by Sharon J. on Finally, a spot where a Bay Area girl can feel the San Francisco love! I can't believe after living here for a bit, I have finally found a home where Giants fans can gather and cheer together with a thunderous roar almost rivaling AT&T ballpark itself! I was in heaven yesterday watching the Lincicum and the Giants shut down the Phillies for Game 1! In addition to the sea of beautiful orange and black Giants gear on the friendly patrons, the food (Napa burger was amazing), bartenders and servers were amazing given the unexpected crowd they had to juggle -- come on though, it's the Giants in the NLDS! I would say it was just the lack of volume in the sound system and the non-hi def big screen that's the only major disappointment. But, say hey, I am happy just to find myself surrounded by Gigantes faithfuls! Plus, a little more San Francisco-themed decor would be great! I love this place and plan to return tonight even though I have to trek from the Eastside! (The overcast weather on the westside in autumn was an added bonus).
by Paul C. on Stopped by on Saturday night around 11pm and the place was a little on the slower side. Cover was $5 to get in with about 40 people inside. I haven't been here before so I can't say if this is normally how it is. Anyway, went to the bar to get a beer (Hefeweizen is $5) which was really quick. The music here was not bad, the DJ mixed a lot of rap and hip hop music. Heck, there were even a couple of go-go dancers on stage, not sure if they were needed though.
by Merrilee Reaser on This place almost made me cry (in the "No, Virginia, there is NO Santa Claus" way). Fortuitously, I was forced to go here two nights in a row for two totally unrelated events. The first night was in honor of my friend who was visiting New York from L.A., after moving there from the East Village for almost 3 years now. 40 C is the new location for the "TRASH" party that was previously located at Rifi and infamously popular circa 2005. What once was one of our very favorite hipster dance-off pants-off venues, is now both familiar and unfamiliar in all the wrong ways. A single glowing red light marks the outside of this establishment, alongside the ubiquitous red velvet ropes of a cheesy nightclub. The sight of these barriers immediately set off an alarm in my head: ABORT PLAN! ABORT PLAN! Alas, it was too late. The music was the exact same playlist (a big yawn for 2008), but the crowd and the enthusiasm was not. Years before at Rifi, I one time literally got a black eye from all the ardently flaying limbs of the crowd. Today, this party is awkwardly lackluster. The next night was for a gay-friendly dance party entitled "The Family." It was not until we rolled up to the same red lit door did I realize it was the same location as the previous evening. Same issues: no passion, lame dance music. This place DOES gets one point for playing the 90's dance hit "Whyyy waste my time? You know you're goin' me mine" that is my not-so-secret guilty pleasure. However, depressingly realizing this once-cool-now-a-novelty neighborhood is now a shadow of its past glory, it made me think: "Yes! WHY waste my time? ... F*** this, I'm going to HUGS in Williamsburg."
