Las Vegas has a bit of anything you could ever imagine. The big casinos cater to all sorts of lifestyles and fantasies. However, there exists a little bar, downtown on Fremont Street that will satisfy an itch you didn’t even know you had to scratch. Welcome to Insert Coins. Bring your quarters. Stay a while. Engage.
If you love Rock n Roll and you somehow find yourself in Fullerton California, you simply can’t miss swinging by The Slidebar. This rock venue has all the charm and integrity of the greats… CBGB’s in NYC (only without the vomit smell), The Marquee Club in London (only without the accent), or the Electric Banana in Pittsburgh (only without the crazy owner wielding a shotgun).
Expanding from a historical space to a present-day phenomenon, Los Angeles’ The Roxy Theatre has become the key communicator among a collective of bands, fans and neighbors along the famed Sunset Strip. With the intensity it’s taken to maintain this leading status, The Roxy is branching out with The Roxy Lounge in Scottsdale, Arizona (@theroxyLOT). Partners and brothers, Nic Adler and Cisco Adler will be opening The Roxy Lounge with Lucid Entertainment in mid-September of 2011.
Last year one of my favorite bars in London, The East Room, tragically burned down. (Luckily, I was able to have one last awesome night there two days before the fire; was one of the best nights I’ve ever had in this wonderful, wonderful city.) The East Room is part of a group of members only bars which include: Milk & Honey (London and New York), The Player (London) and The Clubhouse (Chamonix, French Alps); I’ve been to Milk & Honey a bunch but had yet to give The Player a try (or The Clubhouse… which I doubt I’ll be hitting up anytime soon unless I randomly get a surprise trip the the French Alps, which I would most definitely not be opposed to).
Located in the historic SoCo District of Downtown Fullerton, CA., The Slidebar was established in 2006 with a simple premise; great food, great music, great company. Much more than just a rock n’ roll themed restaurant and live entertainment venue, owner Jeremy Popoff (of the platinum rock band Lit) envisioned a modern homage to the rich musical legacy of Orange County that has consistently thrived in the shadow of the neighboring Los Angeles skyline. Adorned with a collection of memorabilia that tells the story of the region’s most prolific artistic contributors, the ambiance of The Slidebar remains undeniably rock n’ roll, without the pretentious aftertaste.
It was love at first sight for me and Purl (so much so that I went there twice in one night – drinks before dinner than again after); it’s easily one of the coolest bars I’ve ever been to. You walk inside and it feels as though you’ve stepped into this hidden, underground cave with all these small nooks and secret alleyways one can’t help but want to explore. A piano adorned with candles and old photographs sits in one room; there’s a fire place with a Chesterfield sofa, antique table and two gorgeous leather arm chairs sat around it; semi-private booths lit up by antique chandeliers and lamps give the illusion of mini caves within the cavernous room; small tables are situated in various corners with old, leather bound books sprawled about as jazz floats quietly through the air. It really is, as I’m fond of saying, magical.
A man walking his date around on a leash, scantly clad go-go dancers, and a fetish playroom parlour were just a few of the highlights of Saturday’s Club Suicide. For those who are kicking themselves for missing out, the tatted up eye candy known as the SuicideGirls host these sexy evenings on the third Saturday of every month.
These sinful nights have been a common occurrence over the years and have taken place at a variety of venues. The past few have been held at the Monte Cristo – a recently remodeled artsy club in downtown Los Angeles outfitted with vaulted ceilings, a disco ball lit dance floor, framed mirrors on the ceiling, and an expansive rooftop patio that provides a panoramic city view.
If there is one thing that Hermosa Beach’s Saint Rocke wants to be recognized for, it’s live music. The popular South Bay hotspot prides itself on booking their stage with the hottest musical acts that roll through town on every single night of the week. From acoustic singer-songwriters to original rock bands and occasional comedy showcases, Saint Rocke has something on their calendar Monday through Sunday.
“We are a live music venue, so it’s what we do. We eat, pray, and live music. Food and drink go along well with the music, but if we have to pick, the tunes win every time,” explains owner Allen Sanford.
Little Bar is a neighborhood bar with a great vibe, friendly atmosphere, and distinctive décor. Housed in a 1930’s building rumored to be a former Japanese speakeasy, Little Bar comes with a lot of character. The true gem of this friendly tavern, however, is its intricate interior. Every glance around the bar places you in touch with eclectic details that cause you to pine for the secret to its interior design success.
Ah, Emo’s on an Austin afternoon. The conglomeration of hipsters, the ridiculous name and the sort of street bazaar layout of the place always make me feel a little trepidatious. However, the mood on Friday was instantly put into perspective when I came across a group of maybe nine guys all posing for a photo together with several people snapping shots of them – was this some kind of fraternal organization? Maybe they were semi-famous? As it turned out, they were total strangers who all happened to be wearing plaid shirts. “Badass shirt, dude!” I heard one joke to another. They laughed and bantered to each other, “You’re a stylish motherfucker too!”