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Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
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Oh man. I came here last night. The drink special was $3 vodka cranberries, which is gross, but what the hell, I'm a total cheapskate and a drunk. The waitress was a real sweetheart, I hope I wasn't too drunk to tip well.
Lighted dance floor, good music. The rug was cut.
Good times had by all.
3.5
Fun place, low cover, wtf?! priced drinks. I think a Long Island was $15... I like these 2 story clubs with 2 different kinds of music going on. Upstairs was poppin' while downstairs felt like somebody had just shot a clown or something, though... Had no idea this was a jazz club, I guess the place is worth giving another shot while that's going on.
i'm in between 3 and 4 stars. This place is real cool. The music is awesome. And they usually have a live jazz band downstairs. very cool. Bartenders are awesome drinks are cheap...it's a hot little place.
So the reason why it's not a place i wanna hit up every weekend or even once a month is because the crowd is a bit young and everyone tends to crowd around guys that are just learning how to breakdance. I mean if i were in my early 20s this would be my spot, buuut i am no longer.
But try it out for yourself, you just might love it! esp. if you're a Head. I recommend attending their Firecracker nights.
ps i'm not some old fart.
Firecracker lit up my night...
About two weeks ago on a Friday night, friends asked me to join them here. It's the night club above Grand Star Jazz Club. There is a bar and music downstairs, but upstairs was a great Hip Hop and Old School DJ... No line, $10 cover, except I got there about 12:30 and they did not charge me. I could wear jeans and my tennis shoes and danced my butt off for about an hour and half straight. Drinks were good. Crowd was cool and laid back. Music was AMAZING! I found easy street parking after the meters stopped. I will be back.
5 stars cuz they throw events here like Soul Sessions, Boombox, and Firecracker. They also house a record swap event called Beat Swapmeet.
I give 5 stars to anything that hosts/holds soul, funk, good hiphop events.
'Dope!'
Chill spot, hidden behind a plaza of Chinese goodies (bakery and some stores).
My homies throw some shows and events in conjunction with this venue, including hip hop shows and the BEAT SWAP MEET (check it out on myspace or facebook yo! vinyl and urban art heads will love this). My boy Buttonpusha (BP) of the group BP and ODDS (Odds= the emcee Oddsequence) performed here the other night and rocked it to a small crowd.
The upstairs is a bit stuffy. Can you say, Central Air? Definitely needed in this joint, but of course, how many clubs have great ventilation? Not many I have come across. Downstairs is cool with a loungy vibe and great staff. The drinks are average and served a la "plastic cup". Parking isn't too bad if you compare to Hollywood or other downtown areas. You can always find a spot but you will most likely need to walk a few blocks, but that is cool if you have friends.
All in all, the spot is not stellar but it is generally clean and it supports local artists. Always a good thing in my book. Check it!
Went here because a friend said that her boyfriend was performing. It's not your typical bar crowd, but more like a skater/hip hop group of people mixed with locals of all ages. It's pretty much a hole in the wall!! I had to pay an entrance fee of $10, which is not worth it at all.
The bartenders look like my parents/grandparents which was pretty hilarous to me as I watched them mix drinks all night long. For a vodka tonic, it was about $7 a pop! Not bad at all :)
Went upstairs to check out the rest of the place and discovered that it was pretty ghetto. It basically smelled like bleach! The fumes were so strong that I had to go back down to get some air.
The only reason why I'm giving this place a 3 was because the drinks were cheap and I caught the Kogi truck that night! Other than that, I would rather pay a little bit more and go somewhere else.
I appreciate this spot for its eclectic music happenings, the underground-ish ambiance, and low-cost cover to enter. While I have had great times had here, I know that friends of mine would beg to differ. Go check it out if you are in the area, as it definitely is worth it to shake your bootay up in this joint...when we last went, cover was $5 before 10pm on a Friday night. There was a jazz ensemble entertaining the downstairs crowd, while upstairs a DJ spun great beats and revelers danced the night away. Plus, another thing to note about this spot is that it is BEATSWAPMEET locale from time to time. C'mon now, get over here before everyone else discovers it in the Chinatown plaza--with Ooga Booga just across the way, heyy! ;D
Its all about the second Saturday of each month. If you don't know - you gotta go.
