I loved this venue! My fiancé and I visited Ace of cups this past spring for a hardcore show with multiple bands. Seeing shows at more intimate venues is always my favorite. Walking in, I really enjoyed the art and decor as well as the shape of the venue, though to the side near the restrooms gets a bit crowded. My cocktail from the bar was great, and I know they have a featured list of fairly-priced cocktails (I want to say $12 - not bad at all). We also enjoyed the fenced-in outdoor area with the open kitchen! It was a fun night out and my only regret was not looking into parking beforehand. We were able to find street parking nearby fairly easily. I'd love to visit Ace of Cups again, and I absolutely will if they have Angel Du$t performing! Great venue overall and friendly staff. read more

Best bar around with great shows, community events, and the best patio in Columbus. There's always something for everyone happening at Ace!

This is the place where we go, on Sundays, for Karaoke. It's always been a blast. Lasts late into the evening. Drinks are great, and reasonably priced. Smoking out back is covered. All good. Will return. read more

The nastiest music establishment I have ever been in. Everyone was complaining about the bar have no air circulation in the building. Everyone was dripping sweat and the performer complained twice about how hot it was inside. It's was discusting and I will never ever go back. Just look at the outside before yoi go in. NASTY! read more

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A decent venue when shoes ate not over sold. The last 2 shows I saw at this venue were PACKED. I could not even turn around without bumping into or stepping on people. There's no where to go to get away from all the people or take a breather. You can go outside but thats not really ideal in the middle of winter. I am not able to enjoy myself at this venue because of how packed it gets. The bartenders are awesome and have experienced really great service from them! Have not tried any food but drinks are delicious. read more

I go here once a month for Cathedral (Goth Night) and have never had a bad experience. It's roomy, there's an upstairs loft area if you're feeling anti social, there's a large patio outside if you're feeling super social, the bartenders are attentive and I just always feel very welcome here. My only gripes are that the heat lamps outside never seem to work in the winter and the bathrooms can get pretty gross but I always try to clean up the trash and stuff because the bartenders get really busy. read more

Love this place! They are offering private tables for covid which is perfect for introverts that love to watch live music without touching other people!! Plus they let you bring in your ray rays!! Dinner drinks and a show - yes please read more

Ace of Cups - Anniversary date with my dude the high definitions - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is a great place for live music. And they have great local beers on tap as well as infused cocktails. It is small enough to be intimate but big enough to get good acts. It seems like a safer place during COVID given how seriously they are taking precautions like social distancing. read more

Wow, super cool venue for small shows. Good beer selection and friendly staff. Will definitely look for additional shows so I can return.

Fun social environment. Good bar service. Great performance put on by Adam Paddock and band.

Perfect venue for a small band scene. Probably 200 max? Easy access to the back wall bar, friendly service. There's an outdoor patio that's nice to hang and smell the Ray Ray's BBQ next door. It was a plus that a recent concert required vaxxed patrons. Thank you for stickin' it to the virus. read more

Okay, I came here after a night of drinking in Springfield to meet up with a few people who were interested in catching some of the punk acts going on. Phrases tossed around: "This reminds me of Bernie's...without that persistent smell of ass" "If Bernie's is the ass of punk rock, this is the arm pit" Several others, but we were drinking and I digress. I liked it. Despite sticking out like a sore fucking thumb - my glasses rims aren't thick, actually, I don't even wear glasses - my clothes were more "contemporary" and not the mix of 1980's references, punk rock bands, or "saved this from the thrift store" and I seem to be missing out on a "black flag tattoo comeback." That set the stage of the people watching going on? A mix of girls wearing there "I'm totally punk rock at night" outfits like my ex-wife used to try to do, mixed with the "...she looks like she's looking for Sid Vicious" to the wide array of hipsters and punk rockers. My kind of fucking crowd, even if I got judgmental glares for not being as "cool" as the rest. I stuck with drinking Guinness, but after seeing Luke's review - I'm going to start going for the mixed drinks. My friends were drinking an array of beverages as well. It doesn't seem to be dimly lit anymore - but the band placement is weird, and I recall in the days of its life of Miani's Chode Bar, they had an upstairs, which now is all blocked off. Whatever. All in all - I liked it. I'll be back, wearing my up-tight "you obviously live in the suburbs" outfits, kicking back drinking in the patio (which Luke is right, that step? Seems dangerous. Actually, the whole patio process seems dangerous - steps down, low exit, another step - but what a huge patio!) read more

