It’s over but not really

On August 12, 2021, in General, by J T

This post is more closure for myself. Nobody comes here anymore.

As sadly predicted here, the lockout laws killed it all

Then MIRACULOUSLY they were lifted, right in time for COVID lockdowns. Hahaha.  The superclubs remain and bespoke bars have flourished. Sydney are trying to introduce 24 hour zones but we shall see. The scenes won’t be as wild as in the past, or even before I was clubbing myself..

My healing journey Since my last post I’ve been through my own journey and realised why I went out so much to escape reality. You know, childhood trauma and all that. I’m good now and I apologise to anyone I affected emotionally during my party days

Post mortem @ Kings cross  – walked here and it was sad to see all the now defunct bars and nightclubs replaced with residential developments and their occupants complaining about the noise at night. It’s sad. My wife, besides me, asked “do you miss clubbing?” (aka do you miss checking out the chicks and grinding up with them????). I just love these trap questions…

Future

Blog:

I still occasionally gone back to clubs to see DJs that I like and grew up with, and maybe more rarely the occasional festival..  but felt no need to write reviews about them unless truly horrible. Most promoters just want to create a good vibe for everyone and I respect that.  It’s also great to be able to go back and just be in the moment away from reality.

This blog arose prior to social media and you had to rely on friends who might have heard someone or something how events went. Nowadays it is quite easy to find out how clubs and festivals are.  I might post future adventures for my own amusement if they are really life changing but in the age of social media, the relevance and motivation of the continuity of this blog is no longer required. aka i dont make enough money from monetisation. 

Personal life:

We are expecting our first child, a daughter. It is truly karma at its finest. If my children become club whores, I can only blame myself, but I’d be happy to be the dad in the corner tagging along and talking to whoever would listen to me rant about “the gold old days…”

The good old days where you could have shots after midnight and wake up with your shirt covered in old vomit. The good old days you where you were one bar stool away from being hit in the head from a random fight across the room. The good old days where smoking was still allowed indoors and you would come home reeking like cigarettes. Hmm.. yes.. those good days ….  (insert cry-laugh emoji)

Fin, for now

 

NOVA @ Mr Tipplys

On October 4, 2014, in Commercial, EDM, House, Mr TIpplys, by J T

The event ‘LKF’ has been closed at the Civic Hotel, and thank god for that. The promoters have moved their Saturday event to another venue, Mr. Tipply’s under the new moniker “Nova”. Time to check it out!

12:50AM peak time on the dance floor.

12:50AM peak time on the dance floor.

NOVA Nightclub Saturdays @ Mr. Tipplys (Formerly City Hotel)

Nova has been running since September 2014 on a Saturday weekly basis. The promoters aim to keep out the riff raff by promoting the event as for VIP only (i.e. Men with money to spend on alcohol) and promote attractive waitresses for “one on one” service. Kind of borderline sexual. The promoters directly target the Overseas Chinese crowd in Sydney by bringing in popular Chinese celebrities or DJs.

Essentials:
Opening Hours:

10:30PM – 4:00AM

Address:

349 Kent St (The old City Hotel)

Parking:

There is nearby street parking on Kent St or at the Kent St carpark with weekend flat rate.

Venue Website:

www.mrtipplys.com.au

Event Website:

http://www.novasydney.com

Promoters:

Mizuya Entertainment, Dynamic Entertainment

Occurrence:

Every Saturday since September 2014

Dress Code / Door Policy:

Smart casual at minimum, but I got away with running shoes, a hat and t-shirt. (I had just returned from the Hardwell concert) To be sure, we asked the promoters and security if it was okay to get in looking like poor uni students. They said it was fine.

They let me in like dressed  this.

They let me in like dressed this.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge:

Tonight it was a full blown $30. It’s finally happened outside of Marquee and Ivy. Massive hole in my wallet.

Passouts: No passouts before midnight.