The party is called SPIRIT - LA
Last night was awesome. The usual resident DJ's were there but the special guest was...AZIZ FAYE from DAKAR, SENEGAL. Playing TRADITIONAL WEST AFRICAN (SABAR) DRUMMING & DANCE.
It was a great night. I believe its usually $5-$10 for entry but it was free for all. I think the block party earlier that day had much to do with that.
Security never sweats me when I go there. The bartenders are friendly. Plenty of room to dance.
Anyway - I will try to update more on this review... I am hungry and need to handle that now.
Wally serves up a mean gin & tonic! YUM!
Dropped by on a Saturday evening w/ some friends to grab a few drinks. We came to this place because we did a photo shoot at this scene the weekend prior. This place is two stories, we stayed at the bar on the first floor. I am still unsure as to what is upstairs. The bartender was friendly and the owner, Wally was great to chat w/, he's a very nice guy. We had two tequila sunrises, two gin & tonics, and five shots of patron. The drinks here were great especially the gin & tonics. Check out their website they have events every weekend. I'm bound to come back.
This place is actually a jazz club and has random people playing on the first floor. The second floor seems more of a club so if that is your thing. There is a super cheesy yet awesome lighted dance floor too. The place is far from a scene but seems like it is on the frontiers of being taken over by hipsters.
This place isn't too big so it can get kinda crowded. There is a small cover and the line is usually non existent. No real dress code and the crowd is very much not Hollywood. Drinks are decently price ($6 a beer) and if you come earlier the mixed drinks come in larger cups.
I really do hope that with this place, Mountain Bar, and Full House all within a block of each other, Chinatown can slowly come up.
Oh Man....
those were the good ol' days when we'd perform here for Soul Sessions.
Back when Hipsters weren't really Hipsters, just people who liked tight pants (no discrimination against tight-pant wearers).
Back then, HipHop heads, funkmasters, and soul clappers united in Harmony for the love of music, and not because, "Dude there's gonna be Hella girls there." hahahaha
The grand-star has always treated us right. We used this venue countless times to throw events, and private parties. I remember once, we expected capacity, so they gated the side and out door area so people had room, and space to drink & dance without being overly crowded.
The owners are great, they even fed us once (because we helped clean up).
Thank Heavens for places like this, who still offer live jazz sessions, and awesome listening station for true fans...!!!
F*ck all the crappy, pretentious, wanna be C-Lister types runnin around and standing in line for a crappy LA club scene..
I'll hit up Firecracker any day of the week.. Grand Star Jazz Club houses the world famous Firecracker.. I love this nite.. My gerl Nina took me here 5yrs ago and we danced our asses off.. Loved it..
The music, soul, and vibe is pretty outstanding.. I also hold a special place in my heart for Grand Starr cuz this is where i met my wife :)
Definately a must if you wanna kick back, enjoy a drink and listen to some good hip hop. Every second and fourth friday is soulsessions. I come here every now and then with my girls and we always have a good time!
We've even come really early to catch the long island special. I forgot how much it was but its really cheap before 11. They make their drinks strong at the lower bar and its decent priced.
Everytime I go back now the crowd gets bigger and bigger. Lots of ppl just end up chillen outside of the bar, so everyone come out to soulsessions!
I haven't been here on a firecracker night, but I did walk by it on my way to mountain bar and I had friends walk in there and say it was pretty dead.
This place is a complete dump....ghetto...for lack of a better word. It's smells, it's small... it's a lame attempt at trying to make this place a club/dive bar. They charge $10 entrance fee and drinks are priced like upscale bars/clubs....come on! SERIOUSLY.
The dance floor is just an open space. It gets crowded with wannabe hipsters. The only good thing about this place is the music, however, I have been there several times and after a while u realize they play the same music over and over on different "club" nights, Jackson 5, james Brown, madonna...while I enjoy this music, it gets a little lame after a while.
Although, I have been to this place a couple of times and tried to give it the benefit of a doubt...I still think it's horrible.
