Club Reports: Church Street Station, 180, Touch, The Attic, The Beacham, I-Bar

There was a time way back in the day when Church Street Station was the entertainment district of Orlando, not just for locals but also for tourists. That was before Disney created Pleasure Island expressly to keep their guests on-property. Once Universal opened CityWalk, it was basically over for Church Street. So it was great to see it so lively last night as they held a Mardi Gras festival down there.

There was a number of vendor booths, patrons on upper floors were tossing beads all while others danced to a New Orleans style Dixie band.

There are actually grand plans in the works to create this type of atmosphere every weekend. The city has blessed plans for Church Street businesses to block the street on evenings regularly and try to bring people back downtown. I think it will take more retail but the bars and restaurants are definitely there already!

OK, moving on. There are lots of new clubs/lounges downtown and I needed to check them out. The much talked about 180 Grey Goose Lounge is up on the 6th floor of the new Amway Center and let me tell you, the place is incredible! You enter from doors near the northeast corner and travel up via elevator.

Once up there, you find a luxuriously-appointed interior space with a color-changing backdrop while awesome House/Dance music is playing quite loudly.

You search out the source of the music by going onto the outdoor patio and discover two DJ's pumping it out. And damn, one of them is DJ Tillman (The Blue Room at The Groove, Peacock Room) and the other is DJ John Campisano(Red Coconut Club, Lattitudes)!

And then you turn your head in the other direction and find this incredible view of downtown Orlando. Even I-4 looks interesting at this height!

They had heaters set-up because it was a bit chilly from the wind but I'm pretty sure in a couple months it's going to be the humidity that they're going to have to deal with. Lots of tables with no-charge seating plus countertops all the way around gives you a place to put your drink while you enjoy the view!

A bit of dancing was getting started during my visit. Amway Center is very easy to get to. Cross under I-4 along Church Street and the entrance is right there. During events they are only open to those with tickets but then they open to the public as soon as a game or concert ends. During non-event nights, 180 is open on Fridays only at 4:30pm and Saturdays only at 10pm. No cover.

Touch opened this past weekend bringing yet another ultra-lounge to downtown Orlando. Located directly across Church Street for another new club Heat, it is located under the new dueling piano bar Baby Grands.

Big crowd on hand for the opening but I don't recall anyone dancing in there.

The music was mostly Hip Hop and the DJ is located back behind a VIP area so I did not get to meet him. While I was invited in for no charge, they need to rethink their $10 cover charge if they stand any chance of success.

Another new club, The Attic is located upstairs in the spot formerly home to AKA Lounge on Pine Street.

Got to meet Saturday night DJ Bingoballs (I didn't ask) who was spinning Top 40 and Hip Hop with a little bit of House during my visit.

I really like this place too. Two side-by-side rectangular rooms with two bars in one room and another bar plus the DJ/dance floor in the other.

Three VIP areas dominate the area beside the dance floor.

Spotted: Friday night DJ Erica Jane. No cover charge at The Attic.

Yet another new club is The Beacham which really is just Tabu with a new name. However, renovations are definitely underway and Saturday night DJ Richie Rich (HOB) is having to work from a much lower temporary stage. The popular weekend events are not changing and Saturday remains 102Jamz Night.

And jammed it was!

Why carry a purse? Admission free until 11pm.

And finally, a visit to Independent Bar is a Saturday night must if I'm downtown.

Weren't we just discussing hard drive generated music? This one is a nice one and a brand new addition to I-Bar as even Saturday night DJ Indie John is now using one.

Very crowded last night dancing to early to mid 80's New Wave/Old Wave.

The crowd is a mix of all types of all ages which along with the music is what makes it so fun!

Spotted: DJ Rob (Independent Bar) down on the floor with regular patron David. Admission is free on Saturday nights until 11pm and then $5.

Club Report: The Peacock Room (Kimball Collins)

After my visit to Suite B Lounge, a few minutes drive up the road brought me to The Peacock Room, another club where electronic music is no stranger.

DJ Kimball Collins has returned from another stint in Thailand to give Orlando his brand of House music.

At the Peacock one room houses the bar and then a separate room is where music acts perform.

The crowd in here was wall-to-wall but still plenty of room to dance.

I recognized several people from prior Kimball Collins concerts.

Mixing some vocal songs with mostly non-vocal, I did not recognize a single song he played but it didn't matter because because the beat kept everyone moving.

Collins confirmed that there will be another Aahz Reunion on Thanksgiving Eve at The Beacham (formerly Tabu Night Club) so mark your calendars now for Wednesday, November 23rd.

The night opened with DJ Andy Hughes which I missed since I was still downtown at that point. I have not seen Hughes perform since he was one of the opening DJ's for Tiësto at Hard Rock Live several years ago. Both Hughes and Collins should not be missed and I'll post future concert dates when I see them!

