Best Of Atlanta 2005 After Dark Large


After Dark


Best Concert Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Variety Playhouse
It can be all things to almost all people. It’s a rock and folk showcase, a jazz venue, a country bar, an acoustic club, a jam-band freak-out headquarters and a movie theater. You name it and the VARIETY PLAYHOUSE has probably been there, done that and sold the T-shirt in the lobby. The cool art decomore...
It can be all things to almost all people. It’s a rock and folk showcase, a jazz venue, a country bar, an acoustic club, a jam-band freak-out headquarters and a movie theater. You name it and the VARIETY PLAYHOUSE has probably been there, done that and sold the T-shirt in the lobby. The cool art deco building on Euclid Avenue with the classic marquee sits like a benevolent Buddha at the corner of Little Five Points, welcoming all who enter. Also, the Variety’s website is informative and, like the place itself, friendly and easy to navigate. less...

Best Country Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Swallow at the Hollow
Sure, there a few big-ass cowboy discos out in the ‘burbs, but to hear the best of what country music has to offer (the songs, duh), one only needs to head to THE SWALLOW AT THE HOLLOW, which doubles as a barbecue restaurant. Patterned after the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the Swallowmore...
Sure, there a few big-ass cowboy discos out in the ‘burbs, but to hear the best of what country music has to offer (the songs, duh), one only needs to head to THE SWALLOW AT THE HOLLOW, which doubles as a barbecue restaurant. Patterned after the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the Swallow usually features three singer/songwriters performing in the round. The artists talk about where their songs came from, the process of writing them, and how they got picked up (or didn’t). The format might be a bit too deconstructed for some folks, but it is an entertaining education, or as we prefer, edutainment. less...

Best Dance Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Django Gypsy Kitchen And Saloon
Imagine hailing a gypsy cab on New York’s Lower East Side. Inside, the decorations are Bangladeshi-meets-Brooklyn and the cabby raps to Jay-Z in Bengali. And as the cab gets its swerve on, your body dances involuntarily. The DJANGO GYPSY KITCHEN AND SALOON’s bohemian burrow recalls that ride, wheremore...
Imagine hailing a gypsy cab on New York’s Lower East Side. Inside, the decorations are Bangladeshi-meets-Brooklyn and the cabby raps to Jay-Z in Bengali. And as the cab gets its swerve on, your body dances involuntarily. The DJANGO GYPSY KITCHEN AND SALOON’s bohemian burrow recalls that ride, where disparate cultures fuse sweat-drenched momentum into one undeniably funky juggernaut. Whether looking for hip-hop, drum ‘n’ bass, flamenco, deep house, rare groove, soca, Afro-Cuban jazz or just a medley of people getting dirty and flirty in a post-modern Mediterranean/Latin/North African environment, Django offers a tight space under an even tighter groove. less...

Best Dive Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Lenny’s
In terms of live venues, LENNY’S can be considered Atlanta’s CBGB because of the bar’s support of up-and-coming bands, including experimental improv, punk, freestyle MCs and indie-pop DJs. Of course, Lenny’s can also give some the heebee geebees, because it’s a dive in all the classic sensesmore...
In terms of live venues, LENNY’S can be considered Atlanta’s CBGB because of the bar’s support of up-and-coming bands, including experimental improv, punk, freestyle MCs and indie-pop DJs. Of course, Lenny’s can also give some the heebee geebees, because it’s a dive in all the classic senses with rough-looking clientele and stiff, cheap drinks. Populated with irregular regulars, nights here are as long as the tales are tall if you pull up an ear to the bar. Show up if you prefer blue-collar, no-shittin’-ya to poppin’-collars bullshit. less...

BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Tommy Chung Got Caught Holding
CL contributor Tommy Chung is among the nicest of Atlantans, whether you encounter him working behind the counter at Aurora Coffee, next door at Criminal Records or down the street at Video Store. He’s always genial when you see him around East Atlanta or Little Five Points. Earlier this year, TOMMYmore...
CL contributor Tommy Chung is among the nicest of Atlantans, whether you encounter him working behind the counter at Aurora Coffee, next door at Criminal Records or down the street at Video Store. He’s always genial when you see him around East Atlanta or Little Five Points. Earlier this year, TOMMY CHUNG GOT CAUGHT HOLDING, and his legal fees began to mount. So someone had a thought: Tommy needs help. Tommy is well-liked. We’ll have a benefit show for him! The truly best part of all this is that the Selmanaires, for whom Tommy plays bass, headlined the show. So Tommy played a benefit to benefit himself. Now, that’s capitalism. We’re not sure about the validity of that, but you know what? We like Tommy, too. And we wish him the best. less...

Best Gay Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Jungle
Brad Williams must be a genius. Last year, the owner of Red Chair launched what looked like a risky venture, renovating the former Chamber nightclub into his tropical-themed discotheque called JUNGLE. By the end of the summer, the numbers were undeniable: Atlanta had caught Jungle fever. This year, themore...
Brad Williams must be a genius. Last year, the owner of Red Chair launched what looked like a risky venture, renovating the former Chamber nightclub into his tropical-themed discotheque called JUNGLE. By the end of the summer, the numbers were undeniable: Atlanta had caught Jungle fever. This year, the space has seen even more cosmetic improvements and has hosted a who’s-who of gay nightlife elite. Not only have live performers like Kristine W. and Deborah Cox graced the stage, but DJs Tony Moran, Kimberly S., and Craig Spy have gotten the dancefloor whipped into a frenzy. No wonder it’s a weekly destination for scores of sweaty party boys out to release the animal within. less...

Best Karaoke BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Metal-Some Mondays
Are you ready to rock? Or are you ready to shout along lyrics with a drunken slur from the audience as others belt out rock tunes? Either way, 10 High’s METAL-SOME MONDAYS helps fulfill rock-star fantasies for the musically challenged. Now 2 years old and still going strong, the karaoke night featuresmore...
Are you ready to rock? Or are you ready to shout along lyrics with a drunken slur from the audience as others belt out rock tunes? Either way, 10 High’s METAL-SOME MONDAYS helps fulfill rock-star fantasies for the musically challenged. Now 2 years old and still going strong, the karaoke night features a live group (dubbed the, gasp, Metal-Some Monday band) that backs eager singers who belt out tracks from AC/DC to Zeppelin. Big hair is optional, but don’t shout into the mic. The band hates that. less...

