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Categories: Dance Clubs, Gay Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: UptownLawrence (Red)
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In my previous review of the Wild Pug I gave it 3 stars and a fair review. I'm back to tell you how impressed I am with their customer service.
Last weekend was my baby shower. We were looking for someplace to hold a potluck and just be able to mingle and chat with our friends without having to put out my host or us with excessive cleaning and rearranging of our own homes. Being Uptown residents we like to support local businesses as much as possible (there are so few of them around). I started checking out websites and they all required party packs to do anything organized there - we're talking minimum bar sales or 3 hour drink deals. But it was a baby shower, we couldn't afford to do those things and we certainly didn't want to ask our friends to either.
I contacted the Wild Pug (before discovering all this) and they called me back and said they'd be happy to let us hold the shower there. I explained what we were really looking for, a place to meet up casually, no deals, party packs etc and expected them to say sorry they couldn't help. Instead, they said "no problem". We got to use their space in the afternoon before they officially opened. Their staff was available to serve drinks, we hooked up our iPod to their sound system, set up our potluck on their pool table which they covered for us, and we spread out our different crafty baby shower activities around the bar. We ate, drank and decorated baby shirts with the help of the staff. I even love that we ran a bit long and the Dog Day Afternoon customers began filtering in with their pets. It was a wonderful time and now I can say I definitely will return.
Yes, it seems odd to have a baby shower at a gay bar, but we're not the first and frankly it really is kind of the perfect space to hold one. The space is beautifully decorated and very cozy with the fire place and couch. I have to stand by my previous comment about the dart boards though. They're clearly a popular item and well used but the placement is just bad because the players are put right in the traffic flow path.
But if that's my only complaint (and it is) well, I know I'm going to go there more often (well, as often as baby allows).
The Wild Pug seems to be a little confused with itself. In an attempt to be all things to all… Read more »
If you are an ambiance person, then you will like Wild Pug. I usually am not...and given that fact, I can honestly say this place is very posh in every sense of the word. By that, I mean, not overly done, but very nice and comfortable (although I must say they need to turn their air down...wow was it freezing in there).
Located in one of the up and coming areas in Uptown, the Wild Pug is a nice place to hang with a group of friends, mainly because of its ambiance, but also because it is very spacious. And if you like people watching...this is a good spot to do so as well...those big windows in the front are open (weather permitting) for you to peruse those who stroll up and down Broadway...and trust me...there are some SERIOUS characters at night in that area at times.
The drinks...the normal full bar; although my friend boasted about their martinis. Personally, I think they are a bit overpriced...but then again, just like certain places in the city, you are paying for ambiance.
Oh...and they have a dart board too for those dart aficionados.
Nonetheless, we had a good time!
While my original destination was the Fat Cat a few doors up the street- it was so packed and since all I wanted to do was sit, have a drink and catch up with a friend, the Wild Pug got our vote.
Yeah- it's a gay bar. So what? Some of the best bars are. And the Wild Pug delivered exactly what I wanted.. We sat at a high top at the open windows watching the people go by on Broadway. It was the perfect night out (weather wise) and because there was an event at The Riv- people were out in droves.
Our drinks were perfectly poured. Gotta love a place that can make that perfect martini! And our server was friendly and engaging (although that may have been directed more at my male friend than me!)
It was open mike night in the back room so we pretty much had the whole bar to ourselves save for the bartender which lent a cool, laid back vibe to the place. Even the music was subdued as it was just a faint hum in the background.
Street parking can be tricky around here (depends on what is going on at the Arragon and the Riv) but you can usually find a spot on the side streets located just east of Broadway.
Glad we checked it out. While I like Fat Cat and the Green Mill is always a favorite- it's good to know there's another place where I can grab a drink with friends in this "neck of the woods".
Some new friends I made this past weekend at Dog Day Saturday at Wild Pug:
- Coconut: A yellow dog who loved me as long as I was petting him
- Griffin: A black pug who, come to think of it, didn't like me all that much
- 2 weenie dogs
- A small grey and white pocket-dog (I was tempted to scoop him up, put him in my pocket, and flee!)
