BT: Music Should Be An Experience

I've been following the Tweets of BT this morning and was intrigued when he mentioned a big announcement was in the works. With a gig at Ibiza this coming Saturday and the subject of an Urban Marinade post yesterday, I can't help but think BT and his music are on our minds as the weekend approaches. Well, below is the announcement via his blog at bt.tumblr.com.

BT Brings the Album Experience Back to Digital Music Consumers

BT Releases His Double-Disc Sixth Studio Album, These Hopeful Machines, as Two Individual Tracks on iTunes and Amazon

January 27, 2010, NEW YORK, NY - Internationally renowned artist, visionary producer, film composer and technologist BT has always been known for being unpredictably groundbreaking. From his artist albums to his film compositions to his production for superstars such as Sting, Madonna, and Britney Spears, platinum-selling artist BT is consistently looked to in the music community as an innovator and pioneer, constantly pushing the envelope of what is possible in both music production and innovation around the modality of his music. In an unprecedented move, BT has chosen to release his new album, THESE HOPEFUL MACHINES (February 2, Nettwerk), as two individual tracks on iTunes: Disc 1 and Disc 2.

“I have always believed in the album experience,” recounts BT. “So much is lost by picking and choosing tracks and shuffling them together randomly. I strive to create an active, rather than a passive, listening experience. I am always opting to engage listeners in a meaningful way. The experience of music should be just that: an experience. Not a passive or secondary activity. These are my fondest memories of music, listening as an activity, and this is the experience that I wish to share with my audience.”

These Hopeful Machines is a double-disc opus that carries listeners through 2 hours of sweeping orchestral arrangements, pulsating electronic beats, heartfelt vocal melodies and even simple acoustic guitar. These Hopeful Machines embodies BT’s ability to weave both his technical prowess and compositional mastery that reminds listeners why he is the composer that all other composers and producers study.

This album is the follow up to 2006’s This Binary Universe, an album that created an entirely new genre of evocative electro-acoustic music. Keyboard Magazine wrote in a review, “In a hundred years, it could well be studied as the first major work of the new millennium. It’s that good.” These Hopeful Machines continues to evolve BT’s distinct technical, lyrical and compositional vision and execution, but his usual melodic complexity and bleeding-edge electronic techniques permeate the album from start to finish.

From an early age, BT, born Brian Transeau, demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for playing and understanding classical music. He was heavily influenced by avant-garde and romantic composers such as Stravinsky, Bartok, Debussy and Rachmaninov. His biggest influences, however, were from everyday sounds that most would take for granted, from noticing the meter of the grandfather clock in the foyer to the micro-rhythms of crickets and cicadas to the ambience of passing trains at night.

“When examining my creation process, it makes perfect sense why I am a forced technologist,” he explains. ”I frequently face the fact that the tools I need to compose music simply don’t exist. It is like being an architect without bricks or mortar. I routinely create my own bricks and connective tissue as the diving off point to the compositional process.” The drive to actualize the tools BT envisions has led to his evolution as one of the most cutting-edge programmers and technologists in music today. He has expanded this reach into a visionary software venture, Sonik Architects, which launched its critically- and commercially-acclaimed iPhone application, Sonifi™, last fall.

Says BT, “My ultimate goal is to keep the emotional counterpoint and the integrity of the song intact, even when pushing the envelope with style and technique. The faster things get, the less people are willing to take in a body of creative work. There are so few things now that will engage us. The intent of consuming music is usually to have an awareness or a feeling, to have a truly, empathic connection to others. My hope is to create something that makes people feel that they have consumed something that completes a void. I want to create something lasting.”

These Hopeful Machines track listing:

Disc 1
1. Suddenly
2. The Emergency
3. Every Other Way
4. The Light Of Things
5. Rose Of Jericho
6. Forget Me

Disc 2
1. A Million Stars
2. Love Can Kill You
3. Always
4. Le Nocturne De Lumiere
5. The Unbreakable
6. The Ghost In You

I know I don't need to say this, but you should buy this double-disc album. And you should be at Ibiza on Saturday night for a sneak peek of BT's innovative and artistic skills.

