Clubbers Guide to the Internet [Part 2]
Manor West: Lounging like a Boss [Quick Review]

I’ve been MIA for a while, and I’m really sorry about that.  Since my last post there have been several changes in the SF nightlife scene, a lot of new venues have popped up and some old favorites have received facelifts.  The latter is true with Manor West, formally known as Boss.  A SoMa fixture, Boss had been steadily falling off the radar for some time, so the change makes perfect sense.  Overall, Manor West is a great addition to the SF nightlife scene.

While I’m not fully reviewing Manor West at this time (I usually like to go to a venue several times before forming an opinion), I was impressed with what I saw.

Positives: The venue looks completely different from Boss on the interior.  No more dingy carpet, or awkwardly divided sections, the space is open and flows beautifully.  The color scheme and general vibe for some reason reminds me of Slide, just updated.  I’ve been told that the club is aiming for a more mixed crowd to compete with places like Vessel, Infusion Lounge, and the previously mentioned Slide.  The VIP section is nicely integrated with the rest of the venue and gives VIPs easy access to the dance floor.  Two bars are more than enough for the space and service was pretty quick (the picture above is of the larger bar).

Negatives: The exterior of the club was pretty much untouched, which is a shame, I wish they would have been consistent with the theme and brought aspects of that outside.  It basically looks like an empty commercial office building.  The only other negative I can immediately think of is the restrooms, this is another area that was clearly not part of the renovation plans as it just received minor updates (i.e. a fresh paint job).  These aren’t deal breakers at all, but it’s the difference between a great club and a legendary venue.

Overall, I’d definitely pay Manor West a visit regularly, but the million dollar question is can it stand the test of time?

Here’s what the Yelpers have to say about it so far.

Community Speak Up!
Public Transportation Etiquette: An Urban Survival Guide Volume 2 - “Don’t start no stuff, won’t be no stuff” [Etiquette]

Don’t let this happen to you…



From the words made famous by comedian Martin Lawrence and then popularized by a Youngbloodz ft. Lil Jon song, “don’t start no stuff, won’t be no stuff”

I know we all have those bad mornings where we feel the entire world is against us and you want to tackle/pimp slap the next person that glances at you funny, but this is a bad look for a few reasons:

  1. It’s never good to be a spectacle, you never know who’s around - could be someone you know, someone you want to know, or unfortunately as in this case someone that will put your business on YouTube for all to see.
  2. You don’t want to be cited, that’s going to make an already rough day turn into a nearly impossible feat.
  3. You don’t want to end up in the hospital. Fighting in general is dangerous, but fighting on a bus (specifically a muni bus) is a deathwish. It’s like trying to juggle knives on a rollercoster, nothing good can come from it other than an obituary.


So how to prevent this from happening to you?

  1. Remember, its JUST A SEAT and there’s always another bus coming.
  2. Be the bigger person. This tactic will get you out of more than one type of bind. Even if you come out feeling slightly embarrassed for backing down, just think of how bad you’d feel if you were either of the young ladies in the video above.

Keep it classy, live to ride the bus another day.

Clubbers Guide to the Internet [Part 1]
Clubbin’ News: WET Nightclub Closed (San Jose)

South Bay clubbers will be disappointed to learn tonight that it has been decided to shut down one of the larger clubs in San Jose.  A few weeks ago the club was forced to temporarily shut its doors in order to develop better security protocols, earlier today SJ police decided to make things final and permanently close the venue.  The owner has 10 days to appeal, but it’s not looking good.  Several news sources are reporting that over a 5 month period ending in April police were called to the club 49 times to deal with problems.  I don’t party much in SJ, and honestly have never been to WET (*been there when it was known as GLO, have no idea why they like three letter names), but I have heard this place is usually stocked with way to many guys, hence the nick name “Man Jose”, and fights are common.  Check the video that added to the controversy below.  Maybe this is a good thing? What do you guys think?

This video is wild, there’s dudes fighting other dudes, chicks fighting chicks, dudes fighting chicks and vice versa…oh yeah did I mention one of the security guards has a taser!?!

More info can be found here - http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment-headlines/ci_13403084

Weekend Recap: 09/21/2009

I know it’s been a while since I last posted, I apologize, it’s been a hectic few weeks, lots of new projects, travel, etc.  That being said, I’m back now! I plan on keeping a more consistent blogging schedule so please stay tuned.  Before I started traveling last month I had the chance to stop by one of the most unique nightlife spots in SF,  Supperclub.  Instead of having tables for bottle service, they have BEDS, yes that’s not a misprint.  They also offer dinner service which I have yet to try out.  For those narcoleptic clubbers out there (or common food comma/ITIS sufferers), this is definitely the venue for you :).