Club Report: SuiteB Lounge (Davie's Angels)

There is at least one place downtown where you can count on electronic dance music every night and that is Suite B Lounge. Last night's event was called Davie's Angels as DJ Davie-D allowed three beautiful women DJ's precede him on the decks!

I am so mad at myself because I was hoping to see DJ Jennifer Marley's set but she was on first and it was over with by the time I got there. Marley (right) has a show weeknights on Party95.com and is joined here by the DJ Heather Collins.

Collins had club patrons dancing all over the place! Wow!

Suite B is a small club but it was as jammed as I've ever seen it and the $5 admission was very reasonable.

Drinks here are always strong and I was introduced to a shot called Code Red. Mmmm!

This is real DJ'ing; nothing off a hard-drive here!

Caught the third angel of the night DJ Bella from Tampa just before she came on. The music was House and Breaks with continuous beats keeping everyone moving!

What's Happening at CityWalk?

With Pleasure Island clubs closed and a record Spring Break on the way, expect long lines at The Groove beginning the second weekend of the month. Things to be crazy this year on weekend nights and possibly a few others too.

We have official word that DJ Tillman is returning to the Blue Room upstairs in The Groove for another EDM night on Saturday, March 19th. More details as the date draws nearer. I understand some enhancements to the sound system are under way. Mannequins-fans, CityWalk wants your business!

Even NASCAR Sports Grille has a DJ now on Friday/Saturday nights outside on the patio playing Top 40. Expect some DJ's from time-to-time over spring break at the CityWalk stage.

I continue to be amazed at the length of the line to get into Rising Star! Who would have guessed?

You can count on DJ Leony at Latin Quarter for kick-ass Dance music, Thursday thru Saturday nites!

And for the next two minutes only, there are $2 sex-on-the-beach shots in the Red Room! Hurry!

PI Update: Adventurers Club & Soundstage Coming Down Soon?

Thousands of fans of the Adventurers Club and both fans of Soundstage need to make their pilgrimage to Pleasure Island very soon if you believe a demolition update published on one of the internet bulletin boards. According to that posting, demolition of those two clubs will begin within a couple weeks! Supposedly all utilities to that corner of PI have now been shut off and temporary electrical lines are running behind the buildings for night time illumination. So the end may finally be near for the building housing those two venues. This update is not inconsistent with something posted here on the Blog a few weeks ago. One of our sources had reported that the direct underground connection between AC and the PI offices beneath West End Plaza (formerly Celebration Plaza) had been blocked.

So the end may indeed be near. If demolition walls go up, you'll read about them here. But if you want to see your beloved clubs one more time, you may need to come quickly!

This Weekend In Techno Town

This Friday night two clubs will be competing for your techno business! DJ Kimball Collins (Aahz) is back from Thailand and joining up with local favorite DJ Andy Hughes for a night of House music at The Peacock Room. At the same time downtown at Suite B Lounge, DJ's Heather Collins, Jennifer Marley (Party 95.com) and Bella will join DJ Davie-D for House mixed a bit more with Breaks. Both should be awesome!!
Saturday night check out recording artist Dev at club Boss downtown. As we continue to see more and more Hip Hop artists embrace Electronic and make tons of money by doing it, a genre called Electro Hop is gaining popularity as it fuses the best of both. Think Black Eyed Peas. No doubt she'll be performing her hits Booty Bounce and Bass Down Low! (see video above)

PI Update: Follow The New Pathway

Let's follow the new main pathway to see how it's going to cross through beautiful Pleasure Island on its way from Marketplace to the West Side. The recently refurbished path above is adjacent the under-renovation LEGO World of Imagination.

Near the T-REX Cafe the pathway crosses the brand new #1 Bridge to Pleasure Island. One can see the green doors in the background which is where the path is headed.

Here at the Lily Pad the main pathway will head towards the current green doors to the left of Portobello. Supposedly the current main pathway that turns left here and heads towards Raglan Road will still exist but the intent is to keep you on that new main pathway. Some sort of "ferry terminal" building will exist to the right, sources say, connecting to the Fulton's ferry boat.

Of course the door and walls will be gone and the main pathway will continue beyond here with small shops and a "lighthouse" style beacon drawing you in that direction.

The small shops will exist in what today is the service court for Raglan and Portobello.

The main pathway then makes a 90-degree turn to the left where club Motion used to stand and points you in the direction of Paradiso 37, Adventurers Club and the #3 Bridge to the West Side.

Looking now from the opposite direction, we can see the former site of RRBC and the future site of the waterfront Amphitheater. Sticks will little flags have been planted as the goal is to get this thing open by summer.