This spot is always solid, never pretentious. Older crowd usually chills out and listens to live jazz downstairs, the youngbloods hang out upstairs. Firecracker, Soul Sessions, sometimes they'll have big names like 9th Wonder or Ali Shaheed from Tribe... It's always been worth the cover charge.
I was falling out of touch w/ hiphop, then came here recently for a J-Dilla Tribute... It was all love, thank you Grand Star.
I love going to Grand Star for drinks and to visit Tippy and Lalo. Awesome place to hang out and have a couple of drinks. ;)
I love this place.. heart it!
Non pretentious, awesome dj's! old school hip hop and funk soul lovin' people need to check this place out. Dancers just come to get their groove on and people come to just socialize and it's a chill good vibin' easy to talk to feel and genuinely fun. You can tell the owners patrol the scene, and they are like uncles and aunts behind the bar. Canned beer, and plastic cup drinks. Artsy crowd at times, it's all love.
Most times ladies are free, and i think guys are $10.
Upstairs is more a dance floor and set up spaciously for everyone to get their thriller on. :) They have Soul Sessions and Firecracker nights, might have to check their website for calendar schedules.
Bacon wrapped hotdogs right outisde, and after the night is over everyone just hangs around outside until the crowds disappear.
I haven't been here on a Firecracker night because I'm a Soul Sessions kind of guy. Hands down it's the best and biggest club you can find that will exclusively play Jazz, Funk and REAL Hiphop. They have two moderately sized dance floors for both the upstairs (which spins mostly breaks and hiphop) and the downstairs (which often has a live band playing funk). The crowd is really cool cuz they make room to let the lockers lock, poppers pop and bboys break. This is definitely my kind of crowd and vibe.. The drinks aren't bad at all too, they have decently priced specials and the service is mostly on point. Leave your hoochie club sh!t at home too, dress comfortably and be yourself. Leave the Hollywood club vibe in Hollywood.
Recommendations: Come here on a Soul Sessions night. Soul Sessions and Firecracker alternate Fridays, so just check up ahead of time. The resident DJ Ninja Simone is the BUSINESS.
Warnings: Gotta pay for parking ($5 in the surrounding area) and a cover ($10 before 10pm I think).
Been here for: Transistor and Firecracker.
Transistor is a mod night. All the chic looking ladies come in w/ their adorable hairdos, peacoats, foxy dresses/skirts, and fabulous heels... mmm-MMM!! OOO girl you fine!!
They play a lot of 60s/70s- Soul, Rock, Blues, & Jazz.. ..But Transistor is going bye bye, in two weeks. So if you want to check it out before it's gone, go this week and/or the following week, for the last days!! It should be happening!!
Firecracker on the other hand gets pretty crazy!! I've been there when the whole plaza strip was just happenin'... Literally people dancing in the streets. That was awesome!!
For the most part they play good music (Hip Hop/Rap/Reggae). But this one time I went there, the DJ, played some lick my lollipop b/s kind of music all night!! Hearing that top 40 hip pop crap, annoys me!!
The venue is pretty fresh... I like the dance floor inside, I thought that was fresh--glassfloor w/ neon lights (it's not Chinatown w/o the neon lights!!). The place is nicely lit, not too dark and not to bright, just right.
Drink prices aren't that bad.. I believe it was $5-$6 for beers and $7-$8 for mix drinks. The bartenders are pretty cool for the most part and the waitresses are as well (not to mention hot!)
When the nights done grab a fresh bacon wrapped hotdog from the hotdog lady right outside!! Or head down to Hop Louie's for more drinks!
There's free (street) parking everywhere--just look for it.
Every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday, club Firecracker is banggin!
Located in the heart of L.A. Chinatown, you will find and elecletic crowd of hip-hoppers in the trendiest, hypebeast clothes.
Old school, drunken barflys accompany the bar on the bottom level where a live jazz band plays.
Walk upstairs, and that is where the party is at. Resident DJ's have mad skills mixing up a mashup of the hottest and classic hip hop.
