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First time here was on Saturday for a birthday party. We almost missed it and drove past it (its right next to Sawyer Sports Bar) Since it was about 11:30pm parking was a headache with the parking lots full. There were two big canopies just outside the door.
The music was different from other clubs and bars mainly lounge house music no hiphop in this place. There's no cover and the drinks were both strong and good. With the dance floor to the right and the bar to the left furthest corner; the bartenders were cute and fast serving up potent cocktails. There's a door to the left after you walk in that leads to another bar with a different sound system and some lounge furniture. They have this big horizontal screen seem like a great place for drinks and to mingle.
Love the layout and the deco.
service is great (maybe because not too many people come here)
But cannot understand the music. Just not feeling it.
maybe it's their way of weeding out the yuppies.
am I a yuppie?
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Went on a Friday night, and it was pretty empty. As mentioned below, the furniture was quite mis-matched, and there was this huge rug that everyone kept tripping on!! The only 'area' to sit, stand, dance, etc, looked like a few living room 'set-ups' thrown together. The so-called video wall was not very functional, but maybe it's because they had just opened a couple weeks prior.
Drinks were reasonable and very tasty...bartenders were friendly too. The bathroom had a creative antique look to it, as the doors for each stall were old and mismatched...probably from the 1800's.
If you blink, you will pass this place up. Also, parking was a hassle...just be prepared to walk a bit.
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Visited Block 21 on Friday since some friends and I were down the street. It was raining, which might have contributed to the smaller crowd that night, but being Valentine's weekend I still expected it to be more crowded...
The crowd was really random- almost every stereotype available in Houston was present that night, from thugs to hipsters to midtown fratties. The decor inside is cool, with metal lamp/chandeliers and a big white screen playing different video all night. There were only 2 bartenders at their main bar (thumbs down), so we had to wait at least 10-15 minutes to order. However, the bartender repaid our patience (and lacking of bitching) but comping almost all our drinks (group of 5) so thats sweet.
There's a hallway to an adjacent room with a live band playing folksy music with another smaller bar inside. However, the crowd in there (still more random!!) was deadheads and so we opted to go outside. The DJ gets major props for playing such a random, yet awesome, mix of old school hip hop.
Another thumbs down was the bathroom- ladies room had large cracks between the door and the wall frame, through which you could see everything going on inside. gross. Mental note to visit the ladies room prior to arriving.
I'll try B21 on another night, when its not raining. Too bad the Pig Stand isn't still open. I shed a tear walking by the place. Also, I don't know what B21 expects their parking situation to be like (valet??) as theres an empty lot (shady) from the Pig Stand being closed down (where we parked) but its a virtual construction site. After that lot is renovated, there will be no street parking or lot parking, strictly valet. Thumbs down.
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I went for a private event earlier today. The event had a great turn out but the club itself left much to be desired. Location wise it is a hole in the wall. It seems totally out of place. I am not sure if the house DJ was there today but the music was not that great. The drinks were really good though. I would recommend the chocolate martini. The long and short of it is, if you go with a big group you can make it fun.
Oh, and the bathroom was flooded, so we had to walk down the street to the gas station to use the restroom!
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Good music! I'm always wary of going to lounges for fear of boring trance music but this DJ was playing good music that actually made you want to dance. Which is another plus for this lounge -- you can dance!
Nice bartenders as previously stated, plenty of seating if you want since it's not too crowded yet. Pretty diverse crowd of people.
There's also a backroom, but it smelled funny and was less inviting.
I liked the feel of this place, not too pretentious and everyone seemed to just be out to have a good time.
I hope they keep opening more bars around here!
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The first time I heard of the new name for the Washington Corridor's new lounge, I sensed a sigh of relief. It's not pretentious or over the top. It reminds me of an underground hangout that could reside in Brooklyn where the cool kids flock, and by cool, I mean that in a laid back kind of way.
The crowd, for now, is just that. I had the liberty of checking out Block 21 before they officially opened and saw a lot of potential as the crew was quickly working their fingers to the bone to prepare it for the masses--the cool masses, once again.
I went again this past Sunday for their Dia De Los Muertos party. My friend Shina Rae was performing (you gotta check out her MySpace), along with The Rebel Crew, DJ 606 Soultower and artwork from local artists The Dead Brothers. How effin' underground is that?
