Night Owls Rejoice. Elleven & Bossa Nova go After-Hours

Things were looking pretty dire for Eleven after Mickey's opened.  The crowd of 30 something drinkers streamed across the street and back to Mickey's leaving Eleven's weekly lineup of club nights desolate in comparison.

But finally some good news come to the bar on the corner of Santa Monica and Larabee... After Hours!  Weekends at Eleven are now open to 4am.  Cool.  Sadly, last call remains 2am until the state legislature decides otherwise.

Even more good after hours news for those with the late night munchies.  Bossa Nova's Brazilian Restaurant across from the Abbey will be open until 4am on the weekends as well.

Now let's hope there will be a day when the entire strip is bustling until 4am!  Sleep is for when you're 40.

West Hollywood 101: The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval

A MUST DO for all Los Angeles area folks and even out-of-towners need to consider converging on West Hollywood this Halloween.  Every October 31st, Santa Monica Blvd (SMB) is shut down from La Cieniga to Doheney, and this is where the West Hollywood Carnaval takes place.  This year it will overtake Boystown from 6pm-11pm.

The Carnaval is a massive street gathering/parade that attracted nearly 350,000 people in 2007 (according to Wikipedia).  Yes 350,000 people!  That is greater than the number of people living in Pittsburgh, PA all converging on SMB dressed up in costume. Estimates for the number of people expected at the event range from 350k-500k!  Considering this year Halloween falls on a Saturday be prepared for it to be a record setter.

The Carnaval is the LA areas 2nd largest event (Tournament of the Roses is #1) and is the largest Halloween festivals in the World!  So how do you make the best of it?

Tip #1) Bring your camera.  There is a mix between the sexy, the funny, and the truly outrageous garb so make sure to bring your camera!

Tip #2) Dress up.  I nor did my friends dress up the first time we checked out the West Hollywood Carnaval.  While we were not shouted down by the frenzied masses we missed out on a lot of the experience.  We didn't make that mistake again.  Dress up and be as crazy as possible.  You'll see some twisted #$@! so you don't have to worry about being "too much" trust me.

Tip #3) Don't bring your kids.  Seriously, you'll see some twisted #$@.  Leave the wee ones at home.

Tip #4) Expect the mother of all traffic jams.  350k+ people will be converging on a one mile parade route.  95% will be coming in cars!  Expect huge traffic delays reaching WeHo and parking will be an absolute nightmare.  Budget at least 1 hour to find parking/sitting in traffic once you are IN the WeHo proximity.

Tip #5) Pregame.  I cannot condone drinking in your car while sitting in the mother of all traffic but expect the bars of Boystown to be SLAMMED with people.  It is virtually impossible to get inside any of the bars.  That is the truth.  Even Java Detour has a line queue! If you want some libations it is best to do it early.  There are a few makeshift beer tents erected for the event but they close early and last year one of the tents ran out of beer (wtf!?).

TIP #6) Skip the drinks if you have a small bladder.  Or a complicated costume.  Not only will it take you 30+ minutes to wait in line for a Rum & Coke it will take that or longer to use the restroom.

TIP #7)  Have fun!  This is a crazy festival that brings out all sorts of people from all over the coutry and even the world.  Have fun and let everyone else around you know you are having fun.  Cheering, hi-fives, thumbs ups are all acceptable.  :)

Weho Addict's Adventures in Pennsylvania

My trip to Pittsburgh & Harrisburg was filled with nostalgic joy.  Technically there for a friend's wedding but also a great oppurtunity to check out the keystone state's scene.  I visited 3 different gay bars in the Pittsburgh area as well as 1 in Harrisburg.

The Link
91 Wendel Rd., Herminie, PA
http://www.thelinkbar.com/
Todo, we are not in West Hollywood anymore!  The shack looking structure is home to some of the most provacative dancing in the state.  I went on a Sunday, the must go-to night, where "male strippers" perform.  Now these dancers are not the chiseled porn-stars and go-go's you may find thrusting about at Here Lounge but these more homely peformers get nude.  Yes.  Full frontal, unabashed nudity.  I nearly chocked on my $3 domestic draft.  All I could wonder was, "damn!  I wish I knew about this place before!"  Older crowd that was much homelier than the dancers but were very respectful and cheery.

5801 Video Lounge & Cafe

Shadyside - 5801 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.5801.us/ 
The Shadyside district of Pittsburgh is the de facto gay mecca of Steel City.  Although this is Pittsburgh we are talking about it is not quite the Castro or Boystown but I was surprised by the number of walkable gay-friendly establishments in this neighborhood.  5801 was a spacious place that was moderately packed on a Wednesday.  Friendly crowd and bartenders that catered towards a younger crowd, 20s-30s.  I really liked the easy going vibe and it was like a cleaner, younger version of Trunks.