Positives: Supperclub does a good job of attracting a hot, upscale crowd.  They also do a good job of keeping things more intimate, the parties are never too packed.  The interior is pretty stunning, but I’ll get into that a bit later, the venue is fairly large and they offer two fully stocked bars.  The main room has a lot of space, but the dance floor is not the largest.  Beds are situated on each wall, aligned adjacent to each other - making long walls of bedding. In a way, it sort of feels like a giant padded room without the insane suits.  The Beds are an excellent way to take in the VIP experience, you can even dance on top of them, although I would not suggest that if you still have full bottles of booze laying right by your side.  They also offer an upstairs tier which is a great way to see all of the action below (ladies in dresses/skirts beware - people below can see the goods).  The front bar is a bit odd shaped (circular, located in the middle of the room, blocking access to the dance floor….hello fire marshal?), but they have plenty of bar tenders there so average wait time is pretty low.  The bar behind the dance floor usually has about two bar tenders and can be a bit more crowded, but that’s to be expected since it’s at the center of all the action.

Negatives: The biggest negative in my opinion is the lack of diversity. I should add a disclaimer here, the events’ diversity heavily depends on that night’s promoter, but usually Supperclub tends to us more of the Asian promo crews in SF - at least on the popular weekend nights.  The dance floor does leave a bit more to be desired for, but is decent size, the problem is the staircases and DJ both both take away space that could be used for dancing.  They do have a second room off to the side, it’s tiny and great for private parties, but other than that it’s pretty much empty and useless.  Good idea, just not the best execution - I’d rope it off and make it feel more exclusive than it really is or something.  Speaking of roping things off, one negative about getting VIP bottle service here is the lack of status and prestige.  I’ve been clubs all over the world and while it’s uncommon to see a guard in front of every table, I think its pretty standard to have one block access to entire VIP floors/areas/etc.  That’s not the case with Supperclub, anyone can go upstairs.  Maybe I’m wrong and it’s not supposed to be a VIP level, but if it looks like a duck and talks like a duck…

  • Location/Transportation: Located in SoMa, on Harrison, one block over from legendary 18+ nightclub City Nights (otherwise known as Shitty Nights to many of us).  This does present a bit of a parking problem as you may have to compete for parking with eager teeny boppers.  There are however a few lots and several bus stops nearby.  For those coming from across the bridge it’s easy to get to as it’s the first exit off on the SF side.  Grade: 3/5
  • Line: They do an excellent job of keeping events more intimate, so the lines are never more than 15 people deep in my experience.  Wait time is usually less than 30 minutes depending on the time of arrival Grade: 4/5
  • Interior: The main room is white on white and everything feels so clean (I know, I know, it’s a sweaty club, not ideal for germaphobes but this is about perception).  The beds add a unique and fun experience to clubbing in SF. The other rooms have interesting and ascetically appealing themes as well, I just don’t like how the front bar impedes entrance into the main dance floor room, there’s always bottlenecks.  Grade 3/5
  • Exterior: The exterior does a pretty good job of bringing the interior experience outside.  An all white paint job with a sleek yet subtle sign with mirror front doors.  I think it’s pretty well designed.  Grade 4/5
  • Drinks: Decent priced drinks for a night out in San Francisco - $10 - $12 for most mixed drinks.  Hint, try and make friends with the bar tenders, they may hook it up on a drink or two. Grade: 3/5
  • Services: This is one of those clubs where you know you’re secure, but not overwhelmed with big goons in black tee shirts and ear pieces all around you (not knocking security guards, I have a lot of good friends that do that work, but lets be honest here).  I’ve only experience VIP bottle service here once, but came away a bit unimpressed.  The prices are on par with similar SF clubs, but the service was lacking.  Example:  I was sitting at a friends table…opps, I mean bed, the VIP host came up asking me if I wanted another bottle.  I realize a lot of places do this, but this gets people in trouble (future blog post coming regarding this), but never ever ever ask someone who isn’t in charge of the table i.e. the person paying the bill, if they want more bottles.  Truly a recipe for disaster, of course I declined, but this exposed a loophole. I could have requested a bottle and bolted, resulting in an extra $250 charge on my friends bill.   Grade 3/5
  • Sound system:  Good balance here, you can be by the front bar and have a conversation without yelling, and be on the dance floor without feeling the need for ear plugs. There are two DJ booths, one for the side room, again, pointless unless there’s a private function in there.  The booth on the main room is right next to the dance floor, it actually takes away from the dance space.  Speakers do an excellent job of keeping the party going without hating on interactions. Grade 4/5
  • Overall: The beds warrant a visit on their own, but besides that I’d say it’s a great venue, but not something I would check out on a regular basis for a lot of the reasons I pointed out above.  Once a month is good for me.  Grade 24/35 

