By 11:30 PM we showed up at ISH at the Baltic Room and it was off the hook. Totally, a different mix of crowd than we had seen before. And we can’t say enough about this event. Joe, Nadia and Christopher really know how to work a crowd. The music was an excellent mix and the guys there were, how should I say it, young and hot. This has suddenly become a new favorite event for us so if you missed out it will return next month. Again, my entire group was excited about the vibe at this event and it made it hard for us to leave and go to other clubs…
By 1:30 AM Neighbours Nightclub was filling up with the afterhours crowd that we have come to expect. Standard “loaded twink crowd” hanging out by the door and many Asians at the far corner of the bar. One thing new at Neighbours is that they charge $10 after 2 am. So $5 before midnight, $8 before 2 am and $10 after 2 am. The new $4 well drinks that they advertise never materialized. It seems that their “double wells” went from $5 to $6.
Cover charge of $10 at Neighbors and $7 at RPlace are not worth it. In bars and clubs in SF, LA and NY, if there’s a cover charge the bars surely deliver. They provide awesome music, great DJs spinning, and a crowd that’s in the party mood.
WTF is the cover charge for? I was in RPlace last night. The music was subpar, the DJ worthless, the videos a mix bag of old and new with no rhyme or reason, the crowd a yawn, the interior outdated with mix-match stools and dirty lounge sofa, and the bartenders looked bored. And none of the twinks out on their allowance or big-boned lesbians were drinking. But, yes 7 bucks a head! We headed out and promised never again.
Cover charge in Seattle gay bars is like sunshine in the dead of winter. Unexpected and despite of the mood is still gray. This will be the demise of gay bars — if you charge, better deliver in return.
I have also been frustrated with cover charges and still reluctant to pay $8 for Neighbours when I spend so much already on drinks. (This is a long ways from the days when Neighbours charged $3 and that included a full hot buffet) I can only guess that it has to do with less people actually drinking at the dance clubs. They may be drinking at other places and show up just to dance. I can’t imagine they would want to turn away legitimate “drinkers.” It sounds like the $10 will be after 2 am when they no longer serve alcohol but who knows what they will actually end up charging.