I love dogs - especially those who come to bars accompanied by friendly humans who want to share them with poor, dog-less me.
I was here on an epic pub crawl - we packed the place for our 30 minute stay. We had a deal worked out - cheapy pitchers of Miller Lite (or was it Bud Lite? Eh, interchangeable). On top of this, the bartender poured all 30+ of us shots - for free! I'm not sure what they were, but I appreciated their purple-girly-goodness (I'm not so good with peer pressure and am glad I didn't have to shoot some horrid, whisky-man-shot).
The bar itself was well set up - cozy couches in the front, bar stools along the bar, and a boothy-seat near the back. There was also snack mix on the bar (yay, Gardettos!).
Once our pre-arranged 30-minute stay was up, we were off to the next bar, but I could have stayed at Wild Pug much longer. Coconut agrees.
I have only been here during off-hours for a drink, so I cannot comment on what it like on a Friday/Saturday night.
Wanting mimosas within walking distance one afternoon, we stopped in here.
The bartender was very friendly and quickly set us up with our drinks and complimentary snacks.
The other patrons seemed nice, and to be having a beach-themed good times.
The layout of the bar was nice and spacious, and it looks like a good time could be had.
The prices though, were a little off-putting.
I would come back, and now that I know I'll be spending 8-9 a drink, I'll bring some extra cash.
Happy to say that on our return visit, they seem to have gotten rid of the Schaumburg vibe and it now seems like a real bar in a real city....the bartenders were very nice, the staff was a plus last time as well...
We live in the neighborhood and will return for sure from now on!
Freindly bartenders, odd interior design, but glad to see more activity in the Uptown area.… Read more »
First time here was for Yelp Gay Night II. Had a couple of casual weeknight drinks with some Yelpers and got a chance to check out the place - very nice from the look of it all to the beer selection (woah, a gay bar with craft beers??!).
Fast Forward a few months and headed here after a show at the Riv (PJ Harvey and John Parish!) as my friend wanted to check out the beer selection. Well, we had many beers, some tequila, and a generally fun time. The staff and patrons were great - perhaps as he was the only straight guy in attendance maybe that is why we were getting so much attention? :p Needless to say, I returned from the bathroom to find the bartender without a shirt on. Story goes my friend wanted to buy a shirt and the last size Large in the place was on the bartender; our drinks were then served by a shirtless bartender.
Definitely a bar I would go to again not only for the beers but also for the atmosphere.
Fine bar with a nice ambiance. Lot to do from dancing, playing pool or just chill out and have a drink. Love their kilt nite when all the bartenders go shirtless and wear a kilt. Mmmm yeah!!!!!
Saturdays from 3 to 6 they open the bar to people to bring their dogs... So it's quite an experience to walk into a bar and find all these doggies running around!
The first time I visited Wild Pug it was a Saturday night, I walked in with two people noticed that every single man in the joint was undressing us (some were practically tearing our clothes off... little scary) with their eyes and we walked back out. The place reminded me of Berlin and I felt I was going to get a roofie in my drink or something, plus it was packed and I couldn't even see the bar.
The second time I was a little hesitant but for Yelp Gay Night II I didn't have a choice it was all gay or nothing.... Surprisingly the place is so much better during the week, smaller crowd and the bartenders were really nice guys. Plus I could actually see the place, pool table in the back (if you like playing with sticks and balls), a couch in front of a fireplace (you know for those intimate moments of stubble on stubble), and a great VJ who played 80's music to a montage of videos and video spoofs. We all really enjoyed ourselves and I'm sure we will go back for more.
Drink Yourself Gayer at Wild Pug.
This was the idea. I don't actually think I was any gayer then when I arrived, but I can say I was still quite gay when I left.
Other reviews talk about an identity crisis. I thought it was a "modern pub" - comfy cozy mixed with technology. Cool idea right? Worked for me. And I'm pretty picky.
Not only is there music, but also videos playing on flat screen TV's all around the bar. And super comfy leather davenports and ottomans to sit on. Granted it was a Wednesday night - so probably not as packed as usual. And the davenport near the fireplace had been taken over by a very amorous couple, who canoodled the night away.
