by Bobbin W. on I checked out El Rio on a Monday night, when $1 PBRs and $2 well drinks were being served. So naturally I had a Diet Coke. My travel companion and I paid the $5 cover to see the upcoming band Spider Garage, since, according to the door girl, they were about to go on. We walked toward the Christmas lights on the enormous back patio, expecting the show to take place there. Instead all we found were groups huddled beneath the heat lamps--a huge number of people for a Monday night, a lot for a Friday even. We noticed a jiggling drum set through a window, realizing Spider Garage would be playing inside. We sat on the black leather couch in the back of the long, narrow room, surprised that Spider Garage doesn't play punk music as the door girl claimed. It was more like...surfer easy listening--a clear contrast to El Rio's hipster coolness. I wish I could've seen a band like My Morning Jacket there in a year like 2002...
by Elvin Klien on I love Opera. If I want to go to a dance club on Saturday night, this is where I go. I don't believe in paying to get into clubs because I drink and spend enough money to cover admission for two people. So I sign up for the guest list, and I've had to pay once because I didn't make it in by 11pm. I don't think that the 11pm deadline is that big of a deal nor do I think using the guest list is difficult either. The truth is that a skinny girl dressed like a hooker is going to get in before anyone else. This club is about drinking and hooking up and if you look like you're about that, they are going to let you in easy . If you don't look like that, well get on the guest list because the door guys are not going to pull you out of the line to take you in via VIP. VIP is a ripoff. Don't do it. I got in free with a guy I knew and it was a waste of time. I like going in the VIP entrance because it's short and you don't have to wait, but you have to know a party promoter or have a door guy pull you for that. I've NEVER had a problem with a bartender at Opera. But female bartenders have historically not been pleasant to me, so I stick to the fellas and they haven't been slow or rude. But I also tip, and they remember the folks who tip. If you're not tipping them, you will not be their priority. They are there to make money, right? The music is primarily hip-hop and Top 40 on Saturday night, but that's good dance music. And when they have a guest DJ, the music is different depending on that DJ, and I've been there on a Saturday with a guest DJ and wondering what the hell he's doing. Every DJ has his own vibe; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Opera isn't perfect, but what club is? It gets my vote though, and I will go again and again, and take others with me. :-) Happy clubbing!
by Mochi K. on It's a Huge Space with multiple areas to please most people. Bar in the front, courtyard area allows for smoking within the place with heaters for the wintertime, cutting through and up the stairs is another bar with a dance floor. The crowd is younger, very mixed with Asians, White, Black (although it may different from night to night) Saturday night it was unbelievably crowded but I hear not normally that crowded.
