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.

Venue Review: Cafe Entourage

(source: pubcrawls)

Name	Cafe Entourage
Date	Friday 2/10/12
Address	1600 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA
Area	Hollywood
Size	2 stories, medium
Cost	Free
Parking	street or  paid lot ($7-10)
Music	R&B, HIP HOP, Rap, Top 40
Ambiance	Old Hollywood glamour with contemporary spin
Decor	Medium sized dining area, upstairs lounge area, VIP sections with lounge seating
Clientele	Mixed crowd of gathered ladies, gathered men, and some getting gathered individuals, Standard age mid 20's - early 30's
Seating	Tables for dining, reservations recommended. 10 bar stools, chaise lounge seating with reserved parties
Food	No major complaints
Drinks	Full bar
Best Nights	Saturday
Dress Code	Trendy casual
Wait time	10 - 45 mins
Restroom	2 stalls

Pros: Cafe Entourage is a unique mix of restaurant and lounge atmosphere. The food is typically priced for Hollywood and satisfying, but not spectacular. I’ve had the shrimp pasta and the ribeye, both of which were a 6.5 on a scale of ten. The crowd is the main attraction for this spot. There are definitely some dime pieces and handsome black men who frequent this place. However, there is a bit of Ratchetness mixed in (roughly 20%). One other major bonus for Cafe Entourage is the DJ and music. A good mix of R&B, Top 40, Hip Hop, and Old School. Entourage is conveniently located in a hot zone of other gathered venues, so getting there is convenient as an after hours spot.

Cons: This place promotes that it’s poppin Thursday through Sunday. That remains to be seen. I’ve stopped by various days and have only seen huge lines and long waits on Saturday. If you are on CPT and get there after 11pm, expect a wait, possibly rude security guards, and the typical Hollywood club act. Apparently once the spot is in demand, you need to have VIP pull or a entourage to get in. The restaurant experience is inconsistent, definitely a hit or miss. They are often out of the types of wines many of the honeys favor: white, Moscato, Riesling, Zinfandel, etc.. That’s a boo.  As for the food quality, it’s certainly not bad, but it’s nothing to rave about. My guess is food is not there 1st priority and selling point, so they get by on making food people won’t complain about. That’s not a very high bar in LA.

The Gathered’s Grade: B- for effort  Cafe Entourage is definitely trying to offer something I can appreciate: a mixed crowd of gathered, getting gathered, industry people and young black professionals from early 20’s to late 30’s, a entertaining dining experience, good music, and a less flashy and high maintenance social experience in Hollywood. I say yes. My personal preference on a Saturday night is a full lounge/club experience, but there is a definite need for more lounge/restaurant combo venues that gathered people can frequent. Cafe Entourage is a place to check out. Dress well, appearance matters. You’ll probably pay $7-10 for the car lot parking. No cost to get in, but if you order food  and at least 2 alcoholic drinks (reservations suggested on Friday/Saturday night) you’re looking at  bill of at least $40 per person. Beware of the bathroom, there are only 2 stalls in the downstairs unit and the attendant may ASK you for a tip. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently tips are expected even if you don’t use the amenities. Yes, that’s a bit bold for me too. Despite the minor offenses, I believe if you are a part of thegatheredLA you’ll enjoy yourself. Like the name suggests, get your entourage ready and go get it.