Guestlist: See website for details

Cloak Room: $5 initial reservation and $2 for bag re-checks. Standard for an Asian club.

Bottle Service / Table Service:

There are ten bottle service areas inside the club. Any object that resembles a table is converted to a bottle service table. The pricing per table is unknown, but typically you are looking at for a few hundred dollars per bottle. Each table has a bottle or two and some champers glasses Tonight:

Assessment Time:

Midnight – 1:40AM

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Mink Saturdays @ Martin Place Bar

On August 9, 2014, in Martin Place Bar, by J T

I’ve been living in a country town. I’ve made a special weekend trip to Sydney to visit friends, family, and a new club event. Let’s check it out!

Back looking to the front

Mink @ Martin Place Bar

Mink has been running since July 2014

Essentials:
Opening Hours:

10:30?? – 2:15AM

Address:

51 Martin Place, Martin Place, Sydney

Parking:

Come later in the night and you can find street parking within 2-3 blocks around.

Website:

Event: https://www.facebook.com/minksaturdays

Venue: http://www.martinplacebar.com.au

Promoters: Clique: https://www.facebook.com/cliquesydney

Occurrence:
Every Saturday since July 2014. Prior there was another short-lived event, #Fabric run by competitors Syndicate Events

Dress Code / Door Policy:
Theres no dress code enforced tonight. People wore whatever they wanted.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge:
Paid $25 at the door.
There are weekly free entry specials so long as you enter the venue before 11:30 or before midnight.

Guestlist:

mink@clique-ent.com

Cloak Room:
Didn’t use cloak room facilities tonight, but based on earlier events, you are probably looking at $5 / item.

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The latest event at The Empire Hotel is White Rabbit. The theme is Alice in Wonderland. Looked promising, so I chugged half a bottle of wine and ran inside before it hit me. Time to check it out!

RNB Room DJ, Flygirl Tee

RNB Room DJ, Flygirl Tee

White Rabbit @ The Empire Hotel, Kings Cross

Essentials:
Opening Hours:
8:00PM – 3:00AM

Address:
32 Darlinghurst Road, (Potts Point) Kings Cross

Venue Website:

http://www.empirehotelannandale.com.au

Event Website:

https://www.facebook.com/WhiteRabbitSydney

Promoters:
SFX, Trash

Occurrence:
Every Saturday

Dress Code / Door Policy:
Casual is okay, and most people were dressed casually. Otherwise people were dressed up in theme.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge:
$10 standard entry, Free before 10PM, free before 11PM if you show your student ID.

Passouts:
Lockout laws apply

Guestlist:
www.whiterabbitsydney.com.au

Cloak Room:
None found

Bottle Service / Table Service:
Not offered

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A birthday! At the Retro. It’s been a long time since I’ve been. Let’s go!!

Saturdays @ The Retro Bristol Arms Hotel

This review incorporates elements from tonight and a prior visit in 2010.

Assessment Time:
11:30ish – 02:30AM

Opening Hours:
Open during the day until 3:00AM (Possibly later?)

Lockout: 1:30AM at time of writing

Address: 51 Sussex St , Sydney

Venue Website: http://www.theretro.com.au

Promoter Website: Self Promoted by the venue

Occurrence: Every Saturday are the themed nights, Friday does not seem to have themed nights

Dress Code / Door Policy: Anything goes. Half the crowd wear casual while the other half, are wearing costumes and outfits. It’s pretty cool.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge: Free if you dress up in the weekly them. $20 Standard cover charge between 9PM and midnightDiscount on guestlist. Tonight’s theme is bikies or something. Some of our friends are of those who are like ‘I hate dressing up’ types – you know exactly EXACTLY what kind of friends I am talking about. They rather cough up money than dress up. The closest phobia is masqueradeaphobia. No line upon lining up

Guestlist: See website.

Inside: The retro is attracting a smaller crowd as opposed to a few years ago. Not sure if due to lockout laws or due to other factors. The ground floor is no longer a dance area.