SPIN
Shadyside - 5744 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.spinbartini.com/

Someone combined the decor of Here Lounge and the vibe of Motherlode (as well as the music video soundtrack).  This was the quintessential video bar.  Dozens of plasma screens lined the walls blasting dance/techno songs from "Promo Only".  SPIN's decor was very modern and very chic bar and it was located only a few steps down from 5801.  This bar felt the most like "home" and I was pretty impressed by its design.  Marketed as an "ultra lounge" it is not as obnoxious as that moniker would suggest. Best of all they had Vox Vodka (the best vodka!) so instantly fell in love.  Unforunately, the place was dead when I stopped in.  I chatted with the bartender for a few to find out that is is indeed a pretty popular hotspot on the weekends.  I could imagine.  If this bar existed in WeHo.  It would make bank.

Stallions
706 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA
http://www.stallionsclub.com
Live like a king in one of Central PA's ONLY gay clubs.  When I learned that drafts were $2 and shots were $3 I nearly slapped the bartender for playing games with my emotions.  The drinks here are dirt cheap.  Stallions is a 3 story complex split into seemingly 3 different bars.  The first floor is your laid back lounge with many tables, darts, billiards... think Trunks.  The second floor is the Rage-esque dance club and the top floor is another pool hall bar that was dominated by lesbians.  Tragically the place was pretty dead for a Friday.  The dance floor "filled" with about 5 twinks at any given time and the more casual bar downstairs had about 20 or so regulars sipping drinks at their tables.  Friendly crowd but using the term crowd seems laughable.  Where are all the H-burg gays at?!






So my adventures of Pennsylvania are over.  Nice folks and cheap booze.  But so happy to be back in West Hollywood!

Going through Withdrawls: Weho Addict goes to heartland

I will be traveling to the deep country.  Western and Central PA to be exact.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I brave the rural countryside for 9 full days!

Follow me on Twitter to get the latest WeHo Addict whereabouts.  @grandolbaz

Random: Jessica & Hunter... the worst of Hollywood.

Epitomizing the worst of Hollywood (and West Hollywood) in hilarious fashion.  We all know someone like these two (unfortunately).  If you don't know anyone as self-absorbed, obnoxious, and tweaked out as this pair I would suggest just showing up to WeHo on any given Saturday night lurking amongst the crowd.  You'll find them. (NSFW Language)








Jessica & Hunter Youtube Page

DEATHWATCH: Numbers Bar & Restaurant.

When the lord bringeth he taketh away! :(


Just as "Gym" is opening up in the Coffee Bean/Pet Store plaza on Santa Monia Blvd and Hancock Ave the infamous hustler gathering spot, Number Bar & Restuarant, has abruptly faced the shutter!  Tragic.  That is the only way to explain this turn of events.

Numbers, a 'fine dining' establishment, was as legendary as it was infamous.  It was no secret that the pricery eatery (that actually served good food) was teaming with rent boys, porn stars, hustlers, and their daddies.  The bar was a must-see for locals and tourists alike.  Truly something straight out of Amsterdam.  Where else could you be dining on a spectacular grilled chicken panini while a 60' something man was enjoying a 20' something boy in a jock strap riding his lap.... Numbers! 


Not only where the "boys" who serviced Numbers incredible friendly (the reasons for that may vary) but the bartenders were also very fun.  The crowd of men that trended towards 40+ and monied was also good natured even when me and my friends had to inform them that we were not "part of the experience."  It was a great hangout whether you be old or young to stop by every once in awhile.  


Sadly, Numbers has obviously been on the brink since its name change to "Digits" then subsequent re-birth as Numbers.  Then the economy collapsed.  I guess disposable income for lap dances, "conversation", and eye candy has been drying up in West Hollywood.  Now the daddies will be left scrambling to rentboy.com et. al. to find hunky gentlemen callers willing to entertain for a certain fee.


RIP Numbers Bar & Restaurant.  You will be missed. 

Getting to know your new bar nights: Popcat & Jock Strap

Two new bar nights have descended upon Boystown you may want to check out...

1) Popcat @ Rage Nightclub.  Don't let the flyers sporting an animated feline-beasty wearing a trenchcoat confuse you.  Popcat is Weho's newest Monday night, which features Pop and Hip-Hop mashups.  An interesting mix of music that should get the true partiers all in a tizzy.  The inaugural opening was yesterday, 9/28/09.  I was only there briefly but the crowd was pleaseantly raucus for a Monday.  But alas some of us must work on the weekdays so I made my exit relatively early!

2) Jock Strap "The Club" debuts at Ultra Suede, October 8th (Thursday).  Gym bunnies and their admirers are beckoned to the Factory's backside neighbor to a night that seems to be blatantly copying Rough House @ Eleven  particularly familiar to Rough House @ Eleven.  No need to call the copyright lawyers just yet; this new jocktainment night has been created by Rick K whom previously birthed Rough House.  I suppose Rick feels that Boystown could use more muscle-head infused nightlife.  According to the promotions for Jock Strap "The Club" there will be oil wrestling.  Interesting.  Also, $3 domestic beers. Very interesting!  But these goodies come with a small price of $5 for entrance.

Jock Strap's Facebook Page  JS "The Club" seems to have compiled quite the listing of good looking friends.