Here’s what the yelpers had to say http://www.yelp.com/biz/supperclub-san-francisco

Weekend Recap Vegas Edition Pt 2 

Summer time is here, and what’s a better way to enjoy it than sitting by the pool sippin’ on some cooled alcholoic beverage?  And where’s a better location for such activities?  Vegas of course! Sin City has some of the grandest pools around, and after a long night/morning of partying and dancing, there’s nothing like relaxing pool side.   Several Hotels have equisite pool parties, but since I was staying at the Venetian, I decided to check out Tao Beach first.

Tao Beach

(disclaimer: the lower picture is taken outside of Tao Beach at the regular Venetian pool)

Positives: Hot music, cool drinks, hotter bodies…what more can I say?  When you walk in you feel like you’re at an Italian riviera villa private pool party.  The decor is very mediterranean and music is pretty mixed - top 40, current hits.  Obviously, attire is swimwear, but you’ll see a wide range of outfits, or lack there off.  There’s a good amount of furniture set up to lounge on, and more than enough cocktail waitress patrolling happily taking orders.  The bar is fully stocked and easy to get to, never had to wait longer than a few minutes to order drinks.  For those wanting a little more seclusion, private cabanas are available and pretty spacious.  The crowd was diverse and most people looked under 35, mainly 21 - 28.  Overall, Tao Beach does an excellent job of bringing the night club vibe to the day time pool party.

Negatives: The biggest downside is that they prohibit outside liquor, which sucks if you’ve been hanging by the regular Venetian pool bar before Tao Beach opens.  The security guards will ask you to promptly get rid of any liquor at the entrance (the cups inside Tao Beach are specially branded).   The Tao Beach pool isn’t really that big, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can get somewhat crowded…and er ah, murky.  There’s no public bathrooms inside Tao Beach, I had to trek back to the regular Venetian pool area adjacent to Tao Beach.  The whole guestlist/admissions situation was confusing to me.  I signed up for the guestlist inside at the concierge desk and let the guards outside know I was staying at the hotel, didn’t seem to change the outcome, they still asked me for $20.  I guess ladies are pretty much always free, Vegas locals get discounts or are also free, and visiting guys, well, are at the mercy of whoever is working the door at the moment.  $20 isn’t bad, I just wish I wouldn’t have wasted time trying to figure out how to get in free when in the end I paid anyway.  *Tip: wait until the person working the cash register leaves for the day around 4pm and admission is guaranteed free.  Lastly, do not try to sneak in, we tried this one day and the guards at the front weren’t having it at all, in fact they suspended our access for the rest of the day (some people that were leaving gave us their wristbands).

  • Location/Transportation: Located in the Venetian, you can easily get there from any part of the strip.  Parking is free if you’re driving over, cabbing isn’t more than a few bucks, and walking (as long as its not a scorcher) is not that bad either.  Grade: 5/5
  • Line: Depending on the time, and weekend, the line can vary.  I went on a random weekend in May and the line was always about 10 - 20 people long.  The staff pulls girls out of line for immediate entry, so if you’re a guy, be prepared for logjams  Grade: 3/5
  • Interior: Clearly gorgeous and very comfortable - definitely thematic .  The only negative is the small pool area. Grade 4/5
  • Exterior: N/A  
  • Drinks: Pretty reasonable for Vegas, I remember paying $10-12 bucks for different mixed drinks.   Grade: 3/5
  • Services: Lots of security and cocktail waitresses.  The security guards at the front can be a bit pushy, but not the worst I’ve ever encountered.  Cabanas start off at 2 bottle minimum, which usually runs $800. Grade 3/5
  • Sound system:  I didn’t actually see any speakers (I guess that’s the point), but I definitely heard them.  The volume was always at a medium level, which is great since it’s more about mingling than dancing. Grade 4/5
  • Overall: Pool parties are a must when in Vegas and Tao Beach at the Venetian is one of the best to check out.  It’s not the biggest, but it attracts a great clientele, and provides a great vibe perfect for those hot summer days. Grade 22/30 

*I want to reiterate I went during a random weekend, any of the big time summer weekens i.e. 4th of July, expect things to be ten times crazier.

Tao Beach review on Yelp.