Best Karaoke BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
International Bowl And Arcade
Tucked beside the lanes at Buford Highway’s INTERNATIONAL BOWL AND ARCADE are a hallway of private, by-the-hour rooms from which emanate all kinds of moans, groans and guttural noises. But these aren’t sex scenes, it’s karaoke! With the right amount of reverb in the resounding stereo and a backgroundmore...
Tucked beside the lanes at Buford Highway’s INTERNATIONAL BOWL AND ARCADE are a hallway of private, by-the-hour rooms from which emanate all kinds of moans, groans and guttural noises. But these aren’t sex scenes, it’s karaoke! With the right amount of reverb in the resounding stereo and a background of Thailand rice patties on the big screen teleprompter, anyone can sound like Usher ... if he were in a car wreck ... underwater. But who cares? Cheap pitchers of beer are the great equalizer, and your entire party can take it as a challenge to one-up each other without anyone giving you shit. Karaoke here can be serious fun, and seriously funny. less...

Best Lesbian Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Lowe’S Home Improvement
Some folks howled when a new shopping center landed just south of Little Five Points, but the renovating residents of nearby neighborhoods have embraced the big-box charms of LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT. And when we say “renovating,” we mean, of course, the lesbians. This expansive new temple of 2-by-4smore...
Some folks howled when a new shopping center landed just south of Little Five Points, but the renovating residents of nearby neighborhoods have embraced the big-box charms of LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT. And when we say “renovating,” we mean, of course, the lesbians. This expansive new temple of 2-by-4s sits at a handy crossroads between queer-friendly Midtown and dyke-tastic Decatur, which may be why so many smiling sisters fill the store’s aisles. She’s got a power-sander, you’ve got a tool belt - who needs a deck? less...

Best Local Market BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Whole Foods Market
Back in the day, before Midtown became Buckhead, you’d never hear a respectable yuppie couple bragging that they met on Ponce. These days it’s not that far-fetched, given the dramatic influx of luxury SUVs that have flooded the Old Fourth Ward. At WHOLE FOODS MARKET, the hungry, hungry heteros convergemore...
Back in the day, before Midtown became Buckhead, you’d never hear a respectable yuppie couple bragging that they met on Ponce. These days it’s not that far-fetched, given the dramatic influx of luxury SUVs that have flooded the Old Fourth Ward. At WHOLE FOODS MARKET, the hungry, hungry heteros converge and cavort in a health-conscious environment - smiling furtively over the soy milk and showing admirable restraint from pawing the organic melons. Sure, a bunch of them may be vegans, but even they are looking for a fine rump. less...

Best mixologist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Govantez Lowndes
Opened by local restaurateur/self-proclaimed Anglophile GOVANTEZ LOWNDES, Technology Square-situated bistro the Globe celebrates the fresh-from-the-garden multidimensional cuisine of chef Joshua Perkins in a space-age, unfussy environment. And the clarity extends to the cocktails. The space overlaysmore...
Opened by local restaurateur/self-proclaimed Anglophile GOVANTEZ LOWNDES, Technology Square-situated bistro the Globe celebrates the fresh-from-the-garden multidimensional cuisine of chef Joshua Perkins in a space-age, unfussy environment. And the clarity extends to the cocktails. The space overlays sleek textures and organic flavors, and the mixology of Lowndes follows suit with concoctions inspired from travels in London and Sydney. Served from behind a 30-foot zinc bar, the Globe’s bracing cocktails contain juicy ingredients like guava, passion fruit, mango, and rhubarb puree and combine them with worldly libations, including molasses rum, Pimms and Campari. The impact is mod yet classic, discreet yet zesty. less...

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Euclid Avenue Yacht Club.
For spirited conversation, great bar food and an adult beverage or three, there’s no better intown gathering spot than the EUCLID AVENUE YACHT CLUB. With a radical mix of tattooed locals, thirsty tourists, boisterous bikers, and pierced punks, as well as a welcoming committee of Little Five Points’more...
For spirited conversation, great bar food and an adult beverage or three, there’s no better intown gathering spot than the EUCLID AVENUE YACHT CLUB. With a radical mix of tattooed locals, thirsty tourists, boisterous bikers, and pierced punks, as well as a welcoming committee of Little Five Points’ finest freaks and geeks, the place is a true melting pot. The ironic nautical decor is a visual treat with a collection of interesting knickknacks and general oddities on view behind the bar. On most nights, the intimate institution is buzzing with enough real-life entertainment to warrant a cover charge. Don’t worry, there’s never an admission fee, so come on in and be a part of the show. less...

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Dunwoody Tavern
Located in the heart of historic Dunwoody, the gregarious folks at YE OLDE DUNWOODY TAVERN have been slingin’ the suds since opening in ‘96. A popular destination of many north side Atlantans for social gatherings, weekend frivolity, or just a good place to kick back and watch a game, the Tavernmore...
Located in the heart of historic Dunwoody, the gregarious folks at YE OLDE DUNWOODY TAVERN have been slingin’ the suds since opening in ‘96. A popular destination of many north side Atlantans for social gatherings, weekend frivolity, or just a good place to kick back and watch a game, the Tavern is a comfy and occasionally jumpin’ little hot spot. In addition to a wide selection of liquid refreshments, a number of annual events are on tap, including golf tournaments, St. Patty’s parties and the Dunwoody Beer Festival. The above-average menu is a tasty treat, and other perks include free high-speed wireless, pool tables and organized soccer parties. less...

Best New Addition to the Cityscape BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Bazzaar
If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know Midnight Star’s “No Parking (On the Dancefloor)” is a guaranteed floor filler. Except it’s not meant to be taken literally, because an SUV takes up more prime real estate than most clubs can afford - especially if it enters through the window, as BAZZAARmore...
If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know Midnight Star’s “No Parking (On the Dancefloor)” is a guaranteed floor filler. Except it’s not meant to be taken literally, because an SUV takes up more prime real estate than most clubs can afford - especially if it enters through the window, as BAZZAAR found out the hard way in July. Thankfully, no one was hurt by the errant driver- bad even by Atlanta standards - and this forward-thinking lounge continues to bolster its own reputation for unassuming indulgence by fostering the city’s top DJ talent under the watchful eye of Bill Kaelin. less...