I did have to shout to make myself clear, and lean in to hear what other people were saying. But they do have Bass on tap - which I super liked.
It was also nice to have a bar like this near my flat. It was literally a $3.50 cab ride home.
The bartenders were really great, and I'm even going to give props to the super cute, and funny bar back (who apologized that he couldn't serve), but made sure that the bartenders knew when we needed a drink.
This was a great place for a birthday party.
I will totally go back again!
I come here to celebrate a fellow Yelper's birthday with a promise to turn myself into a gay person. At least for that night.
Well that didn't happen. Turns out I like front holes way too much to even think about backdoor.
It was a Wednesday night so place wasn't packed, light were dim. There is a video DJ who must be on mushrooms because you just don't know what song will be played next on the system. A total +.
They also have digital dart machines. Whatever that is.
Whole staff is very friendly and offer complete attention.
It's a perfect for a small to medium size group to party but I believe they target to mostly gay crowd.
Bathrooms are very clean.
Parking can be little problem on weekends but it's not even 2 blocks from Red Line station.
Would I bring my date to this place? Yes.
Would I suggest this place for a party? Yes.
Would I hangout here with my boys? No. Green Mill is right next door.
I was hesitant to choose Wild Pug as the location for the most recent Yelp Chicago Gay Night. Reviews were definitely mixed, with some calling it a friendly lounge,m and others complaining about the space, attitude, and noise. But what the hell, I figured, how bad can a Wednesday night be?
I'm very happy with my selection.
Wild Pug is a great place to hang out with some friends. The main room is pretty wide open, and I could see how it could get congested on a weekend night. But there are a handful of tables up front by the window, and a cozy banquette with a couple of tables on the wall opposite the bar, so there are plenty of places to congregate. The front room is kind of cavernous, so I can see how people might feel "unmoored" if they weren't able to claim some prime real estate. But on a week night, that doesn't seem to be a problem.
The back room is fairly ill-defined. There's a pool table back there, but not much else. Is it a dance floor? Do people dance around the pool table? Hell do I know. And it was indeed loud back there. But up front, not so much.
The staff was great. The bartender was quick and friendly, and the VJ played a fun collection of 80s videos (baby Bono) and comedy clips. "Moulin Huge," anyone?
Some folks may be looking for more in a bar than I am. But for me, strong cocktails, friendly staff, and a place to sit are all I ask for. A comfy sofa and a working fireplace are a plus. Wild Pug served all of those up.
After reading several reviews about the "identity crisis" at Wild Pug, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I came here. However, I showed up on a Wednesday evening for the "drink yourself gayer" yelp gathering. It was probably the company, but I had myself a gay ol' time at Wild Pug. The space is really great: completely open and not cramped. There are 2 dart boards, a pool table in the backroon, and a nice lounge area next to the fireplace.
It was a Wednesday night, so I'm not sure how representative this is of their clientele, but it was a great range of people. Some older, some younger, some right in the middle. I hope this holds true on the weekends, because that would make for a great atmosphere!
I can see how all these different types of elements can cause people to be perplexed at what Wild Pug is. Is it a lounge? a bar? a club? a sports bar? It is none of those things. It just is. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to just relax, and enjoy the nice mix of music playing on the screens.
Definitely coming back.
I have been to the Pug twice now that they have opened. The first time we wandered in after an afternoon watching basketball at Crew and the second was this past weekend for a volleyball party.
The clean up of the space went very well. It is laid out with seats at the bar and some couches,chairs and some tables by the fireplace. There are dart boards in the front area and a pool table in back. The bathrooms are larger than Crew and were very clean.
We typically don't do the late night scene on the weekends so for my two visits I had varying levels of service. The first was a lazy Sunday afternoon the bartender was attentive and nice, the VJ was fun and took requests. On a Friday night the DJ was fun, the bartender not so attentive (even though I was tipping well on free drinks and bought drinks after the free ones ended). To be honest had the volleyball people not been there the place would have been basically empty but it was still early around 10:00
Just depends on what you are looking for Wild Pug is a nice space and I am sure we will be back. Huge + for both Pug and Crew is that cabs line up outside to take you home or to the next destination.
