Club Reports: Ember, Ritz Ybor, Barbarella, The Castle, Czar

One of the really beautiful spaces downtown is Ember.

On Fridays they have a guitarist outside followed by a live band.  On Saturdays they have DJ's playing Top 40 and EDM.

It can be a little toasty outside on summer evenings but that never seems to stop crowds from gathering for Happy Hour.  Good drink prices and ample food items to choose from.

If you're partying downtown and are getting an early start, Ember is the place to begin!

OK, over to Tampa for the Paul Oakenfold concert at Ritz Ybor.  WTF!

I did get an email but unfortunately it was received after I had already departed for Tampa.  I feel sorry for the girl who arrived next to me who said she had flown-in from Boston for the show!

Unexpected visit then to Barbarella, the I-Bar clone in Ybor City.

DJ Matt (Independent Bar) on the controls playing the Friday night Indie format.  Saturday nights are 80's New Wave/Old Wave just like at I-Bar.

Looks like an I-Bar logo has been added to the rear wall under the monitors!

Very light crowd during my early visit.

One can't visit Ybor without a visit to The Castle!

Friday night's "Midnight Mass" featuring DJ Sean on the boards.  He is now playing from a booth on the stage in the main room rather than from the DJ booth.

You can never go wrong with Go-Go girls!

Through the haze the floor stayed pretty full for Goth, Synth Pop and Dark Wave music!

I did not go into Czar, the Soviet-themed club holding their Friday night "Peoples' Party".

Long line waiting to get in before they opened at 10:30pm.

And still a long line to get in around 1am.  I'm told Czar has 4 rooms with different music styles including the main room playing House/EDM.  So I will definitely need to check this place out sometime. Твоё здоровье!

PI Update: Splitsville & More

On my way to beautiful Pleasure Island Thursday afternoon and making a stop at Florida's first Wawa!  Well-known to those from the mid-Atlantic states, they're planning to build more than a hundred of these things in the Orlando and Tampa metro areas.

What makes it a bit unique is the hoagie operation.  You order and pay for your sandwich from the numerous terminals and then wait for your number to be called. The place was mobbed. As to the rest of the place, it's really just another convenience store.  While not on Disney property, this is of interest to many Disney guests. Location #1 is located on I-Drive at Central Florida Parkway near Sea World.  Welcome Wawa. Competition is always good.

An update from Downtown Disney West Side and construction on the former Virgin Mega Store.  The sign saying Splitsville is coming "Fall, 2012" remains posted.  

Blog roving reporter Thommy sent us this camera-phone photo of interior construction.  As you can see, there is a long way to go!

< Construction on the exterior facing the main pedestrian pathway continues and includes this outward expansion.

Likewise on the exterior facing the AMC Downtown Disney 24 theater complex.  I just don't see how they can possibly finish construction and open this place in 2012.  >

A firsthand look at the new DTD directional sign on the Island near Mannequins. Will post a story about the Pleasure Island name next week!

PI Update: They Promised Us Details!

When oh when are they finally going to tell us something about Downtown Disney and more specifically about Pleasure Island?

Last August the bi-annual D23 Expo of Disney fans was held.  Because Disney had previously announced the suspension of the Hyperion Wharf project for Pleasure Island, there was great anticipation that something would get announced at D23.  Nothing was announced.  The outcry was so loud from Disney World fans that Tom Staggs, President of Disney Parks and Resorts was forced to say something later that day. He posted this on the Disney Parks Blog:

Thanks to all of you for your responses. Your passion, energy and affection for our parks and resorts is the reason we do what we do so I appreciate your feedback. I know many of you were hoping for announcements regarding new projects from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, especially at Walt Disney World Resort, so I wanted to take a moment to address those comments.
The projects we’ve already announced represent the largest period of growth ever in Disney Parks’ history. We’re working hard to create new and exciting experiences for our guests around the world and while the timing isn’t always right to announce another big project, we like to use opportunities like the D23 Expo to update fans like you on the great progress we’re making. We have several incredible projects currently in the works and look forward to sharing more information with all of you in the weeks and months ahead, including new details regarding Downtown Disney in Florida.

That was last August.  We're now 11 months since that post and are rapidly approaching 4 years since the PI clubs were closed.  Still nothing.  Why?  Apparently there are both small and large plans for Downtown Disney and the larger plans are being described by those in the know as "incredible".  The Blog has previously reported rumors of a huge expansion of DTD that could triple its size.  We've reported about a trolley system that would run the entire length of the development, beginning at Old Key West, circling around DTD and ending at Saratoga Springs. We've reported on multiple fountains in the lake, a dedicated exit ramp westbound off I-4 and of both parking garages and valet parking.  We've reported on various Schussler Creative restaurant concepts that may be coming.  But these all remain rumors and Disney has announced nothing. How PI fits-in all this remains to be seen. But we do know where PI fits-in......right in the middle!               (SPI Blog roving reporter Thommy contributed to this article.)