Best Nightclub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Swayze’s
OK, so you are a kid in the suburbs who loves loud rock and roll. Where do you go? Get your punk ass to SWAYZE’S, junior. It’s everything a club should be. Loud, obnoxious and a helluva lot of fun. Yes, it’s named for actor Patrick Swayze, and that’s part of the kitschy appeal of the place. Bookermore...
OK, so you are a kid in the suburbs who loves loud rock and roll. Where do you go? Get your punk ass to SWAYZE’S, junior. It’s everything a club should be. Loud, obnoxious and a helluva lot of fun. Yes, it’s named for actor Patrick Swayze, and that’s part of the kitschy appeal of the place. Booker Lee Satterfield runs it with the same tongue-in-cheek humor as he employs when he fronts the chaotic band Treephort. The all-ages, all the time place hosts several bands per night, so there is something there to enjoy, just stick around and watch. less...

Best Nightclub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Vision
When VISION originally opened, it was cast almost entirely in white and served as a blank canvas to the fashion-forward who go there. Now, following a $2 million renovation, the palatial crunk compound is so color/pattern-saturated, it’s as if Parliament-Funkadelic helmed the interior decoration. Ofmore...
When VISION originally opened, it was cast almost entirely in white and served as a blank canvas to the fashion-forward who go there. Now, following a $2 million renovation, the palatial crunk compound is so color/pattern-saturated, it’s as if Parliament-Funkadelic helmed the interior decoration. Of course, the newly reopened nightlife arena is so popular that party people arriving on a Friday or Saturday night to shake off the workweek will find themselves in another sort of grind. But the long lines outside give you the opportunity to see and be seen for your fabulousness before you get inside and all the attention is grabbed by the club’s decor. less...

Best OTP Music Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Swayze’s
OK, so you are a kid in the suburbs who loves loud rock and roll. Where do you go? Get your punk ass to SWAYZE’S, junior. It’s everything a club should be. Loud, obnoxious and a helluva lot of fun. Yes, it’s named for actor Patrick Swayze, and that’s part of the kitschy appeal of the place. Bookermore...
OK, so you are a kid in the suburbs who loves loud rock and roll. Where do you go? Get your punk ass to SWAYZE’S, junior. It’s everything a club should be. Loud, obnoxious and a helluva lot of fun. Yes, it’s named for actor Patrick Swayze, and that’s part of the kitschy appeal of the place. Booker Lee Satterfield runs it with the same tongue-in-cheek humor as he employs when he fronts the chaotic band Treephort. The all-ages, all the time place hosts several bands per night, so there is something there to enjoy, just stick around and watch. less...

Best Outdoor Music Venue for Concerts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Lanierland
With its “no alcohol” policy and well-organized venue management, LANIERLAND’s Concerts in the Country is the sort of place you can safely take your grandma to enjoy a show. Plus, the attendees are some of the best behaved (and most sober) people in the state, having paid their hard-earned moneymore...
With its “no alcohol” policy and well-organized venue management, LANIERLAND’s Concerts in the Country is the sort of place you can safely take your grandma to enjoy a show. Plus, the attendees are some of the best behaved (and most sober) people in the state, having paid their hard-earned money to hear some real country music. Well worth the 45-minute drive out of town, the setting is beautiful, the sound is great, and the performing acts are a cross-section of old-timers such as George Jones and Tanya Tucker, and newer artists like Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton. less...

Best Place for a First Date BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Octane Coffee
A blind date can be nerve-wracking enough, but at least at OCTANE COFFEE BAR & LOUNGE you can attribute the jitters on the jolt of caffeine you just chugged. What’s better, this java joint offers free wireless Internet, so you can pretend to be reading Wonkette.com when the mystery screen name sauntersmore...
A blind date can be nerve-wracking enough, but at least at OCTANE COFFEE BAR & LOUNGE you can attribute the jitters on the jolt of caffeine you just chugged. What’s better, this java joint offers free wireless Internet, so you can pretend to be reading Wonkette.com when the mystery screen name saunters up. Plus, you’ll score points for suggesting a rendezvous on the trendy west side of town. Soon enough, the coffee won’t be the only thing that’s hot. less...

Best Place to Hear Local Music BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Earl
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common - thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young - but we will say that Seger’s “Rock and Rollmore...
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common - thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young - but we will say that Seger’s “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” could be the Earl’s theme song. There’s nowhere else in Atlanta so dedicated to not letting people forget the rawk, showcasing the top tier of local bands alongside nationally acclaimed indie acts. With its junk-store chic, the Earl embodies the garage-band spirit and we raise our tall boys to it. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
A Cappella Books
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront,more...
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront, and plenty to sample at listening stations in Satellite Records. But we specifically celebrate A CAPPELLA BOOKS, CRIMINAL RECORDS and THE FIVE SPOT for supporting free live performances. At A Cappella, locals like Anna Kramer and Daniel Clay perform insurgent, experimental indie folk every Wednesday from 8:30-10 p.m. Criminal hosts local and national touring acts like Jet By Day and Andrew WK both in store and in the parking lot for singing and signings. The Five Spot hosts a variety of acts, including funk, jazz and reggae and rarely charges a cover. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Criminal Records
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront,more...
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront, and plenty to sample at listening stations in Satellite Records. But we specifically celebrate A CAPPELLA BOOKS, CRIMINAL RECORDS and THE FIVE SPOT for supporting free live performances. At A Cappella, locals like Anna Kramer and Daniel Clay perform insurgent, experimental indie folk every Wednesday from 8:30-10 p.m. Criminal hosts local and national touring acts like Jet By Day and Andrew WK both in store and in the parking lot for singing and signings. The Five Spot hosts a variety of acts, including funk, jazz and reggae and rarely charges a cover. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Five Spot
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront,more...
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront, and plenty to sample at listening stations in Satellite Records. But we specifically celebrate A CAPPELLA BOOKS, CRIMINAL RECORDS and THE FIVE SPOT for supporting free live performances. At A Cappella, locals like Anna Kramer and Daniel Clay perform insurgent, experimental indie folk every Wednesday from 8:30-10 p.m. Criminal hosts local and national touring acts like Jet By Day and Andrew WK both in store and in the parking lot for singing and signings. The Five Spot hosts a variety of acts, including funk, jazz and reggae and rarely charges a cover. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Downtown Rocks
DOWNTOWN ROCKS emerged as the winner when On the Bricks hits the bricks after losing its sponsorship. With its new home in Underground Atlanta, 99X brought the tried-and-true alternative rockers Cake, Weezer, Ben Folds and Garbage. Also on the bill were acts breaking into the mainstream, including Spoon,more...
DOWNTOWN ROCKS emerged as the winner when On the Bricks hits the bricks after losing its sponsorship. With its new home in Underground Atlanta, 99X brought the tried-and-true alternative rockers Cake, Weezer, Ben Folds and Garbage. Also on the bill were acts breaking into the mainstream, including Spoon, the Bravery, Kasabian and the Caesars, and if you got there early, local acts kicked off each night. Although it rained for most concerts, crowds packed in anyway because free makes everything better. less...

