A Survival guide to Clubbing in Vancouver (x = = bring your pepper spray 3 ee = prepare for bad pick-up lines kx = = wear clean socks a = this place isn’t in Vancouver by: Mia Thomsett The sound of cars and ambu- lances on the streets of down- town are heard from Alan’s ninth floor apartment in the West End. jill, Alan, and | are lis- tening to loud techno and mak- ing ourselves look pretty for a night out downtown. The door shuts behind us as we press the down button on the wall and we hotbox the elevator with strong perfume. It’s Monday, the first day of what we decided was going to be a straight week of clubbing. Monday re DV8 - 515 Davie Street 682.4388 xe Luv-a-fair - 1275 Seymour St 685.3288 We packed into Alan’s car and drove down to DV8, a candle-lit cafe-bar on Davie where, altogether, I’ve probably spent two years of my life. There’s something about DV8 that’s really inviting — it makes you want to sit around for hours even though you can tell the staff are getting anxious for your money. We went and sat in our booth and ordered some beer which came a few minutes later in a pitcher, along with three pre-chilled glasses. Mondays are “Smokin’ Beats, Progressive House,” so there’s usually a DJ upstairs on the balcony. On the ratty purple walls were some badly framed pop-ish, colourful paint- ings that caused some discussion about gallery art vs. cafe art. Spending too long arguing about art, we figured we should just leave and go to the dreaded Luv-a-fair. Trying to get a well-rounded view of the Vancouver club scene, one must go to a few meat market clubs like Luv-a-fair. I swear, we’re in there two minutes and this really drunk guy comes up to me and says, “Hey, I don’t usually do this but I saw you from over there, and I think you’re really — “Um, no thanks.” I answered. And then I watched him go off to the bar and use the exact same line on some other unsuspecting girl. Though Luvafair can be entertaining at times, you have to be careful not to be overly social because you might end up with weirdos following you home, looking for some “action.” is Tuesday The Arts Club Lounge - 1585 Johnston Street 687.1354 > x The Wild Coyote Bar and Grill - 1312 SW Marine Drive 264.7625 stare PA Getting out of Art History class, we left the warm, comforting halls of ECIAD, and walked down the street to partake in our weekly ritual at the Arts Club. Every art stu- dent should know that Tunie Tuesday means cheap beer, no cover for Emily Carr students, and a chance to get sloshed in front of your schoolmates. Like every week, we found some friends to sit with and stayed for a few hours, drinking Granville Island beer, and watching people dance to old music. I bet the DJ has a cd that he sticks in and then just pretends to be djing because he plays the same songs every Tuesday. Hearing the Jackson Five for the third week in a row, I decided it was time to leave, but we stopped off at the Wild Coyote down on Marine Drive because it was on the way. Tuesdays are “Chihuahua Loco” where they have specials on tequila, margaritas and Sol beer. The place is made up to look like some party in Mexico but the homey crowd just gives it all away. I was in the middle of drinking a two foot long marguerita when suddenly it was like I.entered my high school reunion. People I was never friends with in school came up to me and said, “Hi! No way! Cool!” This sad reminder of my High School days had to be ended, so I gathered my friends and left. Wednesday “sete Odyssey - 1251 Howe Street 689.5256 oe Subeez Cafe - 891 Homer Street 687.6107 After getting some pizza at one of Vancouver’s many fine ninety nine cent pizza places, Jill, Alan and I decided to go to the Odyssey’s “lips Inc.” drag show. When we walked in, there was a look-a-like of Tina Turner doing a song on stage, and she was good! The crowd was really involved in the whole thing which I didn’t expect — it was all really high-energy. We drank blueberry cider and chatted with some really glam women. After dancing for two hours straight, our faces were red and we looked pretty yucky, but we continued onto Subeez, a late night cafe, to get some of their garlic-mayo fries which we don’t really like but still order every time. The music was really good, but too loud, and the fries were the same as always. The funniest thing about Subeez is the coffee. It comes on a little Influx: Magazine February 1999 Photography by Mia Thomsett metal plate, with a little jug of cream, and a glass of lukewarm water. The best