By far, the WORST experience of my life. We were there for a karaoke event, which my wife had set her sights on before she left for the military. We were having a great time(obviously drinking). At the intermission, my wife and I went outside so she could smoke. During this time, her and I were joking around and dancing. I spun her and when she came to face me she stumbled back and lost her footing. She fell on the floor outside. It wasn't a hard fall and she was fine. I walked over to her, laughing. She was getting up next to two couples and one of the females in that group started to drunkenly start an argument about me "pushing" her. I claimed I didn't and when the lady didn't let it go, I just made fun of her because it was my intoxicated wife who lost footing. Well, this is where the barback or bouncer or whatever she was to this place comes in. My wife and I are just having a conversation right after the incident (still outside), and out of no where, a woman comes outside, steps BETWEEN my wife and I and starts asking if she knows me. My wife yells "He's my husband!" The lady ignores this and starts telling her that I pushed her down and accuses me of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, but she yells it so everyone around hears it. I was in such disbelief. And now she says we have to leave. My wife, who is drunk, is starting to cry because she wanted to sing. She tells the girl that there's been a mistake. And now, this lady says "everyone saw it". And I go, "she just wants to sing". This is the best part. The female employee says "It was a band member who reported it". There was no band member around. Just because a drunk entitled woman says I abused someone I didn't know doesn't make it true. Especially when you come out to fact check and the "victim" states "He's my husband, It's not true!". The whole way out the employee was making remarks and making me a spectacle. It was so embarrassing. Then, as my wife is crying and we are waiting outside for an Uber, the employee kept coming outside to stare at us. It's a ridiculous thing to be able to blindly accuse people of things. But this affected my wife, and that hurt more than anything. I want to add, I didn't call the employee a single name on the way out. I held my tongue. Very unclassy. Won't ever be back. Hope she was temporary there. read more

I swear I already reviewed this! I remember writing the review. Dang it. Anyway. A good bar/music venue. They have Ray Ray's right outside, and used to have their chicken shack at the back door. We came in for some drinks to go with food, and were impressed by the service and the decor. It's not huge, but would be great to see a band. read more

Awesome venue. Has a balcony and a large covered patio. Did I mention free free water. Ray Ray's bbq is killer. Beer selection is okay several localcraft beers and the price is reasonable. Even though it is on campus it is not full of college students. There is also a small area with a couch, for VIP's I guess. read more

The bartender kicked me out hostilely after what she said was 9 drinks w out me saying shit. I'm contesting it w my bank but if they rip me off will they rip you off too? read more

Ace of Cups is a good bar but not as much as to see a show. It's hard to see the stage unless you're in the right spot, which is near the entrance. The happy hour is good and it's really cheap drinks with cocktails and many beers on tap. It's much less crowded these times so you're able to move. They seem to charge a cover on most nights so go earlier to avoid it. I like the lighting in here. It's dark but not as much as it was. This is a cool old building. It was a bank and the vault is behind the bar. The stage is near the entrance. It's hard to see unless you're sitting over there. I like coming for the cheap drinks the most. These are cheap all the time and even more so with happy hour, which is among the best in the area. Happy hour is from about 4 to 7. The cocktails are only about $2. They also have around 15 selections on tap including PBR. Be sure to try a cocktail. They also have infused vodka. The best is the basil. Ace of Cups has several monthly events that are popular. There's some that are cool but others suck. Heatwave is the first Saturday. It's a Motown themed dance party. It gets super crowded and seems to attract every nerd hipster in thick rimmed glasses in the area. Cathedral is on the second Friday. It's a goth and industrial dance party. It's an 18 plus event so you will be hanging with mopey high school kids. The other popular event is Excesss Karaoke. It's every Sunday from 10 to close and it's the rare event here that's free. This seems to be the best. I would not choose this as a place to see a show. It's a better place for the karaoke if you're into that. They charge a cover for most shows but if you come early you can avoid it and get some cheap tap beer and cocktails. read more