The only thing I think sucks about the place is that the bartenders are slow like molasses. Bunch of old ladies who move in two speeds, slow and stop, will lethargically serve you up the yak.
great music, someone is always spinning something good.
drinks are always reasonable, just watch out for the bartender :)
never waited to get in EVER
the girls bathroom is never clean and super small but it's LA
we've all dealt with worse right?
i'd honestly rather party here than anywhere else, its got a chill vibe.
I am a fan because Grand Star has karaoke during the week that I am aiming to have a go at. Guys were all respectful and nice there. I went to the Fly Ball event on a Saturday night. I'm used to going to packed out clubs, but that night, not as many people went. I was expecting better music, I felt like I had done that scene too many times and I felt the djs were playing old ISH!
Ran into family and old acquaintances as usual. Oh yeah, don't drink on the neon dance floor, the owner will direct you to the posted red sign that reads "no drinking on the dance floor." LOL!
Depending on the night, Grand Star is hit and miss. When it's good it's real good, and when it's bad well, it's bad. Years ago I would get my dance on upstairs at Firecracker, and then chill out while they played jazz with a full band downstairs. It was real fun. Nowadays I usually come here just if I know good musicians are playing downstairs. It's a fun place to have a drink and watch music. Stay far far away from the Karaoke night here though, unless you love the cheap sounds of Lionel Richie sung over and over by a William Hung wannabes. Otherwise, definitely out of the ordinary and one of the better places in Chinatown.
I love hanging at a good dive bar every now and then, but this place is one crack-in-the-wall away from being a crumbled concrete coffin. The 1st floor isn't too bad, but the 2nd floor looks soo run down and reeks of urine. This place definitely fits every possilbe meaning of "hole-in-the wall."
The music was pretty cool, but that's the only thing I liked about the place.
I am only reviewing the night I went (Saturday) may be a different vibe on other days. I know I'm hooked on Yelp when I'm standing there with my friends and talking about yelp indirectly ..... also the place was probably that bad since I'm thinking about Yelp rather than enjoying the place where I'm at.
Me: So if you had to rate this place out of 5 stars and 3 being OK ... how would you rate it?
Melvin: 2 stars, it's pretty bad - they serve drinks in plastic cups
Another of my friends walked by and kicked it -
Me: sup D ... if you had to rate this place out of 5 stars and 3 being OK ... how would you rate it?
Dan: 2 stars easy, this place sucks (HAHA i didn't even tell him what Melvin said)
I was on the fence between one star and two stars - but since 2 of my friends said 2 also, sounds good to me. And besides - I got to hot box my ride and was able to get back in no problem - Extra star for that!
I wanted to come here for Firecracker, but it ended up being Soul Sessions since they alternate Fridays. The cover was $10 and I'm not accustomed to paying cover, but they had drink specials and I think it was the least amount of money I spent going out (including cover) while buying drinks. The main floor had a live funk/soul band inside and painters outside, creating works of art before our eyes.
Upstairs looked like a room for a quincinera or a chinese banquet, but the DJs were great. So despite an empty dance floor, my friend and I began dancing (it was still early). Later in the night, the dance floor was packed. Some of the people had such great moves, it was goofy watching everyone break it down. Again, the DJs were phenomenal.
Overall, really fun night. Everyone had the same street/b-boy/b-girl style, so if you're looking for diversity, this isn't really the place. But it's great for some underground hip hop. If this is your niche, you'll love it.
G and G
What started out as an uneventful and close to pathetic Thursday night turned into a surprisingly fun and alcohol/ music filled Thirsty Thursday with help of Club Transistor @ Grand Star.
We went from a good bar to a closed diner (which someone said was a bar...fool) to another good bar. We walked around the corner from last good bar and helped ourselves to the music and dance of Grand Star. Yes, I said dance. I dont dance - not my thing - but the mood, music and people of Transistor made me want to shake my tukis...which I did. There's even pictures to prove it.
So I guess Thursday nights at Grand Star is Club Transistor night. A live DJ playing brit pop, indie, post punk, soul and a host of other surprising genres of music that makes this place a pretty happening spot for a Thursday night. The crowd is younger, mid to late 20's and mostly a mixuture of girls and gay guys. There are drink specials before 12am and on occasion the upstairs area is open as well.