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Weekend Recap Vegas Edition Pt 1: 5/08/2009

The last few weeks have been hectic to say the least, I sincerely apologize for not updating my blog in such a long time, but I have good excuses!  I’ve been traveling a lot, NYC (for which I still owe some reviews) and most recently to Vegas for my Birthday. There isn’t any other place on this planet quite like Vegas, and as a party connoisseur, it’s a must to check it out at least a few times a year.  For my first stop we decided to head over to Mr. Wynn’s newest hotel, Encore and Club XS.

XS

XS entry

XS interior

Positives: Being that this is Vegas, there’s no need to start the clubbin’ journey early (I usually try to be places in SF around 11pm), we got started about midnight.  That’s one key advantage about every club in Vegas, closing time is on average 4am and many places stay open past that - perfect for all you night owls out there.  As soon as you enter XS you feel like you’ve arrived, it’s truly a grand entrance (see the first picture above).  Once you get past the velvet ropes and walk up a few stairs at the front you can see all the action.  I was almost awe struck with all the activity going on and the vista I was immediately presented with.  This place is huge and feels like a mini arena.  It’s like the Greek Coliseum of eye candy (ok it’s not that big, but still).  As I get older, I’ve been finding that I get more and more annoyed with larger clubs due to their: excessive lines, lack of standing space, overcrowded-ness, people spilling drinks everywhere, etc.  That’s not the case with XS, even though the place is huge, there is plenty of space to move around and lounge.  There was no lack of eye candy either, this is Vegas after all and beautiful people are in abundance.  They do a great job of mixing interior and exterior space, in fact kind of think of the club as in the shape of a theater, and right when you enter where you would normally see the screen/stage theres a giant opening to the outside portion of the club.  This is great as there’s more space to dance, mingle, and even gamble outside. In typical Vegas fashion, dressing trendy is the way to go here.  For all the ladies out there, XS has plenty of stripper polls (hey…I don’t judge) and counter space to dance on (guys, you will be asked to get down).  Bathrooms are also pretty massive, I never had to wait for a stall or even a sink.  On the night I went they played mainly top 40 and Hip Hop, but I do hear they mix it up occasionally.

Negatives:  Tables, tables, and more tables.  I know clubs see bottle service as their golden ticket, but you can obviously tell including tons of tables was a high priority on the blueprint for XS. It’s not a big negative, especially since nearly every table was booked, but it was kind of interesting when one of my friends pointed out the fact that the bottle service line was just as long as the general admission line…not much of a vip experience (at least initially).  The aggressive cocktail waitress walking around with random shots of liquor were a bit annoying.  Granted, I was spending a lot of time around the tables since I was hanging out with a few friends that had one, but even outside by the cabanas and pool area they were persistent.  Maybe I’m old fashion, but if I’m going to drop $13 on a shot, I at least want to make sure I’m getting what I ordered…so I’ll just head to the bar thank you.  This isn’t directly related to the club, but one thing I wondered about was that the outside part of XS is right next to the Encore hotel tower, so it might be a pain be on one of the lower floors facing the club if your an early bird.

  • Location/Transportation: Located in the Encore, it’s pretty easy to get to from any of the hotels on the strip.  Parking is free if you’re driving over Grade: 5/5
  • Line: We showed up around midnight and the line did not look too long - about 40 - 50 people at that time, but since this is one of the hottest clubs on the strip I’d either suggest arriving early or late to avoid long lines (*especially during holiday weekends)  Grade: 3/5
  • Interior: Stunning, but this is Vegas land of the over-the-top ascetics and presentation.  As previously stated, they do a great job of creating an open space, making sure air circulates, and making sure people feel comfortable.  The layout is efficient and allows for good movement between areas, not a whole lot of traffic jams Grade 5/5
  • Exterior: Loved the pool side cabanas and outside area, it gave people a place to slow down and take a break from the dancing going on inside.  I think we’ll probably start seeing more of this in warmer climate cities, clubs with a large outside section.    Grade 5/5
  • Drinks: Drinks are pretty pricey, mixed drinks and shots started at $13.  I also heard that on certain nights drinks can be as high as $20, so you’ll definitely want to pre party, or get some free drinks on the gambling floor before heading in.  There’s a good amount of bars, if I counted correctly, there’s two large bars inside, on on each side of the club, and two large bars outside, one on the far side of the pool and the other closer to the cabanas.   Grade: 3/5
  • Services: Tons of security, but very non-intrusive (if that’s even possible).  I got to go in under a table reservation and the guard was very polite and responsive.  Speaking of bottle service, prices here range from $600 to a few thousand per bottle depending on what you want to get and on which night.  But, it’s Vegas, it’s good to know people, there’s always a deal if you know the right person.  Grade 3/5
  • Sound system:  Great great great! I think the openness helps with the acoustics.  I felt like I never had to strain my voice to mingle.  Some clubs have speakers blasting right on the dance floor, this is good and bad, but mainly bad in my opinion as you’ll go def standing right in front of them.  Not the case here.  Outside you can still hear enough of the music to dance, but obviously its not as loud as it is inside.    Grade 4/5
  • Overall: I was pretty excited to go to XS because a lot of my friends have been hyping it up over the last few weeks.  I’m glad to say it did live up to expectations, and honestly, I would have gone both nights I was in Vegas (…and plan on hitting it up when I’m back for memorial day).  It should be noted that one of my friends told me they didn’t like it because they played nothing but House.  The night I went was all Hip Hop and Top 40, so I’d just advise you to check out the club calendar before hand. Grade 28/35 

