PRINTThe Guide: Dance floors
Vox helps you find the best place to bust a move
August 9, 2010 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Some Saturday nights just aren’t meant for house parties. If the weekend calls for a girls’ night out or group date, check out one (or two, or three) of Columbia’s clubs.
Table dancing, fog machines, and flashing lights mean serious dancing at the comedy club Déjà ...
Table dancing, fog machines, and flashing lights mean serious dancing at the comedy club Déjà ...
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Guys in baggy jeans and girls in halter tops mill around outside of this club, while inside, clubbers gyrate to hip-hop beats.
Address: 1025 A E. Broadway (above Penguin Piano Bar)
Hours: 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Cover: Women with a student I.D. get in free, men with a student I.D. pay $5, women pay $8 and men pay $10 on Wednesday, first 106 people get in free or until 10:30 and $5 to $10 on Thursday, $5 on Friday, no cover on Saturday
Atmosphere: The low lighting paired with colored spots and loud music keep the energy going.
18+ nights: Thursday
Music: Typical club music: hip-hop, Top 40, house — all spun by its DJ
What to wear: 18+ nights are more casual, but there is a dress code that is available online and over the phone.
Weekly drink specials: $1.50 beers on Tuesday, bottomless cups on Wednesday, $1.50 beer on Thursday, Wheel of Fortune specials every hour on Friday, $1.50 long necks and $4 name your bomb shots on Saturday
Other info: Wednesday and Friday nights are college night. Friday is also invite only for the first hour.
Contact: 573-442-5999, genericnightclub.com
Whiskey Wild
A countrified crowd of all ages shows up to the newly renovated saloon for a little country, a little rock ’n’ roll and a couple of whiskey shots.
Address: 2508 Paris Road
Hours: 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Cover: $10
Atmosphere: A little barn-like with a high ceiling and wooden fixtures, bar and seating. A large stage dominates the open area, because it brings in a lot of live bands.
18+ nights: Wednesdays
Music: New country, danceable rock and the occasional hip-hop song
What to wear: For men: button-ups and jeans; women wear dresses or jeans and, of course, cowgirl boots. There’s a men’s dress code banning cut-off shirts and tank tops because no one needs to look like a redneck.
Weekly drink specials: $1.50 wells and beer, penny wells from 10 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday. $10 bottomless cups on Thursday. Shot specials on Friday.
Other info: There’s a free line-dancing class Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. The club also has the occasional karaoke night as well as cage fighting matches, female oil wrestling tournaments and a mechanical bull. The usual.
Soco Club
This LGBTQ (but very straight-friendly) club is filled with people at various stages of sobriety for a night of drag and dancing. Once the show finishes around midnight, the tables and chairs in front of the stage are cleared away for dancing. And yes, there’s a disco ball.
Address: 128 E. Nifong Blvd., behind Imo’s Pizza
Hours: 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday
Cover: For +18: $10 on Thursdays, $5 on Fridays, $10 on Saturdays. For +21: $5 on Thursdays, $3 on Fridays, $3 on Saturdays.
Atmosphere: The new lounge is well-lit and welcoming, with comfy sofas, a pool table and friendly bartenders. A breezeway leads into the stage area, which has plenty of chairs and high-tops to go around. It’s pretty dark, lit up by spotlights and little lights in the painted black ceiling.
18+ nights: Every night
Music: Genres as diverse as ’80s pop to Top 40 to those line dances heard at prom
What to wear: Like the crowd, anything goes: jeans, polos, bridesmaid’s dresses. There’s a chance clothing will come off during a drag show scavenger hunt anyway.
Weekly drink specials: Changes nightly
Other info: Thursday nights are the night to come for a packed house — Saturdays tend to have a smaller crowd. Also, drag queens get very personal, so if you like your space, it’s probably better to sit toward the back.
Contact: 573-499-9483
Déjà Vu
Known for its comedy acts, the club also boasts a crowded dance floor downstairs. Two bars are conveniently close to the dance floor, and the friendly bartenders serve up drinks quickly.
Address: 405 Cherry St.
Hours: 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday
Cover: $5
Atmosphere: The music’s loud, and the dance floor is packed. The crowd’s primarily of the fraternity and sorority set, so it’s definitely a party scene but great for a night out.
18+ nights: Thursday
Music: Top 40
What to wear: Club attire – guys are in polos and jeans, girls in party dresses and heels.
Weekly drink specials: Changes nightly, but with 23 flavors of vodka and a lot of beer, it’s not hard to find something.
Other info: Not seeing the comedy show? Wait until after it’s over to go dancing — that’s when the dance floor fills up.
Contact: 573-443-3216.
Club Memoir
The club prides itself on a big-city nightclub feel and often plays host to fraternity functions. Inside, there’s a large dance floor and well-stocked bar for a big night out.
Address: 1100 Locust Street
Hours: 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday
Cover: $5
Atmosphere: If a fraternity could put a nightclub in its basement, this would probably be it. It’s got the typical nightclub feel — sweeping lights, pulsating music. There’s a lot of energy, and a lot of people keeping the excitement high. The dance floor is packed, so stake out a spot on it, and stay there.
18+ nights: Typically it’s 21+, but there are occasional 18+ nights
Music: Top 40, house dance
What to wear: Think fraternity party – short dresses or cute tops for girls, jeans and polos for guys.
Weekly drink specials: $1 bottles and shots and $3 Rumple Minze (German brand known for peppermint schnapps) on Friday.
Other info: Fraternity Fridays have great drink specials and are pretty packed (how frat is that?).
Contact: 573-256-2011
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