Club Reports: Independent Bar, Aero Bar, The Patio, Washington HiFi, Native Social Bar, Peek Downtown

Saturday night in the city with no specific plans.  So that means dropping in on Independent Bar as my first choice!

Nice surprise finding DJ Smilin' Dan in the booth!

And Tracy visiting with Lighting tech Ernie for some emergency shoe repair!

The music is early to mid-80's New Wave!

With Smilin' Dan playing both the IBar standards as well as some more obscure stuff. Always good times in here!

Now it was up to the rooftop for Aero Bar!

Saturday night resident DJ Cliff T in the booth putting out House/Dance!

Taking turns with resident DJ Dominick Morrison.

The outdoor club was jammed!

People dancing all over the place!

With Hurricane Juaquin having sucked all the heat and humidity out of Florida yesterday, it was just a great night not to be a shut-in!

When you can be outside dancing with the stars!

Sources tell Save Pleasure Island Blog that there's always a party at The Patio!

There certainly is when DJ Parry is on the controls!

Another outdoor venue, the club was also packed last night!

Music was generally Top 40/Dance.

 Spotted on the dance floor: Precious duo Aubrey & Renee

So much energy in the place!  Lots of fun!

It's like this on Friday nights too!

Washington HiFi refers to the back room at The Patio which has it's own scene.

In here we had DJ Rock Johnson spinning Hip Hop hits.

And during my visit I got to experience "The Wobble"!

Wobble baby wobble!  First time I ever witnessed "The Wobble" in downtown Orlando.

Quick visit to Native Social Bar over on Church Street.

Another surprise, finding DJ Jason Brown in the Native booth!

Breaks baby!

 Spotted in VIP: Christi with Future Sound of Breaks "head" Glyn S. Morgan

Dancers on the dance floor!

Last stop of the night, Peek Downtown.

DJ X-Andy in the booth delivering House music!

I wasn't sure what to expect but the club was packed!

I've been seeing more and more people dancing at a fast pace to House music as the genre apparently has gained its own dance moves!  We'll call it House dancing!

Brazil in the house!  Had not seen X-Andy since 2013 at Rok Room.

California's DJay Ross was up next who would continue the vibe!

Awesome music had everybody bouncing!

That feeling you get from House music!

A good time was had by all!

New Years Eve Is Coming!

Can you believe New Years Eve is less than 3 months away?  We're happy to let you know that Blog-favorite DJ Dominick Morrison has confirmed with us that he will be returning to EPCOT: China on NYE for another evening of EDM / Dance hits.

The outdoor setting, complete with fire-belching Chinese dragon, gets absolutely packed with dancers!

And we're also happy to report that another Blog-favorite DJ Mark Sanchez has confirmed with us that he will be returning to EPCOT: Italy for another New Years Eve of House music out on the piazza!

This one gets packed too! New Years Eve at EPCOT is an amazing experience and a good time is had by all!

Club Reports: Independent Bar, Rok Room, Peek Downtown

Checking out IBar on a Thursday night to see how their "Old Soul and Rock'n'Roll" night is doing. 

DJ Mo Fuzz in the booth delivering music from the 50's through the 90's.

Only a handful of people in the entire place and the dance floor had capacity.

Next stop Rok Room, now open on Thursday nights to try to gain the old Vixen Bar crowd.

DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA) in the booth.  He will be joining DJ's Richie Rich & Magic Mike this coming Sunday night for the final Service Industry Night at House of Blues in Disney Springs.

That dance floor will be packed.  This one had capacity!

 I don't go out often on Thursday nights, but when I do, it's for a good reason.  Final stop Peek Downtown!

Arrived around midnight to find DJ Fobia in the Peek booth.

The club was already filling and there was a definite buzz in the air!

The good reason for being out:  DJ Kimball Collins (T)

House music from the master!

Dance floor filled-up!

People were really getting into the music!

Nothing like one of his AAHZ nights but still awesome!

Spotted on the dance floor: The übercool LadyV

Spotted at the bar: DJ's Vitamin C & Pedro Vazquez. Photobomb courtesy of Jennifer!

Spotted on the dance floor: World famous Shawn Fenn

Kimball's U.S. tour takes him to Denver this weekend! 

That feeling you get from House music!

A good time was had by all!

This Weekend In Techno Town

TONIGHT OCT 1
The Orlando return of DJ Kimball Collins (T) takes place tonight at Peek Downtown. Sure to be packed.  With Lauro & Fobia opening.  Only $5 before 11:30PM.

FRIDAY OCT 2
Special session of "Lost in Trancelation" at Bikkuri Lounge with DJ Sean Tyas (CH).  Trance set.

SATURDAY OCT 3
House of Blues has Adventure Club (CDN), Shaun Frank (CDN) & Paris Blohm (USA).

SUNDAY OCT 4
Event of the weekend is the final ever Service Industry Night at House of Blues at Disney Springs West Side. DJ's Richie Rich & Magic Mike.

PI Update: Dinner At Mannequins

When we walked out of Mannequins at 2:40AM on September 28, 2008, who would have guessed that walking back in wasn't going to happen for over 7 years?  And so it was with long-building anticipation that I approached Morimoto Asia on their opening night!

The nicely-lit entry way is located in Mannequins southeast corner where the downstairs bathrooms used to be.

The inside foyer upon arrival where waiting hostesses take you to your table.  The lighting fixture is made up of glass water bottles from the old Disney Springs water bottling company.

And the main dining room, where Mannequins dance floor used to be, is now filled with tables and booths!

And there she is, the home of that former revolving dance floor! One of our prior sources told us the floor was too expensive to remove so they planned to build Morimoto's floor right over it.  That remains a possibility.

Our waitress Brittany knew a lot about Mannequins but didn't know the disposition of the floor.  But according the Morimoto Asia General Manager Paul, the floor was removed!  He told me it was rotten, filled with water and had to be removed in sections with the hole filled.  I'm skeptical!  But even if it's there, it's not accessible and there sadly doesn't appear to be any nightlife aspect to this place.

 

Mannequins elevator is still here.  On the first floor it faces indoors instead of outside but here on the second floor it lets you out near where the DJ booth used to reside.

And adjacent the elevator there are bars on both the first and second floors.  Music played inside was Electronic Downtempo.

Many of the former purple load-bearing steel pillars from Mannequins still exist, painted anew!

And although the decor has changed significantly, you can still feel Mannequins original design such as this raised area along the north wall, above where Dawn used to bartend!  It's just that now when you stare down from up there, you see diners instead of dancers.

Upstairs along that north wall is the home of their sushi bar.  You can access this through the restaurant or directly from outside via a separate entry door across from Raglan Road.

Looking west towards the new kitchen downstairs and that private dining area upstairs, this seems to fit where the old stage used to stand.

Food was very good; I liked it better than The Boathouse. Not sure about 8TRAX as this kitchen area may be deep and extend into it. Will inquire further.  So nightlife here may be a bust, but as a restaurant, you'll definitely like it.