Yelp review for XS

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Weekend Recap 4/06/2009

I know, I know, another late post.  I apologize, things have been ramping up on a few other projects that I have going on so I’ve been suffering from sever CPT.  Last week I got the chance to visit a new event (changing it up a bit this week, this is not a club review) that has been receiving a lot of buzz around the Bay Area lately so I was itching to investigate.  By coincidence one of my good friends was having a going away party there, so it gave me an extra incentive to make the trek out to Golden Gate Park.  Here’s my review of Nightlife at The Academy of Sciences (every Thursday until 10/09):

Nightlife: The Academy of Sciences

Nightlife Academy of Sciences

Positives: Booze at a museum?  How can you go wrong with that? The Academy of Sciences is a beautiful venue and this is a great way to check it out.  They are able to attract some pretty good DJs to spin and provide a great nightlife ambiance throughout the Academy.  The crowd is extremely diverse with people ranging in age and background (obviously it’s +21), at first I was a little taken aback, but it’s a museum after all so it makes sense.  The event is only open from 6pm until 10pm, but I find that’s great for an after work drink or two and some good ole’ mingling.  Even though the tickets sell out quickly (which happens frequently so buy your tickets early!), I never felt overwhelmed by foot traffic.  They did a good job of spreading out the bar stations around different areas, lines were quick and bartenders were satisfactory.

Negatives:  Boozin’ at a museum is good thing, but can turn into a pain when you are restricted to stay within certain areas.  I completely understand this in some cases, for example the albino alligator exhibit has an open display, drinks can easily slip and fall into the alligator’s tank below - I get it, but I was pretty bummed.  The food they offer is pretty over priced in my opinion, unless you head over to the food court where prices are more reasonable. Speaking of prices, none of the bars take credit cards, so before heading out remember to stock up on cash,

  • Location/Transportation: Located in Golden Gate park, it’s somewhat far from downtown and the freeway.  Due to the popularity of the event parking is extremely hard to come by.  I had to park in the pay lot - 10 bucks, which was kinda lame, but the alternative was walking about a mile in the park at night.  There are a few buses that go out there, but on the way out you could be waiting for a while. Lastly, I didn’t see too many cabs headed into the park, so don’t plan on that option either  Grade: 1/5
  • Line: I showed up about an hour into the event, so I have no idea how long the line was before opening.  When I arrived I was able to easily get in, they have electronic scanners to expedite the process  Grade: 5/5
  • Interior: Obviously, this is the main attraction.  The interior is well laid out and there’s tons of exhibits to check out.  The space is big enough so that there is no over cramping and people can stroll at their leisure Grade 4/5
  • Exterior: This is a beautiful building and I really like the general idea behind Nightlife.  Ultra modern and sustainable, that’s the theme behind the design and it lends itself nicely to a lounge type event  Grade 4/5
  • Drinks: Drinks are a little on the high end with mixed drinks going from $7 - $10 and $5 - $7 for a beer.  The mixed drinks would be averaged price, but the cup sizes are pretty small in my opinion.  The bars are plentiful, but like I said above they don’t take plastic, so carry cash.  Also for some reason, they don’t give out straws.   Grade: 3/5
  • Services: They do offer a coat check near the entrance, it’s reasonably priced.  I like how the security team was there, but not in your face.  They did have volunteers at a few check points stopping people from taking drinks into certain areas, but that’s a different issue.  Grade 3/5
  • Sound system:  One DJ stand set up, near the planetarium.  They pumped the music throughout the entire museum, but definitely kept the volume down a bit in order to keep it more of a lounge type vibe.    Grade 3/5
  • Overall: At first I really did not know what to expect, I thought it was going to be like a club inside of the museum, when it kind of turned out to be more of a happy hour type thing.  By the way it’s a great place to take a date.  I plan on attending again, but don’t think this is something I’d go to every week.  Grade 23/35 

Yelp review for Nightlife: The Academy of Sciences

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Themed by: Hunson