Ace of Cups - The Bar - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Ace of Cups hosts an array of shows, including the quarterly Stand Up for Choice comedy show. I'll admit I don't usually come here for concerts and other shows, but the vibe of the place is divey without feeling too cramped. Great drink options, and not too pricey. I also love any venue that will support pro-choice events! read more

I live two hours away and as an Introvert, hate going to clubs. That said, I will be making time to come back again next year for the Privateer Promenade! Captain Tony really put together a fantastic show with great live performances by the Pirate Band of Pirates, Les Odalisques, the magician, and a great pair of djs! read more

Ace of Cups - The Pirate Band of Pirates! - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I said I'd eventually come back and do an update on Ace of Cups, and here I am. Well over a year has gone by, and some things have changed, but you'll notice I'm only adding one star. AoC is still a bit of a shit show. Here are some new complaints: 1. The bartenders will charge you different prices for the same drink. Some of them charge what a drink should cost, some of them charge more than what something is worth. I hope if the management bother to read my review, they don't fix this problem in favor of the overchargers. 2. Speaking of those bartenders, some of them are serious assholes, while others are very nice and considerate. Some of them have a minimum charge they enforce, while others do not. I go here often enough, because they book decent shows, to know which bartenders will run my tab at 6 bucks and which won't. 3. The hours suck. Rock'n'roll is an all night thang. Why on earth do you close at 1am? Even on show nights?!?!? After a show one night this past summer, I think it was the Nobunny show, I was chatting up a lady friend of mine at the bar. The barback/door/security guy comes up and tells me I have to finish my drink "now." I said, "what? It's nowhere near closing time." He replied, "We close at 1am." I asked "even on show nights?" He said, "yeah, even on show nights." So I pulled out my phone, looked at the time, and said, "okay then, looks like I have four more minutes to finish my beer" and took another drink. Mind you, this is a microbrew they were plenty happy to charge me $6 for just ten or so minutes prior. If you're going to sell me the beer, give me a chance to finish the damn thing. But no. The door guy says "gimme the beer NOW." I look at him, anger mounting, drop the beer on the ground, and off I go. Before you go assuming anything, this was maybe my third drink of the night. I was not drunk. Just angry at receiving shitty service and having my wallet taken advantage of. In fact, if I were reviewing AoC based on this experience alone, they'd actually be losing a star instead of gaining one. BUT, they have improved on a few things: 1. They built a stage. Unfortunately, it's in the exact same place the bands set up when there was no stage, and the best view is still right beside the entrance, where you will either be cold, or moving every minute as someone comes in. The stage is too short. This is a huge room, you're going to pack a lot of people in, you need a bigger stage. It's not even a third the height of the stage at Little Brothers, an incredibly smaller venue in its time. 2. They did make the patio brighter. Didn't really have a choice there if they wanted to stay in business. Giant ashtray buckets still there, cement steps still there, but now that you can actually see, these things are less of a hazard. 3. Got more beer. They are up to somewhere close to a dozen beers on tap now. Other things to note: 1. In my original review, I said maybe they wouldn't cater to the same crowd as Ravari. WRONG. Ravari is basically just a place you go for karaoke or Clampdown now. This is actually as much a result of the promoters bringing their shows here as anything, but still...let's not open a competing shop across the street from one venue and a block away from another and still pretend we're all pro-local and pro-Columbus. You're pro-profit, whatever the cost to the scene. 2. The name is actually from a tarot card, which is every bit as lame as the stuff I said about the name the first time around. 3. Oh, they also managed to all but kill another bar in the local scene - Cafe Bourbon Street. Formerly home to a plethora of the shows that are now booked at AoC, I'm surprised it can keep its doors open. Basically any show that isn't metal at ace would have been at Bourbon St prior to Ace opening. Obviously, that's a huge generalization, but the point remains. 4. Speaking of Bourbon Street, they now have Sunday karaoke with Excesss Karaoke. This used to be at Bourbon Street! It's still fun because It's Karaoke Dave, but its actually worse than Bourbon Street because THIS IS A MIDSIZE VENUE. So it is impossible for it to not look completely empty on karaoke night. There will never be 400 people here for karaoke. And of the 10-30 who are here, half of them are out on the patio, so even on a good night, you're performing in front of 15 people, of whom only the two friends you brought with you are watching. As I write this review, I can't help but think "fuck it, the two decent bartenders and occasional good show are not worth the extra star." I'm dropping this back down to two. read more