Photo by Flickr user Travis Cripps

Labels: DJs, Entertainment, Music, Nightlife

posted by DVS @ 1:38 PM 0 comments

So...You Want To Go Clubbing

Now that we've taken care of the whole business side of this Urban Marinade (Twitter, Facebook, Flickr), it's time we write about the meat of the weekend. We have more damn DJs spinning great electronic music in DC this coming weekend than I know what to do with. How is a respectable nightlife photographer and fan of dance music supposed to choose? Seriously, I really wish I could be in two places at the same time.

So you want to go clubbing? Well this is your weekend to do it. When I go through my list of venues and parties being thrown, it's usually pretty easy to map out a weekly agenda. You know from my past photo shoots that I tend to gravitate toward Ultra Bar on Thursday nights. Well the Glow crew is doing it up right again this week featuring Nic Fanciulli at this Penn Quarter gem.

Fanciulli has gained massive respect from DJs across the spectrum for his unique take on house music. Many of the biggest names in the business have labeled Fanciulli one of hottest rising stars in Europe while Pete Tong proclaimed him the finest resident in the UK. What it all boils down to is yet another great DJ set will be thrown down inside "the box" at Ultra.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention DJ Manifesto spinning at Lima Lounge on Thursday night as well. If you recall, I captured some freakin sweet images of Manifesto and DJ Jason Greene at the inaugural Love of Haus party at Lima. What you can't see in those images is the hard hitting house that tickled my ear drums all night long. I can't tell you which event to attend. That has to be a game time decision for you to make. But either way, you can't go wrong with either Lima or Ultra Bar.

Friday nights are usually saved for dinner somewhere and a stop at my favorite Chinatown club Muse Lounge. Muse has done something very few clubs attempt by featuring electronic music on multiple floors. Listen, I totally understand having each room of your venue feature something different. You have a better chance of making everyone happy. But what Muse is doing is making dance music fans downright giddy.

This Friday, Muse and District Ignition present Snatch Rewired featuring the sounds of Treasure Fingers, Spiggy and Steve Bugbee on the first floor. Not enough? Head up to the third floor where Tanc, Aligning Minds and Amitai will be spinning house all night long.

Tired Yet?

This brings us to Saturday. Ah Saturday in the District! Put your hands up for DC, the lovely city... But seriously folks, Saturday has two parties that I have absolutely no idea which to choose. You can't go wrong either way. Both are being held in our biggest and best nightclubs. Both feature world-class DJs respected around the globe. Both will leave your heart buzzing and your adrenaline boiling.

My friends at Glow will feature Cedric Gervais at FUR Nightclub. My heart leans toward this party because I personally had tremendous success shooting photos of Gervais. The one featured at the top of this post remains one of my favorite nightlife shots of all time and is hanging on my wall at home. The last time Gervais spent time on the FUR decks, I remember a crowd that stayed amp'd all night and a certain photographer (this guy) who didn't want the night to end. Of course we shoot nightlife photography because we love the music. But sometimes you just don't get into a set or maybe it's just not enough to keep you out super late knowing you'll need to find a cab after 3 a.m. But Gervais is one of those DJs that can keep your energy high all night and keep you wondering how each track seems to get better and better.

For years, Gervais has captivated clubbers and partygoers as he reigned supreme over the Miami dance scene. Although originally born in Marseilles, Cedric Gervais has chosen Miami as his adopted home, and the city has been more than happy to embrace him. He has held residencies at Crobar (now Cameo) and the world famous Nikki Beach, before taking over the Space Terrace. Cedric’s presence at the Space Terrace was felt immediately as people in the thousands began lining up to witness him devastate the after-hours scene. He'll bring it on Saturday night which is why you can't go wrong spending the evening at FUR.

But here is the kicker. Because of a little snow storm we had back in December so affectionately known as Snowpocalypse 2009, this Saturday night features another world-class DJ. Ibiza will feature the sounds of Maryland native and dance music pioneer BT.

From an early age, BT demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for playing and understanding classical music. He was heavily influenced by avant-garde and romantic composers such as Stravinsky, Bartok, Debussy and Rachmaninov. His biggest influences, however, were from everyday sounds that most would take for granted, from noticing the meter of the grandfather clock in the foyer to the micro-rhythms of crickets and cicadas to the ambience of passing trains at night.

The drive to actualize the tools BT envisions has led to his evolution as one of the most cutting-edge programmers and technologists in music today. He has expanded this reach into a visionary software venture, Sonik Architects which launched its critically- and commercially-acclaimed iPhone application, Sonifi™.

