Club Reports: Rodeo, Arena Art Bar, Aero Bar, The Corner, The Patio, Elixir Bar

By in Club Reports

When the Gilt Concert Venue ownership group bought the southern half of Wall Street Plaza (except for The Other Irish Bar space), they immediately renovated the Sideshow and turned it into Fixtion. Apparently they’ve now purchased the northern half of WSP and have turned Hooch into Rodeo.
The only noticeable change is the DJ booth in the far corner has been raised higher…..and as the name Rodeo might indicate, this is now a Country bar!
There were two DJ’s up there last night and yes, they were playing Country.
The large bar in the center of the room remains the same as Hooch.
Except they added this picture on one of the poles of a good ol’ country boy and his bulldog. Seems legit.
Oh, there’s also a harry buffalo up on the wall. We’re not sure of the thought process that went into opening a new Country bar downtown; after all, didn’t two other Country downtown bars just close? The seemingly popular Saddle Up closed about one year ago this month and the extremely short-lived Wicked Whiskeys (it lasted 2 months) before that.
Next door neighbor Shine has also closed. It shares a wall with Hooch/Rodeo but the two are otherwise side-by-side connected.
Heavy renovations taking place here. We’re guessing it will become the Country line dancing section of Rodeo but no one was around last night to ask.
Outside Rodeo, this was happening. LOL.
Next stop, our beloved Peek Downtown/Suite B Lounge is now The Arena Art Bar.
We arrived to find DJ Dana J. (USA) in the booth playing Soulful House.
The place was pretty packed!
If you haven’t been back, those two famous Suite B pillars are still here.
As are those lighted wall sconces in “Sammy’s corner”.
Arena Art Bar does have art! This artist was painting a new one during our visit.
And the walls are full of art for sale.
Dana J. switched it up to Hip Hop Top 40 remixed to more of a House beat.
Spotted outside: Arena Art Bar proprietor Tori. Sorry Sammy, we miss you, but this!
The Block is a group of clubs owned by The Beacham and it includes our next stop, Aero Bar.
We arrived to find Saturday night resident DJ Dominick Morrison (USA) in the booth.
Even though it was still early, there was already a crowd on the dance floor.
The Friday/Saturday night music format on the Aero rooftop is House & EDM.
As a rooftop venue, you’re literally “dancing with the stars”.
“The Dom” was the Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday night resident DJ at Mannequins Dance Palace on Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney.
The peeps want House music!
Admission to Aero is always free.
Downstairs below Aero Bar is The Corner.
Saturday night resident DJ Alex Chang (USA) was in the booth during our visit.
This is the prior home of Independent Bar/Barbarella 1.0 and there haven’t been all that many changes to the place since Barbs departed. Well, that wood floor was installed during this venue’s brief foray into Country music as the previously-mentioned Wicked Whiskeys.
The music was Hip Hop but EDM/Top 40 gets played here too.
We do miss I-Bar though!
Back behind The Corner is The Patio. When a club has the audacity to claim there’s “Always A Party”, someone has to hold them accountable. That someone is us!
Friday-Saturday night resident DJ Parry (USA) was in the booth when we arrived.
Not that many here yet but it was a partying type of crowd, lol.
They play a lot of Hip Hop hits here typically but last night it was mostly Top 40 during our visit.
DJ Parry returns tonight for a special Labor Day weekend edition here at The Patio. Admission will be free.
Around 1AM, a long line to get in. OK, there really is “always a party” at The Patio.
Last stop of the night….Elixir Bar.
When we typically step out onto their famous dance patio, there’s usually a crowd. But it was surprisingly empty this time.
Their new hurricane-proof awning is in place.
The opener DJ Flashdrive (USA) was in the booth playing House and some Nu-Disco.
While the dance floor was empty, the outside bar was busy.
And a short time later, the headliners came on.
DJ duo Cocodrills (USA)
And suddenly the dance floor got jammed. They were kind of bashful though, refusing to move up to the barrier.
Not sure where they all came from but it went from empty to full as soon as the headliners began.
Cocodrills is based in Miami and they delivered a great House set.
Spotted in the tech booth: DJ Pantoja (USA) He’s back!
Everywhere we went last night, a good time was had by all.