The AC Time Warp

While the sun set on the rest of San Diego on August 25, 2010, the full moon shined its light upon Air Conditioned Lounge taking everyone and everything back to the early 1900s.  The Cherries Jubilee chorus dancers and the Olio Jazz Band spun our quaint little establishment back to the days when drinks required more than two ingredients and entertainment was more than a DJ spinning records to the latest trend in music.

If you haven’t guessed it by now, this was definitely a night not to miss at AC Lounge.  With a classic cocktail menu to boot, the sounds of shakers mixing drinks added to the soundtrack of the Olio Jazz Band.  From 9-10 PM customers had the AC bartenders working hard for their tips with a $3 drink special for all vintage cocktails.  Side Cars, Manhattans, Whiskey Sours, and much more were all made with fresh lemon juice and real sugar, which made these snazzy cocktails all the better to consume during the festivities.

The Olio Jazz Band kicked off the show with their four piece crew of musicians.  There is nothing like soft jazz with a hint of nostalgic eeriness to set the time period back to the early twentieth century.  This musical quartet turned AC Lounge into a twilight zone for a good portion of the night.  Although live jazz is definitely relevant in today’s music scene, the Olio Jazz Band definitely gave the feel that they were here first.

With an outgoing, entertaining host bellowing his words, he couldn’t help but emphasize how much he loves his girls—and he has good reason to.  Six dancers took the stage at 10. Feathers and fishnets fluttered amongst the dance floor with provocative moves appreciated by all.  Costume changes kept the girls on their toes, and even a solo tap dancer shuffled into the mix with shim sham shimmies and buffalo steps to add to the beats.

AC Lounge is bringing burlesque back every fourth Wednesday.  Such a shame that you had to miss this premier event, but now that you know where this blind pig lies once a month, there is no reason not to grab your zoot suit, smoking stick, and appetite for crafty cocktails and entertainment and mosey on down to Air Conditioned Lounge.

Be there or be square!

~By Laura Canepa

The Endless Pour

Drinking at Air Conditioned Lounge is more than just good times to be had on the dance floor while listening to the best party jams around. You won’t be dropping too many dimes and nickels at this joint. So when you check out your wallet the next morning, instead of saying, “where did all my fives go?” you will be saying “how did I get so drunk?” If you pay attention to the AC Lounge website, Facebook page, or the Twitter posts, then you would have known that on Friday, August 6, 2010, AC Lounge had a hosted bar from 9-11. That’s right—All. You. Can. Drink—for TWO hours.

Sandiego2night comes out to play with AC Lounge every once in a while, and helps put on this event. After paying only $10 at the door, for two hours well drinks and Bud Light draft—in the classic red party cup, of course—will be poured endlessly for anyone sporting a wristband until 11.

AC Lounge’s most notorious DJ, Junior The DiscoPunk, took over the turn tables while hipsters from all over North Park and Normal Heights made fashionably late entrances to dabble in the hosted bar. While drinks were slinging from left and right, the bartenders were hustling to make sure that everyone was getting served as fast as the customers were drinking down their cocktails.

When the clock struck 11, the party was definitely not over. The Freon VIP room was partying up a storm with one of AC Lounge’s own, Jeff Ladman, hosted his wife’s birthday party. On the other side of the bar Friday’s Happy Hour bartendress, Belin Rosadillo, took a night off to hang with the regulars. It is not often that the staff of AC Lounge is seen on the other side of the bar, and if you weren’t there to buy your favorite bartender a shot then you missed out.

For those of you spending a fortune in downtown clubs racking up tabs up to nearly $100 for just a few rounds amongst “friends,” AC Lounge was treating our friends to VIP service with tabs consisting of zero dollars, too much fun, and drinks galore—now that is what I call priceless.

Air Conditioned Lounge tends to host awesome specials throughout each month, so if you unfortunately missed out on sandiego2night’s hosted bar last Friday, don’t you worry, there will be more unforgettable times to come.

Befriend AC Lounge on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ACLounge to keep up with the happenings, so you will know exactly where to be this weekend.

~ By Laura Canepa