529

I like the cozy feel of the bar, and the fact that they have a stage where they regularly hold shows of all varieties. They also have a closed in patio area with a walk up window that I love. Overall, one of the better places to hang out in East Atlanta.

My positive experience at 529 reinforced something in my mind - sometimes, reading a lot of reviews on Yelp is NOT the most accurate way to judge an establishment before actually going in person. I went to a show/Halloween in April party last Thursday and had a good time. Yeah, it has a weird layout with the bathrooms on the left (and a nuisance if you are standing in between the doors - you can get knocked from both sides if they open at the same time) and the stage on the right, but even though it looks small, you can probably pack 50 people inside for a good show. I thought the sound was good and the energy palpable. The drinks were cheap, there was lots of parking and the smoke was tolerable. Why the fuck are people complaining so much?

Has some promise, but probably my least favorite place to see a show in Atlanta right now.  The last two shows I saw had muddled sound.  The layout is a cluster as you have to walk by the front of the stage to get in the main room.  People at the front of the show don't like to give their hard-earned real estate up to passerbys...kind of a problem.  Getting to the bathroom is near impossible if people are standing at the bar.  Affordable drinks, but super smoky.  

Finally, haven't been to a show where the headliner went on before midnight.  Fine for a weekend, but staying until 2am on a Tuesday?  Dude, I know we're in EAV and it's ironic to have a job, but most people still have one.