Best Place to Play Pool BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Mr. Cue’S Billiards & Burgers
Ya think ya got balls enough to play where the pros play? Well, roll on over to MR. CUE’S BILLIARDS & BURGERS and put some English on it. Johnny Archer is the house pro and he can often be found playing for fun, in high-stakes tournaments or patiently instructing budding hustlers and novices. The placemore...
Ya think ya got balls enough to play where the pros play? Well, roll on over to MR. CUE’S BILLIARDS & BURGERS and put some English on it. Johnny Archer is the house pro and he can often be found playing for fun, in high-stakes tournaments or patiently instructing budding hustlers and novices. The place isn’t a palace, it’s your basic shopping center pool room with all the ambiance and panache of the players of the moment. But that sea of tables beckons the competitive side like a siren to a lost sailor. Rack ‘em up. less...

Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Quinones at Bacchanalia
To impress a big date with your astute sensitivity, you want somewhere you can talk and somewhere you can talk about. QUINONES AT BACCHANALIA the third venture of critically feted owners/chefs of Floataway Cafe/Bacchanalia Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison fills both. Featuring a single seating ofmore...
To impress a big date with your astute sensitivity, you want somewhere you can talk and somewhere you can talk about. QUINONES AT BACCHANALIA the third venture of critically feted owners/chefs of Floataway Cafe/Bacchanalia Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison fills both. Featuring a single seating of 35 a night for a prix-fixe menu of 8 to 10 courses at $95 or $165 with wine pairings, Quinones offers deftly plated French-influenced tastings in a courtyard-sided room. The decor is unobtrusive yet dramatic, not overtly theatrical like so many Atlanta restaurants. less...

Best Rock Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Earl
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common - thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young - but we will say that Seger’s “Rock and Rollmore...
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common - thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young - but we will say that Seger’s “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” could be the Earl’s theme song. There’s nowhere else in Atlanta so dedicated to not letting people forget the rawk, showcasing the top tier of local bands alongside nationally acclaimed indie acts. With its junk-store chic, the Earl embodies the garage-band spirit and we raise our tall boys to it. less...

Best Sports Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Dugan’s
The outside of DUGAN’S on Ponce is like a big screen TV, with all the neon signs boasting wings and cold beer. It gets busy on weekends, and probably not just because of the screens packed with all the sports you can handle. The strong drinks and spicy drumettes served up by the no-nonsense waitstaffmore...
The outside of DUGAN’S on Ponce is like a big screen TV, with all the neon signs boasting wings and cold beer. It gets busy on weekends, and probably not just because of the screens packed with all the sports you can handle. The strong drinks and spicy drumettes served up by the no-nonsense waitstaff keep fans coming back. Have your order ready, talk loud, and cheer for your team if you want to - hell, everybody else does - and if you happen to be in Stone Mountain or off Flat Shoals Road, check those Dugan’s locations for more of the same. less...

Best Strip Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Blue Flame Lounge
If you know anything about chemistry, you know the blue flame burns hottest. And in Atlanta, THE BLUE FLAME LOUNGE proves the point. Talk about hot and this black gentlemen’s club is bound to come up. The world’s starting to catch on that nights in the A-Town shake clubs are off the heezy, and themore...
If you know anything about chemistry, you know the blue flame burns hottest. And in Atlanta, THE BLUE FLAME LOUNGE proves the point. Talk about hot and this black gentlemen’s club is bound to come up. The world’s starting to catch on that nights in the A-Town shake clubs are off the heezy, and the tight, bouncing beats and round booties at this club only minutes from downtown confirm that. To top it off, table dances are only $5, so you don’t have to be a big baller to party at the Blue Flame without getting too burned. less...

Best Unique Date Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
IKEA
She’s coy before the first date, as those Southern belles tend to be. “I just want to spend time with you,” she says via text message. What place can you take her where your fiduciary investment doesn’t exceed her emotional interest? Easy, take her to IKEA. At a whopping 366,000 square feet,more...
She’s coy before the first date, as those Southern belles tend to be. “I just want to spend time with you,” she says via text message. What place can you take her where your fiduciary investment doesn’t exceed her emotional interest? Easy, take her to IKEA. At a whopping 366,000 square feet, you’re bound to spend all day together. Watch her paw through the piles of $5 throw pillows. Giggle like schoolkids in the bunk-bed aisle. Take turns playing hide-and-seek among the fashionable-yet-affordable shelving units. Consider it quantity time, and if you’re lucky, she might even ask to sample the Swedish meatballs. less...

Best Unique Date Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival At Fox Theatre
The city too busy to hate is also the city where it’s expensive to date, so finding options that are both affordable and romantic is no easy task. Dazzle your darling with the COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL AT FOX THEATRE. From the twinkling lightbulbs on the marquee to the plush lounges inside, themore...
The city too busy to hate is also the city where it’s expensive to date, so finding options that are both affordable and romantic is no easy task. Dazzle your darling with the COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL AT FOX THEATRE. From the twinkling lightbulbs on the marquee to the plush lounges inside, the restored movie palace features a luxe setting to put classic moves on your sweetheart. After the lights dim, you can “accidentally” brush hands in the popcorn or try the stretch-turned-arm-around-your-date move. Whatever your game, don’t forget to look up at the ceiling, where you both can enjoy the only stars visible in Atlanta. less...

Best Urban Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Apache Caf
When APACHE CAFE rose from the ashes of the legendary Yin Yang Cafe years ago, denizens of Atlanta’s soul music scene predicted that the spot would also die. Almost one decade later, Apache is still alive and kicking. The secret of its success? Owners Asa and Karen Fain changed what didn’t work [(checkmore...
When APACHE CAFE rose from the ashes of the legendary Yin Yang Cafe years ago, denizens of Atlanta’s soul music scene predicted that the spot would also die. Almost one decade later, Apache is still alive and kicking. The secret of its success? Owners Asa and Karen Fain changed what didn’t work [(check out the refurbished patio in the back) and kept the great spoken word, hip-hop, jazz and soul music flowing. less...