I forced a small cohort of coworkers to accompany me on my well-intentioned venture into meeting new people, but we arrived much earlier than the Drink Yourself Gayer event started, and our little group ended up keeping to ourselves and indulging in stronger-than-usual concoctions made by quite possibly the friendliest bartender at a gay bar I've ever encountered -- this can be misleading, because while I'm definitely gay, I'm largely anti-gay bar, but I digress...
It's really hard to try and define the space -- being a design fanatic and former student of architecture, it's actually a bit of a nightmare -- but, inexplicably, the inharmonious front room isn't uninviting. When you open the door, you see the saturated chocolate brown leather couch, a couple of tables and a cozy fireplace. You think, hey, I'm home, this could be nice. And then you look to your left, and catch the eye of the bartender, or that mostly-stoic-yet-adorable scruffy barback, the neon lights, drafts and you think, "oh yeah, I'm at bar, but that cozy vignette of an area over there makes it feel like I have a bartender at my disposal in the living room!" But then you keep looking to the left, and you see a dartboard and a neon jukebox and any coherent description to try and compose will just go out the window.
But outside of the not so mellifluous interior decor, I liked the vibe a lot, and the bartender makes EXCELLENT german chocolate cake shots (of which my friends and I indulged in 4 each!) I'm thinking the ambiance won't digress from the usual homo bar formula on the weekends, though, judging from the yelpers who've been there on a busy Saturday night.
I really wanted to like this place, because I love Uptown and the people who work at Crew (they're next door and owned by the same people), but I was just very unimpressed. I went for a special night where they were giving away a free trip to Europe (sidenote: I was enraged because the winner of the trip wasn't even excited) but I got there way early to check the place out in a more normal setting.
The average age was maybe 38 and seemed kinda pretentious and haughty, but that didn't really bother me. The prices and the lack of seating is what really irked me. I paid something like $11 for a really weak cosmo, which I only got because they "didn't have" martinis (?!) and I wanted something strong to sip on. As for the space, there is all this open space where people were just awkwardly standing around. There is very little decor, and what they do have is kinda strange...it's supposed to be Oscar Wilde themed, but it just looked like they put up a bunch of old pictures of England. I suppose if it were cheaper and more inviting, I'd like it more, but with Crew right next door, I don't know why I'd ever go back here.
While the drinks were decent (if not on the expensive side, at least more than I thought), the atmosphere just didn't click too well with me. I felt like i was in a boxy, thinly decorated space that somehow felt cheap to me, not the least supported by the terrible Wilde picture over the fireplace. Maybe I just felt out of place since there was obviously some going away party going on and it took a while to get anyone's attention. Will try it again but won't be running back.
I'm a little surprised to see so many negative reviews for this place. I recently visited here on a Sunday afternoon and found it quaint and enjoyable. I think with any new bar, it takes a bit of time to settle and find their niche.
Here are the reasons I think we should back off a bit and see what happens:
1) The design of the bar is unique and cozy.
2) It's a welcome addition to the now buzzing Lawrence and Broadway intersection in Uptown. As someone who lives in Uptown, I love the fact that this area now offers such diverse nightlife. It's a great area to hop from bar to bar and enjoy a different crowd and environment at each place.
3) There is a fireplace.
4) It's another gay bar option that allows me to avoid Boystown for that much longer.
5) Everyone from the bartender to the DJ were extremely friendly during my visit.
Come on Chicago, let's give Pug a chance.
This a new gay bar in Uptown, smack next to the other new gay bar in Uptown, Crew. I love Pugs and gay bars, so let's give this a try!
Went here after the Pretenders concert. Excellent way to lose the homophobic dingleberry that had been trailing me and my friend - duck in here!
I have an unabashed straight girls' love for gay men. Unlike straight men, they know when to leave chicks alone. Two women walk in, and start chattering. When I go somewhere with a friend, I want to spend time with THEM not some random, namedropping dufus, get it? Although once we get caught up on each other's dish (and HOT dish it was, let me tell you - or wait, I'm not going to tell you . . . do I KNOW you?!) sure, we'll chat and flirt with some of our gay brethren, of course!
