from the ceiling to give the solid pulse throughout the floor.
The first person to great me was the hostess who was checking ID's. There wasn't very much to note on the reception at the front door, but I found it was a private club that you are required to have membership with. I am not sure if the admission was $5.00 or the membership was $5.00 as it was not explained, but it cost $5.00 for me to get in with getting a membership. I did ask her about the fee, but she did not answer (pretty sure she heard me). They also had a cool computer system that scanned in your drivers license and all the info, and your required to sign a waiver. They also did a pat down before I could enter the club. So they were very detailed on who comes into their club.
I did not get the bartender's name, however, she was much more informative and inviting concerning the club, membership, and general questions. Again, no flair in the bartending, and the drinks were a little strong, but I think that is due to the smaller size of the cups that didn't allow much mixing. Generally a very nice person to chat with and very polite.
The crowd was quite interesting there. I seen quite of few people come in solo or as a couple, but very few groups. There was a group playing pool, some dancing, and others just having a good time. I had a few of the folks come and talk to me, not knowing me at all, and the two referee's were conversing with everyone. I loved the fact that the refs' were dressed for the part, and they were both very personable. They seemed to be the ones keeping the crowd going even with working with the sign ups.
The event itself is worth coming out to see. They did not have any sign ups for the jello wrestling (sigh), however, there were about 8 matches to include 1 female boxing match. The ref was great detailing the match, they also picked 2 people from the crowd to act as judges on the matches. I was expecting to see alot of "street" fighting, but these contestants were really talented! I am not personally into sports myself, but these matches are definately an event to see. People were coming in specifically to box, there was no trying to talk folks into it, they had a full agenda just from walk ins.
Mixed drinks ranged around 6-7 each and I didn't quite get the designated driver cost, it seemed to be that if you ordered something with a soda, the soda was free, but otherwise they were about 2 each. The drinks came in a 10 oz tumbler, so it was a bit pricey, but the drinks were also made a bit stiff. They had some food available to order which was priced pretty well (about what you would spend on fast food), and it was AWESOME! Their selection on liquer was good as was the beer.
The seating in the main area was a bit sparse, but it looks like because the ring was set up on the dance floor, the table area was cleared out to serve as the secondary dance floor. There is about a 2 inch dip coming from the bar to the dancefloor that if you don't watch out for, your gonna nose dive (it is not marked). The layout was really unique as well, they had an enclosed DJ booth, with a raised dance floor on either side with a stripper pole and mirrors on each side. Then they had stairs that led down to the dance floor, which was about 2 inches lower than the main floor. Across from the DJ booth on the other side of the main room was another raised area about 2 steps up which overlooked the entire area with seating. It was not mentioned to me (but I nosed around on my own), and found that there was a back room past the restrooms that had a small bar, comfortable seating, a pool table, and although the music could be heard from the main room, it was relaxing and much quieter back in this area. If you have ever been in a dance club in a large city (dark painted interior, lots of mirrors, seperate chill area), this is a very similar design although they had much more overhead lighting vice side lighting.
Now I do need to note a few major flaws that could easily be corrected as I know that these can be biggies for female clubbers and you should be prepared. The mirrors and poles really needed to be cleaned (to the point that I specifically watched one girl dancing and she was putting her hands up to the mirrors but kept a 6 inch distance from actually touching them). Also, in both bathrooms (yes I sent someone in to check the other bathroom .. I'm not a perv) just about every bathroom stall would not lock (or stay shut), and there were no paper towels, hand soap, and all of the toilet paper despensers were empty except for one small roll that was put in one of the stalls on the back of the toilet. The stalls also looked like they had not been wiped down in a while (stuff on them that I was not willing to touch or guess what it was). If the place had been checked / cleaned up either prior to opening or after closing the night before, I could have rated them much higher, but they are pretty easy fixes as it is just some attention to detail.
They do have a dress code here, no white T's, collared shirt, no bagging pants, etc (although the fighters of course had their boxing clothes on), so make sure that you dress a step up from street clothes (jeans and collard shirt for men). The tempature was adjusted throughout the night, and it was always very comfortable. The staff all adheared to the dress code from what I seen as well.