And to give you an idea of who you can see on occasion, just last Thursday, the motherfucking Gaslamp Killer, DJ Kutmah and DJ AM were playing. GLK killed it in premium fashion.
Only been here on Friday nights and spent the majority of the time upstairs at Firecracker. However, if you get here before 10pm, stick around downstairs for a bit and bob your head to the live jazz.
As for Firecracker:
You know when you ask a gal to dance and she smiles with an accepting nod. You have this confidence as you follow her seductive strut through the crowd. Everything is going well until the DJ transitions to the next song and the gal says "O I don't like this one" and heads off the dance floor. You're probably left either awkwardly continuing the dance in solo or slowly making your way back to the bar. Thoughts range from was it really the music? or did my electric slide/shopping cart/running man combo not impress her? At Firecracker the chances are its the later and you should never dance in public again.
The hip hop beats the DJ spins out of the speakers are ill. As a testimony to that there will most always be a local b boy crew present or a guy trying out some moves by himself on the dance floor before it fills up. The bartenders are pleasant and generous with the pours . One of the owners is this old and really nice Chinese guy that you know for sure is hiding a wrapped dragon tattoo around his torso.
If you're looking for an ambient den with a soundtrack of jazz to do your flirting or a low key true hip hop attic. This is your place.
fire cracker fire cracker...man are you old...but im old too and i still love you for the every other fun friday...u do serve us well!
transistor...is a whole other idea which led me to old friends...is this a good thing? yes, it's a really good thing...
First off.. 2009!
Alright, with that out of the way let me begin by saying that I have no idea how I had not been to this place earlier. I've heard about the spots in ChinaTown (Mountain Bar & this place) for probably two years now and I guess my friends and I have been so into hitting regular clubs on the weekends when the opportunities present themselves that the only times we go to "chill" or non-club places its in our home town (Pasadena/Arcadia).
First off, finding this place was a breeze. We parked in the lot right across the street from the 'plaza' / courtyard (on Broadway) for $5 & began to pre-party. We knew that the cover is $5 before 10 ($10 after) but realizing that it was 10 when we got there we said 'forget it' and didn't try to make it.
So as expected we walked up to no line, no dress code, no pretension (actually a friendly greet from the door GIRL, no douche bouncer here), and no problems. Exactly what we wanted.
We walked in at about 10:45 or so and were kind of surprised to not see too many people but we were definitely not disappointed. The vibe was exactly what we've been looking for for a while now. Good hip hop upstairs, no major club jams, & you could tell that people who were there wanted to be there and wanted to be there for the music. We could not have been more content and we had only been there for 5 minutes.
The live jazz band downstairs had the three of us completely mesmerized for a good 10-15 minutes when we went down to check it out. Too awesome.
Oh yeah.. and the reason I'm giving this place 5 stars is because my friends and I have been dying for a place like this and it delivered on every level. We will definitely be there this friday for 'FireCracker'.
cliffs: Went to 'Soul Sessions' (friday). Cheap, no problems, great music,
chill crowd. Many reasons to go back.
Oh Grand Star.. you've been letting me in since I was 18, I should really show you more love, but I just can't!
I have ended up here a number of times over the years and have yet to be impressed by anything. Although I will say Soul Session was pretty alright but the fact I payed a 10$ cover cancels that out and makes it suck too.
The whole bar is just lack luster to say the least...maybe the word I'm searching for is a dump? I love Dive Bars...but it's not a dive it's just a half ass bar. The " glowing dance floor" is weak.. it's supposed to be a dance floor but you can't take your drinks on it? The crowd matches the bar. Normally I'm more generous with my stars when I'm wasted, which I was, but no matter how drunk I am it's not enough to make me like this bar.
I've only ever gone for the firecracker, which is fun
you can usually catch an after hours spot if you want to do something afterwards as well
oh, and it's walking distance to full house, which is great if you happen to be hungry after all the sweat and piss and looks and grins
I really adore this place. so cozy, "suh" cute!