Level 1
Walk inside to directly enter the stairway upstairs to level 1. It’s the  80’s and 90’s level, split into two areas – Chill out lounge room on the right – where there are sofas a pool table and small bar. On the left is the dancefloor area where there is a bar on the left, a the DJ in the far middle centre, with a podium in front to hold about 10 people. There are sofas spotted to the right along the walls and a private taped off VIP area to the left corner. The middle is dancefloor space dotted with the holding colums.

Level 2
Up to the top 90’s level where you walk through to a carpeted dancefloor room. Bar and VIP/sofas to the right. DJ on the far left corner. Coloured flourescent retro lights flash in sequence. Two podiums on the left to hold about 8 people each, and dancefloor space left to hold about 100-150 people. There are also some beer pong tables.

Cloak Room: Couldn’t find it.

Bar Prices / Line: Didn’t drink tonight. Line at the bar was quite the wait – it’s tragic on level 1 as there is like 1 bartender – the wait is 10-15 minutes. Level 2 there is 2 or 3 bartenders with the wait being approx 5 minutes.

DJs:
Unknown – Level 2 was pretty good, friendly, joking and mixed well
Level 1 DJ was pretty bad. Played songs in their entirety and quite a few songs even I didn’t know and/or the crowd didn’t seemingly were into. It was truly retro.

Music Style:
Level 1 was dedicated to 80’s and 90’s retro dance and rock music, while the top level was dedicated to 2000’s retro rnb, pop, whatever was well known.

Crowd:
Wildly varied ages from early 20’s to probable late 40’s and 50’s. However dominantly were people in their 30’s as evident by the birthdays and hen’s nights. Dominantly white crowd of Ausises and Euros. Only some Asians were here.
Entertainment:
Beer pong competition on level 2

Atmosphere:
Level 1 1980’s retro was a bit dirty and crowded, but people were enjoying themselves. Like an older version of a backpackers bar. It’s quite a happy vibe with happy tunes playing. Much the same can be said for the top level, but not as ‘happy’ as the middle level. Upstairs was more of a dancing atmosphere due to the younger crowd, smoke machines and less lightingIt is really the upper levels that are the highlight of the venue, and where most of my night was spent.

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A friend is out clubbing west. It’s an event I’ve never been to. Not only that, it’s combined with the Jamrock! I’m keen – let’s check it out!

Bounce | Jamrock @ One World Parramatta 

Jamrock! started in the city and over the years has moved across various venues until reaching its current spot in Parramatta.
Bounce: I have no idea about the Bounce event.  This is NOT the same Bounce event which plays Korean music. Tonight’s event is different.

Bounce Saturdays @ One World Parramatta Crowd

Bounce Saturdays @ One World Parramatta Crowd

Essentials:
Opening Hours:
10:00PM – 6:00AM

Address:
295 Church St, Parramatta

Parking:
It’s pretty easy to find street parking nearby.

Venue Website:
http://www.oneworldbar.com.au

Event Website:
Bounce: https://www.facebook.com/BounceSaturdays
Jamrock: https://www.facebook.com/jamrock.australia

Promoters:
Dawn Raid Entertainment, Dox Entertainment

Occurrence:
Every Saturday since March 2012

Dress Code / Door Policy:
Casual anything is okay. Hats are not allowed, unless you have a pair of tits, in which then you are more than welcome to wear any sort of head attire.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge:
$20 Entry

Lockout: 2:00 AM
As Parramatta is outside the jurisdiction zone there is no lockout by law. However the security don’t let people in anyway after 2AM. Seems normal.

Guestlist:
It appears there are no guestlists for this event. Anybody is welcome.

Cloak Room:

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Embassy Club @ Zeta Bar Sydney

On April 19, 2014, in Hip Hop, House, RnB, Zeta Bar, by J T

The promoters for the old popular Saturday nights at Zeta Bar called it a day, and the gap has been filled by Urban Agent et al, for tonight’s event. Let’s check it out!