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY JULY 19
People all over the country are constantly begging DJ/Producer Baby Anne to play in their city!  But we're fortunate to get to see her more than anyone since O-Town is her hometown!  Breaks, House, Dance Classics. Thursday night at Vintage Lounge downtown!  (Price N/A)

FRIDAY JULY 20
He hasn't played Orlando since November, 2010 but Tampa has one of the world's top DJ's, Paul Oakenfold (GB), this Friday night at club Ritz Ybor!  Should be packed!  ($25-35)

Closer to home on Friday night at Suite B Lounge, its the NLP DJ's back on the boards featuring DJ's Matrix, JDub, MX and David Selgado. Special guest, breaks specialist DJ Wavewhore!  ($5)

Even more on Friday night over at Senso Supperclub with DJ Oscar G from club Space in Miami.  House/Progressive. (Price N/A)

SATURDAY JULY 21
We haven't heard much out of Firestone Live lately other than their weekly Thursday night Ignition event which apparently is doing pretty well.  This Saturday night is the launch party for a new weekly event called "Saturdays at Firestone". (clever name)  There will be EDM DJ's playing in all 4 spaces including Henry Fong, Nymz and Kid Judah.  (Price N/A)

PI Update: Article Published About Island

Veteran Save Pleasure Island Blog roving reporter Thommy has had an article published on the Dis-Unplugged website entitled, Pleasure Island: Dispelling the Myths. The article gives the history of the circumstances that led up to the closure of the Pleasure Island dance and comedy clubs and knocks-out several false theories about what happened.  Interesting reading here. 

Thommy also was part of a 1-hour discussion about Pleasure Island earlier this month on the Dis-Unplugged Podcast.  It's an hour long discussion about PI and DTD.  If you want to tune-in, click here and then click on the Downtown Disney selection.  Gee, if Thommy's scholarly research continues to get published, he may start demanding that we call him Professor Thommy!

Mannequins Memories: Cast Member Costumes

Typical Mannequins bartender wardrobe with full upper regalia as modeled by Gordo.

Typical Mannequins door host/wait staff wardrobe with half upper regalia as modeled by Oscar. (From a prior article, note that door at the rear that leads to the Mannequins offices.)

Typical Mannequins mannequin wardrobe with full body regalia as modeled by Manny.

8TRAX Reunion Coming In September

The picture above was not taken at 8TRAX, it was taken at Retro Room this past February when we held the first-ever 8TRAX Reunion!  By popular request, the next Reunion has been scheduled.  Mark your calendar now:  Saturday, September 22nd at Retro Room. Relive the glory days of 70's Disco, 80's Classics and the fun we had at 8TRAX on beautiful Pleasure Island.  Original 8TRAX DJ Pete Haynes will be in the house spinning your favorite tunes.  Lots of extra fun is planned and more details will be provided as the date grows closer!  **UNOFFICIAL EVENT**  RETRO ROOM AND SAVE PLEASURE ISLAND BLOG ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.  8TRAX IS A TRADEMARK OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND IS USED HERE TO PUBLICIZE AN EVENT FOR FANS OF THE FORMER NIGHT CLUB.

Club Reports: The Beacham, Suite B Lounge, Vixen Bar

A rally was held last night at The Beacham to try to show that Hip Hop is not dead as reported by the Blog yesterday.  Long line of people working their way into the club to support the scene.

DJ Richie Rich was playing EDM when I first came in and it was unexpected here but sounded great!

The floor was about one-third full with people from last night's 80's Pub Crawl. Dayglow colors and head bands were all over downtown last night!

But as the night wore on and it got more crowded, the music did switch over to Hip Hop.

Richie Rich in the booth hanging with Shelly Flash from radio station 102JAMZ!

But he'll be spinning all-EDM tonight at House of Blues for their Service Industry Night!

Huge crowd making a stand for Hip Hop!

Over to Suite B Lounge where there's never a shortage of EDM.

DJ Cheyenne M (Bliss, The Groove Techno Night) spinning an awesome mix of Dance!

Good crowd on hand!

Spotted: Suite B bartender Lisa had the night off and was partying with friends celebrating their 1-year anniversary.

DJ Chuppa continuing with more House and Top 40/Dance.

It was the type of music one would hear in Bliss Ultra Lounge on Saturday nights, except Bliss ain't there no more!

Over to Vixen Bar for the NLP DJ's!

DJ Matrix in the booth when I arrived playing mostly Breakbeats.

The small dance floor was jammed.

Spotted:  Steve & Duane from Mannequins!

Spotted:  NLP announcer Marybeth looking awesome in a denim mini and supertall heels!

And despite this scowl from DJ Beni Hill, a good time was had by all!