The Westway

It's the tits. Just go. You'll have a gosh-darn awesome time.

Tuesday night has BOGO vodka drinks until midnight. The night starts pretty slow (before like 1am) and then once critical mass is reached, the secondary and tertiary bars get open. The crowd was wicked eclectic and really appreciated all the gender expression fluidity.

What can I say about this strip club turned night club that you couldn't figure our on your own. It's far from all trains, hence the "west" in the name, and it was once a strip club evidence t by the "dancing" runway in the center of the room -- which sucks. Honestly that thing takes up 50% of the damn floor space in what is already a cramped area. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if they actually used it frequently, but I've been there a lot and have only ever seen it used once. Pitiful.

The spot is broken up into two areas, bat and bar with stage. Both serve weak ass drinks with a poor mix ratio and god forbid you need to use the restroom. Imagine a small box that seems to be just slightly bigger than the toilet it houses. They are disgusting and are soaked in piss and barf. I really feel sorry for the ladies on this one as a guy can push past all that and just work with it. #notouching Ladies bring some plastic wrap or something.

Now all that aside the music is great. Not the house DJ (which is always pretty decent), I mean the proper musical acts that show up for whatever amazing event is being thrown that night. And I'm talking big acts and famous companies. It's almost worth all the nastiness and close quarters.

That said, if you are a vet of the scene, all these issues are null... You came to party and the crowd always steps up!

I'm not ordinarily a night club person, but if you're looking for a place to show of some of your dance moves this might be the place for you. Two bars are located in each side, so if one is busy send a friend to see if the other has a shorter line. This place used to be an old strip club back in the day and still resembles as a such. there's a small stage in the center of their main room which is fun for some dance battles. They also have a nice array of performers so be sure to check their website to see what is happening when. Drinks prices are pretty much on par with ever other Manhattan night club.

This post will be brutally honest, and I suggest everyone at least glance at it. In short: Avoid this place like AIDS. I cannot be more serious.

Friends decided that we were going to do our New Year's Eve party here, as they were offering an $50.0 open bar from 9:00pm - 11:00pm. Sounds innocuous enough, as there are literally thousands of bars offering variations of the same.

We arrive at 9:30pm, fashionably late. There's a small line outside the door. Keep in mind, this is days before the snowstorm hits, so it is approx. 20 degrees or less outside. Also keep in mind, this "establishment" is located RIGHT off the water, in between buildings...culminating in a giant, freezing wind tunnel. At 9:45pm, they're still not letting anyone in, as "they're not ready, still setting up."

Finally, at 10:00pm, they start letting us in, one by one. Coat check is $5.0, of course. The place is OK for those guido-types, but pretty scummy for anyone else. At 11:00pm, they shut off the open bar.

So, to reiterate, we paid $50.0 for an open bar from 9:00pm - 11:00pm, and got it from 10:00pm - 11:00pm. Garbage? I thought so.

That's not all.

I open up a tab, because I just am not able to get drunk while bumping into people to get to the bar in just an hour. They hold BOTH your ID and your credit card. We end up leaving around midnight, because this place just absolutely blew. By my own fault, I left my ID and credit card at the bar. Realizing this the next day, I shrugged it off, as my flight was on Friday and I would just swing by the bar again that night (Wednesday) to grab it.

Closed.

Swung by Thursday to grab my stuff. CLOSED. Friday, CLOSED.

Nobody answering phones, none of their affiliates answering phones. Voice mailbox is not accepting any messages. What kind of business can operate being closed this long? A crappy one, that's what kind.

I pushed my flights back because I need my damned ID to get on the plane, obviously. They were opened Saturday night, so I make my way in and ask the bartender to grab my ID and credit card. They can't find it. I ask for Management, which they agree to look upstairs in the office. Nothing there.

Really...?

I stand my ground, and finally ask one bartendress (the one who waited on me on NYE) where my information was, as any rational person knows you do not lose someone's ID at a bar. She searches around behind her and finds it, stowed away on some mid-level shelf out of sight. I'm able to catch a flight Monday at noon.

Unbelievable. AVOID this place like the plague. Trashy, POOR management, small, smelly, cramped, and just pitiful.