11:50AM

11:50AM

Embassy @ Zeta Bar

This review encompasses multiple visits: Grand Opening night (May 2013), various visits in between, and a 19th May 2014 full visit.

Essentials:
Opening Hours:
09:00PM – 04:00AM

Address:
Hilton Hotel, accessed via 488 George St. Zeta Bar is on Level 4, but you need to wait outside in line as the elevator is guarded by security.

Venue Website:
http://www.hiltonsydney.com.au

Event Website:
https://www.facebook.com/embassysydney/

Promoters:
Urban Agent, et al.

Occurrence:
Every Saturday since May 2013

Dress Code / Door Policy:
Encouraged that collared shirt and dress shoes for guys, and at least decent dresses for girls. Not too casual. Quite a number of guys were very suited up / dressed well. No homo.
I got in most recently (20/4/14) with a t-shirt, jeans and my running shoes. I was not planning to go clubbing this particular revisit.

Entry Fee / Cover Charge:
$25 Standard entry if you are coming off the street
$15 before 11:30PM if you submitted a guestlist. Grand opening, I got the $15, then the week after I sent my own guestlist a day before and they didn’t find my list on the night, so I had to pay $25 second time round..

Drinks
I didn’t purchase drinks here.

Bottle Service
$330AUD for a bottle of 750mL Grey Goose with unlimited soft drinks – Only available for reserved tables.

Passouts:
No passouts before midnight.
Lockout laws in place.

Guestlist:
embassy@ua.com.au

Cloak Room:
$5 for any item in the cloak room. The cloak room is just as you walk in on the left wall, at the realms of the dancefloor.

Tonight:
Assessment Times
:
19th April 2014: 11PM-03:00AM
10th May 2013: 11:30PM – 1:30AM
3rd May 2013 (Grand Opening): 11:20PM – 2:30AM

Outside Line:
(19/4/14 ; 11:30PM) Took about 10 minutes of lining up.
At 11:20PM: (3/4/13) It took 5 minutes to get to the front of the line, but at that point in time, the venue reached “capacity” at 400 people. I had to wait a further 20 minutes (11:45PM) before I could be let in. No idea how long the people behind me had to wait but it would have to be had been quite some time.

Inside:
The layout has remained exactly the same. Elevator to take you up to level 4. Come out and turn left to enter the near front of the narrow, marble stone, hallway-like venue. On the right is the DJ set with dancefloor (for about 50 people) and “fireplace” which isn’t really on. There is also the largest of the reserved areas, which is the same size as the dancefloor.

Turn left and walk down the hallway to the rear. On your left is the long main bar which serves cocktails and standard drinks. It can serve probably 15-20 people.

At the far end is the second bar, to hold 10 people at the frontline. In this rear there is a second, “minor”  DJ playing beats separate to the main area at the front.

On the right are small curtained off reserved areas for people who like sitting down in a nightclub.There are about 2 large reserved areas and 3 smaller, non-enclosed areas which are just like sofas. On the far left is the outdoor smoking area / terrace overlooking george st.

It’s quite the long and narrow place and almost resembles Martin Place Bar (where the same promoters used to promote) but more relaxed and classier.

Bathroom Facilities:
Pretty well maintained. The kind where there is a permanent person in the washroom giving you paper towels.

Music Style:
Mostly Rnb, Top 40 and some daring trance / house / EDM tracks. Lots of hands in the air kind of tunes.

Crowd:
(19/4/14) Mostly Aussie Asians. Mix of ages, but mostly people in their mid-20’s late 20’s.
(2013)Opening night it was a mix of Asian and non-Asians who thought it was a regular night. The following week there was pretty much all Asians.

Ratio:
Not too favourable. There were plenty of guys to go around the place. Best guesstimate 1 girl to 3 guys.

Entertainment:
No extra MC’s or dancers

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