The front patio was set up for the nice weather, accent lights were up and running, somewhat trippy animations were flashing over the projection wall, peeps were bellying up to the rustic bar. It was a great night.
Like everyone mentioned, it's owned by the same friendly owner of The Flat, Ziggy, so you'll also find their famous frozen mojitos spinning in the machines behind the huge bar. There's also a back room named after Howard Hughes, who is buried across the street at Glenwood Cemetery. If that's not a welcoming open invitation to a few late night paranormal activities, then I don't know what is. The Howard Hughes room features its own bar and 70s retro-esque decor with plenty of plush seating. The kitchen will be opening soon, where you can grab a filling sandwich to absorb those strong drinks.
Kudos to Blcok 21. A fresh of breath air to the Washington Corridor.
(Block 21 is located on Washington right before you get to the light at Sawyer next to the old Pig Stand)
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My friends and I had a pretty interesting night at Block 21. First off, the parking situation rates major on the sketchy scale. We had two options: Park on Center Street, or Park in the old new sports bar under construction / Pig Stand parking lot. We chose the parking lot. But riddle me this: Where will everyone park once the sports bar opens? huh? So after walking to the bar in the mud (construction site), we walked into the bar.
I have to say, I actually liked the inside. They have these white screens lining the north & east side of the bar, flashing these cool images to the music. There was also some neat middle-eastern lamps hanging from the ceiling. The music was good too. The DJ actually played some old school hip hop I hadn't heard in a while and some decent 80's.
We had to wait 15 minutes or so for 3 mixed drinks & 2 beers, but the bartender liked the fact that we followed protocol and didn't whine, so he gave us the mixed drinks for free. A very classy move that saved this place from earning less than 3 stars.
As one of my friends commented, the bathrooms were narsty. Also, I didnt get a chance to see the second bar off to the side, but apparently it was a hippie fest. Random? yes.
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Stopped by this place last night, I believe it was there first night open.
Loved it!!
Same owner as The Flat, and you can totally tell by the decor. Place is completely unique though, never seen anything like it in Houston. It's easy to miss, look for the Moroccan doors huddled between two buildings. Very spacious inside, yet it still retains a quaint feeling.
I think they are still adding some finishing touches, but I have a feeling this place is gonna spread like wildfire once people catch on.
And for some reason, I absolutely love the bathrooms!
Go see it for yourself, this place is hot.
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Working one block off of the Washington corridor, I had heard rumors of a cool new bar opening up and being affiliated with the owners of The Flat. When I finally wandered into Block 21, I was pleasantly surprised to find a really well- conceived bar with great decor and atmosphere. Embodying a simple, chic style with a video wall, this place seems like it should be busy from the start.
The bar is situated behind the former Pigstand, just west of Sawyer on Washington Ave- blink and you'll miss it. Having opened only 5 weeks ago, it's quiet for the time being- and I recommend you take advantage! As stylish and as slick as this bar is, it won't be long before it's crowded.
If you love the frozen mojitos at the Flat, they brought those along to these new digs. Plus, rumor has it that DJ Sun is there on Friday nights... check it out.
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My beau couldn't wait to show me around his adopted hometown of Houston. He especially couldn't wait to introduce me to his old high school / college buddies.
After a long night of family holiday activities, we ended up at Block 21 to meet a few of his old band-mates and friends.
The friends...were AWESOME.
The venue...was NOT.
Maybe I'm just spoiled ass rottin' by living in the Bay Area. In fact, I'm sure that's exactly what it is. But honestly, as an event planner and owner of a design company...this place was just poorly put together from the ground up.
It had just opened about a month prior, so there's that.
But there is no excuse for your clientele driving around in circles for 15 minutes because there's no sign of where you're supposed to go or park.
Also no excuse for music so loud that even musicians who've played rock gigs for 20+ years were in pain.
No excuses for the mismatched decor and lack of a coherent theme in terms of the look, design and feel.
Overall, a big disappointment. And a huge business opportunity for someone who has some good design sense and knows how to run a lounge. This area needs some help!
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Went to Block 21 last Saturday and it's funny how accurate all of the previous reviews were.
Parking is a joke. There was a corner lot, but navigating out of it was like worming your way out of a bad relationship. Yeah, that bad. There was lots of parking on the streets, but good luck with that.
