Club Reports: Zanzabar, BFE, Pi, Cloud 9 (Ocala)

When I'm out of town and time allows, I always like to check out the local club scene. Such was the case Saturday night in Ocala. Formerly Fusion and then Graffiti Beach, Zanzabar is the largest club in town.

Ocala's DJ Axis was on the boards spinning mostly Hip Hop although there were some House and Top 40 segments in there. The Saturday night cover charge was $12 but it was "all you can drink" so you do the math.

It never got particularly crowded but I've seen pics of the place and know that it does.

I was hoping to catch DJ KJ (K5, Tabu, Vixen, Urban Flats) but learned he spins here every other Saturday night. KJ now lives in Crystal River operating a charter fishing operation and Ocala is the closest "big city" to there.

Connected to Zanzabar is a country bar called Midnight Rodeo and admission includes both venues.

Located "down on the square" in downtown Ocala, BFE is a restaurant that turns bar at night.

Based on his computer, the DJ was Joey Kras and it was close to 100% Hip Hop.

Being the small town that it is, it was not surprising that everybody seemed to know everybody. Reminded me a lot of bars in my college town.

The dance floor had some very drunk people coming and going although not the people shown above. Interesting place to hang out with friends, but......next!

Ocala has its own PI but it's no Pleasure Island. I guess this is the mathematical Pi. Another restaurant that turns into a bar later in the evening.

The attraction is the rooftop bar featuring a guitarist/singer while downstairs softer music played. It's not a dance club though. Not for me but it is a nice setting.

Finally there is Cloud 9. I had scanned the website and it looked promising. Had to park in the parking lot of the closed McDonald's across the highway but with more Hip Hop blaring from the speakers I decided it was time to call it a night. Ocala lesson learned: it's still very much a Hip Hop town!