Venue Review: 1 Below

 

Name	1 Below (TRU)
Date	Friday 1/13/12
Address	6231 Selma Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028
Area	Hollywood
Size	Small
Cost	Free on guestlist- $20
Parking	limited free street, $10 lot
Music	Hip-Hop, top 40, house
Ambiance	Lounge, Trendy
Decor	Contemporary
Clientele	Industry people, young black professionals, forever 21, diverse
Seating	Several lounge seats available if not occupied for bottle service
Food	No
Drinks	Full Bar
Best Nights	Friday, Saturday
Dress Code	No sneakers, hats, nothing too casual or ungathered
Wait time	10 mins-20mins
Restroom	1 set, 3 stalls

Pros: 1 Below is easier to get into than its sister club, TRU. The crowd is more down to earth, yet still sophisticated for a gathered guy or girl. 1 Below offered neon wands and light up swords for people to play with, which was pretty cool. There was even a dancing man on stilts. Yes, stilts. Overall it is a festive environment and the DJ was actually on point. He had a good mix of club bangers, hip hop favorites, and unexpected jams. People were dancing, sitting down on the lounge seats when tired, and generally having a good time.

Cons: There is only one bar for this venue. Boo. You will have to wait up to 25 minutes for a drink, which is entirely too long. Also, we ladies go to the restroom in squadrons, so the fact that there are only 3 stalls and one set of restrooms is a problem. If you get access through the more exclusive TRU, you have access to both upstairs and downstairs. However, the music at TRU is more house/techno and the crowd is a bit pretentious. Although getting into 1 Below may seem like a down grade, the experience is actually more fun, if that’s your main objective.  

The Gathered Grade: B- If you are looking for a low-hassle, diverse crowd, good music and intimate setting, this is a place to get at. Yes, the restroom woes exist and bar is a let down, but the ladies can overcome at least one of these problems by sending a gentleman caller to scoop your libations. :) If you want to be with an attractive crowd and get your dance on, try this spot out. P.S. Don’t waste your time standing in line for TRU if you only want to go to 1 Below. And make sure you’re on a good guestlist to get in free or reduced before 10:30pm.