The was a mixture of half and half male to female ratio there, and a pretty even racial mix as well. Ages ranged from 19 to about the early 50's. You definately will not feel out of place here no matter what your demographic.
My overall opinion for this event on a Wednesday night was very high. Although the place was not packed, I think if more people knew about or seen this event, they would definately make the trip. I am hoping the next time that I see a change in the cleaning and functionality of some of the area's since it has such great potential to be a really hot nightclub. About 11:30 seemed to be when the event kicked off and it hit its high point. I would love to come back to see some of the jello wrestling as well (maybe its a bit too cold still), but I will definately come back for this event and I would suggest that anyone looking for something to do on a Wednesday night come check it out .. it was really well done!
1. Atmosphere - 9
2. First Impression - 4 (didn't answer a question, just kind of ignored it and could have been a bit more welcoming and introduced the club better knowing I was not a member)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 3 (mirrors and poles needed cleaning - handprints everywhere, bathroom stalls needed to be wiped down, seemed to be a sweep and mop on the floor and wet cloth wipedown on counters and bars)
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 7 (drinks were a bit stiff although not ordered that way)
8. Safety - 7 (unmarked area going to dance floor about a 2 inch step down that will catch ya)
9. Originality - 8
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating (not that this is on a Wednesday and does not reflect a weekend): 7.0
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Fat Tuesday Party - Rewind and Stuckey's
So yesterday I took the two places that advertised true parties for Fat Tuesday and visited both, Rewind and Stuckey's. I admit that I was a little disappointed, as I would have loved to have seen some decoration for the event, which neither did.
Rewind
When I got here, there was no cover or door person, so I went straight for the bar. This has been the best experience that I have received in a VERY long time from any club or bar I have ever gone too. The bartender, Mackey, was just AWESOME. She was the perfect first impression, very warm, welcoming, happy, fun, made drink recommendations, let me know what was going on tonight and made me feel at home and loaded me down with beads! I also found that they started having Karaoke night on Tuesdays there (as of last week), with Storm (Storm Troopers on FB), who was very interactive with everyone and kept the crowd going. The buffet was pretty good, but hell, when isn't free food good .. lol. There were about 100 people there at the high point (rough count), but because the venue is so large, it looked a little sparse. I think they threw a pretty good party, but again, would loved to have seen a bit more decoration to get in the mood. I would highly suggest checking out Mackey and Storm if you get a chance, nice folks, very welcoming!! Thumbs up Rewind!
Stuckey's
When I arrived here, I was greeted at the front door and given some beads and a T-shirt to start off the night .. Kudo's for free stuff! There was no cover, so I made my way to the bar! It seemed pretty crowded, although the size of this venue was a bit smaller than the other, rough count landed about 100. They had a DJ playing, and after every few songs, they had The Honey Tree Band play a few songs .. very unique sound and added to the festivities. Folks were continually dancing through the DJ and Band throughout the night, which made this party have a bit more of a "party" feel. Again I had quite a bit of fun here as well, but would have loved to have seen more decorations for the theme. Great job Stuckey's!
Summary
Both venues through a great party, both a bit different, Rewind seemed more of a conversation party (like you would see on the streets of New Orleans), where Stuckey's had the dancing party down (like inside the clubs of New Orleans). Both did very well, and although both a bit different in their approach to the party, both did a great job and I would suggest checking out both!
If either venue is reading this .. MORE DECORATIONS!! I thought it would have been very cool to see Rewind have the outdoors look (light posts, street signs, employees in costume or mask), kind of like during the parade area's .. would have really brought it together. I though Stuckey's would have done well if they had put up some hanging decorations, maybe set off a few poppers throughout the place, and some table decorations such as festive tea light lamps .. would have really set the vibe.
But truely, both did very well for a Tuesday, and although I didn't feel like I was in New Orleans, both through great parties!