Went in tonight after a taking a year off. had a bad experience with a group of drunks and a non responsive staff last year, but thought it was a really good atmosphere for drinks today. Had a pretty eclectic crowd and had several good conversations with people I did not know. Beer was cold, they had a good selection in the cooler and on tap. Bartenders were attentive, always busy doing something, and generally pretty friendly. The bar itself was cleaner than it has been in the past but the restrooms still need a makeover and a clean up. I would add more interior lighting because it can get dark when the lights go down and there is not a show. I really wish they would figure out a bettter way to do the stage for shows. Other positives are they do have a large outdoor patio that is pretty nice during the summer. The Best part of this bar is they gave a home to Ray Ray's BBQ. Jaimie sets up their trailer in the parking lot on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as holidays. Their food may be the best thing going in 43202. If you can convince Ray Ray's Wing Shack to come back, I promise I will become a twice a week regular again. As stated in the begining it had been awhile since I had been here, but I will be back and hope they keep getting better. read more

LOL Some of us don't have TVs and had to look up your "Ace of Cakes" reference, Luke. Some of us are rockers and think immediately of "Ace of Spaces" by Motorhead, instead of some silly show about cake decorating. And lastly, I'm pretty sure the bar's name references the tarot card...ace of cups. Just to set the record straight. \m/ Anyway, Luke T., I love you so dearly but I've got to disagree with most of your main points. Ace of Cups is a rock bar, and doesn't necessarily cater to the draught beer crowd yet. You know it's owned by Marcy Mays of Scrawl, yeah? *swoon* I loved it when I was there, because it is a low key, dark, shadowy, sultry place in which to consume cheap beer and whiskey shots while listening to amazing DJ sets (such as the dark 80s night on Sundays) and live music (like the Ex-Whites and Scrawl). Anyway, Ace of Cups recently opened and I know they're working on the patio and building the stage. It can only get better from here. Also, the location might help my old neighborhood (South Clintonville/North Campus) become more dynamic in the ways that Campus/Short North used to be back in the day. Think, Staches or Little Brothers of yore, and then remember how that's sooo missing from the Cbus music scene - and so very missed. Ace of Cups works to fill that void. I'm all for Ace of Cups and wish I was still in the 'bus to enjoy the amazing rock club that has been summoned forth by one of Columbus's most beloved lady rockers - and the plethora of other folks who have made this happen. *jealous* read more

Let's see... Beer? Check Liquor? Check Patio? Check Awesome bartenders? Check If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it! Get it? No? You will once you go inside....although it's probably more Gothic than it is baroque... I digress. It's nice and dark the way a bar should be. It's in my 'hood, and it's not full of students or creepy old dudes. My heart will always belong to O'Reilly's, but when a change of scenery is needed without leaving Clintonville, this place will be on the list! Edit: I guess I should clarify and say that this technically isn't Clintonville. By my standards, it is close enough. I apologize if this is offensive to anyone. read more

I'm old. That is basically what this comes down to. I didn't want to admit it, but my 30s are here and I only feel like I am still in my 20s when I am not with people who are actually in their 20s- correction: early 20s. Went to Heat Wave with Sammy T. and another friend. The music was great. The space is awkward, the floor is sticky, and the bathroom borderline scary. The bar is a mess with little rhyme or reason, especially because I can remember a time not so long ago where PBR was drank unironically. There is no crowd etiquette here. People fall into you like bowling pins and look confused when they bump into you. There is no "sorry," "pardon," or "excuse me" here. This place has the potential for greatness, but I think I am going to leave it up to you kids. read more

