2309 North Temple Avenue
Starke, FL 32091
Bradford County
Phone: (904) 966-2229
Fax: unknownWebsite: no website on fileEmail: no email on fileHours: unknown
by Harrison C. on As a person who's clubbed all over the world, this one rates pretty high on my list. But I do have several reasons why my impression might be a bit skewed or one sided. 1) I have several friends who work there as either sound and video techs, as well as bouncers and bartenders, and 2) I like all music and all crowds, and having worked in the industry myself I usually enjoy a good crowd and crazy time. Compound is a single club that has roughly 6 (sometimes 7 if they open the far back area) parts to it for people to mingle, talk, drink, or dance in, sometimes all 4 at once. Friday is Hosted by The popular hip hop station V-103 with Ryan Camron and Saturdays are now host of the top 40 station Q-100s Saturday Night Q w/ Adam Bomb, just some insight as to what kind of music you can expect, but by no means limited to. So let's take a tour! The First is Tenshi Gardens, host to the live bands, open air patio, small lit pond, and decent sitting area. Usually a band is there, otherwise they pump mainly house or more exotic chill and lounge here, however, later in the night music from MB1 is pumped out there as the people shift to fill in Ride at midnight. The Second area is MB1, also known as the crowded frond room, the glass steam room, etc. This is mainly a dance/lounge with bars on both sides, and due to poor planning, bathrooms on one side that kill some inflow traffic (Trust me, the owner hates it too). Here you can usually expect mash up house/top 40/hip hop/and other styles by a live DJ. Since Ride in the back opens at midnight, and often people don't know that it does, MB1 tends to fill fast before the night begins. On a brief note, there is a Private VIP room that resembles a Midtown expensive Bond style apartment bedroom (equipped with shower and cali king bed) called The Loft that rarely sees action, but for the sake of the review I will mention, it's cool, very weird for a club, and mostly used as a shortcut or meeting room for the club unless it's being rented. It's attached to MB1, next to the booth.... ok, moving on. The Fourth area is Ride Patio, it's self explanatory, but I'll explain anyway, this area opens just before they open Ride itself. Has 2 large bars, a fountain, some sitting areas, nothing too special, but gives a good area to chill, talk, refill on a drink, or get in a conversation with the person of interest you just met and tried to yell your phone number to on the dance floor earlier. This area can get really heavy when the whole club is busy as it gets the most traffic when Ride and MB1 are both full and people go back and fourth. Music here is piped in from Ride where the "main" floor is. The Fifth area, Ride is the back area, the "main" floor, the larger dance floor, and host to the main VIP tables and area as well. Ride has a large garage door entrance, as well as a smaller one off the side bar. This place fills fast when it opens, and plays host to the in crowd displays of the VIP, the main (and sometimes better) DJ, and the higher intensity sound and lighting system. With 16 (I think,, don't quote me on it) projector screens, and too many speakers to count, it's by far the most visually stimulating and exciting room of the club as well as the bigger sound system. Be prepared to be packed in around 1am on when the music is loud, the crowd is at full, and the energy is about at it's peak, this can shift to around 2 am during the active months (summer, spring and early fall). All in all Ride is the heart of Compounds dance and night club experience. Attached to the back, the Sixth area is a smaller room called the Bamboo Room. It is located just behind the Main DJ and VJ booth of Ride. Usually it is open to anyone that can get there, but on busy nights it is used as an additional VIP area for larger groups. Its not too special, has dim normal lighting and softer music still piped from Ride. The steel curtains and theme do create a nice space to chill from the main party and still see and hear Ride in full swing. The Seventh area, and rarely used, is called Rail. It's been used for large shows sometimes, as a concert venue, I have yet to see it used but once and even then it was a large private function. Other than that, it's just the name of the back lot! So there's Compound. If you want to park, be prepared to hunt, and it can get pricey unless you are sneaky and a little brave, or early. Cover is the usual $10 to $20 depending on the nightly events, and drinks are more or less the usual club prices from $5 to $12. It's a nice club, has several millions in tech and sound to keep it popular and up to date, and usually can turn out a great crowd even on the rainy cooler nights of fall and winter. So if you haven't gone, go, if I'm there and I know I'll slip ya in myself, unless it's not your scene, then by all means, get out there and find what you want, never settle for something you aren't comfortable in, but always have fun! Peace! Carter
by Daron Burget on I've been to Tao about 8 times in the past 2 years.. with vendors, with friends, and with family. Everyone (including myself) enjoyed the experience. At first the place can intimidate - the high ceilings, dimly lite bar area, and huge statue at the end... but once you are seated... the night just gets better. The seating is tightly packed but that just adds to the fun. The service is great. The food is awesome. The noise can get a bit annoying... but who cares if you are having fun. You have to make reservation! but they are good at honoring it and seating you promptly. I have not seen that many tourists but its very eye catching so I can see how this place is probably in all the tour guides and books. And... yes... its pricey... but its Manhattan and worth it 100% Overall!! You have to go. Enjoy it. Liv it. Love it. Experience it.