Sweet, CUTE bartender let us sample the beers before we tried them. Chatted us up and had an adorable, captivating smile. Fantastic DJ played lots of Pretenders videos - hey, that's what we wanted to see more of, right? Bueno. Well designed bar, very modern and chic. Spotless bathrooms. Gorgeous, shiny bar kept very clean all night. Stylish patrons with blinding white teeth and soignee outfits.
Specific patrons - to the tattooed love boy gay man with stars all over his arm: I didn't get your name, despite my friend and I chatting and dancing with you all night. You are NASTY FIERCE!!! We. Heart. You.
This place is great. The Pug is full of love.
Ugh, went here for the first time last night, and there is NOTHING, NOTHING that is British Pub Like about this bar. Looking around, it's pretty sterile.
I went on Sunday Night, and it was pretty dead. Wish I'd gone to Crew.
Lets see here....
Walking distance from my apartment, Check
Good Drink Specials, Check
Low key, non pretentious clientele, Check
A Tasty Bloody Mary, Check
Cute, nice bartenders, Check
Food from Crew delivered to my bar stool, Check Check
Result...Wild Pug is a winner. I was here for the first time last Sunday and after some deliberation I decided I dig this place. The only real complaint I have is the volume of the music. Maybe it would be appropriate for a crowded weekend night, but it was Sunday afternoon and the bar was fairly empty. I literally had to scream at the person sitting right next to me so our entire conversation went like this...
"This place is cool but the music is a bit loud"
"WHAT??"
"THE MUSIC IS A BIT LOUD"
"oh yeah definitely"
"WHAT???"
etc, etc
There appeared to be a sort of dance floor/room in the back so maybe the pumping music is more appropriate when it is in use. Either way I will be back, maybe sometime when they don't have a DJ.
Disappointing, but I'm not sure it's the bar's fault. In their defense, the bar I wanted it to be was never really advertised. I kind of just assumed it would be more low-key and have a different atmosphere.
That being said, WP is realllllllllly loud. Like really loud. So, if that's not your thing (and it isn't mine), I wouldn't go.
Cheers, though, for bringing somewhere new to Uptown. I suppose if I'm in a really dancy mood, then I will return.
I went to Wild(e) Pug with a friend during their grand opening celebration. The pre-VIP party was great. Lots of space to walk around, easy to find a spot to sit, open bar, and a quiet, relaxed feeling all around. The owners explained what the bar would be like. As many people said, it seemed as though it'd be your local gay bar not niche'd toward the twink crowd.
After the speeches were done, my friend and I left to go grab a bite to eat. When we came back, the VIP party was in full swing.
Once we got inside, we had to fight our way through a tight-packed crowd of people. We expected this as it was their "Whoopee! We're Open" party. However, the theme seemed to change from one party to the next. Suddenly it felt as though I were at Roscoe's inside an old pub. Now I know how trannies feel.
I haven't been back since the opening event. I've had no lure to return. The bar is as confused on its orientation as my last boyfriend. I'll venture to Crew until it sorts itself out.
Sorry, Wild. You're a nice concept, but a weird execution.
So I've been over Boystown for a while and was pretty eager to find new hangout spots up north. Where Halsted is Boystown, N. Clark in Andersonville is "Guystown" or "Manstown" as my friend and another fellow Yelper said.
In Boystown you got the runaways from the suburbs and the "Brian Kinney's" of Chicago, the stylish yet stuck up male Barbie doll bourgeoise. Andersonville has more of a "relaxed" attitude, you got the older couples who've settled down and the more easy going masculine types that aren't hung up on superficial body images and status and what not.
But let's get back to Wild Pug, came here during St. Patty's Day weekend with a buddy and had some yummy Bloody Marys and chicken wraps with this garlic sauce that sent my taste buds into a frenzy. Great food, friendly sexy bartender and a free t-shirt aside.....WHAT THE HELL WAS UP WITH THE MUSIC BEING BLASTED LIKE A FREAKIN' DEF LEPPARD CONCERT? There was a DJ there, but dear God by the end of the evening my voice was all scratchy from practically having to SCREAM at the friend I was with just to have a normal conversation! Look at Dan B.'s review and you'll see what I mean.
