by james f. on Sadly I have become a somewhat jaded New Yorker. I hear let's hang out in the meatpacking district and I immediately think : long lines, high covers , and arbitrary door policies; all for the privilege to hang out with people I would normally avoid. So imagine my surprise to actually enjoy The Park on my two visits there. I didn't notice any popped collars or trashy looking women, the crowd here is pretty young, attractive and cool(...... how did I get in??). No cover? On a Saturday? In meatpacking area? I'm pleasantly surprised. The door policy will probably piss off some guys but seems fair. Basically your party has to have at least one girl for each guy. Solo guys or groups of guys alone probably won't be let in. It sucks for a boys night out, but it does keep it from being a sausage party. The doormen were quite hospitable, not really friendly, but not the near psychotic, steroid enraged bouncers of many area clubs. Once inside there are multiple bars, a outdoor seating area/ lounge and upstairs dance floor. I ventured upstairs and found it dark and pretty crowded but I was fond of the outdoor balconies. Not bad in small doses, but not where I'd spend my night. The downstairs bar and lounge area was less claustrophobic and had faster service at the bar. For a club in meatpacking district drink prices seemed reasonable: $7 for a Hoegaarden and $9 for a strong rum & coke. My only real dislike was the only restrooms I could find were in the basement. They were clean, it just seemed a club this size would have more restrooms. The Park = only place I'd venture to i meatpacking district.
by Randa Kudla on If you know me and you probably don't because I'm as stealth as Osama Bin Laden, you'll know that every Thursday night you can find me at Mood Nightclub in Hollywood. I frequent Mood like R. Kelly frequents the local high schools to find girls to pee on, and after each session at Mood, I always go to K-Town for some after drinks grub. This week however, er, tonight, my friends showed me a spot I never thought existed much less opened at 2 in the morn. That place is Venice Restaurant: a skip, a jump, and two cart wheels away from Mood. We had pizza here tonight and I must say (according to a drunk me) that the pizza here is what the kids these days call "hyphy." The crust was thin, the cheese was dripping, and with good company telling stories about parole officers, shanks, and people getting stabbed, it was a perfect spot for a beautiful Thursday night in Hollywood. I probably will never visit this place when the sun is up, but I will sure as hell stop by next Thurs. or maybe the following for some of that sexy pizza. One thing's for sure, drunk or not, the pizza here is better than Shitos, er, Vitos. One word: Hyphy.