Best Weekly Club Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Fever
Throw out your thermometers and forget about aspirin: FEVER promises a sickening good time every Saturday night at Django. The DJ rotation features a cast of overly capable locals, including Jamad, Kemit, Mars, Kumar, Motion, LV, Klever and Cozy Shawn. Thank your doctors J. Carter of Sol-Fusion andmore...
Throw out your thermometers and forget about aspirin: FEVER promises a sickening good time every Saturday night at Django. The DJ rotation features a cast of overly capable locals, including Jamad, Kemit, Mars, Kumar, Motion, LV, Klever and Cozy Shawn. Thank your doctors J. Carter of Sol-Fusion and Marco “Blue” Johnson of Marco’s Pita for three levels of party, from the hip-hop hotness downstairs on the dancefloor to the chill environment upstairs in the restaurant and out on the patio. Fever helped give Django its hot spot diagnosis for 2005 but for the ladies who get ill at the thought of a $20 cover, show up before 11 p.m. less...

Categories No Longer in Use BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Manhunt
Maybe we’re using the word “date” too generously, but MANHUNT is one Internet success story that’s left countless numbers of local guys smiling. Some swear they use it as a social outlet - a place to chat up strangers without having to deal with smoky bars and the accompanying attitude. Othersmore...
Maybe we’re using the word “date” too generously, but MANHUNT is one Internet success story that’s left countless numbers of local guys smiling. Some swear they use it as a social outlet - a place to chat up strangers without having to deal with smoky bars and the accompanying attitude. Others see it as more of a delivery service (with “service” being the key word, ahem). Either way, there’s got to be a good reason so many ATL boys are always “on the ‘Hunt.” less...
  • 1
  • 2 (current)
  • »

Best Dance Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
MJQ Concourse

Best Dive Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Lenny’s Bar

Best Dive Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Cowboys Atlanta

Best Gay Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Blake’s on the Park

Best Jazz Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Churchill Grounds

Best Jukebox BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Blind Willie’s

Best Karaoke BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Metal-some Mondays

Best Karaoke BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Chaplins

Best Latin Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Loca Luna

Best Lesbian Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
MSR My Sisters Room

Best Lesbian Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
MSR My Sisters Room

Best Local Market BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
East Andrews Bar

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Manuel’s Tavern

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
The Local

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Universal Joint

Best Neighborhood Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Dunwoody Tavern

Best Nightclub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Masquerade

Best OTP Music Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Wild Bill Wholesale

Best Outdoor Music Venue for Concerts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Chastain Park Amphitheatre

Best Place for a First Date BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Starbucks

Best Place to Hear Local Music BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Eddie’s Attic

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Best Place to Play Pool BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards

Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Bacchanalia

Best Rock Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
The Earl

Best Sports Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Jocks and Jills

Best Strip Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Pink Pony

Best Unique Date Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Best Urban Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Club Vision

Categories No Longer in Use BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Match.com
  • 1
  • 2 (current)
  • »

Best Unique Date Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
IKEA
She’s coy before the first date, as those Southern belles tend to be. “I just want to spend time with you,” she says via text message. What place can you take her where your fiduciary investment doesn’t exceed her emotional interest? Easy, take her to IKEA. At a whopping 366,000 square feet,more...
She’s coy before the first date, as those Southern belles tend to be. “I just want to spend time with you,” she says via text message. What place can you take her where your fiduciary investment doesn’t exceed her emotional interest? Easy, take her to IKEA. At a whopping 366,000 square feet, you’re bound to spend all day together. Watch her paw through the piles of $5 throw pillows. Giggle like schoolkids in the bunk-bed aisle. Take turns playing hide-and-seek among the fashionable-yet-affordable shelving units. Consider it quantity time, and if you’re lucky, she might even ask to sample the Swedish meatballs. less...

Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Quinones at Bacchanalia

Best Restaurant When Someone Else is Paying BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Bacchanalia

Best Unique Date Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The city too busy to hate is also the city where it’s expensive to date, so finding options that are both affordable and romantic is no easy task. Dazzle your darling with the COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL AT FOX THEATRE. From the twinkling lightbulbs on the marquee to the plush lounges inside,more...
The city too busy to hate is also the city where it’s expensive to date, so finding options that are both affordable and romantic is no easy task. Dazzle your darling with the COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL AT FOX THEATRE. From the twinkling lightbulbs on the marquee to the plush lounges inside, the restored movie palace features a luxe setting to put classic moves on your sweetheart. After the lights dim, you can “accidentally” brush hands in the popcorn or try the stretch-turned-arm-around-your-date move. Whatever your game, don’t forget to look up at the ceiling, where you both can enjoy the only stars visible in Atlanta. less...

Best Place to Hear Local Music BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Eddie’s Attic
515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur 404-377-4976 www.eddiesattic.com

Best Place to Hear Local Music BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Earl
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common — thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young — but we will say that Seger’smore...
Listening to the earnest heartland rock of Bob Seger makes us want to drink PBR. So does THE EARL. We’re not saying Seger and the Earl have much in common — thanks to booking agent Patrick Hill, the mood is more jamming and idiosyncratic Neil Young — but we will say that Seger’s “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” could be the Earl’s theme song. There’s nowhere else in Atlanta so dedicated to not letting people forget the rawk, showcasing the top tier of local bands alongside nationally acclaimed indie acts. With its junk-store chic, the Earl embodies the garage-band spirit and we raise our tall boys to it. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
A Cappella Books, Criminal Records, and The Five Spot
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from everymore...
In America, freedom is the most valuable possession. And in Bush’s America, free is an equally prized, if far more elusive, commodity. By that reasoning, Little Five Points is like heaven/Rodeo Drive for fans of free music. Just wandering around, there are beats leaking and creeping from every storefront, and plenty to sample at listening stations in Satellite Records. But we specifically celebrate A CAPPELLA BOOKS, CRIMINAL RECORDS and THE FIVE SPOT for supporting free live performances. At A Cappella, locals like Anna Kramer and Daniel Clay perform insurgent, experimental indie folk every Thursday from 8:30-10 p.m. Criminal hosts local and national touring acts like Jet By Day and Andrew WK both in store and in the parking lot for singing and signings. The Five Spot hosts a variety of acts, including funk, jazz and reggae and rarely charges a cover. less...