So as you can see, techno-wizardry will be on display at Ibiza DC this Saturday. And the choice of which party to attend won't get any easier as you do even more research on both of these artists. I won't tell you which one I plan to attend because that's a secret. You'll just have to come back to this blog to find the answer.

Photos by Doug Van Sant

Labels: Clubs, Entertainment, House, Music, Nightlife, Trance

posted by DVS @ 2:49 PM 0 comments

A Call for Photographers

Up until this point, I've been feeding the Urban Marinade experience with photos from my own collection and photos I find through search. But part of my mission with this blog is to expose the reader to high-quality nightlife and high-quality nightlife photography. And from what I've seen online, there are a ton of great photographers out there.

So... to accomplish this, I created a Flickr group called Urban Marinade DC. My hope is that other nightlife photographers will upload their images and add them to this group so we can feed the blog with your images. If all goes well, I'll run a weekly feature highlighting some of the photographers who uploaded images to the group, in hopes of giving them some exposure as well.

So if you enjoy photography, nightlife, and urban settings, please feel free to join the Flickr group and/or upload your images as often as you'd like.

Photo by Flickr user Sam Jones Photo

Labels: Clubs, concerts, Nightlife, Photography, Urban

posted by DVS @ 2:18 PM 0 comments

Thievery Corporation Does DC

If you live in DC, you probably have a pretty good idea who Thievery Corporation is. Even if you're not really into their version of dub, acid jazz, reggae, world meets lounge aesthetic style, you've probably had a friend mention them at some point. If you go out in DC, there is a good chance you've paid a visit to any number of clubs (18th St. Lounge, Local 16, Marvin, etc.) connected to the duo. That's because this widely popular band/DJ group was founded by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton right here in our great city at the lounge that shares the name of their record label. And like most bands on tour, Thievery spends an extra few days of their tour in their hometown performing for their most beloved fans.

I was lucky enough to get a chance to attend their second night of performing at the famous 930 Club in the U Street neighborhood of the District. I had never seen Thievery in person. I've known about them and their music for at least 7 years because good friend Matt C. introduced me to one of their CDs back in the days of North Carolina. But after all this time of living in DC, I still had never taken the time to see them live.

The show was incredible. If you're like me and simply enjoy all types of music, Thievery is for you. The stars of the show are obviously Eric and Rob behind the decks of the metallic DJ booth. But from start to finish, different lead singers take the audience on a musical journey. We go from Middle Eastern inspired sounds driven by the strings from a sitar to Reggae Dancehall. You're literally taken from one corner of the world to the other while Rob and Eric blend it all together.

From a photography perspective, the show was interesting to say the least. Of course there are great colors to work with and the differing music and singers make for colorful characters to focus on. But what struck me was how small the actual photography pit is at 930. Honestly, there is less than a foot between the stage and the steel wall separating the audience from the band. And somehow we're supposed to squeeze in there and capture the vibe of the concert. Oh, and if you can get in there and get some good shots, you still have to figure out how to let other photographers get past you. Yeah... a small waistline is a prerequisite. The other issue is because of the nature of the show, your stars are in a DJ booth. From directly in front of the stage, you get half of their face in clear view.

Here's the good news. I was able to capture some good shots, as you see in the two included in this blog post. The better news is I get to go back tonight for more photos. The incredible news is not only will I get to shoot photos from the small-ass pit in front of the stage, I'll be taken backstage to shoot Eric and Rob inside the DJ booth. This is an honor I can't even describe in this blog. Shooting photos in the booth with Thievery is something you rarely see. In every search of Google I did, I never found a photo actually in the booth. So hopefully tonight I'll capture even better images and bring you as close to the action as you could possibly get without being there. This is gonna be good...

Photos by Doug Van Sant

Labels: concerts, DC, Entertainment, Lounge, Music, Nightlife, Washington

posted by DVS @ 6:20 PM 2 comments

Another Round of Drinks

I'm typically not one to repost things that show up in other blogs. We want to keep this original, ya know... But the following little item from Cockeyed (reposted by Brightest Young Things) caught my eye and had to be shared with my readers. It's the Cocktail Calculator and it lets you calculate just how much that drink you just spent $15 on really costs.

