Club Reports: Kush Hookah Lounge, Side Bar, Peek Downtown, Bar B

The Blog does try to avoid visiting the same places each week in order to give readers ideas about places to visit themselves. So we began Friday night at Kush Hookah Lounge.

We found none other than DJ Jerry "The Reverend" Johnson (USA) in the booth spinning his typically-eclectic mix of music.

We spotted keyboardist Johnny Diggs (USA) on one of the many sofas in the small club. He had played earlier at one of the Fringe Festival events.

Just a small contingent of hookah fans on hand at this early hour.

Decided to drop-in on Side Bar to see what was up. Only the second visit in as many years since it converted from Vixen Bar.

No DJ in the booth here; just canned Hip Hop hits provided the backdrop.

The long bar was seeing some activity though.

And they have this awesome Orlando brand name mural on the wall.

But the front window area ain't what it used to be as Vixen.

When a DJ booth occupied the space with DJ's like Sandy and Tooltime playing!

This nook under the stairs is now wasted real estate compared to Vixen days.

As the original location of the DJ booth with DJ's like Jimmy Joslin spinning! Sadly, Side Bar is nothing like Vixen Bar.

 

Private party at Peek Downtown last night to hear some sad news.
We'll share the news later in the new week.

DJ Castillo (USA) was providing the beats!

Spotted behind the bar: Club Owner Sammy with Bartendress Lindsay.

Spotted in front of the bar: DJ White Wolf (USA).

OK, now over to Bar B for the Tooltime birthday party show!

Arrived in time to see DJ Phin (USA) finish out his Breaks set on the patio.

While inside DJ Ohm (USA) was in the middle of his Breaks set.

A few brave souls had ventured onto the dance floor!

All Breaks all night!

Of course Breaks leads to break dancers!

Always a special night when DJ Sandy (USA) performs!

But we still had more watchers than dancers.

While back outside DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA) had taken over.

Now out here...it was crowded!

And his Classic Dance set had the people bouncing!

Spotted on the patio: DJ Junglebot (USA) who had played earlier, with Marcia.

Spotted on the dance floor: Elaina and Yana

Spotted by the booth: World Famous Shawn Fenn

Spotted on the dance floor: Christina and Renee

Spotted looking fine: DJ Jenn Dizzle (USA)

Of course we remember DJ Sandy as one of the resident DJ's at House of Blues Service Industry Night (SIN) back in the day!

The dance floor was starting to get busier!

As DJ Dave London (GB/USA) took over!

And the floor was finally cranking!

The bar was busy too with the club's namesake Barbie delivering her mixology!

Dave London's famous remix of Tony Allen hit "Take Me Higher".

Spotted inside: Elaina, Dance Singer Fal-N (USA) and Nicole.

 

 

 

 

Birthday boy himself DJ Tooltime (USA) closing out the night on the inside!

Spotted here earlier with Promoter Pete Manos.

Inside dance floor suddenly now close to impassable!

Closing set outside from DJ Losman (USA).

He had everyone out here moving too!

Great sets! Great night!

A good time was had by all.

Friday Funny

LOL. DJ duo Yellow Clay (NL) played Gilt Nightclub last night.
"Yellow Mother Fucking Claw" indeed!

MegaCon Weekend Official Parties

MegaCon Orlando is coming early this year instead of on Memorial Day weekend. And there are 3 official parties this year taking place in 3 different venues! More info and tickets can be found here.

Kickoff Party Thursday at Icebar.  Features live 80's band Switch.

Enchantment Under the Sea Dance Friday at Club 3Nine in the Rosen Center Hotel. Band Johny Wild & The Delights with DJ Elliot between sets.

Altered Identity Closing Party Saturday at Icon Park (Orlando Eye). All DJ sets with DJ Elliot 8-10, DJ Daggett 10-12 and DJ Evolv3 12-2.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY MAY 16
Yellow mother fucking Claw (NL) tomorrow night at Gilt Nightclub. Will likely sell-out. Absolute bedlam! Arrive early! Trap / Heavy Bass.

THURSDAY MAY 16
Slightly calmer on Thursday night will be Miami-based GTA (USA) which stands for Good Times Ahead. They'll be playing at Celine.  Electro House / EDM.

FRIDAY MAY 17
The show of the weekend takes place at Bar B as we celebrate DJ Tooltime's (USA) birthday with a lineup you can see on the flyer that includes Jimmy Joslin, DJ Sandy and Dave London (all USA). And it's FREE! Old Skool Classics / Breaks.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY-SATURDAY
We will have a special article tomorrow (Thursday) on the Blog just about the 3 Megacon dance parties this year!

SUNDAY MAY 19
For anyone with any energy left on Sunday afternoon into early evening. DJ Nathan Barato (CDN) at Elixir. House.

Downtown Update: Church Street That Bleak Street

Long past its glory years as Church Street Station, Church Street's future remains full of promise but today contains lots of empty storefronts.

This spot most recently was Danny & Pats but never gave many reasons for visiting. Prior to that it was German-themed Schumann's Jager Haus yet most people remember it as the club Dragon Room. But now, empty.

Back in Orlando's history this was indeed Herman's Loan Office but most recently it operated as Native Social Bar. Saw a lot of amazing DJ's play in there! When we looked inside this visit the closest bar was fully stocked so it's not clear what it's used for. Prior to Native it operated for years as Mako's. But now, empty.

One of Orlando's best Top 40 dance clubs was the beloved Antigua. Someone thought it was a good idea to close the place and reopen two venues to replace it, The Dubliner on the left and Don Jefe's Tequila Parlour on the right. The Dubliner is now Irish Shannon's and seems to be holding its own. But the spot on the right, empty.

After literally years of renovations, this former railroad station building opened as Ferg's Depot. It didn't last long. For now, empty.

A few bright spots though along Church Street. Hidden down an alley is Clandestino which is where Rok Bar and later Bakery Bar used to offer music.

And this long-empty spot in the 55 West building now houses restaurant Artisan's Table. The location opened as nightclub Heat for awhile and upstairs a club called Loft operated.

Another bright spot is this space behind Hamburger Mary's adjacent the Church Street SunRail station where a food hall is supposed to be going in. It will need to include a lot of bright signage to make it visible to passersby. Come check out Church Street where several other venues continue to operate to provide nightlife!

DS Update: NBA Experience Tickets

Big thanks to several Blog readers who alerted us that tickets to the new NBA Experience are now on sale at the Walt Disney World website here. The tickets are not date-specific but will allow you to avoid the box office queue at the venue. NBA Experience will be located in Disney Springs West Side where DisneyQuest used to stand. 
Interestingly, just last week our article speculated that NBA Experience must be opening before the new restaurant/brewpub that will be part of the complex because the opening date on the sign at the restaurant was moved to Winter, 2019 which is December whereas the sign in front of NBA Experience remains Summer, 2019. This turns out to be true because the opening date for NBA Experience has been announced for Monday, August 12th. Also interesting, the restaurant must be completely unrelated to NBA Experience even though it's in the same building because in the NBA Experience Q&A it says:

5) Can you purchase food and beverages inside the experience?

No. There are no places to purchase food or beverages inside, however Disney Springs is filled with restaurants around the NBA Experience.