At least there is no cover and four drinks cost me under $30. It was very chill in the club with a variety of people from hip hoppers to sportcoat guys. The music was nondescipt. I heard "It's Like That" by Jason Nevins and it sounds like that the whole time I was there. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I was just hoping for something more this decade.
The restroom situation is ridiculous. There was only one stall in each bathroom. I felt bad for the people in line, because I was making round trips to the bar before they had the chance to relieve themselves.
Overall, I had a great time, but it was more a product of the company than the environment.
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I totally have to agree with Crystal. This place is great! I visited this place a few weeks ago to see John Nelson of Thievery Corp spin. The bar staff is very friendly and the decor is amazing!
The Flat is my favorite bar in Houston and this is definitely coming close to tieing for #1. It has a warehouse feel with the high ceilings, but is still inviting with the Moroccan inspired decor.
This place is definitely going to blow up soon.
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Not a big fan of bars but I decided to try it out because the previous reviews were good. It was hard to find, parking was problematic. I agree the bartenders were friendly and we had some great martinis.
However, I'm not sure about the concept. Are they trying to be a cool Moroccan themed lounge or a recycled ice house? The bathroom doors were "antique" (and the locks dont work) and tables and other furniture are terribly mismatched. Some were made from recycled wood, which is cool but just does'nt go with the rest of the place. The owners definitely have the potential to make more of the great space they have and improve the furniture layout and make a defined dance space. I wanted to start moving furniture around LOL! Especially the old rug which is a tripping hazzard. Music was a mix of old school hip hop to old pop. Not sure I'd go back...It was pretty empty for a Friday night.
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Stopped in randomly Saturday night. Really cool feel. It's got a big warehouse feel but with really cool moroccan style lights, modern couches and a wall covered with a projection of visual effects. The whole place is wired to change the color/lighting/mood to accompany the music. If you walk down the hall past the bathrooms you're led to a second smaller room and bar. When I was there that small room was playing hip hop and some kind of funky-electro-salsa was being played in the bigger room. I didn't care for the DJ's at all, if they could get someone spinning some more progressive beats I'd probably frequent this place.
Budlights are $3, for a saturday night, that's not bad at all.
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The only reasons I gave this place a 3 star instead of 2 was because I celebrated my birthday here the past weekend, didn't pay for any of my drinks, no ID's were checked (friend of mine actually left hers at home and was worried she'd have to turn around to get it..) and no hassles getting in. Which may sound like a lot of reasons, but I had high hopes of really great music being played and grinding til we got shut out at 2 am. We actually took over another person's reserved booth, which was out of control and rude of us, but they really didn't care! The booth was empty anyway, and they ended up taking pictures with us. So meh.
Well they played hip hop every now and then, and when we requested it they really reassured us that they would later on. But they never really did. I've heard about the back room, so I was eggcited for it, but it never really opened up. It was still dark and empty at 12 am when we ventured in there. AND come to find out, it opened up later on in the night, but the bathrooms were indeed flooded!!!! So we couldn't get through the hall to get to the room without wading through pee-infested waters. The crowd was okay. I just thought there would be more dancing, but I'm glad it wasn't super crowded which is a plus.
Drinks were good, can't attest to prices, and bar tenders were friendly and fast.
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I needed a location for a mixer and Block 21 stepped up to the plate. Normally closed, they opened their doors for a Tuesday night event for music industry professionals. I was a bit worried about parking for all my guests, but when I got there I was pleasantly surprised that Block 21 had already taken care of free valet parking for the guests. I want to thank Ziggy, Andre "DJ SUN", but especially Jasmine for setting up a lovely event for us. Thanks so much. I will definitely be visiting your establishment frequently!
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Block 21 is great. The video screens in here are incredible. Apparently after talking to the owner, he said they had someone from Vegas come down to get the system together. Pretty spectacular. The furniture is vintage awesome. And of course the frozen mojitos are the trick to making a mild evening into a wild one.