To update my last review - they have a great event every Saturday afternoon from 3-6 PM called "Dog Day Afternoon." You can bring your doggy with you to socialize with other dogs, while you can kick back and enjoy a cocktail. It's a great alternative during these cold months to going to the dog park and standing in the frigid cold!
One word of advice for dog owners, though, please pay attention to your pups! Nothing can be more frustrating as an owner than when someone's dog is making a mess or causing trouble and you don't know who owns it!
I live in Uptown and was very excited about the prospect of Wild Pug opening up. I love Crew and… Read more »
Went in here only because there was but ONE person in Crew and I remembered "oh yeah, I heard this Wild Pug place is "gay" too. Well......I saw the same bartenders from Crew at this Wild Pug place. Do they run back and forth through the gangsta tunnels?
Two stars only because it seemed rather clean and they passed my Chicago "bathroom test" as I didn't feel the need to find coin operated car wash after relieving myself.
Why, in this day and age with a black president and all, do gay bars still have to be in the most seedy parts of any city?
The music was really really loud. I found myself having to hover a couple inches away from people if I wanted to carry on a (meaningful) conversation.
Overall, however, I found the service to be very timely. I was there to help celebrate a birthday, so the atmosphere felt very celebratory. The clientele is also very friendly and easy to carry on a conversation with.
As far as the name goes, I was disappointed they couldn't get the E to add on to their name, bummer.
I was really looking forward to checking this place out. One of our down-the-ways neighbors had mentioned the doggy day they have on Saturdays, so we finally made it out there a couple weekends ago.
First, I thought that the idea of having the place for the pups was great, since the dog park near us is always dominated by the larger breeds. But anyhow, back to Wild Pug. We walked in and weren't really greeted by anyone, so we just sat down. Some people were pretty friendly (as were their dogs), but I couldn't help but be annoyed by the number of drunks, I meant, other patrons that just leave their dogs unattended. When your dog is eating other dog's poo, you should pay more attention. When your dog is harrassing and humping my dog, you should pay more attention. Don't huddle up in the corner and gossip and chitchat in your native tongues. Perhaps that's why one of your other dogs was able to run out the front door and down the street before you even ran after it. *end gripe*
So, aside from the number of careless dog owners, and the doggy escape route (aka front entrance), we all were famished and ordered food from Crew. The server didn't take the order down right, so when the correct order finally came, we took it to go. Wish I hadn't, because this was probably the grossest chili cheese fries I have ever ordered.
*end more gripe*
The first time I visited, I remarked to a friend that it was almost too nice for a low-class dame like me to hang out in. From the gorgeous stone fireplace and the the beautiful wood floors, the Wild Pug is a beautifully appointed bar. The staff couldn't be more wonderful, the beer selection is fabulous, the prices are fairly reasonable (especially for a gay bar--not sure why GLBT hangouts usually hose you, but this one doesn't), and it's a comfy place to meet up. Everyone is welcome, gay or straight, and on Saturday afternoons, you can bring your dog along.
I was in one of their game shows! So I didn't get a great sweep of the place yet, but it looked really clean, fancy, neat, with FUN music and FUN stuff on the video screens (like J Hud and Ellen singing in Ellen's bathroom and South Park). The drinks were great too! Very chill, nice place. Great vibe. I'm definitely gonna hang out here a lot this summer!
alright so i went back on a thursday during poetry reading. muuuuch better wild pug!
we had a great bartender while in the back room (craig?) and he kept the drinks coming and was fun to talk to.
i'm still salty about how much my ears hurt from that first trip so at three stars you shall stay.
Oy. You know a gay bar isn't great when even the gays don't like it. The music was so loud that I… Read more »
My group went straight to the dance floor, so I can't comment on the bar. The music was great - 80's hits made techno (they had a DJ). The dance floor is small and very dark, with the exception of annoying flashing, colored lights. To unleash your inner stripper, a raised pole is available to practice on (popular for photo-ops). There is one pool table, but I wouldn't recommend playing. The lights don't reach the corner, so it's difficult to determine which balls were stripe or solid. Wild Pug is quite forgettable if you're an avid bar scene-goer. However, there is no cover charge and the crowd is diverse. PS: It costs $2 per coat to check it.