Rewind
When I got here, there was no cover or door person, so I went straight for the bar. This has been the best experience that I have received in a VERY long time from any club or bar I have ever gone too. The bartender, Mackey, was just AWESOME. She was the perfect first impression, very warm, welcoming, happy, fun, made drink recommendations, let me know what was going on tonight and made me feel at home and loaded me down with beads! I also found that they started having Karaoke night on Tuesdays there (as of last week), with Storm (Storm Troopers on FB), who was very interactive with everyone and kept the crowd going. The buffet was pretty good, but hell, when isn't free food good .. lol. There were about 100 people there at the high point (rough count), but because the venue is so large, it looked a little sparse. I think they threw a pretty good party, but again, would loved to have seen a bit more decoration to get in the mood. I would highly suggest checking out Mackey and Storm if you get a chance, nice folks, very welcoming!! Thumbs up Rewind!
Stuckey's
When I arrived here, I was greeted at the front door and given some beads and a T-shirt to start off the night .. Kudo's for free stuff! There was no cover, so I made my way to the bar! It seemed pretty crowded, although the size of this venue was a bit smaller than the other, rough count landed about 100. They had a DJ playing, and after every few songs, they had The Honey Tree Band play a few songs .. very unique sound and added to the festivities. Folks were continually dancing through the DJ and Band throughout the night, which made this party have a bit more of a "party" feel. Again I had quite a bit of fun here as well, but would have loved to have seen more decorations for the theme. Great job Stuckey's!
Summary
Both venues through a great party, both a bit different, Rewind seemed more of a conversation party (like you would see on the streets of New Orleans), where Stuckey's had the dancing party down (like inside the clubs of New Orleans). Both did very well, and although both a bit different in their approach to the party, both did a great job and I would suggest checking out both!
If either venue is reading this .. MORE DECORATIONS!! I thought it would have been very cool to see Rewind have the outdoors look (light posts, street signs, employees in costume or mask), kind of like during the parade area's .. would have really brought it together. I though Stuckey's would have done well if they had put up some hanging decorations, maybe set off a few poppers throughout the place, and some table decorations such as festive tea light lamps .. would have really set the vibe.
But truely, both did very well for a Tuesday, and although I didn't feel like I was in New Orleans, both through great parties!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Stuckey's
So, I hit a couple of places last night that included Reflections and Stuckey's that had advertised something interesting going on, I decided to write about the better experience of the two. They were having a Karaoke night (every Monday event), with a DJ. This venue is a medium size (101-400 people), and had about 30 people on average there during my visit. There was lots of things to do, the pool tables and dart boards were busy, and between karaoke songs the DJ was playing a great mix of music genre's for all tastes.
"DJ G" kept the music at a great level, just loud enough to get you in good spirits, but not so loud that you had to scream over the bar to order a drink. He interacted with the karaoke singers and also picked on the bartender over the mic, making a fun, light hearted atmosphere. I found that he did a great job blending the the karaoke songs and the music he was playing, it gave a smooth flow throughout the evening.
The bartender, "Ms. B", bantered back at the DJ throughout the night, which got quite a few giggles from the crowd and made a relaxing, and comical feel (god knows you need this at amature karaoke). While there was not alot of flair to her barkeeping, her drinks were made well, and she was very attentive to her customers. You also found her cleaning around the bar and floors throughout the night, seeing if the customers on the floor needed anything, and keeping the club in good order.
The crowd seemed to be BYOF "bring your own friend", but all the groups seemed to be having a good time. There were quite a few people playing pool on one of their 3 tables in the back area, as well as darts, which all of the separate groups seemed to be intermingling. There was also a group in the booths that were enjoying a few rounds of karaoke and drinks. The bar held a couple of folks moving in and out that were conversing amongst themselves and the bartender.
Mixed drinks ranged around 6-7 each and designated drivers (over the age of 21) were not charged for soda's. The drinks, mixed, beer and soda, came in a 16 oz cup, so it was worth the price. There was no food available, however, you are allowed to bring food in (such as ordering a pizza when you get the munchies). The bar seemed well stocked with a variety of liquors and beer.
One or two of the tables were a bit wobbly, so be careful when leaning on them, but the chairs and booths were in great shape. Lots of seating is available (ladies can wear 3 inch heals and actually take a break once in a while), but still sufficient space for dancing. The games area has its own section which is fairly large and has a great view of the dance area. The area where the bar jets out in the club area seems a little cluttered and looks like the booths were installed to cut down on this a bit and add to the night club feel. It feels like a split design of a bar and nightclub. On one side of the venue is the pool tables, darts and a small bar, there is an open wall that divides into the club area which holds the DJ, large bar, dance floor, and seating. So if you are in the mood for either one, you have one stop.
