The Way Out Club

There's clown art and paint -by-numbers hanging on the walls  the prices are average. The woman that owns it, Sherry Danger, teaches zumba there for $3 on Tuesdays and THursdays and it's a whole lotta fun to zumba in a bar! There's also an awesome cat that lives there. I give it 5 stars for being funky and crazy. This is in a transitional part of town that is great to visit and party in unless you are the type of person that mostly likes Applebees and shopping at malls.

I think its name couldn't be ampler.

Last night we were invited to take part in a monthly film festival at the Way Out Club.  However, there's a catch to these films.  Each film was shown on an actual reel and, don't lose me here, edited down to eighteen minutes.  The theme for the evening was airplanes, so we watched Airplane!, Airport '77, and Airport '79, all trimmed down to the eighteen minute mark.

However, the night peaked at the beginning when we were shown Hardcore, an erotic crime drama with George C. Scott and Peter Boyle.  They didn't have an English copy; theirs was in French.  Oddly enough, Hardcore wasn't originally in French.  Therefore, they had a  translator, an old woman, and she read the dialogue in a fairly emotionless voice.  After that, the trimmed movies weren't nearly as entertaining.

As for the bar, I kind of like the odd, off-kilter appearance.  It's as if the owner, Bob, lives in an Ed Wood film.  It teeters between classy and strange. Like Pee Wee Herman in a tuxedo.

What I don't like is the location.  Way Out Club is just enough off the beaten path to put me on edge.  Parking is an issue.  The place had a decent crowd for the festival, so we had to park about a block down the street near Shameless Grounds, not exactly the walk that I wanted to take at midnight.  

When we ordered our drinks, an unusual man introduced himself, appearing harmless, but followed us into the screening room.  After we settled in, he hovered around our group and then asked me for one of my beers.  I told him that I didn't buy them, and he then said that he would buy one from me.  "The bar's over there, man." Shortly after, he left us alone.

Also, the beer was a little pricey.  The daily deal is twelve dollar PBR buckets, five to a bucket.  I'm looking for something remotely better on a Tuesday night.  As divey as this place is, I would think that they could do a little better on the drink specials.

Bob, the owner, seems like a cool guy.  Ultimately, I like the place, but I'm not sure what incentive I have to patronize Way Out Club frequently.

I get it... it's in a super sketchy area... and you're unsure if your car will be where you left it.  Nearby you can get a tattoo, a cash advance, you hair braided, and a prepaid phone.  Maybe just take a cab....

... but do go in.  This place is a gem.  It's filled with all kinds of items... a la Venice Cafe.  Service is good, drinks are very cheap... and at 10pm on a Saturday, the place was empty.  Oh, and there was a band playing cool alternative rock music... no cover charge.

I see myself frequenting this place often.  If you like punk rock places like the Ballroom, Heavy Anchor, Bleading Deacon, or CBGB this place is right in your wheelhouse.