This is a nice bar. And not just nice as in hang out nice, but layout and furniture, spacious clean nice! It's one of the few bars I would go to and just sit and chill without friends. It can get a little packed on the weekends, especially when there's a lot going on in that little strip. Overall a wonderful bar addition to Uptown!
Went on Saturday afternoon with my partner and brother. We brought our dogs to take part in this place's activities.
The creepers were nice, I guess since the moon wasn't out. The staff was alright, I think there were only 2 people working???
I don't feel that this place is ready to really handle dogs in their bar. I think the concept and their intentions are good but they need to do something about their doors. One dog was able to get out and run down outside of Crew before a passer-by stopped it and held on until the owner made their way.
Also I now realize that I wouldn't want my dogs near drunk people and their dogs. You never know how their dogs could react to yours.
Infact there was this group of Asian guys who completely ignored their dogs (one of which was the one that run out). They had a male chihuahua that was pretty much harrassing my two long haired chihuahuas (both male and female). He wouldn't give up his attempts to hump my two. It was cute at first but I saw my dogs becoming increasingly annoyed with it. Then I was annoyed because the owners were just drinking and doing God knows what.
We left.
I honestly wouldn't recommend bringing your dogs to this place. Their idea was sweet but it just doesn't work.
The bar itself is really small.
Big Yawn.... Annoying crowd....High maintenance queers. Will try it again though.
My friend and I were just looking for a mellow place to have a few drinks. I don't know anything about it being a gay bar or a dance bar. It was really quiet, but it was also a monday night at 8:30 pm. The bartender was really friendly, but I won't be going back- we ordered a Ketel bloody mary and a Ketel and soda- $18.50!! I'm sorry, but these prices are ridiculous for a neighborhood pub. Also, I had a hard time getting comfortable at the bar. It isn't deep enough to sit forward, so I had to kick my legs sideways to be close enough to reach my drink and rest my arms on the bar. They do have a cozy fireplace with some comfy seating, but I'd rather go down the street to Nick's on Wilson where the prices are what they should be.
I am really excited to see this place in Uptown..nice interior with great fireplace. It's a little vacuous, I would expect more tables in the front room, and the sound system is very tinny and seems to echo, the DJ has a weird taste in music (went from Creed to MGMT to Cyndi Lauper..) , but all in all, I am supportive of this business. I would say it's more "gay friendly" than "gay", so it's a good place to bring straight friends as well as gay. good beer selection.
I stopped in here to meet up with a few friends unaware that it was a techno/strobe light gay bar. I'm in agreement here with Bryan and EM, it's just a weird place. I expected a quiet Irish theme bar and I get a place that's small, crowded and playing music that I would expect from say, Transit or Buzz. I'm definitely not in the mood for that. It's just not what I was expecting or a place I'd be interested in.
The bar was open this past Saturday for it's "soft opening." Overall it's a pretty cool space with warm but moden wood and stone accents. Something about the room felt a little sparse or unfinished. Perhaps things were moved around to accomodate a larger-than-usual crowd or maybe there is still work to be done before a final opening.
Bartenders we slow, but again understandable considering that it's new.
Crowd was a good mix of neighborhood types, straight and gay alike.
I'll be back again in a few weeks; I'm sure it will become a great regular place to hang in the area.
Ok, the biggest problem with The Wild Pug is that it just doesn't make any sense. It's designed as an old pub, which would be sweet if it weren't for the booming dance floor in the back of the bar. This place has the potential to be a warm, relaxed neighborhood gay bar. The techno music and flashing lights kind of ruin it and just don't go with the style of the bar. Like I said, it makes no sense. The bar staff was ok. Hit or miss, one of them was mostly an asshole who seemed bothered by drink orders. Did I mention the terrible music? Bleh. Maybe during the week, it's different. So far, from what I've seen, it's just another typical gay bar. Been there, done that.
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Gay Bars
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Gay Bars
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: Mexican
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