Cincinnati: Nightlife

[Cincinnatus]

This is great news.  I think downtown (and Cincinnati in general) needs a few more nightclub spots.  I think this will help liven the square up a bit on nights when there isn't an event, and into the night after events.

I think we have enough now ... we need more hole-in-the-walls now!

These won't open up in DT.  This is what OTR, Northside, Clifton, etc. is for. 

You see, this is where you're wrong.

[Blue Line]

Aren't /weren't places like The Subway (gay bar, I know) and the old Phoenix Cafe these holes-in-the-wall of which we're speaking?  I'd say they have a place downtown, just as they do in the city's other neighborhoods. 

The Righteous Room is a bit more high profile, but it's more "hole" and "Ritz".  However, with all the reinvestment in Downtown, I don't see a quintessential hole in the wall opening up anytime soon.  That basically requires minimal reinvestment in a property, thereby retaining its grit.  Simply having exposed brick doesn't achieve that.

[edale]

You think we "have enough"?? There's like 5 bars downtown, if we want to create a dynamic nightlife scene we're gonna need a lot more than that.  Think about Carson St. in the Southside of Pittsburgh, Adams Morgan in DC, Sunset Strip in LA, etc.  Mt. Adams is as close as we get to a true nightlife area, and even that is pretty limited, so I say the more bars downtown, the better.

Also, wouldn't some of the places downtown be considered hole in the walls? Madonnas, Rockin Robins, Tina's on W. 4th, Mr. Pitifuls (I know that's OTR but it still kind of counts), all come to mind.

[Blue Line]

Yeah, I'd agree with Rockin' Robins.  (I think they changed their name, by the way.  Same bar though.)  Madonna's might apply too.

[Cincinnatus]

You think we "have enough"?? There's like 5 bars downtown

I think it's pretty clear that I was pointing out that this niche that Mynt is filling ... we already have enough at the moment. Let's work on another genre. Nothing against NADA, Mynt, Twist, Bootsy's ... hell, I probably go to these places more than anyone on here.

I'm saying mix it up. You say Carson St., I say great example and solidifies my point to the T!

[MoonlightOhio]

Haha.  I remember sneaking into the Spy Club when I was in high school.  I was going to grow up to be a house (the genre) DJ. 

EDIT: And yes, I realize I just responded to a discussion from the first page, thinking it was a current topic. 

[joetraveler]

Let's not forget omalleys in the alley, it's a pretty solid place

[thomasbw]

Would Tina's fit into the 'hole in the wall' category?

[Cincinnatus]

Would Tina's fit into the 'hole in the wall' category?

Most definitely ...


Okay ... here we go, another hispters place, FB's:

Remember these faces, cause you'll be seeing them at Mynt.





http://cincinnati.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/photogallery/inside-fbs/1470046/content

[thomasbw]

^Myrita is cool, don't be dissing

[airforce_jm]

That place was just on the news like 2 minutes ago.

[MoonlightOhio]

Is it me, or are cocktail lounges popping up all over Cincinnati?

[Cincinnatus]

^Myrita is cool, don't be dissing

All these people are cool, that's why they're sipping champagne and martini's.

[sheady]

FB's?  Where is this located?

[thomasbw]

126 W 6th

[Cincinnatus]

Is it me, or are cocktail lounges popping up all over Cincinnati?

No, it's not just you.

[MoonlightOhio]

Is it me, or are cocktail lounges popping up all over Cincinnati?

No, it's not just you.

They're not my scene, but I guess it's a good thing.  I don't know.  I'm not convinced Cincinnati can support a niche market like that.  Hopefully they'll all still be around this time next year.

[Cincinnatus]

Is it me, or are cocktail lounges popping up all over Cincinnati?

No, it's not just you.

They're not my scene, but I guess it's a good thing.  I don't know.  I'm not convinced Cincinnati can support a niche market like that.  Hopefully they'll all still be around this time next year.

Some of the lounge bars that were pioneers are still around today and they keep popping up because Cincinnati can/does support a niche like this.

[MoonlightOhio]

Yeah, but they keep falling off, too.  Remember Cincinnati's "hottest" night spot, the Exchange, for example?

[edale]

^That's just how it goes with the Nighlife industry, there is a very high turnover rate. 

I do think there is a decent mix of bars and clubs downtown, but the offerings are still kind of sparse.  You have one true club in Bang or whatever its being rebranded as now, a couple trashy big bars like Caddy Ranch, Lodge Bar, Black Finn, one restaurant that turns kind of clubby (Boostys), one rock bar (Mainstay), and a blues club (Blue Wisp). Nada has a decent bar scene, but is really truly a restaurant, and closes too early to be counted as a true nightlife destination, although I wish they would convert to a club late nights like Beluga does.  I hope Mynt is a valuable addition to the DT scene, and I really hope they utilize their location right on FS.  I would love for Mynt to have an outside component so the club kind of spills out onto the square at night.

[Cincinnatus]

Yeah, but they keep falling off, too.  Remember Cincinnati's "hottest" night spot, the Exchange, for example?

What edale said ... clubs/lounges, etc... are revolving doors, no matter where you go.

Exchange was a club and never a lounge. I had some crazy times there.

[MoonlightOhio]

But you see what I'm saying.  Obviously, there's not as big of a market for cocktail lounges and niche bars as bar owners would like.  Otherwise they wouldn't be popping up as quickly as they're falling off.

[Cincinnatus]

What lounge closed - that hasn't reopened/reopening?

[Michael L. Redmond]

I don't see a quintessential hole in the wall opening up anytime soon.  That basically requires minimal reinvestment in a property, thereby retaining its grit.  Simply having exposed brick doesn't achieve that.

What about Neon's?

www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/0915neonsunplugged.aspx

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/09/remember-neons-its-coming-backunplugged.html

http://cincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/09/return-of-neons.html

[MoonlightOhio]

What lounge closed - that hasn't reopened/reopening?

You tell me.  You said yourself that "clubs/lounges, etc... are revolving doors, no matter where you go."  I don't frequent those places, so I don't really keep up with them.

[Blue Line]

I don't see a quintessential hole in the wall opening up anytime soon.  That basically requires minimal reinvestment in a property, thereby retaining its grit.  Simply having exposed brick doesn't achieve that.

What about Neon's?

Yup, that's what I'm talking about.  It's key to retain the soul of a place such as a bar.  Brand new bars just aren't the same.

[Weedrose]

I think we're all envisioning multiple districts within downtown with 20 or so late night places.  But to be honest, nightlife doesn't just have to be bars and clubs, it can be spoken word places, it can be pool halls and late night restaurants.  I would love to see more variety out there and some pedestrian only nighttime festivals etc.

[dmerkow]

I'm pretty sure one of the problems that confronts downtown is the issue of the limited number of liquor licenses available. There have some changes to make it easier, but it has been an issue a number of times as that part of the downtown scene has tried to grow.

[Michael L. Redmond]

Neon's may come back - unplugged
By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • lbernard@enquirer.com  • September 25, 2009

OVER-THE-RHINE - A group of neighborhood residents are working to revive the former Neon's bar at 208 E. 12th St. with hopes of partially opening the spot by March.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090925/BIZ01/909260330/Neon+s+may+come+back+-+unplugged

[Cincinnatus]

Awesome news, Michael! I give my word that I'll spread the word and patronize this place! Good drink prices and good music is the secret imo to a place like this -in this location.