Club Reports: Alfie's HiFi, Grape & Grain, Morse Code, Barbarella 3.0

As you know we try to spread out our business and visit numerous clubs so that you can stay home and watch Lifetime Movies. But when one club consistently delivers amazing experiences, we have to visit more often. Such is the case for Alfie's Hifi located in the Mills/50 district of Orlando.

Even if you arrive at 10PM you'll find a line to get in. But it does move pretty quickly until capacity is reached and then you'll have to wait longer.

The bar is located in this front room and it stays jammed.

The booth is located in the back room and last night we found DJ Frankmatik (USA) and DJ Sean Samaroo (USA) in the "Selector" role.

It was Sean Samaroo's turn during our visit and the music was all late 70's & early 80's Funk. 

The DJ's bring crates of records, old school style. All the music at Alfie's is off vinyl. No laptops, no thumb drives, no CD's, no cassettes. (Cassettes?)

The crowd skews 20 & 30 something but you'll find all ages here.

They've likely never heard many of the tunes being played such as "Just The Two Of Us (1980)" last night, but when you hear great music from any era, it's definitely addictive and gets you bouncing.

Who would do such a thing?

The young crowd was impressed that music can somehow come out of those round black things.

A good time was had by all.

Since we were in the neighborhood we headed next to Grape & The Grain.

When you come inside you find this upfront bar serving, as the name would indicate, wine and beer.

But last night was Latin Quarter reunion night and the action was taking place on the rear patio.

Led by Latin Quarter Thursday & Saturday night resident DJ Leony (USA).

LQ was located at Universal CityWalk and closed in late 2013. 

The music last night was mostly Salsa, Merengue & Bachata.

Besides the Latin music genres at Latin Quarter, Leony would bust out half-hour long EDM sets as seen in this Blog archive photo. When we first started going to LQ it took a couple visits before we realized this was thee DJ Leony from XM Satellite Radio where he was one of the DJ's on the "Air BPM" mixshow. That show was an imaginary east to west flight across the country with stops in various cities. When the plane "stopped" in a city, a local DJ would play an hour-long EDM/House set. When the plane stopped in Orlando, DJ Leony was the guy!   

He played a short EDM set last night too!

Lots of great memories and a good time was had by all.

At this point we were just a few miles from downtown Winter Park so we headed to Morse Code.

They close at midnight and it was approaching that time during our visit so only a few stragglers remaining. But it does get packed in here.

Up front, DJ Ethan McCain (USA) in the booth.

Playing a light House mix. The legendary DJ Knightlife (USA) returns to Morse Code on Friday, August 29th along with DJ Yuri (USA) & DJ Johnny Park (USA). Mark your calendars for that one!

We closed out the night last night at Barbarella v3.0. It's located every Saturday night in The Axe Trap building on Lee Road near I-4 in Winter Park. 

Shortly after midnight, we walked into this.

Just as it should be on a Saturday night, DJ Indie John (USA) in the perch delivering the good stuff.

The format is 80's New Wave and Alternative.

It wasn't superpacked during our visit but not empty either.

They have a shiny disco ball so you know the place is legit.

Much of the music is accompanied by original music videos.

Many of them by Promo Only. If you're ever in a club, bar, theme park, shopping mall, etc and see music videos being played, there's a great chance it was packaged by Altamonte Springs-based Promo Only.

Spotted near the bar: Renee (center right) with part of her large birthday entourage. Happy Birthday Renee! 

Spotted on the dance floor: Angie

Spotted on the dance floor: DJ Matt (USA). His "Mac & Cheese" night returns next Friday night here at Barbarella.

The Axe Trap building is built on hallowed grounds where gentlemens club Booby Trap once operated. Over in one corner, this stripper pole and neon sign plays homage to it.

If you're tall enough, you get to try out the pole.

And girls will be girls.

A good time was had by all.