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Sinthetic @ Abode | The Peel | Diva Bar | Girl Bar @ Prince of Wales | Pink @ Newmarket Hotel | XChange Hotel | The Market | Greyhound Hotel |Tongue & Groove @ Abode |
Sinthetic @ Abode
Abode's 'sensualist disco' night (whatever that is supposed to mean; all of Abode's evenings can be very sensual if you let them be). I usually enjoy this night, because I like the music and the electro/house music is a little more thumping than standard nightclub fare.
Positives: I didn't click with the music last time I went, but mostly it's pretty good.
Negatives: there's often an optional theme; I'm not sure why they bother, because some theme stuff I'd love to wear just isn't practical to dance in.
Web site link here.
The Peel
I really enjoyed my first time at The Peel. It was actually about what I expected, but bigger; I'd heard that it had an upstairs play space, but that was about all I knew about it. There's an expansive front bar, with a commercial dance/pop dancefloor and a couple of pool tables to the right. To the left is a chillout area with seating and music at a comfortable volume. I found it difficult to identify the location of the ladies toilet until someone told me that the toilets are unisex (d'oh!). Although I uncovered the usual proportion of harmless nuff-nuffs, overall everyone was really friendly.
Positives: friendly atmosphere.
Negatives: signpost the damn toilets!
Web site link here.
Diva Bar
This is a really small two-level bar near The Market on Commercial Road. They do drag shows on a tiny stage up the front. The last time I went, there were quite a number of drag kings there.
Positives: Free entry is always welcome; it means you can visit at least two venues and still have a reaonably-priced night out.
Negatives: This place can be really crowded at times.
Web site link here.
Girl Bar @ Prince of Wales
Girl-oriented night at the Prince of Wales. Actually, it's effectively a lesbian night (which I assume to be the intent). Sabrina felt quite at home here. Although the music was very good, with some thumping electro beats, unfortunately it waaay too freakin' loud; it was the nightclub version of a free-fire shooting range with unlimited ammunition. There is loud, there's very loud, and then there's 'can't-hear- anyone-even- when-they- shout-in- my-ear' loud. Perhaps I'm getting old, but this was just too much for me. I'd certainly go back, but next time I go I'm damn well taking earplugs to protect my hearing and bugger what anyone else thinks. Having said all that, the music and I really did click with each other, and I'd certainly go back.
Positives: not unreasonable cover charge, good music if you like thumping electro.
Negatives: restraint is having something, and knowing when not to use it; the DJ could use some.
Web site link here.
Pink @ Newmarket Hotel
Very low-key evening with The Showbags doing drag shows in the bar.
XChange Hotel
I quite like The XChange. There are a couple of areas; one is a standard dance floor playing commercial tunes, and there is a quieter area for those who wish to practice the lost art of conversation. The crowd when I went (on a Saturday night) was a bit younger, and I didn't see any other tgirls. I think the XChange suits me better than some other Commercial Road venues, for some reason. I'm not sure why, but I seem to end there every time I go to Commercial Road.
Last visited: April 2007
Positives: low-key, non-pretentious atmosphere
Negatives: the girl's toilets are a bit small. That's seriously the only thing I can think of.
Web site link here.
The Market
Look, I'm not sure why, but I don't engage with The Market. I really should; the music is pretty good, it seems to be a cool environment, and last time I went I watched an absolutely gorgeous tgirl who really knew whow to dance. I should like it, but I don't, and the only thing I can think of is that it's an attitude. I got an impression of attitude from the staff, and I think it possibly attracts an ever-so-slightly pretentious crowd. The bar prices seemed to me to be slightly high; it was alleged to me that this is because many patrons are on party drugs and therefore don't drink. I have seen no evidence to support this assertion. It seems more likely that they spend the money paying off the really cool laser thing they have over the dance floor, which does all sorts of cool stuff in time with the music.
Positives: cool music, really nifty laser thingie.
Negatives: vaguely pretentious atmosphere.
Web site link here.
Greyhound Hotel
When you think about it, there's actually a lot wrong with the Greyhound. It's a former St Kilda pub, and one area of the building is a little bit of a rabbit warren and there's not enough toilets. The music is also a little bit mainstream pop/commercial and just when you do manage to get into a dancing groove, they put on a drag show. Despite all that, I always have a good time when I go to the Greyhound. While the music isn't always to my taste, it's not usually terrible so you can take a group of people there and there's something for everyone. It's grungy but not sleazy and it's safe for trannies and crossdressers.
Positives: reasonable cover charge.
Negatives: the dance floor is usually a little bit crowded for my liking.
Web site link here.
Tongue & Groove @ Abode [closed]
Girl-oriented night at Abode, Melbourne's best alternative venue. Single guys aren't allowed, so there's usually a low- key vibe here. There's usually an optional theme to the night, but no- one gets upset if you don't follow it. In my view, the music is often better than Abode's 'sensualist disco' night, Sinthetic.
Positives: really cool for alternative girls of all shapes, sizes, colours, and persuasions to go out in a girl- friendly environment
Negatives: hmm, can't think of any.
Web site link here.
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