Best Place to Hear Music For Free BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Downtown Rocks
After a few years of battling free concert series, DOWNTOWN ROCKS emerged as the winner when On the Bricks hits the bricks after losing its sponsorship. With its new home in Underground Atlanta, 99X brought the tried-and-true alternative rockers Cake, Weezer, Ben Folds and Garbage. Also on the bill weremore...

After a few years of battling free concert series, DOWNTOWN ROCKS emerged as the winner when On the Bricks hits the bricks after losing its sponsorship. With its new home in Underground Atlanta, 99X brought the tried-and-true alternative rockers Cake, Weezer, Ben Folds and Garbage. Also on the bill were acts breaking into the mainstream, including Spoon, the Bravery, Kasabian and the Caesars, and if you got there early, local acts kicked off each night. Although it rained for most concerts, crowds packed in anyway because free makes everything better.
www.99x.com.

less...

Best Nightclub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Vision

Best Place for a First Date BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Starbucks
Ubiquitous, www.starbucks.com.

Best Bar to Hook Up BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Wetbar - W Atlanta
Maybe it’s the proximity of Georgia Tech, or it might be crossover from nearby Halo’s popular gay night, but WETBAR’S COLLEGE NIGHT comes with cuties swinging from the proverbial ceiling. Thursday arrives and a sassy 18-and-up crew of nubile newbies crowds the swanky Spring Street wateringmore...

Maybe it’s the proximity of Georgia Tech, or it might be crossover from nearby Halo’s popular gay night, but WETBAR’S COLLEGE NIGHT comes with cuties swinging from the proverbial ceiling. Thursday arrives and a sassy 18-and-up crew of nubile newbies crowds the swanky Spring Street watering hole, where DJ Greg Dean and a host of go-go boys keep the atmosphere light and sexy. Sure, it’s fun — just make sure he’s not taking you back to his dorm room.
960 Spring St. 404-745-9494.

less...

Best Gay Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Blake’s on the Park

Best Lesbian Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
MSR My Sisters Room
222 E. Howard Ave., Decatur 404-370-1990 www.mysistersroom.com

Best Hardware Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Some folks howled when a new shopping center landed just south of Little Five Points, but the renovating residents of nearby neighborhoods have embraced the big-box charms of LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT. And when we say “renovating,” we mean, of course, the lesbians. This expansivemore...

Some folks howled when a new shopping center landed just south of Little Five Points, but the renovating residents of nearby neighborhoods have embraced the big-box charms of LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT. And when we say “renovating,” we mean, of course, the lesbians. This expansive new temple of 2-by-4s sits at a handy crossroads between queer-friendly Midtown and dyke-tastic Decatur, which may be why so many smiling sisters fill the store’s aisles. She’s got a power-sander, you’ve got a tool belt — who needs a deck?
1280 Caroline St. 404-658-8650. www.lowes.com.

less...

Best Place to Play Pool BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Mr Cues II Billiards
Ya think ya got balls enough to play where the pros play? Well, roll on over to MR. CUE’S BILLIARDS & BURGERS and put some English on it. Johnny Archer is the house pro and he can often be found playing for fun, in high-stakes tournaments or patiently instructing budding hustlers and novices.more...
Ya think ya got balls enough to play where the pros play? Well, roll on over to MR. CUE’S BILLIARDS & BURGERS and put some English on it. Johnny Archer is the house pro and he can often be found playing for fun, in high-stakes tournaments or patiently instructing budding hustlers and novices. The place isn’t a palace, it’s your basic shopping center pool room with all the ambiance and panache of the players of the moment. But that sea of tables beckons the competitive side like a siren to a lost sailor. Rack ’em up. less...

Best Place to Play Pool BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards

Best Dive Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Cowboys

Best Rock Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
The Earl
488 Flat Shoals Road 404-522-3950 www.badearl.com

Best Sports Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Dugan’s Sports Bar and Grill
The outside of DUGAN’S on Ponce is like a big screen TV, with all the neon signs boasting wings and cold beer. It gets busy on weekends, and probably not just because of the screens packed with all the sports you can handle. The strong drinks and spicy drumettes served up by the no-nonsensemore...
The outside of DUGAN’S on Ponce is like a big screen TV, with all the neon signs boasting wings and cold beer. It gets busy on weekends, and probably not just because of the screens packed with all the sports you can handle. The strong drinks and spicy drumettes served up by the no-nonsense waitstaff keep fans coming back. Have your order ready, talk loud, and cheer for your team if you want to — hell, everybody else does — and if you happen to be in Stone Mountain or off Flat Shoals Road, check those Dugan’s locations for more of the same. less...

Best Sports Bar BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Jocks & Jills Sports Grill

Best Strip Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Blue Flame Lounge
If you know anything about chemistry, you know the blue flame burns hottest. And in Atlanta, THE BLUE FLAME LOUNGE proves the point. Talk about hot and this black gentlemen’s club is bound to come up. The world’s starting to catch on that nights in the A-Town shake clubs are off themore...

If you know anything about chemistry, you know the blue flame burns hottest. And in Atlanta, THE BLUE FLAME LOUNGE proves the point. Talk about hot and this black gentlemen’s club is bound to come up. The world’s starting to catch on that nights in the A-Town shake clubs are off the heezy, and the tight, bouncing beats and round booties at this club only minutes from downtown confirm that. To top it off, table dances are only $5, so you don’t have to be a big baller to party at the Blue Flame without getting too burned.
1097 Harwell Road. 404-794-1446. www.blueflamelounge.com.

less...

Best Strip Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Pink Pony
1837 Corporate Blvd. 404-634-6396 www.showbars.com

Best Urban Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Apache Cafe

Best Urban Music Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Club Vision
1068 Peachtree St. 404-874-4460 www.visionatlanta.com

Best Weekly Club Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Sol-Fusion
Promoters J. Carter and Kenny Burns may describe their popular nightclub event SOL-FUSION as an “intercontinental love fest,” but really it’s just one hell of a good time. No other event in Atlanta features music provided by some of the industry’s coolest personalities,more...

Promoters J. Carter and Kenny Burns may describe their popular nightclub event SOL-FUSION as an “intercontinental love fest,” but really it’s just one hell of a good time. No other event in Atlanta features music provided by some of the industry’s coolest personalities, such as ?uestlove and D-Nice, and a serious blend of genres from alt-rock to house to reggae. No other event assembles such a multicultural collection of people serious about partying, not posing.
www.sol-fusion.com.

less...

