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At night, Philadelphia is sizzling with activity – it’s an exciting, welcoming place to sip cocktails, hang out with friends, catch a sporting event on at a sports bar, or hit the clubs!

Whether you’re dancing or partying in Center City somewhere in Rittenhouse or Old City or just trying to grab a drink to relax at a local pub, you are sure to have a good time as long as you thoroughly access your goals for the night and review your options!

Here’s some thoughts on where to GO or MAYBE GO for Philly Nightlife….

GO GO GO GO GO!!

Denim Nightclub and Lounge: Philly’s HOT After-Hours Nightspot

Denim Nightclub and Lounge is one of Philly’s hottest weekend and after-hours nightspots.  As a frequent patron, I can testify that this Rittenhouse club is fun, fashionable, and always home to a sociable and happening crowd.  One downfall is that after midnight there usually is a line to get in.  Do not be discouraged – think of the line as a symbol of the club’s solid reputation and that there has to be a grand reason why others are waiting to get in!

Inside Denim you will find a room for every taste.  There is a lounge area for groups that want to socialize amongst themselves, several dance floors, a VIP lounge upstairs (special access required), and spacious areas nearby the bar if you want to take in the crowd and scene.  The unique design of the rooms will make you feel comfortable and at-ease and you will second guess whether you are in Philly (if you are a local!).

The best part about this club is the music selection which reflects the mood of the crowd.  Since the DJ plays Latin, Swing, Big Band, Lounge, 80s, Old School, Hip Hop, and Trip Hop throughout the evening, there has to be a favorite song played for everyone in your group.  If you enjoy dancing, this is the place for you because the dance floor really is moving (and not full of people standing still!).

The service here is top-notch and high-quality with experienced bartenders.  The bar area is staffed sufficiently so you will not waste your night waiting.  Although there is a cover charge at Denim, it is worth it because it is a guaranteed excellent time and scene.  Most importantly, you can stay an hour later than most other nightspots.

If you are plan on going, dress appropriately. Since this unique and sophisticated nightspot is so HOT, you will want to look HOT!  (Dress code requires proper attire, no athletic wear, sneakers, or work boots.)

Denim is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 pm – 3 am.  The occupancy is about 350 people – make sure you are included in the count this weekend!  Also, the club offers many special offers and promotions to those who sign up for text alerts on Denim’s Web site.

32 Degrees Is One of Philly’s Finest Bars

32 Degrees Lounge night club in Old City is one of the area’s hottest places to be on a Saturday night.  There area about ten solid reasons to check out this happening club.

# 10 – There are various rooms with different atmospheres to suit your style.  At the bar area patrons kind of “hang out,” and on the dance floor people the scene is lively.

# 9 – The name “32 Degrees” is unique.  Almost every temperature-related bar takes on a “hot” name.  For example, there’s The Heat nearby, and Tiki Bob’s with palm trees to remind you of warmer cities.

# 8 – The crowd keeps coming here.  This is not a place that is hit or miss.  There always seems to be a decent-sized crowd coming and going throughout the night.

# 7 – Dancing! Patrons here actually dance.  The dance floor keeps a crowd and the DJ is excellent, playing a great mix of hip hop, R&B, and current hits.

# 6 – Drinks here are on-target.  Can’t complain about one mixed drink here being too strong or too weak.  Nor have I ever heard a bartender here say, “Can’t make that,” or “Don’t have that mix.”

# 5 – Clientele here is very professional.  Patrons here are courteous, not rude, dressed to impress, and sociable.  This bar is definitely one of Philly’s better night scenes.

# 4 – The atmosphere is inviting.  Red and black lights line the walls and make the club seem very similar to a Miami or Atlantic City nightspot.

# 3 – Service here is excellent.  Unless it is ridiculously crowded, the bar is staffed sufficiently and the servers are there to please in a timely matter.

# 2 – What better to hang out at then an Old City club?  At, 16 South 2nd Street, 32 Degrees is conveniently close to many other bars, allowing you to stop by without being committed to stay in one place all night. (Also, many other nearby clubs charge a cover and 32 Degrees does not.)

# 1 – VIP here is awesome!  Here’s a secret – it is not that difficult to gain access.  One weekend’s VIP had a well-recognized Philly fan favorite – Ryan Howard!  Side note …he’s really personable.  Anyway, VIP here is known to attract some local celebrities like Howard.

MAYBE GO……

Continental’s Full House Calls for Better Customer Service

Although Philadelphia’s upscale Continental Martini Bar is known for its sensational cocktails and has a reputation as one of Old City’s hottest nightspots, this martini bar has difficulty accommodating too many patrons.  The staff appeared overwhelmed the first weekend in April when the warm weather brought everyone out from winter hibernation.

At the upstairs’ bar, patrons waited approximately 15 minutes for bar service, which was not the greatest when we received.  Because there were only two bartenders at an area that calls for at least five servers, the staff was making mistakes under pressure.  Drinks were made too strong, or not strong enough, and patrons had to be sure to verify their cash received back after paying.  In addition, one employee informed patrons to move out of the aisle, disregarding that he was separating crowds.

During my brief time there, the upstairs was at its maximum capacity and patrons were no longer allowed in this overcrowded area.  This created a problem for those customers that had to leave their “upstairs friends” to use the restroom downstairs.  People had to leave (including me!) because my “restroom” friends were not allowed back upstairs.  Speaking of the restroom, this upscale bar may need to consider hiring a bathroom attendant to handle some patrons’ foul accidents.