The dress was casual, almost everyone was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, to include the bartender and DJ. The temperature was comfortable for the dress. They do not allow plain white T-shirts and ballcaps must be facing front or rear only (you can't hang them from the side).
There were no notible people that stood out here tonight (that would make a top crawler for my blog), but I did not feel uncomfortable at all. The place was clean and in good order (I didn't feel sticky after putting my hand on a table, or come out of the bathroom with sticky shoe). It was lit up on the bar side (where the games were), and darkened just right on the club side. The club side also had black lights and the occasional fog burst for added ambience.
There were about 7 females and 23 males, and a pretty even racial mix for the area. Ages ranged from 19 to about the mid 40's. Basically, anyone could walk in here and blend in.
Overall this event for a Monday night seemed pretty good, but the crowd was a bit light for the size of the bar (I know, it is Monday for petes sake, and some of us have to work .. haha). I would definately go back though and recommend checking it out for yourself!
On a Monday Night:
1. Atmosphere - 8 (updated 4/10)
2. First Impression - 8 (updated 3/17)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 9 (updated 3/17)
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 8 (updated 4/10)
9. Originality - 8 (updated 4/10)
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating: 8.2
"DJ G" kept the music at a great level, just loud enough to get you in good spirits, but not so loud that you had to scream over the bar to order a drink. He interacted with the karaoke singers and also picked on the bartender over the mic, making a fun, light hearted atmosphere. I found that he did a great job blending the the karaoke songs and the music he was playing, it gave a smooth flow throughout the evening.
The bartender, "Ms. B", bantered back at the DJ throughout the night, which got quite a few giggles from the crowd and made a relaxing, and comical feel (god knows you need this at amature karaoke). While there was not alot of flair to her barkeeping, her drinks were made well, and she was very attentive to her customers. You also found her cleaning around the bar and floors throughout the night, seeing if the customers on the floor needed anything, and keeping the club in good order.
The crowd seemed to be BYOF "bring your own friend", but all the groups seemed to be having a good time. There were quite a few people playing pool on one of their 3 tables in the back area, as well as darts, which all of the separate groups seemed to be intermingling. There was also a group in the booths that were enjoying a few rounds of karaoke and drinks. The bar held a couple of folks moving in and out that were conversing amongst themselves and the bartender.
Mixed drinks ranged around 6-7 each and designated drivers (over the age of 21) were not charged for soda's. The drinks, mixed, beer and soda, came in a 16 oz cup, so it was worth the price. There was no food available, however, you are allowed to bring food in (such as ordering a pizza when you get the munchies). The bar seemed well stocked with a variety of liquors and beer.
One or two of the tables were a bit wobbly, so be careful when leaning on them, but the chairs and booths were in great shape. Lots of seating is available (ladies can wear 3 inch heals and actually take a break once in a while), but still sufficient space for dancing. The games area has its own section which is fairly large and has a great view of the dance area. The area where the bar jets out in the club area seems a little cluttered and looks like the booths were installed to cut down on this a bit and add to the night club feel. It feels like a split design of a bar and nightclub. On one side of the venue is the pool tables, darts and a small bar, there is an open wall that divides into the club area which holds the DJ, large bar, dance floor, and seating. So if you are in the mood for either one, you have one stop.
The dress was casual, almost everyone was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, to include the bartender and DJ. The temperature was comfortable for the dress. They do not allow plain white T-shirts and ballcaps must be facing front or rear only (you can't hang them from the side).
There were no notible people that stood out here tonight (that would make a top crawler for my blog), but I did not feel uncomfortable at all. The place was clean and in good order (I didn't feel sticky after putting my hand on a table, or come out of the bathroom with sticky shoe). It was lit up on the bar side (where the games were), and darkened just right on the club side. The club side also had black lights and the occasional fog burst for added ambience.
There were about 7 females and 23 males, and a pretty even racial mix for the area. Ages ranged from 19 to about the mid 40's. Basically, anyone could walk in here and blend in.