thing on the menu is the pesto fettuccini, which is good if you share it with someone, and then get the zebra cake for dessert. The service was really slow on Wednesday but we got what we want- ed in the end. Thursday ge WE Madison’s - 398 Richards Street 687.5007 seo oe: Sonar - 66 Water Street 683.6695 The three of us couldn’t bear the thought of going out again. My legs felt dead and I real- ly wanted to fall asleep in front of the TV instead of going dancing again. But we went down to Madison’s anyways, for “Psychedelic Goa-Trance.” It cost us three dollars to get in, which we were happy with, after spending so much money already on clubs that week. We walked into this big, empty room with sort of fuzzy-sounding music and lights flashing hopefully over a vacant dance floor. I soon realized that the reason this was psychedelic Goa-Trance was because they had put up these black pieces of fabric with trippy fluo- rescent pictures printed on them. These blan- kets curiously re-appeared at a new years rave party I went to out in Steveston. Madison’s was getting more full with people, but we decided to go to Sonar before it closed at two a.m. Sonar is a couple of years old — it replaced the Town Pump, which was more of a venue for bands. Depending on which night you go on, the music at Sonar is good and normally there’s a lot of people there. But I’ve noticed that everyone does that for- mulated skippy-dance, and if you’re not doing it, you can be pretty sure that nobody will talk to you. I know that sounds dumb but I think it’s true! Friday * x * 1/2 Jupiter - 1220 Bute Street 669.8989 * * * 1/2 Chameleon Urban Lounge - 801 W Georgia Street 669.0806 Lately I’ve been hanging out a bunch at this place called Jupiter which I guess I’d describe as...a bar? Or maybe a lounge? I came to the realization that the place is set up like ten different people’s living rooms stuck together. It’s complete with mis-matched couches and chairs, strange Value Village-esque lamps, and huge oriental carpets. The ambience is very relaxing and it’s easy to make yourself feel at home, which we did. By accident we ordered a pitcher of really dark beer which didn’t go down too well at first, but by the time we fin- ished it, we liked it so much that we bought another! Much later that night, pulling our- selves out of the way too comfortable couch- es, we decided to go to the Chameleon for some drinks. Dragging our heavy selves from the other side of Downtown, we finally got to the Chameleon, in the basement of the Hotel Georgia. We waited in a lineup for about half an hour, which I don’t normally do, and then were finally let in after showing our ID. It was packed inside, and the place was done up in a lot of red velvet which made it feel really classy. It was impossible to find somewhere to sit, so we just stood there drinking cranti- nis, and listening to some music that I can’t classify because I’m not that cool. We finally sat down with some people I knew from school, and ended the night by smoking a whole pack of cigarettes. Saturday *** 1/2 Celebrities -1022 Davie Street 689.3180 The Roxy - 932 Granville Street 331.7999 Mars - 1320 Richards Street 662.7707 Feeling way too adventurous, we almost tried going to the Roxy, but chickened out at the last minute. There was a block-long lineup at the door, and a crazy testosterone-induced fight going on that I really didn’t want to be around, so we took off. I have to say that I’ve never had the courage to enter that place because the people in the lineup seem fright- ening, like wanting to pick a fight... but I think I’m just paranoid. We then tried going to Mars which also had a lineup, but this time, we actually waited in it for a while. Weeding our way through the plastic, we eventually got to the front, where we found out there was a dress code and ten dollars cover, which we decided was not cool, so we gave up on that too. But it was Saturday, and it was “Planet Fag” at Celebrities, so we went there and had so much fun! My friends and I think that Celebs is probably the best club in Vancouver because it’s big, the music is good to dance to, and most people there are really fun. We got in, bought drinks, and went upstairs where we could look down at the whole dance floor — perfect for those of us who like to indulge in a bit of voyeurism once in a while. Vancouver isn’t exactly famous for its club scene, but if you go out thinking you’re going to have a bad time, you will. I have three rules for clubbing — always go