My friend Denise and I were talking a walk after dinner, and we passed this place. What drew us…read morein, was the music, which I will expand upon later because it was mood shifting in an everlasting way. Denise was indulging me, and I, on vacation, was looking for a place to pip and bop. We stepped in, not knowing much about the place. We soon found out the name of the establishment: White Rabbit, which automatically made me want to see a Red Queen and Hookah smoking bug. But I saw none. What I saw was a chic spot, with space to dance, sit, sip, mingle, and other such items, but nothing that proclaimed that this White Rabbit belonged to the Alice-in-Wonderland-Universe of known fame. To be fair, there was a mural that was a focal point of the place, which did give Alice vibes in a strong way. However, this mural also did not depict the Alice of Wonderland that Disney allowed us to imagine, instead it gave us Alice gone vogue.
The Alice mural (as pictured) has a twenty something girl, with flowing hair, of different shades of blonde and autumn. The girl was looking aimlessly to the horizon. Her eyes were blank yet full of wonder and fully open to an unseen opportunity that she can only love from afar. Her white rabbit had a third eye, and in one hand, she was holding a sweet pop that took the shape of a mushroom and was elegantly oozing with melting pink cream. The picture had become an editorialize version of Alice in a Wonderland that was more modern haute than traditional elevation. I would have preferred an experience that saw a performer dressed as the Mad Hatter and another like the Cheshire Cat. Thus, this vibe claims the name of the White Rabbit but does not deliver an Alice-esque experience. I would have like to know the ambiance of a bar Called Poe's Raven so my imagination can adequately manage its future responsibilities.
I went during the days after Christmas, and before New Year's so there was not a lot of people there. This also explains why there is a Grinch and light up tree inflatables around. I can imagine that without the festive decorations, of the season, this bar is a chic cocktail bar where people go to meet and chill, and not discuss the symbolism of the Walrus, the Carpenter, or Anne Hathaway's portrayal of the White Queen. Meaning it is a place to have a good time, not live in deep dialogue.
I had three drinks for 16 each. They were strong, well-crafted, and I had three, which says I liked them. I could have had more but my friend Denise was not in the party vibe. And now to the music which was the reason I was excited to write this Yelp.
There were three DJ's in the house. The DJ's made Cake Walk, an artist collective who combine rhythm, time, work, and beat and remix (or maybe even update) classics of the 90's and 2000's. In a phrase, they make sweet honey for the ear drums that invite dancing, and general movement thats speaks life into a night- they just carried a good beat along!
Denise, who only drank water, and I were vibing to the music, she was sitting, I was not. One of the three DJ's came along to us. His name was Landon, and he was just as nice, sweet, and uplifting, as his and his friend's music. We had conversations about our roles in the world, and how each of them mattered in a specific way. He invited me to party in San Diego. It might not happen, it likely will not, but at least, I believe it could. This was inclusion practiced to a grand degree, in a bar that could be a lounge or club, depending on the night. I want to stress that Denise and I went in because of the music, we stayed cause the place was cool and had drinks that were solid, but it was Landon, and the other DJ's who made the night into a party. For people who are not party dawgs, being escorted into the laser-filled moments of a night, is priceless. Additionally, he invited me to the DJ machine- record spinner? Not sure. And I touch some buttons. Honestly, it looked like a space ship shuttle, with all its button and knobs but I know it is not. I am just trying to describe what I saw based on my knowledge on these machines, which is basically zil.
As Landon, and his two co DJ's spun and turned knobs, what seemed to be their parents rolled in. They were dancing, they were taking pictures, I got to see a moment of familial support, in a way I had not seen before. I mean I do not know how many parents would go and party for a quick two minutes when their children were spinning records for a crowd of less than 5 goers. But seeing it was quiet beautiful as all youth deserve to be supported by people who love them unconditionally. And on this night I got to see this promise fulfilled in dance.
As I was dancing by myself, Landon came to my side. I started to make the make it rain move, you know pretending that I have enough singles on one hand to just dispense them into the air. And when I did that Landon started to follow the singles dropping with his eyes, expression and movements! Umph!!!