I mean, the very nature of this blog just begs for something like this. We all go out to these bars and clubs and pay an arm and a leg for what we drink. Haven't you wondered just how much it actually costs the bar to produce that drink?

I plugged in my drink of choice, which is a Crown Royal Whiskey and Coke. I'm usually charged $8 to $10 for this drink at most DC drinking establishments. The true cost to make it? $1.34. Yep, the bars and clubs that serve this drink are making close to $8 profit on my drink.

I sent a quick note to my friend Daniel B. who works at Luka's Taproom in downtown Oakland and asked him what he typically finds is the best drink bargain based on true cost to the bar. His answer was "wine, for sure!" So there you have it. Drink up my friends!

Photo by Flickr user Jake Holt

Labels: Bars, Drinking, Nightlife

posted by DVS @ 2:31 PM 5 comments

What's Your Point of View?

Have you ever gone into a bar or club and had just a horrible night, only to return a few months later and have a completely different experience? Or what if your original experience wasn't terrible, but it wasn't worth another visit for...oh, a few months. Well this is what happened to me this past week in DC.

If you recall from early last summer, I checked out the newly opened W Hotel and POV Lounge. My experience wasn't horrible. But there were some bumps and bruises from that visit and I frankly haven't had any real reason to return. Granted, Dan K. and I have made stops in the W Hotel lobby for a drink or two. But it wasn't until last Thursday that we returned to the rooftop terrace and lounge of this swanky DC hotel. My impressions have changed.

The first notable element of change is that the obnoxious lines trying to gain entry to the elevator upstairs are gone. This was a Thursday night, so it's possible you could find a line on Friday or Saturday night. But remember, it was a Wednesday night when I encountered close to 50 people dressed to impress waiting for their chance to experience the ultimate DC point of view. The next element of improvement was a staff prepared for anything. We were escorted upstairs, taken to the terrace, offered a place to sit and even offered drinks before I could take off my coat. This was a major change from the first week where POV couldn't decide if they wanted to be a velvet rope club or a tapas restaurant. Clearly, POV has accepted its role as a smooth character on the DC lounge circuit and the composed attitude reflects that.

Another stand-out element from last Thursday was one of the best Bailey's and coffee I've ever had. Dan K. asked me, "how could they mess that up?" I replied..."simple, bad coffee." This particular drink is made with a very smooth bean and brewed at what had to be the perfect temperature. I know it was late, but I ordered two.

POV has also added great music. DJ 2-Tone was spinning a groovy down-tempo hip hop that fit perfectly with the lounge mood. Honestly folks, sitting there sipping my coffee with soulful hip-hop feeding my ears while the Washington Monument stood brightly out the window next to me was a nocturnal dream come true. It was like taking a vacation from the usual high-energy K Street rat race and finding yourself at a rooftop oasis surrounded by history. Is there a better setting for this stuff or what?

The two photos in this post reflect what I saw that night. They reflect what POV has become since opening and what POV was destined to be. They reflect a beautiful rooftop lounge in a beautiful hotel with the best point of view in our city.

Photos by Doug Van Sant

Labels: Clubs, DC, Entertainment, House, Lounge, Music, Nightlife, Urban, Washington

posted by DVS @ 9:59 PM 0 comments

A Sample of Restaurant Week

Twice a year here in DC, we're treated to an event known as Restaurant Week. Assorted restaurants all over the region open their dining rooms to guests to enjoy a three-course prix-fixe menu at a set price. The obvious advantage is it gives folks a chance to enjoy some pricey restaurants at a fraction of what it might cost. Plus you get a pretty good sample of each menu and what should be the chef's signature dishes.

But there are also a lot of complaints to go along with restaurant week. I've heard restaurants limit what they place on their prix-fixe menu and leave off some of their best dishes. I've heard the staff at many of these restaurants slack-off because they feel the clientele isn't their normal customer base and probably won't return for the full-price menu. I've also heard some of the chef's use this particular week for when they take vacations...leaving their menu in the hands of sous chefs and kitchen apprentices. I've also noticed more and more of the big-name restaurants staying off this list all-together, making bargain dining hard to find.

For the first 3 years of living in DC, I embraced this concept. The moment restaurant week is announced, diners jump on Open Table and grab up reservations. I always look at the price listing and try to grab one or two reservations from the most expensive on the list. This year I snatched up a spot at Vidalia. After another sub-par experiences, it's probably one of the last Restaurant Week's I'll take part in.