Best Weekly Club Night BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
D’jango Kitchen and Saloon
Throw out your thermometers and forget about aspirin: FEVER promises a sickening good time every Saturday night at Django. The DJ rotation features a cast of overly capable locals, including Jamad, Kemit, Mars, Kumar, Motion, LV, Klever and Cozy Shawn. Thank your doctors J. Carter of Sol-Fusion and Marcomore...
Throw out your thermometers and forget about aspirin: FEVER promises a sickening good time every Saturday night at Django. The DJ rotation features a cast of overly capable locals, including Jamad, Kemit, Mars, Kumar, Motion, LV, Klever and Cozy Shawn. Thank your doctors J. Carter of Sol-Fusion and Marco “Blue” Johnson of Marco’s Pita for three levels of party, from the hip-hop hotness downstairs on the dancefloor to the chill environment upstairs in the restaurant and out on the patio. Fever helped give Django its hot spot diagnosis for 2005 — but for the ladies who get ill at the thought of a $20 cover, show up before 11 p.m. less...

Best New Addition to the Cityscape BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Bazzaar
If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know Midnight Star’s “No Parking (On the Dancefloor)” is a guaranteed floor filler. Except it’s not meant to be taken literally, because an SUV takes up more prime real estate than most clubs can afford — especiallymore...
If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you know Midnight Star’s “No Parking (On the Dancefloor)” is a guaranteed floor filler. Except it’s not meant to be taken literally, because an SUV takes up more prime real estate than most clubs can afford — especially if it enters through the window, as BAZZAAR found out the hard way in July. Thankfully, no one was hurt by the errant driver — bad even by Atlanta standards — and this forward-thinking lounge continues to bolster its own reputation for unassuming indulgence by fostering the city’s top DJ talent under the watchful eye of Bill Kaelin. less...

Best Nightclub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Charlie Brown
Atlanta’s nightlife institutions seem to be vanishing, unless you count the drive-thru Krispy Kreme on Ponce. After the city moved up last call, MR. CHARLIE BROWN could have disappeared. For 14 years, Charlie Brown and his team of female impersonators performed at Backstreet until the 24-hour finallymore...

Atlanta’s nightlife institutions seem to be vanishing, unless you count the drive-thru Krispy Kreme on Ponce. After the city moved up last call, MR. CHARLIE BROWN could have disappeared. For 14 years, Charlie Brown and his team of female impersonators performed at Backstreet until the 24-hour finally shut down last year. Rather than shed mascara-coated tears, Charlie Brown’s Cabaret opened as its own venue in Underground Atlanta, where performers dazzle audiences Thursday-Sunday nights. In addition to the regular lineup of Shawnna Brooks, Lena “HotDamn” Lust, Heather Daniels, Lauren LeMasters and Ashley Kruiz, Charlie hosts the popular “Drag Idol” contest, which brings fresh faces to the stage. And the newbies can learn a thing or two from Mr. Brown, who serves up jokes like Krispy Kreme doughnuts: delicious and hot. “Charlie Brown’s Cabaret, Underground Atlanta, 50 Upper Alabama St. 678-904-4811. www.charliebrownscabaret.com.” See related: - Poets, Artists & Madmen: Best Drag Queen Charlie Brown (Reader pick)
- Poets, Artists & Madmen: Best Drag Queen Charlie Brown (Critic pick)
- After Dark: Best Legal After-Hours Spot UNDERGROUND ATLANTA (Critic pick)

less...

Best Acoustic Music Club/Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Eddie’s Attic

Best Acoustic Music Club/Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Eddie’S Attic
Following a few shaky years of gradually shifting musical focus, EDDIE’S ATTIC returns to form and retains the title as best place to hear acoustic music for the simple fact that the music is the top priority. Any noisy attendees get shushed and glared at, and the sound system is engineered to perfection.more...
Following a few shaky years of gradually shifting musical focus, EDDIE’S ATTIC returns to form and retains the title as best place to hear acoustic music for the simple fact that the music is the top priority. Any noisy attendees get shushed and glared at, and the sound system is engineered to perfection. Featuring a popular array of local and touring acts, as well as the always interesting Open Mike Shootout on Mondays, Eddie’s is an institution in the Decatur scene. Oh, and in case you hadn’t heard, the titular Eddie is back. less...

Best After Hours Spot BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Waffle House

Best After Hours Spot BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Nunya Biznass
A city ain’t a city if it sleeps. Regardless of what the government may say, this city’s party class knows the deal: After the show, there’s the after-party, and after the party, there’s the hotel lobby, and yes, Atlantans drink till 6 in the morning. But who has the best after-party? If youmore...
A city ain’t a city if it sleeps. Regardless of what the government may say, this city’s party class knows the deal: After the show, there’s the after-party, and after the party, there’s the hotel lobby, and yes, Atlantans drink till 6 in the morning. But who has the best after-party? If you don’t know, it must be NUNYA BIZNASS. Finding directions to the hot spots isn’t as difficult as when Steve and Andrea had to exchange an egg for rave directions on “Beverly Hills 90210,” but we can’t draw you a map. After all, isn’t it more fun to find a treasure when you stumble upon it? less...

Best After Hours Spot BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Underground Atlanta
When the city’s bars shout last call, people who still want a drinky-drink post-2 a.m. head for UNDERGROUND ATLANTA. Not only is Underground one of the few drinking districts in the city with a conveniently located parking deck, its eight bars are the only ones that can legally pour until 4 a.m. inmore...
When the city’s bars shout last call, people who still want a drinky-drink post-2 a.m. head for UNDERGROUND ATLANTA. Not only is Underground one of the few drinking districts in the city with a conveniently located parking deck, its eight bars are the only ones that can legally pour until 4 a.m. in Fulton County. The bars’ themes range from straight-laced sports bar Triple Play to unlaced drag shows at Charlie Brown’s Cabaret, so it’s a good bet something will tickle your fancy. On top of that, partiers can wander around between watering holes with alcoholic beverage in hand. less...

Best Bar to Hook Up BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Blake’s on the Park

Best Bar to Hook Up BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Wetbar - W Atlanta
Maybe it’s the proximity of Georgia Tech, or it might be crossover from nearby Halo’s popular gay night, but WETBAR’S COLLEGE NIGHT comes with cuties swinging from the proverbial ceiling. Thursday arrives and a sassy 18-and-up crew of nubile newbies crowds the swanky Spring Street watering hole,more...
Maybe it’s the proximity of Georgia Tech, or it might be crossover from nearby Halo’s popular gay night, but WETBAR’S COLLEGE NIGHT comes with cuties swinging from the proverbial ceiling. Thursday arrives and a sassy 18-and-up crew of nubile newbies crowds the swanky Spring Street watering hole, where DJ Greg Dean and a host of go-go boys keep the atmosphere light and sexy. Sure, it’s fun - just make sure he’s not taking you back to his dorm room. less...

