It’s time to reclaim my seat on bar stools all across town! Spring officially hits this weekend and that means you will see a lot of more of me out and about. Certainly, I’ve done my fair share of going out over the winter months – I am the Bar Fly after all. But I just hate the chilly evening weather. There have been more evenings than I can count during the last couple of months that I have planned to go out, but just got so comfortable in my centrally heated house that I opted to remain under my blankets and watch TV. To my friends who I cancelled on – I’m sorry!

Every year, I continue to be more and more impressed with our creative bar/club owners and managers, production companies and up-and-coming promoters who keep things fresh. With all of the new events that are popping up, my schedule is packed!

Of course, Manic Mondays at The Brass Rail is the new Monday night hot spot in town. Mondays really were dead nights – there just wasn’t any one place that was known as “the place to be.” Then in January, HOTCH and AJ Roy teamed up with The Rail and had an instant success. All it took was cheap drinks (80 cents), cheap cover (80 cents), an awesome DJ (Junior the Disco Punk spinning everything 80s), a beautiful club (The Brass Rail), and Mondays have now become one of the most popular nights in town! I continue to watch in amazement at the number of people that come out week after week. Well, maybe I shouldn’t be amazed … anytime cheap (or free) alcohol is involved, most of your cheap-asses will flock right over!

Just two weeks ago, Manic Monday’s own HOTCH debuted Unwind at The Grind. The Urban Grind Café on Park Blvd. is transformed into a lounge-y wine and martini bar every Friday and Saturday evening starting at 6 p.m. With the low-priced cocktails and cool atmosphere, this has become the new place to play before heading off to the Friday or Saturday night hot spots. If you haven’t checked out Unwind yet, stop by soon!

To top that off, Club Asia is premiering at The Flame this Saturday, March 22. Boyevents.com will be producing this event, which will happen every fourth Saturday. Club Asia will include DJ Fernando playing top 40 video hits on the main dance floor, along with “super sexy go-go boys taking to you to new heights.” The “Red Bangkok” room will include a full bar with more “horny go-go boys” dancing on the bar. Hip-hop and reggaeton will play in the back room. Everyone is talking about the grand opening of Club Asia, and I hope to see you there! For more information check out www.myspace.com/boyevents

The long anticipated openings of Universal and Dish are just around the corner! We’ve been talking about it for what seems like years now (actually, it has been about two years), but the grand opening of Dish @ Universal has been announced for Thursday, April 3, and Universal’s opening will be Friday, April 11. Everyone has been asking me, “How could they possibly be opening in less than a month? The place still looks like a giant construction pit.” Well I’m no architect, but I have noticed considerable progress on the building in a matter of days, and I have no doubt that those sexy construction workers will have the place built and beautiful in time for what will be the biggest, most anticipated grand opening parties this year! More information is online at www.universalhillcrest.com.

I’ve also been told an exciting new Thursday night event is coming to town starting April 24! I can’t give out too many details, but I hear that it will be like nothing we’ve seen before. All I can say is that this night is going to be “pynke”! I’m not sure I even know what I mean by that, but just stand by and we’ll figure it out together.

Even with all of these new events and venues, the long-standing favorites continue to add new twists to keep things fresh. As new events and establishments pop up, please patronize them, but continue to be loyal to all of the bars and clubs that have stood by and entertained us for so many years.

Have fun, be safe and say hi to me when you see me back on the bar stool!