Club Review: Manic Mondays at the Bar on Church
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Manic Mondays
Bar on Church
Last Seen: March 9, 2009
Better than: The Bar on Castro (R.I.P.)
Also See: Our Manic Mondays Slideshow.
Break it down and build it back up. In case you haven't noticed, the Bar on Castro has migrated and reintroduced itself as the Bar on Church, giving the old Transfer a much needed facelift after the venue switched owners.
The new Bar on Church was gutted and remodeled by proprietor Greg Bronstein and interior designer Craige Walters. The improvements include a new 30-foot bar equipped with three topless male bartenders, an impressive sound system, silver U-shaped seating booths (five of them), and ample room for dancing. The graffiti-riddled bathrooms have been gussied up as well. But some of the old remains: poor ventilation resulting in pit stains and dehydration and yes, Transfer enthusiasts.
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The new BOC sparkles; it's squeaky clean. Maybe it's the monochromatic silver booths and taffeta curtains and disco balls. But compared to its former self, the Transfer looks like the ugly stepchild. Which is not to say the old Bar on Castro won't always hold a place in our hearts -- because it will.
For Manic Mondays, DJs Dangerous Dan and Mark Andrus play all the right 80's jams ranging from the really obvious to the slightly obscure. Depeche Mode, Blondie, and Nu Shooz are all conducive to communal sing-a-longs and dancing like a maniac on the catwalk located above the seating booths against the wall.
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What does an 80's enthusiast love more than being able to dress up in American Apparel leggings, sweatbands and neon colors? Try 80's drink prices: 80 cent cosmos (and $1.80 for the larger cup). With the new 30-foot bar that spans almost the entire length of the space, arduous efforts to get a drink as experienced at the former BOC are no more. This also means less drinks spilled on your head as patrons vacate the bar.
The location of the bar also invites a new crowd. "There are noticeable changes," said patron Chris Velaso. "There used to be a lot of lesbians, but not as much any more -- there's more straight people. It's a new mixed bar to bring everyone together."
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Despite the recession, Manic Mondays still manages to wrangle in a large crowd. If you haven't checked out the new venue since the renovation, poke your head in and see what's up.
Critic's Notebook:
Personal Bias: It's hard to dance and drink without almost blacking out in poorly ventilated spaces. Phew!
Random Detail: Be wary of the large orchid pillars on the bar. It's rumored that they are often knocked over.
By the Way: The dance space above the seating booths used to have ropes hanging from the ceiling to swing on. Bring them back!
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