Best Bartender/Mixologist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Michele - Chaplins/Roswell

Best Bartender/Mixologist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Carla
“It’s the name of the car, not me!” Sure, CARLA, we believe you ... maybe. “Ms. Kitty” is her convertible, and in our estimation, her combination of sexy and stiff - as in drinks, you pervs - makes Carla a purrfect bartender. Although she cut out the late-night hours at the Vortex a few yearsmore...
“It’s the name of the car, not me!” Sure, CARLA, we believe you ... maybe. “Ms. Kitty” is her convertible, and in our estimation, her combination of sexy and stiff - as in drinks, you pervs - makes Carla a purrfect bartender. Although she cut out the late-night hours at the Vortex a few years ago, the dark-haired mama with the tavern-tinged voice and sassy smile still serves ‘em strong for the weekday regulars at the L5P location. less...

Best Beer Selection BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Belgian Beer Bar
Decatur’s Brick Store Pub has long been a favorite haunt for beer lovers, but the local spot stepped it up earlier this year with its BELGIAN BEER BAR. At first glance, the pub may look exactly the same to infrequent visitors, but a walk up the stairs reveals a magical beer enclave to the left. Decoratedmore...
Decatur’s Brick Store Pub has long been a favorite haunt for beer lovers, but the local spot stepped it up earlier this year with its BELGIAN BEER BAR. At first glance, the pub may look exactly the same to infrequent visitors, but a walk up the stairs reveals a magical beer enclave to the left. Decorated with dark woods and dim lights, the Belgian Beer Bar fills up as fast as the clientele scans over the multipage beer menu. Several coolers hold an intimidating number of bottled brews, but the staff knows beer like sommeliers know wine. less...

Best Blues Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Northside Tavern

Best Blues Club BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Blind Willie’s
Co-founders Eric King and Roger Gregory built BLIND WILLIE’S in 1986 with the generous help of the local blues music community. King’s background includes an immense knowledge of ’60s folk and acoustic music, and the joint was originally envisioned to host a coffeehouse-type environment. It’smore...
Co-founders Eric King and Roger Gregory built BLIND WILLIE’S in 1986 with the generous help of the local blues music community. King’s background includes an immense knowledge of ’60s folk and acoustic music, and the joint was originally envisioned to host a coffeehouse-type environment. It’s blossomed into a major destination for local, national and international blues musicians and fans with a full and pleasingly varied schedule of events featuring live music Monday through Saturday. If the house is a-rockin,’ don’t bother knockin,’ just pay the affordable cover and come on in. less...

Best Bowling Alley BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
International Bowling & Arcade

Best Bowling Alley BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Chamblee Lanes
Located conveniently between the International Village of Doraville and the modern shopping of the Ashford-Dunwoody corridor, the venerable CHAMBLEE LANES stands as a bridge between class and culture. Any given day or night, you’ll likely find timid, newly transplanted Americans rubbing elbows andmore...
Located conveniently between the International Village of Doraville and the modern shopping of the Ashford-Dunwoody corridor, the venerable CHAMBLEE LANES stands as a bridge between class and culture. Any given day or night, you’ll likely find timid, newly transplanted Americans rubbing elbows and renting shoes next to boisterous, “We’re No. 1” Red-State Dixiecrats. And that’s the beauty of the place. It’s like a United Nations of bowling, bringing the huddled masses together to have fun and roll a few gutter balls. Isn’t that what America is all about? less...

Best Brew Pub BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
5 Seasons Brewing Company

Best Club Event BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Big Gay Supper Club

Best Club Event BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Sol-Fusion
Promoters J. Carter and Kenny Burns may describe their popular nightclub event SOL-FUSION as an “intercontinental love fest,” but really it’s just one hell of a good time. No other event in Atlanta features music provided by some of the industry’s coolest personalities, such as ?uestlove andmore...
Promoters J. Carter and Kenny Burns may describe their popular nightclub event SOL-FUSION as an “intercontinental love fest,” but really it’s just one hell of a good time. No other event in Atlanta features music provided by some of the industry’s coolest personalities, such as ?uestlove and D-Nice, and a serious blend of genres from alt-rock to house to reggae. No other event assembles such a multicultural collection of people serious about partying, not posing. less...

Best Comedy Club/Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
The Punchline Comedy Club

Best Comedy Club/Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
The Punchline Comedy Club
For the past two decades, THE PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB has been Atlanta’s one-stop comedy shop. The unpretentious little club in Sandy Springs has hosted nearly every major comedy act known to man (and many who aren’t) including Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Dave Attell and Mitch Hedberg. A quick look atmore...
For the past two decades, THE PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB has been Atlanta’s one-stop comedy shop. The unpretentious little club in Sandy Springs has hosted nearly every major comedy act known to man (and many who aren’t) including Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Dave Attell and Mitch Hedberg. A quick look at the many autographed photos that line the walls of the cozy, wood-paneled venue offer a visual history of great American stand-up comedy. Go and get some funny, it’s time to laugh. less...

Best Concert Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Readers Pick
Chastain Park Amphitheatre

Best Concert Venue BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » After Dark » Critics Pick
Variety Playhouse
It can be all things to almost all people. It’s a rock and folk showcase, a jazz venue, a country bar, an acoustic club, a jam-band freak-out headquarters and a movie theater. You name it and the VARIETY PLAYHOUSE has probably been there, done that and sold the T-shirt in the lobby. The cool art decomore...
It can be all things to almost all people. It’s a rock and folk showcase, a jazz venue, a country bar, an acoustic club, a jam-band freak-out headquarters and a movie theater. You name it and the VARIETY PLAYHOUSE has probably been there, done that and sold the T-shirt in the lobby. The cool art deco building on Euclid Avenue with the classic marquee sits like a benevolent Buddha at the corner of Little Five Points, welcoming all who enter. Also, the Variety’s website is informative and, like the place itself, friendly and easy to navigate. less...


Browse by Category

After Dark
After Dark
CityScape
CityScape
Consumer Culture
Consumer Culture
Index
Index
Oral Pleasures
Oral Pleasures
Poets, Artists & Madmen
Poets, Artists & Madmen