Overall this event for a Monday night seemed pretty good, but the crowd was a bit light for the size of the bar (I know, it is Monday for petes sake, and some of us have to work .. haha). I would definately go back though and recommend checking it out for yourself!
On a Monday Night:
1. Atmosphere - 8 (updated 4/10)
2. First Impression - 8 (updated 3/17)
3. Service - 8
4. Sound System - 8
5. Cleanliness - 9 (updated 3/17)
6. Physical Comfort - 8
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - 9
8. Safety - 8 (updated 4/10)
9. Originality - 8 (updated 4/10)
10. Staff Appearance - 8
Overall Rating: 8.2
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rating Standard
This is a 10 point scale, 1 being tragic, and 10 being epic!
1. Atmosphere - How well a club displays its particular motief (i.e. dance club, bar, rave, live performance venue, etc.).
2. First Impression - How well you are greeted when first entering the club (i.e. do they scowl at you, smile, thank you, ask if its your first time there, etc.). This is usually seen at the front door by the ID checker and/or bouncer.
3. Service - How does your bartender or waitress treat you (i.e. do you have to stand at an empty bar for 1 hour till the bartender is done talking to his/her friend before taking your order, do they make recommendations for drinks if you are uncertain, are they polite and friendly or mean and rude, etc.).
4. Sound System - Overall quality and appropriate volume of the sound system (i.e. balance, sound quality, do you need earplugs, can you hear the person next to you in a conversation, etc.).
5. Cleanliness - Pretty self explanitory, this includes restrooms, bars, tables, and floors.
6. Physical Comfort - How is the air flow/control/tempature, how comfortable is the seating. (This is to include if there is seating available or is it standing room only, and are there places to put your drink down or do you need to hold it the entire time, etc.).
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - How good are the drinks, are they made right, and how good is the liquor selection.
8. Safety - Are there adequate bouncers for crowd size and are they spread out throughout the venue or clustered together. This also includes any obvious dangers to drunk people (unlit steps, damaged chairs, etc.)
9. Originality - Is there any outstanding features of this venue not found elsewhere in Montgomery (i.e. does the owner have a conception to the look and feel of the venue, do they have creative sections, etc.)
10. Staff Appearance - Does the staff look and dress to match the venue motief.
An overall rating will be done based off these 10 rating factors. The following information will also be provided but not rated and should be taken into consideration when choosing a club:
Cover Charge, Music Type, Demographics, Venue Size, Crowd Size, Food Availability, Drink Costs, DD Comps, Vibe, Dress, etc.
A full description of the experience can be found on the home page for each and every visit, these ratings will be updated after each visit. Special events are not included in these rates, but may be critiqued on the home page.
1. Atmosphere - How well a club displays its particular motief (i.e. dance club, bar, rave, live performance venue, etc.).
2. First Impression - How well you are greeted when first entering the club (i.e. do they scowl at you, smile, thank you, ask if its your first time there, etc.). This is usually seen at the front door by the ID checker and/or bouncer.
3. Service - How does your bartender or waitress treat you (i.e. do you have to stand at an empty bar for 1 hour till the bartender is done talking to his/her friend before taking your order, do they make recommendations for drinks if you are uncertain, are they polite and friendly or mean and rude, etc.).
4. Sound System - Overall quality and appropriate volume of the sound system (i.e. balance, sound quality, do you need earplugs, can you hear the person next to you in a conversation, etc.).
5. Cleanliness - Pretty self explanitory, this includes restrooms, bars, tables, and floors.
6. Physical Comfort - How is the air flow/control/tempature, how comfortable is the seating. (This is to include if there is seating available or is it standing room only, and are there places to put your drink down or do you need to hold it the entire time, etc.).
7. Drink Quality/Bartender Skills - How good are the drinks, are they made right, and how good is the liquor selection.
8. Safety - Are there adequate bouncers for crowd size and are they spread out throughout the venue or clustered together. This also includes any obvious dangers to drunk people (unlit steps, damaged chairs, etc.)
9. Originality - Is there any outstanding features of this venue not found elsewhere in Montgomery (i.e. does the owner have a conception to the look and feel of the venue, do they have creative sections, etc.)