I was able to venture to Ace of Cups for a Rockabilly gig a couple months back, and was glad to finally check this place out. I never ventured into the establishment when it was Sloopy's (lol... nobody else did either... they just got their cars towed) So I was amazed by the mass amounts of space. I like what they're doing here, but I'm just not thoroughly impressed. I feel like Ace of Cups is still in the process of "finding itself" and perhaps even the group they want to cater too, but it simply was not my "cup of tea (or booze)." Speaking of booze, they have a full bar for all your thirsty needs, and PBR for the hipsters. All of it average priced for the area. I wasn't impressed by the sound at this location, but that could have just been an inadequately run sound board. Another thing was that I literally watched three drunks wander in off the street and walk right past the frail EMO joke of a bouncer at the front door without paying the cover, because the bouncer was dealing with someone else. It was amusing to say the least after seeing some of the massive and gruff bouncers and front door people at Shrunken Head and Ravari Room. So if the music groups I like start playing here, then I will be there, but not entirely, because I want to be. Maybe it will grow on me with time. read more

Ace of Cups will probably never be "my" bar--not only because I don't live in the neighborhood, but because I just didn't get down with the vibe. I didn't have any major-major issues, but I did have a few issues: 1) the flow of the bar kind of weirds me out. I feel like the actual bar is in the wrong place and it feels awkward to me. I can't imagine going to see a show here. It felt.. unfinished. Perhaps it was unfinished. 2) The bartender was nice enough but spent a lot of time talking, occasionally disappearing, and wasn't extremely attentive when I was empty (and I was sitting at the bar trying to get her attention, trying to make eye contact, empty glass pushed to the edge of the bar to signal that it's time for another round). It wasn't extremely busy--certainly not packed--so I wasn't sure why it was so hard to get her attention. When I asked about wine, I got wine out of a box that she ordered but didn't know anything about--it was okay, I guess. I probably shouldn't have ordered it since she didn't really know anything about it, but I'm brave when I've had a couple of cocktails. 3) Um. The chip situation kind of grossed me out. I appreciate free bar snacks as much as the next person, but I watched the bartender (and the other people wandering behind the bar--employees? friends of employees/owners?) combine bowls of chips that many people had their hands all over and put it back on the bar. Even if I weren't ServSafe certified, I think that would still wig me out. Still, I can think of far worse places to spend money. The bar definitely has potential to be a chill rock-and-roll bar; I would be more than willing to deal with the awkwardly-angled bar if the service was a little more prompt and the food situation weren't quite so ... casual. My drinks were pretty good (save the mystery wine), the service was friendly, and my bar tab was completely reasonable. Overall, I approve. read more

Ace of Cups is home to my absolute favorite event not only in Columbus, but ANYWHERE. I. Love. HEATWAVE. The first Saturday of every month. Be there or don't be anywhere ever again because you can't possibly be doing anything better. Anywhere better. Just go. Check it: https://www.facebook.com/heatwavecolumbus ANYWAY, Ace of Cups. It still looks like a bank on the outside, complete with a drop-off slot by the front door and the back outside patio has taken over the drive-thru. Compared to most of the, what could be considered claustrophobic, bars I frequent, the huge open space is a welcome change. The ceilings are vaulted with a smaller loft area that has a cash-only bar on busy nights and a coat check when visitors just can't part with their coats on the way in. Drinks are fairly priced but be prepared to get to $10 if you don't have cash. There are always several drink specials made with in-house exotic infused vodkas, so when in doubt, you can never go wrong with one of those. Last time, I tried the spicy jalapeño vodka - I've come so far from my days in El Paso, TX when I couldn't even handle Taco Bell mild sauce. This place has a great flow with going between the patio and inside and more often than not there is great live music every night, ranging from small local bands, to up-and-coming bands in the making (sometimes a local up-and-coming band!) When there isn't a band, (namely during Heatwave) the stage in the corner is free-reign and the bravest of the Heatwavers shake and twist and mash-potata in the colored spotlight. I've never had a bad time here. Dare I say it, this place is an ACE in the hole. read more