Let me make something real clear. It is possible to have a great dining experience during this week. Last winter I had a great dinner at Art and Soul and Cafe Atlantico. During the summertime restaurant week, I enjoyed one of the best meals at Oval Room. Many restaurants get behind the concept and see it as a chance to show off and capture the attention of potential customers. I just seem to have lost interest in the idea.

So this time we hit up the subterranean power spot of Vidalia. Chef Jeffrey Buben describes Vidalia's cuisine as original American with a subtle Southern influence. The dining room is convivial yet elegant and exudes sophistication and confidence. We were greeted at the door where the hostess took our coats and quickly whisked us off to our table in a small room off the bar. I liked the intimacy of the small dining room until our neighbors decided to belt out laughter that could probably be heard on the other side of DC. We're talking serious decibel levels here. We thought we were safe when they left, only to hear the table next to theirs pick up where they left off. I mean seriously? Was it improv night at Vidalia.

Back to business. Our server was nice but a little aloof. He took a bit of time to make his way to our table but quickly retrieved our wine selection. He then proceeded to spill drips of the wine all over our table and our glasses. Not a big deal, but not what you'd expect in this fine dining establishment. But with wine in hand, we proceeded to eat.

I enjoyed a mushroom risotto with smoked gouda fondue, elf mushrooms and a broccoli rabe. The dish was smooth, well cooked and hearty for a cold night, but lacked the punch you might expect from a James Beard winning chef. My second course was a maple leaf farm duck breast with emmer wheat, dry cranberries, pecans, leg confit, duck egg and a bourbon barbecue. The duck was perfectly cooked and presented atop the cranberry confection. Mixing the sweet flavors of the bourbon bbq with the cranberry was a total delight. And the duck literally melted in my mouth. This was my favorite course of the night. We also added Vidalia’s baked macaroni with Amish cheddar, goat cheese and smoked ham for an additional cost, which was well worth it. Not only was it a creamy/cheesy plate of goodness, it helped us make up for a rather small second course which was nothing more than our proteins and some garnish. They were all good, but not quite a hearty amount of food.

I wrapped up my meal with a whoppers dessert, which was malted meringues, malted-milk chocolate mousse and chocolate sauce. This little creation was light, airy and a perfect sweet ending to the meal. The flavors together really did match what you'd taste when enjoying a box of malted milk balls at the movies. As my dad would say... how'd they do that?

Overall the food at Vidalia was great. The service was spotty but it was a busy Friday night and our waiter was very nice. The overall mood of the restaurant was simple, elegant and well done and the entire staff made us feel accommodated. In most cities on any given night, this restaurant would easily be one of the best. But this is DC. And on this night, Vidalia was just...eh. We're not New York or SF, but we're getting there. And we have access to some of the best chefs in the world now. If a restaurant doesn't put their best effort forward, you can definitely tell. I'd be very curious to see if Vidalia was any different when it's not restaurant week. Because to be perfectly honest, I got the impression we didn't get the best of this supposedly great DC restaurant. If I go back, I'll be sure to update you with what we find.

Photo courtesy of Vidaliadc.com

Labels: DC, Dining Out, Food, Restaurant Review, Washington

posted by DVS @ 4:59 PM 1 comments

Rising Dance Music Star Headlines Ultra Bar

One thing most of my friends don't realize about DC is how great this city is for dance music. Sure, Miami has great DJs spinning house and electro in the local grocery store. And babies seem to be born with headphones in NYC. But of all the cities I've lived in, The District holds it's own when it comes to local talent and national draw. And thankfully we have promoters and club owners who embrace the popularity and passion that comes with bringing in world-class performers.

Such is the case with the folks at Glow, who booked Chicago dance music star Blake Jarrell this Thursday at Ultra Bar in downtown DC. If you're searching for things to do and think you'd like to try your hand at some really good dance music, this is your best bet!

I had the chance to listen to and photograph Blake during his last visit to DC at Club Ibiza. I recall pausing for a moment in the middle of the shoot thinking to myself, damn this is good music. Blake is quite literally a natural behind the decks. He knows how to blend smooth trance-like music with driving rhythms. And he can work a crowd as good as the best in the business. I think this is what has helped place Jarrell on the upward trajectory in the electronic music world. A good DJ can mix well. A great DJ can read his crowd, feed off their energy and tap into their senses for a stunning musical journey. Think I'm making all of this up? Come to Ultra on Thursday and you'll see what I mean.