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I started my night here this past Saturday. Instead of trying to park in the lots every time I come to the Heights area I just do street parking because its free and its easy to find. We found a spot right behind the club and around the corner a short walk is always OK with me. Well they have a small patio area out front for smokers and chatting. In the main area they have projection screens on the walls. They also have a side room that is past the bathrooms. At first I was like man they must have a huge restroom because people just kept going in and no one came out. As for the music yes I heard stuff from the 70s to present time. It was a wide variety and I really couldn't tell what they were trying to do. The bars were way over crowded and took forever to get a drink. The crowd was very mixed and age range varied also. I wasn't a huge fan but would come back again.
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Totally dig this place, love the music and the crowd. Went with some friends and we all had a pretty great time. Very chill and not like midtown clubs, which is great with me. It took a while before it got going but it def. is a place to check out on washington blvd. So yeah going again!
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I digs dis place. Nobody knows about it yet and the bartenders are so cool it's almost ridiculous! Went there over the weekend for my second visit and two bartenders that I hadn't met before made a point to come over to my friend and I to not only take our orders but to personally thank us for coming in. Wow!?! I must be pretty cool... (not).... Anyways, thought it was very cool of them. The front room wasn't very crowded so we went back to the tiny little back room where the DJ was spinning and hung out for a bit. It was pretty mellow when we were there but seemed to pick up after we left around midnight. I think as more people learn about this place it'll be pretty happening. Cool vibe!
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Recently went back to celebrate a friend's birthday party, and the place has improved, but only slightly. They have an outdoor seating area (pretty much in the parking lot) with benches and tables, which provides a brief escape from the overcrowded interior; it does get a bit smokey out there, though. They also had the good sense to dim the lights in the rear bar so that you're not assaulted by a canvas of fuschia, orange, and pink. The music was actually pretty decent, but the dancefloor is what you and your posse make of it. The crowd is still a bit douchey, but not offensively so. All-in-all, I remain indifferent to the place--being there doesn't make me want to sew my eyelids shut, but I'd be equally happy weeding my yard.
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Being a BIG fan of the Flat, I decided to check out Block 21, which, as other reviewers have noted,… Read more »
This is a chill spot. Ive been a few times on different nights and each crowd was different, the music was cool everytime. I love their Djs. The decor is decent. The parking can be a concern, but if you get there at a reasonable time, then its never an issue. I like the vibe of the place. I know that they just started opening on Thursday nights, where Dj Sun & Melodic spin. Its pretty cool. I will definately be spending a few summer nights coming here to hang. I like the patio in front of the club. Thats where I spent a lot of time chatting it up with a few mates. Everyone there is always very social! This pass friday after the Erykah Badu concert, the band Neon Collars performed there. It was cool! I didnt get to catch the entire performance, but I highly recommend this spot for people looking for a place to chill with a big crowd of friends, or even just a spot to take a date for drinks and listen to good music. This is even somewhere (for those who roll solo) that you can step into and just chat with people. You never feel awkward. Its a good mix of people hanging out there. Im feeling this spot.
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*sigh* I think this bar is just like most of the others around. A lot of style and flash but at the end of the evening, it's just another place for all the folks who frequent the new Washington scene to go to. Which is fine, if that's your speed. For me, though, hanging out with chicks in Bebe and chandelier earrings with their too-tough acting boyfriends and music that's just overly loud to be annoying is just not my thing. The atmosphere is nice as well, but it's maybe a tad overdecorated. I don't think some of the furniture in the back room will hold up much past 6 months if they continue to get as large a crowd as I saw when I was there. My favorite feature was the large, wraparound screen at the upper right corner of the wall in the main room. Colorful, projected videos went along with the DJ's set to make for interesting ambiance, but it wasn't enough to save the overall experience and make it something great.
Yes, Block 21 is owned by the same guy that runs The Flat, which I like a lot. Block 21 is a completely different speed and crowd. They're also going for that exclusive vibe with the empty lot and unmarked but distinctive door. I would go back to this place maybe as a nice first stop on a night of bar hopping, but I'd definitely be out the door and on to the next place by 11:30.
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We made a stop here to grab a few drinks as an intro for the night's agenda. It was very cozy and friendly the moment we walked in the door. The DJ was playing some relaxing lounge music and the video screen added a nice touch. We ended up getting bored and leaving, but will return again for another barhop destination :)
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Three Olives Thursdays
Neighborhood: The Heights
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Category: Lounges
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Category: Dive Bars
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Category: Dive Bars
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
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