My suggestion to the staff is to stop wearing those tacky pink golf shirt uniforms because they clash with the hip atmosphere.  Maybe being outfitted in new trendy attire will allow this staff to handle larger crowds on crazy, crowded nights!  If you are there on a crowded night, just be sure to inform Continental’s staff that friends cannot be separated and leave each other during the night!

WHY GO?

To its credit, the Continental usually offers a great weekend scene, as many night-life lovers frequent it for its drink and meal menu.  It is a place where you can stay all night and move from room to room to experience a variety of atmospheres.  In spring and summer months the outside deck is a great place to enjoy the warm weather.

Continental Martini Bar is on 134 Market Street in Old City Philadelphia.

Northeast Philadelphia’s Grey Lodge Pub: For Beer-Lovers Only

Contrary to their Web site stating that they are not your typical Northeast Philadelphia bar, the Grey Lodge Pub has the same thing as most other Northeast Philly bas…beer lovers, slow-operating bar tenders (and an under-staffed bar), poorly-located darts (in front of the restroom entrance??), customers looking to get drunk ASAP, small restrooms, a broken juke box (which does eat up your money), and some patrons looking like they have just rolled out of bed.

In the past I have given in and showed up at this pub against my will to please friends. This bar is strictly for beer-lovers. Many locals rave over the wide selection of beers, all hand-tapped. They must be the same patrons who vote for many of the competitions this bar has won, including City Search’s award for being one of “The Best Beer Selections in Philly,” and being ranked highly in Esquire Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Bars.”

Do not bother asking for a mixed drink here, they will make it too strong or too weak. If you go, be ready to stand in your initial spot all night as many patrons do not move around in an effort to cover their protected bar area all night. Forget about meeting new people or evening combining your group with another group for to create a better scene…patrons keep with the friends they came in with.

Their Web site also says there are “lots of fun things to do” here. It is hard to create a fun environment when the clientele is mainly focused on beer-beer-beer. If you are a beer fanatic and you live anywhere near this place, take a shot there (not literally). If you like non-beer drinks, an opportunity to socialize, hear decent music, dance, and get service in a somewhat timely manner, do not waste your time here.

WHY GO?

In an effort to pretend like they are not your typical Northeast Philly bar, The Grey Lodge does have many monthly events such as Quizzo, dart contests, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

For those of you who prefer more of a social environment and are not fascinated by the unique beer on tap of the day…such as today’s Victory Throwback Lager and Oskar Blues Old Chub – do not be fooled!

Lucky Stripes Lane Staff Bowls No Strike on Customer Service Efforts

WHY GO?

Center City’s Lucky Stripes bowling lounge appears trendy, fun, and hip. The bright lights, music, and lounge areas are very cool…my first impression was great considering I am not a bowling enthusiast.  The Philadelphia lounge has visibly demonstrated their Hollywood roots and maintained a “vintage lounge” look.

CONSIDER…

My rating started to decrease with the extraordinary cost for a drink, even though they have some fun ones like “Cosmo Bubbler” and “Jumpin’ Jolly Rancher.”  I do not mind an expensive drink if it’s worth it – but at a bowling alley?  There are some unique menu times served up here, including Chicken Pillows, Cheeseburger Fries, and Birds-in-a-Nest.

After finding out the bowling rates on a weekend night, I decided I would just hang out.  Lucky for me, (no pun intended) my friends had made the same decision to pass on the bowling.  My wallet was not wiling to give out about $80 for an hour of bowling.  (Estimate includes $65 lane fee for an hour on the weekend, $7 person fee, and $4 for shoe rental.)  This cost is extremely high compared to other local bowling spots.  One Northeast Philadelphia bowling alley costs $3-5 per game; patrons usually can play two games in an hour.  Since bowling is not activity of first choice, I think I will bowl there one night for a much less expensive evening.

Anyway, the night was going fine (not bowling, just socializing) until around 1:30 am.  My group made our way to the restroom after just having ordered a round of drinks.  Apparently our appointed “drink watcher” turned his head for a brief second and the bus boy had emptied our drinks saying that he had to because it was near closing (which, is technically 2 am).  After much “to-do” the bartender was directed by the manager to make us another round.  To our surprise, these drinks were non-alcoholic, they contained only cranberry juice.  When we approached the manager for a second time, he was uncaring and unwilling to give our money back.  He also stated that a few customers would not make or break his successful operation.  The service was awful here, down the line from manager to bus boy to cleaning staff.

Lucky Stripes is voted as one of “the city’s best.”  I disagree – the service is terrible, and the drinks, if they are not thrown away too early, are overpriced.  A dress code is strictly enforced here because it’s really more of a club atmosphere than a bowling alley.  I recommend some customer service classes for the staff here.  If you are a bowling enthusiast, this trendy lounge is probably not going to satisfy your bowling needs.  If you are a hip night-owl, this lounge looks cool and trendy but be to ready to wait for overpriced drinks and rude service if anything goes wrong.

(Keep in mind that most of the “Press” on their Web site consists of excellent reviews from media who have visited their LA-based lounge or other lounges nowhere near Philly.)

Written by Susan Toner for ExplorerPod.com

Susan Toner is a fantastic contributing writer to ExplorerPod.com who will be sharing her unique perspective on the City of brotherly Love. Enjoy her local expertise on Philadelphia, PA.