The small lit up dance floor on the first floor is the best when listening to some jazzy sounds and feelings like a dance, or the beat selectors spinning downstairs while i sip on a vodka tonic. Either way, grand star jazz is almost like a second home for Boombox & Firecracker nights. Upstairs always gets packed because they play some of the freshest music that will keep you going, you'll end up going outside for a breather but find yourself back in that hott ass room again because it's so much fun to just dance away or fellas just stand there and slightly move there shoulders cause they're feelin' it too!
drinks are average priced. people are cool, i just go to dance and smile and you'll smile too, i promise :)
Nice hole-in-the-wall bar in Chinatown with an awesome bartender. She looks like she lived a full and interesting life.
The lit dancefloor is pretty old-school and hard to beat.
Plenty of street parking. Wednesday nights are pretty cool (twice a month) with a group of musicians - Midtones - holding an open jam session.
p.s. You're an idiot if you stop by this place expecting more (i.e. see some reviews below.) But you get a gold star in my book if you're looking for a true dive bar in Chinatown.
"Hip hop just died this morning / and she's dead, she's dead"
Nas couldn't be more right for the most part. But on Friday night, if you walk through an alley, go up some inconspicuous stairs, and enter a small club in Chinatown, you'll know that the good stuff still moves the crowd.
Right after a great meal at Tantra, "the funky fresh dressed to impress" Aimee S. and I decided to head to Firecracker, instead of Zanzibar, Balance and Cranes Tavern.
"Err...too far, that cost too much and eh," said the two full-and-sleepy-as-hell yelpers.
*** "I met this girl, when I was ten years old / and what I loved most she had so much soul" ***
The parking fee was not Staples-outrageous so we parked in a lot right in front of the venue. A soul-jazz singer was supposed to be playing on the first level while the DJs of Firecracker held it down on the second floor. On the first level, there is a small stage with a decent dance floor for people who want to cut it up. Comfy leather couches, with tables, are in the back in case you want to get your "LA" on and talk with your friends while some struggling, talented artist tries to entertain your apathetic a$s. The crowd was ultra-eclectic. Folks of all ages seemed to be the normal crowd here. I loves me a jawnt with absolutely no pretense. However, I don't like a bartender who measures how much booze she mixes in your drink. In yelp-speak, our drinks were mos'-definitely "weaksauce".
*** "Now she be in the burbs licking rock and dressing hip / and on some dumb sh*t, when she comes to the city" ***
Since the band was taking a break we decided to take our weaksauce drinks and head upstairs. As we walked up the stairs I could hear the pulse of good hip-hop. My hip-hop. That '89 to '95 stuff that I grew up on. Instantly, Aimee turned to me and expressed her new love for this joint. A small, dim room with another bar. Nothing lavish. It wouldn't surprise me if some box company, like the one on LOST, runs it's operation there in the morning. Same crowd as downstairs, only a little younger, and some of them knew how to pop-lock.
Damn. Did I just hear the DJ mix some Lauryn to BDP to Cypress to Q-Tip? Yep. I'm coming back.
We hung out for a little while until our mouths kept arguing over who had the deeper yawn. Too tired to shake like polaroids, we drove home more than satisfied.
*** "But I'ma take her back hoping that the sh*t stop / 'cause who I'm talking 'bout y'all is hip-hop" ***
*Excerpts from Common's "I Used to L.O.V.E. Her"
The LOWDOWN
Minus 1 star for the weak a$s drinks.
Plus 1 star for the great crowd. Again, no pretense here, kids.
Plus 1 star for being close enough so I don't have to take the 101.
Plus 2 stars for the awesome music selection. Stronje.
The Grand Star is mos def a fun place to get your drink and dance on. The ground floor is where they have live acts and has an old school jazz club vibe to it kinda. What I really come here for is the dance party upstairs. Now this place used to be a solid 4 and a half star place, but since they changed the upstairs I had to take em down to 3 stars. Before they changed the upstairs, the best description I could give was that it looked like an old school dance party in Kevin Arnold's basement. (Yes I'm talking about the Wonder Years) Now it looks kinda lame, kinda looks like a rec room at an old Boy's and Girl's club that's about to be torn down. I can't talk too bad on em because the music was still cool, the drinks were still stiff and the girls were still hot.