But the journey for Jarrell hasn't always been as spiritually uplifting. Blake carved himself a niche in the underground dance music scene in his hometown of New Orleans, performing at some of the cities biggest venues while producing and releasing singles on various labels. But when tragedy stuck the city during Hurricane Katrina, Jarrell packed his car with whatever he could and set forth to Chicago.

It was in the windy city where he fell in love with the booming house, techno and trance scene, which further helped shape his sound. It also brought a chance meeting with Armin van Buuren, who Blake passed along a CD of his productions. “It’s bittersweet that I had to lose my hometown to Hurricane Katrina to find such a musically nurturing city as Chicago,” says Blake who claims the storm as “simultaneously the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.”

After listening to a few of his original productions, Armin contacted Blake and soon after he joined the Armada artist roster. Since that time Armin has invited Blake on several of his world tours as an exclusive special guest performer. Finally, Blake cemented his relationship with Armada Music when he joined a select group of international stars for full summer residencies at Armada’s weekly shindig at Amnesia in Ibiza in 2007 and 2008.

Blake put himself at the helm of a very unique project with his recent “Concentrate 2009″ album. Unlike other mix compilations, Blake painstakingly hand picked music selections to completely rework and remix them in the studio from the ground up in order to carve his signature sound into each of the 25 tracks, creating an incredibly cohesive journey across a vast storyline of sound.

The story continues this Thursday at Ultra Bar.


Photos by Doug Van Sant

Labels: Bars, Clubs, Entertainment, House, Music, Nightlife, Trance

posted by DVS @ 2:04 PM 0 comments

USF Fires Coach for ... Coaching

I don't typically stray too far from the nightlife reporting on here. But outside of my passion for the nocturnal life is my love of sports. So I couldn't help but comment on the recent firing of former USF football coach Jim Leavitt.

Having lived in Tampa for a few years, I'm well aware of the job Leavitt has done at USF. Folks have to remember the the University of South Florida didn't have a football program 14 years ago. Jim Leavitt was their first and only head coach. He built the program from ground up when they operated out of trailers held together with duck tape. Today they are members of the Big East conference, are a major player in South Florida recruiting and are routinely featured on national television playing other high-profile programs. To say USF football would not be where it is today without Jim Leavitt is an understatement. Leavitt is USF football!

So the controversy stems from a player who Leavitt "reportedly" grabbed by the throat and then slapped. And yet the player in question and his parents are denying those claims. Most of the close to 100 players at USF stand by their coach. USF however fired Leavitt because "internal and external" investigations found two eyewitness accounts that said otherwise.

Forgive me for thinking this, but we are talking about football right? I mean, this is the sport where you hit people, is it not? And it is a coaches duty to get their team fired up for games and/or when their players might be down on themselves along the sidelines...right? I mean, what type of football team is USF trying to produce?

One of the best quotes I saw in the comment section on ESPN said... "South Florida: fired their coach for grabbing and slapping a kid to get his attention. SLAPPING. The same thing a woman could do to you for an inappropriate pick up line in front of a police officer and not get charged."

Yeah, I'd like to recommend the next coach of USF keep a minimum of 2ft. distance from any player and bring lollipops to practice to keep the kids happy.

Labels: football, sports

posted by DVS @ 2:40 PM 0 comments

A Grand Opening at Recess

Since we're in the process of catching up after the holidays, I figured it was time I update you all on a new nightlife venue opening in downtown DC. Just prior to Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending the soft-opening of Recess Lounge on December 16th.

Recess occupies the space that was once Geisha Lounge just one block from the White House. The location couldn't be more perfect for this type of club because of the recent arrival of the W Hotel and it's nocturnal contributor, POV. Each of these venues cater to a well-heeled DC crowd and offer patrons a little bit of everything along the 15th Street corridor. And with the addition of Recess, we now have several nightlife establishments all within walking distance of the K Street clubs like Lima, Tattoo, Lotus and Park at Fourteenth. Downtown DC has never looked so good! Or vibrant for that matter.