10. Staff Appearance - Does the staff look and dress to match the venue motief.
An overall rating will be done based off these 10 rating factors. The following information will also be provided but not rated and should be taken into consideration when choosing a club:
Cover Charge, Music Type, Demographics, Venue Size, Crowd Size, Food Availability, Drink Costs, DD Comps, Vibe, Dress, etc.
A full description of the experience can be found on the home page for each and every visit, these ratings will be updated after each visit. Special events are not included in these rates, but may be critiqued on the home page.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
What this blog is about
So I figured I would start blogging about some of the night life and the key players in it. I will be updating with any new information I find, to include the "hot on the scene" folks. You know the type, everyone knows them and if you know them, then your somebody.
I have noticed over the last year, that this is a constant changing thing and there are some major rises and falls of people. I am not considered a party animal when it comes to going to a club or bar, I don't talk to many people, I just watch them. I watch the hook ups, the break ups, the pick ups, and the social groups and how they interact. I always feel more comfortable in a club that there are inviting people at .. usually the regulars that attend said club.
As funny as it is, I have found that one of the major duties of a regular is to make new customers feel comfortable. They do not get paid for this, although they should, because it takes ALOT of energy, time, money, and charisma. When these regulars take you under their wing, it is an invitation for the rest of the crowd to accept you in. Most of these folks are men, however, there are a few women. You will also find, that when these folks move to a new location, so does the crowd.
I will update on how I am treated, as well as others, and who the "in" crowds are, whether they are socially accepting of new folks, if they are part of a social click that you need membership too .. lol, or just fun to be around. If you get to that club, say "hi" and let them know that you seen them listed on our blog as a favored crawler! Maybe you will see your name up here .. you never know!
I will also be bloggin on things such as the look of the club, cleanliness, originality, service, demographics, popularity, music type, special events, overall feel of the club, etc. Basically anything you can think of, I will be blogging it! If there is something not listed that you would like to know, just say so! Get to know the clubs before you even go out. I will be visiting on various nights of the week, and I will be keeping a chart of the "hot spots" during the weekdays. All statistics will be based off an 11 pm timeframe to best represent an evenings population.
I am choosing to keep my anominity due to the fact that if everyone knows who I am and that I blog about these things, well of course everyone is going to try and be friendly .. and thats just not real. I am bloggin on how these clubs treat new and occasional customers, not regulars, and I don't want any special treatment that could jeopordize a "favored" response on one club over another.
I hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing your comments!
I have noticed over the last year, that this is a constant changing thing and there are some major rises and falls of people. I am not considered a party animal when it comes to going to a club or bar, I don't talk to many people, I just watch them. I watch the hook ups, the break ups, the pick ups, and the social groups and how they interact. I always feel more comfortable in a club that there are inviting people at .. usually the regulars that attend said club.
As funny as it is, I have found that one of the major duties of a regular is to make new customers feel comfortable. They do not get paid for this, although they should, because it takes ALOT of energy, time, money, and charisma. When these regulars take you under their wing, it is an invitation for the rest of the crowd to accept you in. Most of these folks are men, however, there are a few women. You will also find, that when these folks move to a new location, so does the crowd.
I will update on how I am treated, as well as others, and who the "in" crowds are, whether they are socially accepting of new folks, if they are part of a social click that you need membership too .. lol, or just fun to be around. If you get to that club, say "hi" and let them know that you seen them listed on our blog as a favored crawler! Maybe you will see your name up here .. you never know!
I will also be bloggin on things such as the look of the club, cleanliness, originality, service, demographics, popularity, music type, special events, overall feel of the club, etc. Basically anything you can think of, I will be blogging it! If there is something not listed that you would like to know, just say so! Get to know the clubs before you even go out. I will be visiting on various nights of the week, and I will be keeping a chart of the "hot spots" during the weekdays. All statistics will be based off an 11 pm timeframe to best represent an evenings population.
I am choosing to keep my anominity due to the fact that if everyone knows who I am and that I blog about these things, well of course everyone is going to try and be friendly .. and thats just not real. I am bloggin on how these clubs treat new and occasional customers, not regulars, and I don't want any special treatment that could jeopordize a "favored" response on one club over another.
I hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing your comments!
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