with a bunch of friends, don’t go seven days a week or you'll end up broke, and don’t rely on bars for meeting people! Survival guide to Clubbing in ancouver prepare for bad pick-up lines * bring your pepper spray ** bes ‘wear clean socks KK KK = this place isn’t in Vancouver by: Mia Thomsett The sound of cars and ambu- lances on the streets of down- town are heard from Alan's ninth floor apartment in the West End. jilAlan, and are li tening to loud techno and mak- ing ourselves look pretty for a night out downtown. The door shuts behind us as we press the down button on the wall and we hotbox the elevator with strong perfume. It’s Monday, the first day of what we decided was going to be a straight week of clubbing. ay Monday DVS - 515 Davie Street 682.4388 Lv-a-fair~ 1275 Seymour St 685.3288 We packed into Alan's car and drove down to DVS, a candles cafe-bar on Davie where, altogether, I've probably spent two years of ‘my lf, There's something about DVS that's really inviting — it makes you want sit around for hours even though you can tell the staff are geting anxious for your mones. We went and sat in our booth and ordered some beer which came afew minutes later a a pitcher, along sith three pre-chlled glasses. Mondays are “Smokin’ Beats, Progressive House,” so theres sully a BJ upstairs on the balcony. On the ratty purple walls were some badly framed pop-ish, colourful paint- ings that caused some discussion about fallery art vs. cafe art. Spending too long. lnguing about art, we figured we should just leave and go tothe dreaded Luv-a-fair. Trying to get a well-rounded view ofthe Vancouver club scene, one must go toa few scat market clubs like Luv-a-fair. I swear, sve'e in there two minutes and this ealy {drunk guy comes up to me and says, Hey, I don’ usually do this but I saw you from over there, and I thnk you're really — “Um, no thanks.” answered. And then T watched him go off to the bar and use the ‘exact same line on some other unsuspecting girl. Though Luvafair can be entertaining at times, you have to be careful not to be overly Socal because you might end up with weiedos following you home, looking for some 16 Tuesday +12 The Arts Club Lounge - 1585 Johaston Stet esr 334 : The Wild Coyote Bar and Gril 1312 SW Marine Dive 264.7625 Getting out of Art History class, we left the warm, comforting halls of ECIAD, and walked down the street to partake in our weekly ritual a the Arts Club, Every art stu dent should know that Tunie Tuesday means cheap beer, no cover for Emily Carr students, land a chance to get sloshed infront of your schoolmates. Like every week, we found Some frends to st with and stayed fora few hours, drinking Granville Island beer, and ‘watching people dance to old musi. T bet the DJ has a cd dat he sticks in and then just pretends to be djing because he plays the Same songs every Tuesday. Hearing the Jackson Five forthe third week in a row, I decided it was time to eave, but we stopped ‘off at the Wild Coyote down on Marine Drive ‘because it was on the way. Tuesdays are “Chihuahua Loco” where they have specials ‘on tequila, margaritas and Sol beer. The place is made up t0 look like some partyin Mexico but the homey crowd just gives it all away. Tas in the middle of drinking a two foot long marguerita when suddenly i was like Tentered my high school eunion. People Twas never friends with in school came up to sme and said, “Hil No way! Cool!” This sad reminder of my High Schoo! days had to be ended, so I gathered my friends and left ee Wednesday ae Odyssey = 1251 Howe Street 689.5256 +44 Subecz Cafe - 891 Homer Street 687.6107 After getting some pizza at one of Vancouver's ‘many fine ninety nine eet pizza places il, {Alan and I decided to goto the Odyssy’s tips Ine.” drag show. When we walked in, there was a look-a-like of Tina Turner doing a ‘song on stags, and she was good! The crowd twas really involved i the whole thing which I didn’t expect — it was all really high-energy We drank blueberry cider and chatted with some really glam women. After dancing for ‘wo hours straight, our faces were red and we Tooked pretty yucky, but we continued onto ‘Suibee, alate night cae, to et some of their farlcemayo fries which we don't really lke ‘but sll oer every time. The music was really ood, but t00 loud, and the fries were the sme as always. The funniest thing about Subeet isthe coffee. It comes ona litle Influx* Magazine February 1999 metal plate, witha ite jug of cream, and a flass of lukewarm water. The best thing on the ‘mend is the pesto fetucein, which is good if you share it ith someone, and then get the Zebra cake for dessert. The service was rally slow on Wednesday but we got what we want- cd inthe end ee EEE trursciay +12 Madison's ~ 398 Richards Street 687.5007 Sonar ~ 66 Water Suet 683.6095 The three of us couldn't bear the thought of going out agnin. My legs felt dead and I real- Ty wanted t fall asleep infront of the TV instead of going dancing again. But we went ddown to Madison's anyways, fr “Psychedelic Goa-Trance.” It cost us three dollars to get in which we were happy with, after spending so much money already on clubs that week. ‘We walked into this big, empty oom with sort ‘of fuzzy-sounding music and lights lashing hopefully over a vacant dancefloor. T soon realized thatthe reason this was psychedelic {Goa-Trance was because they had put up there black pices of fabric with tippy flu escent pictures printed on them. These blan- kets curiously reappeared ata new years rave party went to out in Steveston. ‘Madison’s was geting more full with people, ‘but we decided to go to Sonar befor it closed attwo am, Sonar is a couple of years old — it replaced the Town Pump, which was more fof a venue for bands. Depending on which night you go on, the music at Sonar is good and normally there's alot of people the But P've noticed that everyone does that for- mulated skippy-dance, and if you're not doing 4t, you can be pretty sure that nobody will talk to you. T know that sounds dumb but I think ae + +12 Jupiter - 1220 Bute Street 669.8989 +12 Chameleon Urban Lounge - 801 W Georgia Street, 669.0806 Lately Pve been hanging out a bunch at this place called Jupiter which I guess I'd describe 8. abar? Or maybe a lounge? I came t0 ization thatthe place is setup like ren rent people’ living room stuck together. Tes complete with mis-matched couches and chairs, strange Value Village-esque lamps, and Inuge oriental carpets. The ambience is very relaxing and i's easy to make yourself feel at home, which we did. By accident we ordered 4 pitcher of realy dark beer which didn't g0 ‘down too well at first, bur by the time we fin~ ished it, we liked it so much that we bought another! Much later that night, pulling our- Selves out ofthe way foo comfortable couch- We decided to goto the Chameleon for some drinks ‘Dragging our heavy selves from the other side ‘of Downtown, we finally got to the ‘Chameleon in the basement ofthe Hotel Georgia, We waited ina lineup for about half fan hour, which I don’t normally do, and then ‘were finally let ia after showing our ID. It ‘was packed inside, and the place was done up ina lotofred velvet which made i fee really classy, Te was impossible to find somewhere to itso we just stood there drinking eran nis, and listening to some music that I can't classify because I'm not that cool. We finally Sat down with some people I knew from School, and ended the night by smoking a whole pack of cigarettes. a Saturday 2 Celebrities -1022 Davie Street 689.3180 ‘The Roxy - 952 Granville Steet 331.7999 Mars - 1320 Richards Street 662.7707 Feeling way too adventurous, we almost tied soing to the Rexy, but chickened out atthe Tast minute, There was a blocklong lineup at the door, and a crazy testosterone-induced fight going on that I really didn't want to be around, 0 we took off, have to say that F've never had the courage to enter that place bbeeause the people i the lineup seem fright- ning, lke wanting to pick a fight. but [ think 'm just paranoid. We then tried going to Mars which also had a lineup, but dis fume, we actually waited in it for awhile ‘Weeding our way through the plastic, we eventually got to the font, where we found ‘out there was adress code and ten dollars ‘cover, which we decided was not cool, 50 we fave up on that too, But it was Saturday, and twas "Planct Fag” at Celebrities, so we went there and had so much fun! My fiends and 1 think that Celebs is probably the best club in Vancouver because i's big, the musi is ‘00d to dance to, and most people there are feally fun. We got in, Bought drinks, and ‘went upstairs where we could look down at the whole dance floor — perfect for those of. tus who like to indulge in abit of voyeurism once in a while ‘Vancouver isn’t exactly famous for its club scone, but if you go out thinking you're going to have a bad time, you will. Thave three rules for clubbing — always go with a bunch of friends, don’t go seven days a week or $ou'll end up broke, and don’t rely on bars for meeting people!