This place is starting to show signs that a remodel might be needed soon, but you can't deny the fun factor of this place. Definitely a place I recommend you try if you're in the area.
Talk about 2 worlds under one roof. Delicious live jazz on the first floor and what seemed like a bangin' house party on the second floor.
I had to knock off a star for the drinks though. Our bartender actually measured our liquor in a shot class and then poured it into a plastic cup then charged $7 each. My Malibu Pineapple was heavy on the pineapple and homeboy Rodger R. said his Ketel Cranberry was heavy on the cranberry. If I wanted juice I would have ordered juice.
But, oh but. The music and the crowd. I can't remember the last time I saw such an eclectic mix of people all mingling and enjoying themselves. Most were switching off between the jazz downstairs and the dance floor upstairs.
When we headed upstairs to check out the music I knew I was in love when I heard "...you might win some but you just lost one..." blaring. Lauryn Hill?! Sweet! There's a bar upstairs for those who were pretty much parked and glued to the old school/underground hip-hop. I loved the rainbow of people dancing. I don't mean rainbow as in gay, I mean, all types, hipsters, trendies, homeboys, it was beautiful. And it felt like a house party, complete with low leather couches and kind of bootleg lights and discoball. Not to mention the plastic cups that people were drinking out of. The DJs played some hip-hop, some funk, some electronica. Mixed like the crowd.
$10 cover but so worth it. I can't wait to bring my girlfriends here for some serious shakin' it action.
Good live jazz poppin' Saturday and varying nights in the heart of chinky eyed-rice eating-chopstick martial arts battlin-Chinatown.
I never heard of Chinese owning jazz clubs. They can also sing Frank Sinatra songs to the "t," so I heard. They have karaoke nights and the occasional "Firecracker" club upstairs every third (?) Friday of the month [which is definitely crackin' I may add].
Bar is available to get the alcoholics drunk. They also have food! Chinese food ... not-so-great Chinese food. Tasted like Panda Express. I didn't order any, but they were givin' out free food this past Saturday because of the holidays - which is pretty dope. Very nice of them indeed.
The jazz is good, really good let me tell you. They had this crazy Asian lady killin' the piano while the band sync'd in.
The place is not so big, not too small with a nice little dance floor in front of the stage. Its not a fancy-smancy place so don't feel like you gotta dress the part. We walked in for free, but I am not sure if this applies to every night. Call to inquire!
Overall, fuck the food ... go for cocktails and good jazz.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go on a Friday night...every first and third Friday that is...but in the last months the sparkle that made it FIRECRACKER has faded into just firecracker. No longer is it the underground music haven it used to be; no longer do DJ's test their new finds on an amenable crowd because that crowd has changed from distinctive individuals dressed in their best "I'm not trying too hard" t-shirt, "I really am that unique" to the "I really am trying that hard" t-shirt "and it shows." Tiny Grandstar became too small to contain the crowds and the secret. As the party leaked out onto the alley, so did the magic. People started to notice an unusual amount of cars lined along the streets of Broadway and like everything in LA it became commercialized and over exposed.
I suppose it is the nature of fire to consume all combustible materials in their path and hasten their own demise but it's just sad to watch the last embers dying out. The final ember had to be when the cover was raised from a reasonable $5 to a whopping $10. It was just too much to take.
Granted I haven't been able to bring myself to go back there in quite a while so it may have improved, but can an underground club surface then return again below to the murky depths like Nessy herself? Not likely. I miss you Firecracker.
Essex now has Happy Hour…
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Jazz & Blues
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Soul Food
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Westchester / LAX
Category: Jazz & Blues
Places that I frequent. Gawd i need a new place…
Full moon or not, the darker side of days beckons…
Aside from chillin' with the fam and BFF's, the…
Here's where I like to get sweaty on the…
I'd like my ashes to sprinkled at these places,…
These are all Socal once again. Sometimes places…
This is a challenge set by my friend's friends up…