Three words: Bloody Mary Bar!! I've been to AoC a few times since they joined the Columbus scene. First time was for their monthly Heat Wave dance party. The music was 40s and 50s doo-wap style, which is too slow for my likings, thus I didn't stay very long. My second visit to AoC was, however, a complete 180'. A locally run husband-and-wife team had been serving up their unique Indian brunch offering via AoC's kitchen. I luckily got to try their Devine mortals on their last pop-up before going on hyatus. A this pop-up soirée I noticed that 'Cups has a Bloody Mary Bar. $6 gets you a class of red liquid, and u can load up as much toppings as u like! All kinds of fixings for that bloody bath: fresh horseradish, sweet and dill pickles, baby carrots, pickled beets, celery, and yes, I know I forgetting several more. The bartender was so awesome, he only charged me $2 for a non-alcoholic. Happy face!! read more

I came here for NYE and it was pretty meh. There was a "suggested donation" of $3 at the door. I never carry cash on me and the lady at the door kept telling me it's $3 to get in. Okay so then you might want to take "suggested donation" off your sign then. Luckily I had a friend lend me some cash. Also, their theme was very confusing. It was supposed to be a cozy, hygge-inspired chill NYE party, but they also made it Hawaiian tiki themed as well. The overall vibe here was kind of like washed-up punk rocker/hipster who has settled down with their 9-5 job and wants to enjoy random things white people love (i.e. Tiki grass skirts and IPAs). Anyway, it wasn't too crowded and the bartenders were decent. Not too bad! Might come back. read more

Here's what I like about Ace of Cups: the clientele isn't necessarily niche-driven and the age range of bar-goers is WIDE. Personally, I like those two elements in a bar. True, it's unfinished (and there is reason for that) but what's on tap and on the cocktail menu is great. It's easy to chill out...perhaps run into someone you know and definitely see a few faces that you don't. Low key. Ping Pong table. Great for nights without an agenda: walk in for the infused vodka/lemonade drinks...stay for a band...go home happy. read more

Ace of Cups - bar/bank vault - Music Venues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I've now been here for two special evenings. The first being karaoke on Sundays, the second was the monthly Heatwave dance party. Pros: Huge floor for dancing Decent bartenders Huge patio out back when you get too sweaty from dancing Water cooler off to the side so you don't have to wait for water at the bar Cons: Smaller bathrooms.. the place can get crowded quickly and lines will form Parking Overall I have enjoyed myself thus far. read more

Very friendly staff. Plenty of bartenders working, so no long lines. Music volume was just right. Nice big dance floor. Four, instead of five, stars due to the very limited seating. read more

My partner and I have only been twice on Sundays for karaoke. It's definitely a cool bar that's worth checking out. Great sound system and cool atmosphere! read more

Friendly staff and cold local draft!!! Always visit Ace of Cups whenever I'm in town! Grab a cold pint and sit out on the back patio. Also a great place to see local bands. We were in town for Sonic Temple and then stopped down for the Lo-Pan CD release party. Great atmosphere and music! read more

Came here basically to get some Ray Ray's chicken wings and maybe a drink. Just want one drink and don't have any cash? Too bad. $10 minimum for a credit card tab at the bar. The bartender will tell you to go to the ATM outside, which is really lame in my personal opinion. I didn't take the time to check and see what kind of ATM it was, but I know most ATMs have a $20 minimum, and I wasn't going to spend $20, let alone $10, so I drank water. Other than that, I would like to come back to give it another try. read more

I really enjoyed this bar while catching some laughs at a comedy show. Good space, a nice size stage, a nice bar, and clean bathrooms. Parking is weird. I think this bar will become my fun place. read more

