Red Hot Chili Pepper - St. Catharines

The Red Hot Chili Pepper ...

Arguably the most popular destination of all on a Friday night in downtown St. Catharines. This pub/club hybrid has easily worked itself up the ranks as the most exciting and chaotic spots in all of the region.

Pepper = insurance. I say this because any given weekend you can expect to see a line build around the mighty building around 11 p.m. This ensures that you will be able to bounce around and socialize with a few others, as it provides that excellent social setting created by a mixture of both Brock and Niagara College students. Another great element of The Red Hot Chili Pepper is that you have the benefit of mingling with not only the local community but it is always interesting to met students who grew up elsewhere, and are just living in the area to study. I have made many, many friends inside of this close quarters "convo-inducing" venue.

One of the most appealing assets that Pepper has to offer, is a two level layout which accommodates for almost all types of nightly objectives. Do you just want to meet old/new friends in a more relaxed lounge type ? How does a table, a few pitchers ($12), and some live music sound ? If this is you, than the basement at Pepper is ideal. They have a separate bar as well, reducing drink lines.

If your like me, and sitting with drinks will only hold your attention for a maximum of an hour while EDM / Top40 / HipHop / House beats are dropping all around you, it is time to head upstairs. Welcome to another world, the atmosphere on the top level of Pepper is incredible as you are hit with a wall of energy. Patrick Doody is known to make appearances here as one of Niagara's PREMIER DJ's, expect to move your body.

Cover: $3-4
Atmosphere: Busy / First year / Loud
Cost: $3 mixers / $4 beer / $12 pitchers  
Size: Be thankful that there is two floors!

L3 - St. Catharines

Originally named Level 3, this St. Catharines hot spot has now officially adopted the catchy abbreviation, L3, as the name for the venue.

L3 is located directly on the corner of James St. and St. Paul, across from the Scotiabank. L3 is a trusted source of entertainment every single weekend as hundreds of Brock and Niagara College students flock to the front doors. Now, since we are speaking about the front doors and the large amount of people who have L3 on their radar this weekend, expect a notorious line up to get inside anytime after 11 p.m. I believe this is due to the fact they are one of the only venues who open their doors at 9 p.m. as opposed to the industry norm, 10.pm.

Couldn't find the photographers, let me take a SELFIE !

L3 is famous for their student engagement as far as staff. If you are a Niagara College or Brock student, you more than likely will know at least one of the bartenders, security, coat check or shooter girls. This gives L3 a real community feel and sense of comfort or familiarity, this adds to the appeal and why L3 is rammed practically every weekend.

Once you are in L3, there is a large bar to your right where drinks are served at $3.50 and pitchers of domestic beer at $13. For the average student, this is a price that you cannot compare.

The biggest gimmick of L3 has to come from the layout and its relevance to the venues name. There is actually three levels of fun inside. The bottom floor has a pub kind-of atmosphere which is well lit with tables, booths, couches and the ever popular foosball table.

The middle floor has a lounge ambiance which holds all of the VIP section for those in groups who have chosen to bypass line and have a designated seating area and exclusive bottle of vodka. There is quite a few tables and chairs for people to hang out here, although since this is the same floor people are admitted into the club on, it tends to get quite busy.

Now, the top floor is where all the fun is at ! It is home to the massive dance floor and stage that are packed as people boogie down to Top40, House, Club Anthems, and Mashups all night. The AV showcase at L3 is also quite impressive with a mixture of bass activated strobe, lasers, and lights which flash to the bass line of the DJ's mixes. 

Cover: $3.
Atmosphere: Students, dress code, busy, energetic.
Cost: $3-4 cocktails and beer, $13 drinks, $3 coat check.
Size: Large dance floor, 3 levels.

Club Absinthe - Hamilton

"Come see what everybody is talking about"

Hamilton ? why of course, for this weeks blog post I actually took a little adventure up the QEW.

Club Absinthe is a smaller venue in comparison to some of the others I have written about in my prior blog. This is no way means that it is a reflection of the punch this place can pack.

On most nights at Club Absinthe, you will be listening to local bands and indie artists, they play a variety of:  
Rock 
Hardcore 
Ska

World famous VARGA playing at Club Absinthe

MTV's RiFF RAFF and myself @ClubAbsinthe

Although it was only my first time attending Club Absinthe, despite its different atmosphere and rock star persona, immediately upon entrance you feel a sense of welcoming. I had traveled to Hamilton with 2 others who had not been to Absinthe either, all of us were really pleased with the location and the staff. We were served by a female bartender who dawned a massive Russian hat with pride, and we absolutely ate it up!




Granting all this, I was not in attendance for the purpose of a rock show, I had an amazing time watching a hip hop concert in the venue. I thought this was a great showcase of its adaptability and versatility. Naturally observant, I always am looking at the decor of clubs to see exactly who could perform their with relevance to their genre and if any guests would feel "out of their element". Not here, Club Absinthe is a big two thumbs up for style and fun ambiance.
And yes, they DO serve Absinthe! 

Cover: Hard to say, as it varies on the show    
Atmosphere: Rockish / Mod / Trend 

Cost: $5 beers $5 drinks                                  
Size: Smaller to mid size venue (upstairs lounge)