I've been to my fair share of opening parties. They usually dress up the clubs to look extra special and bring in "VIP" guests. The problem is most of us have no idea who the "VIP" guests actually are. And the night following the opening is usually a letdown; a true taste of how the club will operate. But Recess was different. They did bring in cocktail tables for guests to mingle near and converse over drinks. But the club operated and looked pretty much like you'd expect a finely tuned venue. Had I not known this was the first few nights of operation, I would never have been able to tell. An awful lot of thought was put into making this operation run smoothly...and it showed.

The venue itself can be described in one word. Beautiful! It's dressed in dark woods salvaged from centuries old walnut trees. There's a bar the entire width of the lounge near the front and a DJ booth dead center toward the rear. The entire room features an abstract lighting feature that can change based on the mood, music or whatever else your heart desires. There are tables and couches that run along one side and split the DJ booth, but most of this lounge is a dance floor. After spending several nights inside this venue, I can best describe it as a very large recording studio. The sound and acoustics are pretty much what every studio is designed to be and from what I can tell, there are zero flaws in the Recess system. I've only been in one other lounge that can match that type of sound quality and it's the venerable Cielo in NYC.

Owners Fisayo Esconsay and Brandon Howard, former DC club promoters, tell me Recess was designed around the music. I like to hear this! They also tell me they'll have at least one night that features house, one that features hip hop/top 40 and another that will cater to the smooth R&B and jazz fans. One thing is certain, you'll have a hard time standing still in this joint.

But above all of the promotional sounding verbage, high-end sound and fancy cocktails created by a bevy of mixologists, Recess comes with class and soul. Most of the nightlife venues I spend my evenings in are dressed up nice and have the latest and greatest gadgets in sound. But very few are able to touch each individual personally. From the moment I walked into Recess to the moment I closed my tab at the bar, they made me feel like they really cared to have my business. Both Brandon and Fisayo mingled with their patrons like everyone walking through the door was a friend. It's this attention to their customers happiness that will make this lounge one of the better in our vast District of a nocturnal abyss. I hope each of you will take the time to visit Recess because the people behind this lounge are dedicated to their concept and it shows.

The top photo and those below are part of a larger photo gallery I created from the soft-opening party. As you'll see, the design and colors in Recess make it very easy to shoot photos and very easy to capture the vibe of this beautiful club. If you'd like to see more, check out the complete gallery, otherwise enjoy your Recess...

Labels: Bars, Clubs, DC, Downtown, Entertainment, Lounge, Music, Nightlife, Nocturnal, Urban, Washington

posted by DVS @ 12:28 PM 3 comments

75 Bars DC: Passenger

There comes a point in your daily schedule when you realize you've got some unfinished business. You could continue to charge forward and ignore the unfinished business. But it will stick there in the back of your head like that annoying beeping sound construction vehicles make when they back up. You have no choice, you need to address it. Such is the case of The Passenger, the newly opened bar at the northern tip of Chinatown/Penn Quarter.

I'm about 4 weeks behind on posting this 75 Bars review of The Passenger. I probably could have posted it a few weeks ago, but we got socked by Snowpocalypse 2009 and then the holidays. And even after I got back to DC from vacation, I tried to find ways to ignore the impending crush of an otherwise good bar. In other words, I really, really wish I could say good things about The Passenger, but I can't. I've avoided the unavoidable up until this point. But I'm now faced with the fact that I went to a bar I wanted to like and walked away pretty damn disappointed. And as Dan and I had promised, we'd report on what we found on our visit. Seriously, I thought about going back to give them a second chance. But this particular column isn't about second chances. It's about what we find on our one visit to a particular watering hole. That being said, here goes.

When I heard about the opening of The Passenger, I was hopefully optimistic. The 7th Street location just north of New York Ave. really turned me on because I used to live 3 blocks away. I used to walk by what was then the bar at the Warehouse Theater on a daily basis and always felt this particular block was ripe for development. And I liked the idea of pushing the Chinatown/Penn Quarter development north into Shaw where the neighborhoods seamlessly connect. It all made sense. Upon arrival to The Passenger, I was greeted by a warm exterior and a rush of patrons coming and going. It was nice seeing so much foot traffic in my former hood. The interior was simple but comfortable. Even slightly stoic if you wanna go there. Soft, well placed lighting with ivory archways trimmed with dark woods made for a soothing introduction to the new Mt. Vernon haunt. There is a room off the back that's supposed to resemble a re-created dining car, but I never made it that far. The smooth and warm interior was pretty much the only thing I can say was good. Okay, there are other things, but we'll get to that.

