by Chris T. on I've driven by this place many a time on a late Friday or Saturday evening and watched as a long, long line of skimpily dressed girls shivered in the Seattle chill, waiting to get in to this club. So when my friend and I wanted to go dancing for a little bit on a Friday night, did an internet search for a place that didn't charge cover, and Ibiza popped up, I was pretty excited. Fast forward to 10:30 pm: we get in free, our guy friend pays $10, we walk in and the place is EMPTY (save for two people sitting in a booth and eating and one lonely looking guy at the bar). If this place weren't so swanky and posh, there would have been tumbleweeds blowing across the completely empty dance floor. But we stayed, figuring that if their happy hour/pre-funk specials on food and drinks lasted until 11 pm, that must have meant that all those skimpily dressed girls and suave guys that were usually lined up outside would come pouring in and the place would be jam-packed. We order $4 plate of the saddest nachos I have ever seen in my life and by the time we polished that off, we wanted to dance, empty dance floor or not, damn it! And then there was another problem: the music that was blasting over the speakers was not compatible with dancing. We sidled up to the DJ and made a couple requests, seeing as we were more than willing to get the dance party started and get other people to dance if the music was right. The DJ nodded conspiratorially so we thought he was gonna hook it up. We sat around through 15 minutes of crap music hoping he'd play our songs since we were the only people there...we even tried dancing but it didn't work. This place was unspeakably disappointing and if I didn't have such good friends to keep me company and if Ibiza didn't look so damn nice, I would have given it just one star. FAIL.
by Jamal G. on First things first... if you are going to try and sneak in through the side door, don't be the last one in after a few drinks at a near by dive bar. Why, you ask? Yo ass is going to get caught! I'd love to say I watched this happen but that wasn't the case. Instead it was me...I tried to talk my way out of it: Me, "Yo, I wasn't the only one" as I'm being pushed out the door. Security, "you were the one I caught... plus, they ran and you walked like I wouldn't see you." Later a fight nearly broke out in front of me. I told one of the doods it wasn't worth fighting... "do you know how much you'd have to pay for a piece of art?" Just to get yanked up by the same security guard, "You again?" Luckily for me I had the power of the White man on my side. "Hey Bro he was trying to stop the fight." One star for Top Flight Security Art show on a Friday night? Hopefully, there are enough people to make it interesting. Enough people? They had enough folks roll through they could have kicked everyone out at 10, then had a second show with just the folks still waiting in line, and it would have been crowded all the same. One star for a Supa Dupa Show Though it was crowded, I never felt smothered or too too hot, so I have to give them credit for that. The sound system was amazing, yet too much house music. Felt like someone took a jackhammer to my dome! I must say, I felt cheated!!! I thought there were going to be naked ladies prancing around looking beautiful like a free strip show without the dollas. Instead I played, put the body and face to the artwork. I matched 2 lovely ladies. wink wink All in all, 111 minna seems to be a great spot to hangout... now if they would only do something about the music.
by Billie Otsman on I love El Rio. No matter what the event, when it is, or who is playing, I always have a great time here. Between the patio, the pool table and the back room with music, there is something for every finicky friend who can't decide where to go on any given night. Last New Year's I spent celebrating on the patio and shakin' it to great music in the back room. Last night I went to Brazil Live, an event put on to showcase Brazilian music and dance every Thursday, and it was a blast. A great group of revelers were there, the caipirinha's were strong, and Sambada was bringing the house down. El Rio is the perfect place to go when you don't know where you should go:)
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