Parlour
Parlour bills itself as a mecca for socialites seeking habitual enlightenment...a destination for those seeking refuge from the main. . Was I right to feel justified in my initial apprehension? Now, I never set out with the hopes of hating a place, so I'm always on the lookout for the sweet little nuances and experiences that make a venue great. Would this three month old club in the former FOMO space mind the details?
For starters, Parlour has good bones. It's located in a heritage building at Adelaide and John. When I arrive on a recent Saturday night "Bobby" the doorman politely denies me entry. Parlour is already at capacity at 12:15 A.M. After some back and forth Bobby speaks to someone on the other side of the glass and graciously lets me in. There's no cover but like many clubs in the area a "style-code" is often enforced.
Inside, I notice the dĂŠcor matches the name; red velvet seating and curtains, exposed brick walls behind the bar, and candelabras galore indeed give the feeling of being part of something of a bygone era. Add dark wood accent furniture and stone walls to the mix and I half expect a brood of vampires to emerge from the shadows (but in, like, the coolest way possible).
The music and the service inside Parlour are what makes this place stand out from other Club District destinations. At first glance, it's easy to mistake this place as pretentious and exclusive but Parlour's staff and monthly resident DJ seem to do a superb job making everyone feel included. The bowler hat-wearing barback makes a point to briefly chat and thank me for having repeatedly made way for him to navigate the crowd.
Parlour's Mecca Saturday is their busiest night of the week when they promise premium house music for you soul . Monthly resident DJ Dirty Dale happens to be behind the decks and IMO delivers more consistently than an obsessive-compulsive UPS guy. And If the bass-rich beats weren't enough to get the crowd head bobbing, someone on Parlour's staff made sure of it by bringing out a drum and, later, a shaker.
There's no denying that Parlour is small, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in style... or something like that . It sparked a reminiscence of the first half of my teen years when I discovered my sister's House Mix CDs. I'm no house-head, but I plan to return to Parlour again and I'm inviting any friends who are willing to check their 'tudes at the pre-drink to come with me.