I met up with good friends Dan K., Eric D., Ryan H. and Robert F. We grabbed a table just past the bar near the rear of the front room. The actual bar in the venue was quite small. Trying to make your way past the happy hour crowd at the bar seemed almost as crazy as tackling rush hour on 495. I stood behind the throng of people for - oh - just about 5 minutes before I realized I'd never get a drink. Thankfully they had servers wandering around and Dan and Rob had flagged one down. Here is where things get tricky. The Passenger is owned by two of DC's top mixologists, Derek Brown and his older brother Tom. The two can make literally any cocktail you want. And so they designed the Passenger that way. There are no drinks on the menu. You tell them what you like and they make something creative. Sounds like a neat gimmick, but it leaves a lot to be desired.

First off, I'm not a bartender. I never have been. I know I like Crown and Cokes. I know I like gin. Otherwise, I'm at the mercy of the individual behind the bar making beverages. So it's nice having suggestions on drink ideas. Asking me to name a cocktail or tell them what I like is as bad as asking me to name my favorite Chemist. You tell me what's good. You're the bartender. The problem is, unless you have Derek standing in front of you making your drink personally, it leaves you a bit lost. Not to mention, there aren't any prices for drinks listed anywhere. I figured I'd go safe and order my usual Crown Royal and Coke. Dan ordered his usual Seven and Seven. 20 minutes later the waitress returns to tell me she doesn't have Crown. No Crown at a bar? Fair enough, I bite on the creative drink idea. I tell her I like gin and off she goes. I'm still unaware of how much I'll be paying for my beverage. I just know something will come back based on my enjoyment of gin. At least, I think a drink will return.

20 minutes after I corrected my drink order, the waitress returns to tell Dan they don't have Seven. Mind you, this is 40 minutes after Dan first ordered his drink. I take the opportunity while we have the waitress nearby and order one of their Slaw Dogs (hot dog). My cocktail creation arrives about 10 minutes later. "What is it?", I ask. "Dunno" says the waitress. Um, seriously? I bought into your crafty bastard drink idea, the least you can do is tell me what I'm drinking. "There's gin in it" she says. Well now, that makes me happy. At least I know there is gin in my drink... (rolling my eyes).

10 minutes later, my slaw dog arrives. One hour after placing his order, Dan is still standing there without a drink. He's trying to ask the waitress, but she seems to be space cadeting off somewhere other than The Passenger, or even DC for that matter. Lord knows where her head was at that point. Approximately one hour and 30 minutes after ordering his drink, Dan is finally presented with a cocktail. Don't ask what it was... the waitress didn't know. It didn't matter at that point. It had alcohol in it, so Dan was drinking it.

Clearly the drink issue, the waitress and the timeliness of the bar was a problem. I can accept certain things when a business is just opening. I realize this is a new bar and it's quite popular. But the waitstaff should know what they are serving their patrons. And any wait over 20 minutes for a drink is unacceptable. An hour and 30 minutes is cause to be panned, which is what I'm doing.

With all due respect to Derek and Tom, my drink was very good. And the slaw dog was one of the best hot dogs I've had in DC since moving here. Imagine a perfectly cooked dog with just the right amount of char and a slight hint of honey BBQ. Seriously, the quality of the food and drink could easily make this one of the better bars in the District. But the wacky name your own beverage idea, lack of prices anywhere and horrible service simply wasn't enough to overcome. I'd be willing to go back, but any bar that puts out such a poor first impression really needs to iron out these kinks before it's worth my time. As I've said before, there are just too many places in DC that offer me a valuable nightlife experience to accept anything less.

I'm hoping The Passenger can improve. I really, really want it to do well. Better yet, I want my old hood to do well. Fingers crossed DC!

Dan K. points to his watch after receiving his beverage one hour and 30 minutes after ordering.

1st Photo by Jim Webb
2nd and 3rd Photo by DVS

Labels: 75 Bars, Bars, Clubs, DC, Drinking, Entertainment, Music, Nightlife, The District, Washington

posted by DVS @ 10:00 AM 3 comments