This venue is cool. What is not cool is when you buy a ticket online you are not guaranteed entrance. We bought tickets to a show and were turned away because it was at "capacity". Have been to this venue a few times and have always enjoyed myself. Won't be back though! read more

In a few words: 1. cheap beverages 2. great live music (with an amazing acoustics) 3. friendly bartenders 4. cool selection of drafts/bottles/liquor 5. HEATWAVE! (dance party) 6. the stage is huge! so is the whole place 7. the patio still needs some improvement but at least it's here! Also, we have played a few shows there with my band and the staff is very friendly. The sound there is great too compared to some other venues the same size in Columbus. read more

Beware - these people will lie to your face then smile and laugh about it when confronted. At least, that's what happened just this past weekend when I stopped in at the April Heatwave with my wife. We were on our way home when we decided to have the taxi drop us off at Heatwave since it's about a mile walk to home. We got to the bar around 1:40 AM - obviously very late in the night. The man at the door asks for the full $5 cover each, which I proclaim I'm not gonna pay for the remaining 20 minutes before close. At this point the guy tells me they close that night at 2:30 AM, which I'm a bit incredulous about. The Heatwave in March shut the music off the instant 2:00 arrived. This guy promises me the party will go until 2:30 AM, at which point I agree to pay the full cover but with the caveat that I'm gonna be very upset if he's lying (he was). Jump to 2:00 AM, and they're proclaiming last call at the bar. A couple songs later the music stops, the lights turn on, and the speaker announces that it's time to go home. I check my watch and it's 2:08 AM. Having been lied to my face by the doorman less than 30 minutes earlier as he took my $10, I'm pretty upset about the situation. When I go talk to the door guy about it, all I get are smirks and chuckles in response. Clearly the guy thought it was hilarious that he was able to bilk me out of my $10 and send me on my way an unhappy customer. My wife tracked down the manager and made the same complaint but with just as little headway. He told her he didn't care about our situation - we could go ahead and complain to whoever we wanted to about the incident. That's some high quality customer service right there. I guess these fools are happy enough riding their current wave of popularity that they have no problem demonstrating a total lack of respect or gratitude to their local, repeat customers. They better enjoy it while it lasts - no chance a business survives operating with such questionable values. They lost our business and with any luck we'll be able to prevent our friends from wasting their money as well. We've seen a number of bars come and go in that very spot over the years - won't be long until this one bites the dust as well. read more

Hey there, Saturday night! Yes, yes, I am looking for a low key bar to check out to escape the masses at Gallery Hop. What's that? A new bar in town? Ok, I'm in! So goes my internal workings when thinking of places to go. Or something like it. Anyways. A friend of mine wanted to meet up for drinks, so I suggested we check out Ace of Cups. I'd heard zero reviews, but the tweets/fb posts seemed good, so why not? I am so glad we took a chance on the bar! It's not perfect, but there is oodles of potential and it made me feel right at home. First, the decoration is sparse, but I hear that's because it's not totally done. Second, it is dark. I mean, barely see your feet dark. Since it was still light outside, we went to the patio, which while big, is also pretty sparse. Ah well. Any complaints to be had were done when I took a sip of the house infused vodkas. I had the lavender first, and basil second. The basil was the hands down winner for me. So good. So cheap. Really. When I closed out a few hours later (3 drinks total), my tab was....$9. Amazing. There are now 4 draft beers, and more to come, as they have the ability to have about 15 set up. The bottle selection is pretty good. Outside of the excellent tab, and proximity to the North Campus Late Night Slice, my favorite thing about the bar was the crowd. It skewed a bit older than the typical campus crowd (late 20's/early 30's), and was so unbelievably friendly. We made friends with the woman sitting beside us, chatted with the guys to the right, conversed with people as they came to order drinks at the bar. It felt like I'd been there 100 times before (I mean that in the nicest way)! I can't wait to go back, and am glad I live far enough away that I can't make weekly, or nightly, stops because it feels exactly like that kind of bar. I'm really psyched to see how it develops, and to catch a show there soon! read more