'This could get dangerous fast," my friend Kelly said as the bartender laid out a row of free gin and tonics for us.
She was probably right, but I'm a professional, and it was "Saturday Thursday" night at The Club at Firestone in downtown Orlando, where every 15 minutes it's open bar at the sound of a horn for five minutes.
What's a "Saturday Thursday" you ask? Well, according to the club, it's where you can party as if it's Saturday on Thursday night, and because I had a bunch of parties of the holiday variety happening that Saturday, my friends and I figured we would accept the club's offer.
And it's quite an offer for $5 at the door. That not only covers the open-bar promotion, but if you get there when the club opens at 10 p.m., there is free Stella Artois until the keg floats. And though the cup you are served may not be that big, there's enough flowing to make up for the size.
The club, which has undergone yet another renovation, looks as if it is coming back into its own again, something like its heyday in the '90s. With regular concert bookings, the decor is more of a rock-club setting, even though it still is diversified in its nightly offerings. In fact, "Saturday Thursday" has something for everyone, not only in the drinky-drinky department, but musically as well.
Watch those chairs
In the main room, DJs Pauly CRSH, Body- werx and Capt'n Awesome spin indie, dance, electro and rock, although I was hearing a lot of the electro and house variety while I was there. In the room known as The Den, there is usually hip hop and dance; this past Thursday, break dancers took up that space, which got so packed that I thought they and everyone watching would have been more comfortable in the main room. In the upstairs bar, residents Kittybat, Mot, Diddles and Spear spin more electro and rock.
The cool thing about the upstairs is "the fun-spin chairs, as my friend Paul refers to them. The seats adjust to whatever height you want with a lever on the side, and they spin to boot. While my boyfriend was cranking his seat down, I heard the other Kelly scream, "I think I'm going to vomit," as Paul spun her around. Dizziness from the chair or those free drinks, I'm not sure. Either way, a lot of fun.
A good thing going
With the exception of the break dancing in The Den, the club wasn't as packed as it should have been with specials such as the ones offered. But that should change once word gets out, much like Crush Mondays at BackBooth, where you'll find free Miller High Life until the keg runs dry. Although, I'm not a fan of High Life, the indie and electro are fun to dance to, and it packs the people in.
If there's one thing I'm sure about, it's that if Firestone throws a bit more indie into the "Saturday Thursday" mix, the masses will come. Or bring the break dancers out into the main room. Either way, it's a good night they have going, with tons of potential.
The Club at Firestone is at 578 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando. Call 407-872-0066.
tips & trips
Here's an event that was missed last week in the holiday-party roundup. Orlando Improv will be hosting the Heart of Darkness Christmas Show on Wednesday -- does that make you feel as warm and fuzzy as it made me when I first read it? The club describes the night as anything but wholesome, featuring comedians Pedro Lima, Greg Barris, Ricky Reyes, Aaron Bowden and Patrick Garrity. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Orlando Improv is at 129 W. Church St. in downtown Orlando, call 321-281-8000.
After the holidays are over, go to Parliament House in Orlando and have hypnotist Jon Simon make you forget about all the money you spent. On Jan. 6, 13 and 20, Simon will take 15 willing volunteers from the audience and have them enjoy 55 minutes of fame as he turns them into movie stars, opera singers and ballet dancers -- all of which they won't remember after the 55 minutes is up, I'm sure. The Comedy Hypnosis Show will start up at 8 p.m. in the Footlight Theater and is $10, which also gives you access to the club after the show. Parliament House is at 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando; for reservations call 407-540-0317.
Kelly Fitzpatrick can be reached at 407-420-5710.
kfitzpatrick@orlandocitybeat.com
--> PHOTO 2: Hold on to your stomach: Spin on your head downstairs (above) and in the new chairs (left).
PHOTOS BY FRANCOIS BOURSIQUOT JR./SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL -->