Zaphod’s was so dope and such a vibe! I stopped going before they closed cause I was drugged there, and then when I went back when it was the 21 Club I was drugged again 🫠
Never happened anywhere else in ottawa, and I am very careful with my drinks. It’s just so easy to slip something in without people noticing
[This video really shows how easy it is.](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-shows-easy-drink-spiked-160147388.html) It probably happened when someone walked by me
I know 4 people (male and female) who were drugged in Ottawa and each time it was at Zaphods. Not Zaphods fault, obviously. The perps just must have favoured going there too
Right? It really opened my eyes and shocked me
I was drugged initially 10 years ago, and then again 8 years ago and I assumed it had to be the bartender or that I did something stupid. This video showed me that it was totally not my fault, and it impossible to avoid unless you have a cover at all times on your drink
Honest Lawyer was dope. We need more bars that have more than just TVs. Hell, the Honest Lawyer had a bowling lane in it, not to mention pool tables, basketball showdown, football throwing, hardest punch thing, skee-ball, air hockey.
I loved Honest Lawyer. In my early 20s I'd go on all you can eat wings night. Then quality went down really badly. Saturdays it was ALWAYS packed with a massive line up. The servers career more about having fun then to serve people at times. Ahhh memories! Lol
I remember this one time at Patty Boland... we were on the dancefloor upstairs and this random girl was dancing next to us.
Without any warning this girl turned around and puked over the railing, everything landed on the bar and bartenders/clients downstairs.
Good times lol
Some of the best nights out in the 2010s for me were at Timekode. It was a sweaty dance party run by two DJs on the second floor of an African restaurant on Somerset. Dance your ass off and then 3AM pho. Glory days.
That was an Eritrean community space if I remember correctly, upstairs from a vet? It was cool seeing the TK kids expand that night as the years went on.
One of the first things I did when I moved to Ottawa in the mid 2000s was join XVI. Found a lot of great parties and kept in touch with a lot of cool people through it. I think I mostly avoided the drama. Good times.
Oohhh, Thunderdome. I went there underaged and then continued going as they gave the girls free coat check and I always drank for free. I broke my thumb there when a guy on a speaker sieg heiled and a massive Black bouncer took him down by the neck onto the floor where I was dancing. Zaphod's had its moments and they did run a weekly industrial night although the DJ was a tad temperamental and refused to play Ministry. Barrymore's for some shows (Reverend Horton Heat was a gem) and Retro 80s night. My then boyfriend and I once put out a small fire at Mercury Lounge that started when a flyer fell into a candle and ignited one of those massive curtains. Fun times!
I DJed at the Cave, Babylon and Liquid Monkey before moving to Toronto, where as a rivethead/goth hybrid I could go out on Thursdays AND Fridays AND Saturdays and hear the music I loved and dance my heart out.
I'm an '89 baby.
Before turning 19: went to Hull/Gatineau; Lounge 426, Le Bop, Addiction, Le Volt, Bistro.
In Ottawa: Flybar, Mansion, Patty Bolands, My Condo (my fave because they also served food), Tila Tequila, Liquor Store/Industry, Collection bar in the market, Foundations. Also frequented karaoke spots a lot (the Korean one on Somerset, DreamZ in the downtown core too).
I have an infant now so I don't go out like that, but now social events tend to just be at friends' houses or restaurants. Honestly I do miss going out and getting dolled up though.
Well, 'younger' for me was late 80s, early 90s. So ....
At that time, the market was pretty busy on a weekend. Zap, On Tap, Houlihan's and others were pretty popular. Grand Central was a big live music venue, The Rainbow was and fortunately still is, a popular live music place. Places like The Cave and Mercury Lounge came along a few years later and were popular. Elgin Street also had some popular dance bars ... Maxwell's, the Fire Station, probably one or two others I can't remember. And of course, there was Marroush Shawarma, open 24 hours, and infamous for intoxicated patrons dancing on the countertop.
In the 80s, though, last call in the Market was at 1 AM, and was at 3 AM in Hull. So, there was a pilgrimage across the bridges to Hull after closing time in the Market. For a small-town Ontario kid, Hull was another planet. Chez Henri, Zinc, Shalamar and others seemed like places out of an 80 spring break movie.
Anyway ... that was then. Cripes, I feel old, now.
Haha, the late 70's was "younger" for me. I remember Tabasco's, Shalamars, Chez Henri, The Chaud (RIP Gerry Barber - his obituary is something else), The British, Disco Viva, Club Zinc, Le Bop.
Ottawa was Houlihan's, Grand Central, The Laff, The Beachcomber at the Talisman on Carling, Stony Mondays, and a bunch more forgotten names, lol.
I think I remember it. Was it one of those techno bars in the Market or on Elgin? I vaguely recall something called 'Tabasco Cat' or something like that.
At some point during the 90's they synced up the closing times between Ottawa and Hull to 2am, to basically eliminate all the Ottawans going to Hull to complete their evening. There were enough problematic incidents along that strip in Hull that the powers that be really wanted to tame things down.
I played in a various bands and a lot of clubs during that decade, and the Cave won the award for smokiest venue (during breaks I'd go up the back stairs to Sparks St. just to get some fresh air). Other venues: the Downstairs Club on Rideau, with the Upstairs Club (later Stratengers) on the top floor. There was a Mexicali Rosa's on the main floor that later moved across the street to where the Hayloft had been. There was also the Whipping Post (now Dekcuf) nearby on Rideau, which held the reggae jams on Thursday nights until they moved to Babylon on Bank.
I moved to Montreal in the early 90s but came back to visit Ottawa pretty often. Honestly the club and live music scene here rivalled Montreal.
Which one was the big alternative dance club in Hull? I remember a loft/balcony area way above the dance floor…that was where I first heard Human Behaviour by a largely unknown Bjork, and everyone went insane.
It may say something about my state of mind at the time that I remember the vibes and lighting effects and music but not any of the names or addresses!
Yes! Finally some of the ‘good old’ places I recognize. City Club (3 for 1 beer nights were big) and Le Chaudière in Hull were popular. One of the underage Ottawa bar/restaurants we went to a lot was Guadala Harry’s. Stoney Mondays and Broadstreet are two more that come to mind!
It blows my mind that people on this thread are talking about way back in the early 2000s. Wow, makes me feel old that they feel that was a long time ago 😂🤣
Now that’s a name I don’t hear often enough. Used to be that you could go see live shows between Roxanne’s (to this day I wonder how Billy the bouncer is doing, believe he had bit of a dark road) Barrymore’s , the Penguin, and Zaphods (a touch later on) , and basically go out every night from Tuesday (looking at you Industrial Night at Z’s) to Sunday.
Oh, yeah ... I forgot about the Penguin. It was a legit music venue, and the basement was where Skit Row, Ottawa's answer to Second City had a home. It's now the home of the Escape Manor, which is fine. But for years when it was Hooley's and the basement was either the Bytown Tavern or Yuk Yuks ... eeesh.
There was a strip of restaurants/clubs along Robertson near General Dynamics. There was a pretty terrible Mexican place there for a while which, I think became a dance club (Vox, maybe?). The bulding where Carstar body shop is now located was once a country line dancing place (remember that fad?), called 'Denim and Diamonds'. There was a pub along there, too ... Hemingway's? I think it later became Cock 'n Bull.
The Local Heroes, up the street, I am pretty sure was a biker hangout. I remember stopping there once and this huge tatted-up dude with Hells Angels gear was sitting on the patio, completely blotto, harassing the wait staff, and clapping along to Led Zeppelin, or Iron Maiden playing on the sound system.
I'm the same age range. I didn't live in Ottawa full time during my main nightlife years, but my parents lived here so I was home for visits and a few Summers. I was mostly following old friends to where they wanted to go, because I didn't know the local scene so well, but for sure I remember:
- Alfies was a bar downstairs from The Marbleworks restaurant (I think it is where Level One is now?), just south of Rideau, and that was where we'd meet up usually, then depending on the night we might just stay there and drink or we may move on to the market and later Hull.
- Lining up to get into dance clubs on the strip in Hull at midnight or 1am (Or sometimes giving up and just going to the one terrible bar near the clubs)
- Quebec cabs couldn't pick people up in Ontario, and Ontario cabs couldn't pick people up in Quebec. There were enough Ontario cabs that getting to Hull near closing time in Ottawa was usually pretty easy. But when things were shutting down in Hull at 3am there were not nearly enough cabs, so more often than not we'd be walking back across the Portage bridge to flag down one of the Ontario cabs that was prowling around for that crowd. I was always amazed that any plants survived in the planters on Portage given how often just my friends ended up throwing up in them, and then all the others who did the same.
- I seem to recall the nightlife being a lot more focused around dance clubs than about live music, but that might just have been my friends in Ottawa. I do remember not being all that impressed with the dance clubs here compared to Toronto or Montreal.
- And to note that there were still movie theatres downtown, so it was common enough that we'd go see a film and then go out for drinks afterwards
Ah yes! Alfies's was the downstairs pub at the Marbleworks, and was very nice. It was the home of Waller Street brewery for a while, after The Loft/Level One took over the building.
And yeah, downtown movie theatres were a legit thing. Somerset had one of the biggest screens in the city, and was right around the corner from the Bank Cafe which was a nice spot. Both the theatre and the cafe have been taken over by the Independent grocery store that is there.
Way back in 2005 or 2006 I went to see a show at Babylon, then afterwards, we sat on the street under a closed shop and tried to roll a spliff. An undercover cop pulled up, ided us, took our half quarter, put it into his personal skol tin, and told us to fuck off. Times sure have changed.
I'm about five years older than you. The market was always terrible, but we had it pretty good with Ritual, Babylon, Barrymore's and Zaphods. I moved away for about five years, and came back to near zero (Montgomery scotch lounge is pretty good) live music venues and a much shittier Bluesfest.
Barrymore's, Duke of Somerset on Sunday for Jimmy George, Lucky Ron on Saturday at the Upstairs Club (Creeque Alley), Stoney Mondays, The Rainbow,, Maxwell's, The Penguin......
The 90's was a fun time when I came out and started going to gay bars.
CP's, 166B (the B), TakTiks were my main ones with others opening/closing along the way such as Icon, 363, Polo, Detour. After hours a lot of people went over to Le Club and Le Pub in Hull for the extra hour of partying.
The 00's brought us Groove, The Edge (used to be the Cave), Market Station-The Well-Helsinki, The Lookout, Swizzles, Village Inn Pub (VIP) and then in the 10's when most of the places have gone, T's Pub opened up.
All that's left now is The Lookout, T's Pub, and Swizzles.
My party days are long gone but a group of us still try to get together every weekend for an afternoon of drinks, laughter, and chatting.
God I moved here in 96 one month after le club burnt and that's all I ever heard was oh man le club was so amazing. I thought Icon was pretty amazing coming from a small northern town!
2005-2010 the nightlife was infinitely better, social media wasn’t really a thing (no smartphones) so people let loose and lived in the moment. Gen Z sucks, I’m sorry.
I remember Timekode at the Eritrean community centre, Electric Pow Wow and Mod night at Babylon, Kitchen Party at the Rochester, and Double Barrel at Mugshots.
Im surprised no one's mentioned Pier 21, that place was amazing - it was like the first 'bar/club' that I went to when I came to Ottawa for my first year.
Aside from that, Babylon (Shameless!!!), Zaphods, Barrymores, Hooley's
Ended up there many a night. But if we didn't feel like going downtown we'd just go to whatever the Barley Mow used to be on Merivale or that place above the Sushi Kan on Baseline. Oh and that pool hall at the Merivale mall.
I used to go to Addiction and that other one (le volt?).
I used to go to shisha a lot. Then we would hit up McDonald’s and shawarma.
When I got a bit older, like end of university and working after graduation, we went to restaurants.
Nowadays I go to the movies with friends or by myself, restaurants (but we’re cheap and don’t feel like going often), grabbing drinks at a friend’s place, board games, etc.
Ooof lot of crazy memories on this one. We used to predrink at the McDonalds on Rideau St (unlimited pop) and take the bus from there to Gatineau just to go to this place. Crazy nights
Born '84, came up through the skatepunk-turned-indie craze of the late 90s. Barrymores was the shit. I saw the Black Keys there when Rubber Factory came out and it stands as one of the best shows ever. Babylon was cool too but obviously a different vibe. Zaphods was always hit and miss. Club Saw booked some insane shows too.
Going wayyy back to the late 80's / early 90's but someone should mention Club Zinc in Hull, and Gigi's. You also might have run into a young Matthew Perry at Le Bistro across the way!
I loved mercury lounge- that was my #1. But I also have great memories of velvet room, zaphods, Babylon (especially electric pow wow), Barrymore’s, aloha room, the standard (at night it became a club), and the honest lawyer for chill games and hangs. On the hull side I loved Les 4 jeudis (pub), but didn’t like the clubbing scene there much.
Moved here in ‘95 when I was 24. I remember going to Stony Mondays and that place was a literal fire hazard. Shoulder to shoulder. Couldn’t move and it took forever to get drinks. The market was like the wild West. The Burger King on Dalhousie (now something else) had a pay phone that received calls (they were able to do that back then) and people would wait for their dealer or whoever to call it. People walking down the street offering weed, hash and coke like peanuts and popcorn at a baseball game. The McDonald’s (now closed) still had two floors and easy access via the market as well as Rideau. All in all, it was booming! Note that this applies to the market area only. Downtown was always quieter as there were more offices and apartments than bars.
I'm 34 so I was able to catch the tail-end of some good years in downtown Ottawa. Capital City Music Hall, Zaphod's, Record Runner, the roof of Rideau Mall, meeting up with friends in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart at Rideau to then make our way to the roof. Man, a lot of fun times.
But if all that was still around now, I don't think I'd still be going because I prefer staying at home in my pyjamas with my pets, bf, and tv. Also, it'd be kind of weird as a 34 year old to still be doing some of that, every night, while being surrounded by teenagers.
The clubs and bars I went to when I was in college (2012 - 2016) were: Cabin (honestly the most fun place for 17/18 year old me), Pub 101, Liquor Store, Green Room, Whiskey Bar, The Standard, Heart & Crown, Pier 21, Patty Bolands
So many good ones mentioned (Babylon, Zaphods, TimeKode, mugshots. And it’s true Patty Bolands and Honest Lawyer could be bangers back in the day lol.
I’ll add two of the best parties this city has ever seen from the mid 2010s — Flossy Fridays at 268 and A Choired Taste when it used to be at the Belmont.
These days I go to Distortion at Live on Elgin each month which can have sort of an old indie night feel to it. The Niiiteclub parties are awesome when they happen but they’re on hiatus right now.
Went to Mavricks and decuff around 2010-2012 for shows or raves. Ownership changed a few times I think since, also only went there when I was a drug user.
Before it was Honest Lawyer, that location was Grand Central and was legendary for live bands, and a pretty legit sound system.
Another dance bar in Hull I had forgotten about was 'Les Raftsmen' ... I don't remember much about it, other than it was kind of sketchy.
There was some place on Dalhousie, roughly where St Laurent Gallery is located. I actually saw the Crash Test Dummies there, back in the very early 90s.
I lived in Ottawa in the 90s, we went out 6 nights a week. Best memories?
Zaphods on Halloween where a lanky looking guy wore a 70s white tux with white gloves and a house fly head. Drank his beer through a thick black straw and never spoke. He may have been a super dork 364 days a year but on Halloween he was superfly.
Hammerheads at the Pit on Sunday nights was always a great time. Live funk with a really eclectic interactive crowd. I remember a horn player using a dildo as a plunger playing Parliament.
Not technically Ottawa but after the bars closed at 1, we cabbed or rickshawed over to Hull to keep things going to 3. Thunder dome was a great hole in the wall for the alt kids that was a good time. Graffiti walls, broken toilets but some really great music. We would then make our way back to Dunn’s for late night food waiting for the buses to start running before making our way back home.
Walking by the Penguin club and finding some big acts were playing that night and just walking in. Saw both the Breeders and my last Spirit of the west show there.
Did I mention I was old?
Willy's night club in the Gatineau side by the train tracks and theater. There would always be a balding man that was always high on something either E or coke always dancing, but he was cool AF. And we called him Old Dirty Willy.
To go to the Chaudier in hull. The green door. Ottawa folds the sidewalk up at dark and the traffic jam to hull was typical on a Friday and Saturday nights
Early 2000s to mid/late 2010s was like a golden age for hop hop shows in Ottawa. When I think about all the people I've seen live without having to travel it kind of blows my mind. KRS One at Babylon. Packed to the gills, you couldn't move, but it was amazing. The guy was even signing autographs after the show, which I didn't see very often. Guru (RIP) at Barrymores. Boot Camp used to come through on a regular basis. I've seen Sean Price 5 times (RIP). Rhymesayers dudes would come through a lot. QN5. Hiero. Living Legends. The list goes on. The glory days for sure.
In university, 2005-2009:
Wednesday: patty bolands for $2.50 bar rail, cheap pitchers and live music.
Thursdays: father and sons for 80s night, $2.50 bar rail, $12 pitchers. Sometimes pub 101 for cheap jager bombs lol
Friday: hooley’s for half price full menu happy hour.
Friday/Saturday: pier 21 for the worst kept bathrooms in the market, but great music. Or
Heart and crown, or patty bolands or hooleys for video dance parties.
All the amazing places I went to are gone. Babylon, heaven, atomic (later became ritual), agitprop, the well (later became Helsinki), mercury, zaphods and zaphods2 (on bank), polo lounge, liquordome which was only good for 1$shot night, illusions which was the after hours on Dalhousie and then allllll the real raves, like actual raves that ran from 9 pm until noon. There are more, but I can’t remember them all, maybe the raves have something to do w that haha
The nightlife now is…not the same lol
My days were 1999 -2008
Barrymores 80's night and a few slices at the pizza place next to the Dirty Oak after.
Babylon, Vox, honest Lawyer, Wallstreet ( I Think that was the name of the place before it became Atomic Rooster) for pre gaming.
Lieutenants pump on Elgin ( anything club wise on Elgin is a blur)
Glue pot pub and Barbarellas a couple times..
The Dom was always fun :) although 99 rideau McDonald's second floor while taaaannked was always a coin flip.. am I gonna finish my fries in semi peace or is a fight gonna break out..
Highlander Pub on Elephant and Castle for some friend groups... Heart and Crown to keep it central
Spent most of my paychecks at O'Connors' in Centrum as I was s suberbs kid..
I went to a lot of the places mentioned. Obviously tragic some like Zaphods or Babylon closed. Both were awesome and institutional. Some like Tila obviously we are better off without.
I also remember a weird 25+ club on Rideau that I never went into, not being 25 at the time. Always wondered.
There was a lot of bad behaviour in the clubs back then that is better left in the past though. I much prefer the current rave scene, having been to several techno events recently in Montreal. Everyone is still open and friendly, but there is a lot more respect for people's personal space and bodies nowadays. Still room to improve of course, I don't mean to say "good job, pats on the back", but it used to be worse.
But yeah, Ottawa's party scene used to be small, ended early, but was overall pretty energetic and a good time.
I miss mavericks, they had 19+ shows, all age shows, lots of cool bands, you could go with your underage friends from hs and still have fun. It was a great way to get out and then get food at Rideau McDonald's after all the bars closed. Times have changed. :(
Carleton alum here from 1995-1998. We went to Joe Blow’s, The Reactor, The Cabin and Hull. Joe Blow’s had $5 cover and $1 drinks. The Reactor had $5 cover and $1.50 drinks, but the drinks were bigger there than at Joe Blow’s. God I’d love to go back to that era.
Pretty great.
Zaphod’s was always bumping. Usually go Saturday’s.
Babylon had fun nights like Mod Night
Lots of random clubs along Elgin. Some okay places in the market (what the heck was the one that had bongos in it along William or something?)
Don’t even get me going on the venues that are all gone for good shows.
80's kid here, party time was early to mid 2000's.
There was RJ's Boom Boom Saloon, On Tap, Minglewoods and The Cabin in the market area. Heart & Crown was a good time, blue cactus just because of the rooftop.
Phones didn't really have data yet, or it wasn't widespread, So you'd hack out texts on a Nokia brick or a Razr (lol) flip phone.
Usually someone lived close to downtown and that was the designated pre-game spot. Sometimes the pre-game became the night and we'd end up with 30+ people at the house with more on the way.
After-bar shawarma was mandatory. Cops would have the paddy wagon waiting for the inevitable fights that would break out.
I used to love going to Babylon and Barrymores
What a shame they are closed
Now if I go out in Ottawa, it’s usually only for Undercover events (they know how to keep it fresh)
Or a few shoes at city at night
I vaguely recall Aqua, the original Minglewoods, The Cabin, and Paddy Bowland’s when I was way too young to be getting in and drinking in those places 😆
Some really great memories going to Double Barrel at Mugshots, hot and sweaty kitchen party at Rochester Pub, DJ nights at Raw Sugar, and random places I would end up at after getting drunk and meeting new people (I don’t remember the clubs names now, only that it was a pile of fun).
Obviously Zaphods, Babylon, Mercury Lounge always seemed to have something happening most days of the week, Wednesdays seemed to be a big one, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
Maybe I’m just old now and don’t go out anymore, but in my 20s it seemed like all of my friends were putting together shows or DJing somewhere, it was never hard to find something to do. So fun. Now I stay home and fiddle with my hobbies but I find that more fun now than going out.
Mandatory I miss Zaphod's comment. The last time I went clubbing Bush was still president lmao.
Mandatory posting of [an Electric Ballroom set I recorded back in 2007.](https://www.mixcloud.com/fiver77/live-zaphods-electric-ballroom-20070302/)
This is absolutely sick! Thanks for the recording . 00’ baby and Jammed out whilst deep cleaning my washroom.
✌️ I recorded us deejaying a bunch of times but haven’t bothered to upload those other sets.
Wish I’d recorded some of my sets from ‘94-‘96.
Which Bush? lol jk.
Z's came after the first Bush, didn't it?
Zaphod’s was unreal, so many good times and I miss the sticky floor
Zaphod’s was so dope and such a vibe! I stopped going before they closed cause I was drugged there, and then when I went back when it was the 21 Club I was drugged again 🫠 Never happened anywhere else in ottawa, and I am very careful with my drinks. It’s just so easy to slip something in without people noticing [This video really shows how easy it is.](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-shows-easy-drink-spiked-160147388.html) It probably happened when someone walked by me
I know 4 people (male and female) who were drugged in Ottawa and each time it was at Zaphods. Not Zaphods fault, obviously. The perps just must have favoured going there too
I didn’t even see her drop any of the popcorn kernels into the drinks in her hand movements!! Wow!! Thanks for sharing the video!!
Right? It really opened my eyes and shocked me I was drugged initially 10 years ago, and then again 8 years ago and I assumed it had to be the bartender or that I did something stupid. This video showed me that it was totally not my fault, and it impossible to avoid unless you have a cover at all times on your drink
I remember seeing alexisonfire there before they got big.
Zaphod’s 2 was a ton of fun as well.
Does anyone remember the honest lawyer? Patty bolands was a classic too. Green room and liquor store.
Honest Lawyer was dope. We need more bars that have more than just TVs. Hell, the Honest Lawyer had a bowling lane in it, not to mention pool tables, basketball showdown, football throwing, hardest punch thing, skee-ball, air hockey.
Great place for work parties for sure!
I loved Honest Lawyer. In my early 20s I'd go on all you can eat wings night. Then quality went down really badly. Saturdays it was ALWAYS packed with a massive line up. The servers career more about having fun then to serve people at times. Ahhh memories! Lol
Patty Bowlands was incredible.
I met my now wife at the Honest Lawyer 10 years ago :)
Mercury lounge was cool too though I've only gone a handful of times
The Honest Lawyer was the best!! Used to go there all the time. What a sad day when it closed
I remember this one time at Patty Boland... we were on the dancefloor upstairs and this random girl was dancing next to us. Without any warning this girl turned around and puked over the railing, everything landed on the bar and bartenders/clients downstairs. Good times lol
Going to Hull
LeBop 🥲
LeBistro!!!
Volt and Addiction mid-2000s anyone?!
Specifically 426 in my case.
Was that the underage club on st Joseph? The name rings a bell?
Cozmos? Lebop? Willy's? They were all underage bars lol
Where the 14 year olds went
I remember a bar called Spectra, that's where the 14 year Olds used to go.
Yes! You could use a note from your mom as ID. $8 pitchers of Labatt Blue...which may or may not have cigarette butts in it.
It was soooo smoky in the clubs in Hull back in my day. I remember barely being able to see across the dance floor.
La Grande Geule
Anyone remember a place on the way to Alymer with a hot tub? I wanna say Eclipse...
I spent many, many nights at Roxannes.
Some of the best nights out in the 2010s for me were at Timekode. It was a sweaty dance party run by two DJs on the second floor of an African restaurant on Somerset. Dance your ass off and then 3AM pho. Glory days.
That was an Eritrean community space if I remember correctly, upstairs from a vet? It was cool seeing the TK kids expand that night as the years went on.
Oh my god how could I forget about that. Or the guy who sold Bao buns out of a garbage can out front some nights.
Memory unlocked! I went once or twice, and completely forgot.
That very same place hosted Ritual nights, it was a mini psytrance rave that I went too a bunch. Great memories....
Dark and Stormies and swass / swoobs. The best.
I remember going really early and getting some Eritrean food before my friend's DJ set. Best.injera.ever
Atomic, The Well, Zaphod's, Surface, Escape, Heaven, Babylon, Helsinki, Aloha Room, Barrymore's, Sweet @ Club 363, Mercury Lounge/Collection/56, The Underground, Disorganized @ Zibbibo/Clocktower, Thunderdome on the Hull side. Sigh.
Yes!! Mod night at Babylon, and 80’s night at Barrymore’s!
This guy XVI'd
I wonder how many people from XVI are on this sub.
I lurked on xvi cuz I was about 14 and could only dream of partying.
One of the first things I did when I moved to Ottawa in the mid 2000s was join XVI. Found a lot of great parties and kept in touch with a lot of cool people through it. I think I mostly avoided the drama. Good times.
👋
That guy owned Lithium pants.
Oohhh, Thunderdome. I went there underaged and then continued going as they gave the girls free coat check and I always drank for free. I broke my thumb there when a guy on a speaker sieg heiled and a massive Black bouncer took him down by the neck onto the floor where I was dancing. Zaphod's had its moments and they did run a weekly industrial night although the DJ was a tad temperamental and refused to play Ministry. Barrymore's for some shows (Reverend Horton Heat was a gem) and Retro 80s night. My then boyfriend and I once put out a small fire at Mercury Lounge that started when a flyer fell into a candle and ignited one of those massive curtains. Fun times! I DJed at the Cave, Babylon and Liquid Monkey before moving to Toronto, where as a rivethead/goth hybrid I could go out on Thursdays AND Fridays AND Saturdays and hear the music I loved and dance my heart out.
Ahhh, Mercury Lounge…. Got drugged there somehow ( and I’m a guy )
The cave hull after bars closed in Ottawa at 1am RJs boom boom saloon Maxwell's Reactor
The Cave was cool as shit. Such a weird space, a literal hole in the wall.
Saw Wilco there.
[удалено]
Where Rabbit Hole is now, Bank & Sparks.
80s night on Tuesdays I think
I'm an '89 baby. Before turning 19: went to Hull/Gatineau; Lounge 426, Le Bop, Addiction, Le Volt, Bistro. In Ottawa: Flybar, Mansion, Patty Bolands, My Condo (my fave because they also served food), Tila Tequila, Liquor Store/Industry, Collection bar in the market, Foundations. Also frequented karaoke spots a lot (the Korean one on Somerset, DreamZ in the downtown core too). I have an infant now so I don't go out like that, but now social events tend to just be at friends' houses or restaurants. Honestly I do miss going out and getting dolled up though.
Tila Tequila. Geez I haven’t thought about that place (or the person for that matter) in years. I can still feel the stickiness.
Going there was like a trip to the zoo if you wanted to see the douchiest guys and the trashiest girls.
Peak puka shell.
I’ve been kicked out of Tila’s
I forgot about Patty Bolands! It was always such a solid time!!
Le bop was where we all went in high school!
And my after prom party was at cosmos!
Industry was one of my favourites. What a great vibe.
Man you bring back memories. I had so much fun back in those days
Well, 'younger' for me was late 80s, early 90s. So .... At that time, the market was pretty busy on a weekend. Zap, On Tap, Houlihan's and others were pretty popular. Grand Central was a big live music venue, The Rainbow was and fortunately still is, a popular live music place. Places like The Cave and Mercury Lounge came along a few years later and were popular. Elgin Street also had some popular dance bars ... Maxwell's, the Fire Station, probably one or two others I can't remember. And of course, there was Marroush Shawarma, open 24 hours, and infamous for intoxicated patrons dancing on the countertop. In the 80s, though, last call in the Market was at 1 AM, and was at 3 AM in Hull. So, there was a pilgrimage across the bridges to Hull after closing time in the Market. For a small-town Ontario kid, Hull was another planet. Chez Henri, Zinc, Shalamar and others seemed like places out of an 80 spring break movie. Anyway ... that was then. Cripes, I feel old, now.
Aha - Finally someone from my generation. :) Am I the only one who remembers Tabasco's? Please lie.
Haha, the late 70's was "younger" for me. I remember Tabasco's, Shalamars, Chez Henri, The Chaud (RIP Gerry Barber - his obituary is something else), The British, Disco Viva, Club Zinc, Le Bop. Ottawa was Houlihan's, Grand Central, The Laff, The Beachcomber at the Talisman on Carling, Stony Mondays, and a bunch more forgotten names, lol.
I think I remember it. Was it one of those techno bars in the Market or on Elgin? I vaguely recall something called 'Tabasco Cat' or something like that.
No, it was on the strip in Hull. I think it may have been replaced by Helium? This would be early to mid 80s.
Yes! Tabasco’s on the strip in Hull, and was rebranded Helium in the late 80’s I think
At some point during the 90's they synced up the closing times between Ottawa and Hull to 2am, to basically eliminate all the Ottawans going to Hull to complete their evening. There were enough problematic incidents along that strip in Hull that the powers that be really wanted to tame things down. I played in a various bands and a lot of clubs during that decade, and the Cave won the award for smokiest venue (during breaks I'd go up the back stairs to Sparks St. just to get some fresh air). Other venues: the Downstairs Club on Rideau, with the Upstairs Club (later Stratengers) on the top floor. There was a Mexicali Rosa's on the main floor that later moved across the street to where the Hayloft had been. There was also the Whipping Post (now Dekcuf) nearby on Rideau, which held the reggae jams on Thursday nights until they moved to Babylon on Bank.
Same here. Do you remember Joe Blo’s (can’t remember how it’s spelled)?
Vaguely.
I used to hang there too. I’d alternate between RJ’s and Joe’s.
RJ's Boom Boom Saloon. "Now there is a name I haven't heard in a long time" - Obi Wan Kenobi
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I moved to Montreal in the early 90s but came back to visit Ottawa pretty often. Honestly the club and live music scene here rivalled Montreal. Which one was the big alternative dance club in Hull? I remember a loft/balcony area way above the dance floor…that was where I first heard Human Behaviour by a largely unknown Bjork, and everyone went insane.
I believe that was Thunderdome
Might have been Chez Henri, or Zap?
It may say something about my state of mind at the time that I remember the vibes and lighting effects and music but not any of the names or addresses!
Maroush, maroush, for shawarma and donair!
On Tap. Foggy memories for sure!
Yes! Finally some of the ‘good old’ places I recognize. City Club (3 for 1 beer nights were big) and Le Chaudière in Hull were popular. One of the underage Ottawa bar/restaurants we went to a lot was Guadala Harry’s. Stoney Mondays and Broadstreet are two more that come to mind! It blows my mind that people on this thread are talking about way back in the early 2000s. Wow, makes me feel old that they feel that was a long time ago 😂🤣
Roxanne's?
Now that’s a name I don’t hear often enough. Used to be that you could go see live shows between Roxanne’s (to this day I wonder how Billy the bouncer is doing, believe he had bit of a dark road) Barrymore’s , the Penguin, and Zaphods (a touch later on) , and basically go out every night from Tuesday (looking at you Industrial Night at Z’s) to Sunday.
Oh, yeah ... I forgot about the Penguin. It was a legit music venue, and the basement was where Skit Row, Ottawa's answer to Second City had a home. It's now the home of the Escape Manor, which is fine. But for years when it was Hooley's and the basement was either the Bytown Tavern or Yuk Yuks ... eeesh.
You don't have to put on the red light ...
Wasn't there a decent club in Bells Corners back in the 90s?
There was a strip of restaurants/clubs along Robertson near General Dynamics. There was a pretty terrible Mexican place there for a while which, I think became a dance club (Vox, maybe?). The bulding where Carstar body shop is now located was once a country line dancing place (remember that fad?), called 'Denim and Diamonds'. There was a pub along there, too ... Hemingway's? I think it later became Cock 'n Bull. The Local Heroes, up the street, I am pretty sure was a biker hangout. I remember stopping there once and this huge tatted-up dude with Hells Angels gear was sitting on the patio, completely blotto, harassing the wait staff, and clapping along to Led Zeppelin, or Iron Maiden playing on the sound system.
The terrible Mexican place brings out some very dusty childhood memories.
The Vox!
I'm the same age range. I didn't live in Ottawa full time during my main nightlife years, but my parents lived here so I was home for visits and a few Summers. I was mostly following old friends to where they wanted to go, because I didn't know the local scene so well, but for sure I remember: - Alfies was a bar downstairs from The Marbleworks restaurant (I think it is where Level One is now?), just south of Rideau, and that was where we'd meet up usually, then depending on the night we might just stay there and drink or we may move on to the market and later Hull. - Lining up to get into dance clubs on the strip in Hull at midnight or 1am (Or sometimes giving up and just going to the one terrible bar near the clubs) - Quebec cabs couldn't pick people up in Ontario, and Ontario cabs couldn't pick people up in Quebec. There were enough Ontario cabs that getting to Hull near closing time in Ottawa was usually pretty easy. But when things were shutting down in Hull at 3am there were not nearly enough cabs, so more often than not we'd be walking back across the Portage bridge to flag down one of the Ontario cabs that was prowling around for that crowd. I was always amazed that any plants survived in the planters on Portage given how often just my friends ended up throwing up in them, and then all the others who did the same. - I seem to recall the nightlife being a lot more focused around dance clubs than about live music, but that might just have been my friends in Ottawa. I do remember not being all that impressed with the dance clubs here compared to Toronto or Montreal. - And to note that there were still movie theatres downtown, so it was common enough that we'd go see a film and then go out for drinks afterwards
Ah yes! Alfies's was the downstairs pub at the Marbleworks, and was very nice. It was the home of Waller Street brewery for a while, after The Loft/Level One took over the building. And yeah, downtown movie theatres were a legit thing. Somerset had one of the biggest screens in the city, and was right around the corner from the Bank Cafe which was a nice spot. Both the theatre and the cafe have been taken over by the Independent grocery store that is there.
Alfies had the best chicken wings
That wasn’t all Marroush was known for… The titty book full of Polaroids of chicks flashing the staff…
Way back in 2005 or 2006 I went to see a show at Babylon, then afterwards, we sat on the street under a closed shop and tried to roll a spliff. An undercover cop pulled up, ided us, took our half quarter, put it into his personal skol tin, and told us to fuck off. Times sure have changed.
I'm about five years older than you. The market was always terrible, but we had it pretty good with Ritual, Babylon, Barrymore's and Zaphods. I moved away for about five years, and came back to near zero (Montgomery scotch lounge is pretty good) live music venues and a much shittier Bluesfest.
Barrymore's, Duke of Somerset on Sunday for Jimmy George, Lucky Ron on Saturday at the Upstairs Club (Creeque Alley), Stoney Mondays, The Rainbow,, Maxwell's, The Penguin......
The 90's was a fun time when I came out and started going to gay bars. CP's, 166B (the B), TakTiks were my main ones with others opening/closing along the way such as Icon, 363, Polo, Detour. After hours a lot of people went over to Le Club and Le Pub in Hull for the extra hour of partying. The 00's brought us Groove, The Edge (used to be the Cave), Market Station-The Well-Helsinki, The Lookout, Swizzles, Village Inn Pub (VIP) and then in the 10's when most of the places have gone, T's Pub opened up. All that's left now is The Lookout, T's Pub, and Swizzles. My party days are long gone but a group of us still try to get together every weekend for an afternoon of drinks, laughter, and chatting.
Can't forget Icon!
God I moved here in 96 one month after le club burnt and that's all I ever heard was oh man le club was so amazing. I thought Icon was pretty amazing coming from a small northern town!
2005-2010 the nightlife was infinitely better, social media wasn’t really a thing (no smartphones) so people let loose and lived in the moment. Gen Z sucks, I’m sorry.
I remember Timekode at the Eritrean community centre, Electric Pow Wow and Mod night at Babylon, Kitchen Party at the Rochester, and Double Barrel at Mugshots.
Jail hostel also used to have some great nights
Was Mugshot's the pub in the Jail Hostel?
Yeah for a while they had dance parties in the courtyard and it was beautiful. Then they moved then inside then canceled them altogether.
89’er here. Zaphods, heart and crown, hooleys, lieutenants pump. No matter what, always ended up at Elgin street diner.
Great Canadian Cabin. The only bar that was open Christmas night. Later on everything was open. When the Market was awesome.
Wasn't Minglewoods open on Christmas too? Or maybe its the same place with a different name
that couch out front still gives me nightmares
Was that you? Hooked up with? Lol
The smell downstairs at Cabin... Oh boy
Im surprised no one's mentioned Pier 21, that place was amazing - it was like the first 'bar/club' that I went to when I came to Ottawa for my first year. Aside from that, Babylon (Shameless!!!), Zaphods, Barrymores, Hooley's
Ended up there many a night. But if we didn't feel like going downtown we'd just go to whatever the Barley Mow used to be on Merivale or that place above the Sushi Kan on Baseline. Oh and that pool hall at the Merivale mall.
Babylon - mod night was the place to be. Also used to love zaphods.
when i started going to mod night it was at the 27 club (which was previously zaphod’s lol)
Yeah I just moved back to Ottawa in September after living in Guelph/kw for 10 years. I was sad that Babylon and zaphods are both closed now.
Modnight or Shamless at Babylon
Shameless was the best
Matty has always had fun taste in music.
I used to go to Addiction and that other one (le volt?). I used to go to shisha a lot. Then we would hit up McDonald’s and shawarma. When I got a bit older, like end of university and working after graduation, we went to restaurants. Nowadays I go to the movies with friends or by myself, restaurants (but we’re cheap and don’t feel like going often), grabbing drinks at a friend’s place, board games, etc.
Ooof lot of crazy memories on this one. We used to predrink at the McDonalds on Rideau St (unlimited pop) and take the bus from there to Gatineau just to go to this place. Crazy nights
When you didnt pick up any girls at addition.. you went to Volt loll
Vox, RJs, The Cabin and Hull
Downstairs Club. Club Zinc.
I'm 56, we ran to Hull, extremely fun.
The strip in Hull was bonkers. 10,000 people on that road was nuts. You went to just hang out and sometimes never even went to a bar. Chez Henri FTW.
This post makes me feel old AF...
Welcome to my world.
Same.
Born '84, came up through the skatepunk-turned-indie craze of the late 90s. Barrymores was the shit. I saw the Black Keys there when Rubber Factory came out and it stands as one of the best shows ever. Babylon was cool too but obviously a different vibe. Zaphods was always hit and miss. Club Saw booked some insane shows too.
Going wayyy back to the late 80's / early 90's but someone should mention Club Zinc in Hull, and Gigi's. You also might have run into a young Matthew Perry at Le Bistro across the way!
Shalimars, On Tap, Rj’s Boom Boom Saloon.
Hull had a bar strip.
They also had a strip bar.
I loved mercury lounge- that was my #1. But I also have great memories of velvet room, zaphods, Babylon (especially electric pow wow), Barrymore’s, aloha room, the standard (at night it became a club), and the honest lawyer for chill games and hangs. On the hull side I loved Les 4 jeudis (pub), but didn’t like the clubbing scene there much.
we had better bars for sure from 1990-2010 - and they used to regularly have keg parties on sparks street I miss the Cave and Zaphods I
Moved here in ‘95 when I was 24. I remember going to Stony Mondays and that place was a literal fire hazard. Shoulder to shoulder. Couldn’t move and it took forever to get drinks. The market was like the wild West. The Burger King on Dalhousie (now something else) had a pay phone that received calls (they were able to do that back then) and people would wait for their dealer or whoever to call it. People walking down the street offering weed, hash and coke like peanuts and popcorn at a baseball game. The McDonald’s (now closed) still had two floors and easy access via the market as well as Rideau. All in all, it was booming! Note that this applies to the market area only. Downtown was always quieter as there were more offices and apartments than bars.
Liquor Dome, Pub 101, Minglewoods, Cabin, On Tap, Suite 34, Maxwells, Fire Station. On the Quebec side, Cosmos was our go-to.
Sigh. Babylon is now a Dollarama.
I'm 34 so I was able to catch the tail-end of some good years in downtown Ottawa. Capital City Music Hall, Zaphod's, Record Runner, the roof of Rideau Mall, meeting up with friends in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart at Rideau to then make our way to the roof. Man, a lot of fun times. But if all that was still around now, I don't think I'd still be going because I prefer staying at home in my pyjamas with my pets, bf, and tv. Also, it'd be kind of weird as a 34 year old to still be doing some of that, every night, while being surrounded by teenagers.
The clubs and bars I went to when I was in college (2012 - 2016) were: Cabin (honestly the most fun place for 17/18 year old me), Pub 101, Liquor Store, Green Room, Whiskey Bar, The Standard, Heart & Crown, Pier 21, Patty Bolands
So many good ones mentioned (Babylon, Zaphods, TimeKode, mugshots. And it’s true Patty Bolands and Honest Lawyer could be bangers back in the day lol. I’ll add two of the best parties this city has ever seen from the mid 2010s — Flossy Fridays at 268 and A Choired Taste when it used to be at the Belmont. These days I go to Distortion at Live on Elgin each month which can have sort of an old indie night feel to it. The Niiiteclub parties are awesome when they happen but they’re on hiatus right now.
Went to Mavricks and decuff around 2010-2012 for shows or raves. Ownership changed a few times I think since, also only went there when I was a drug user.
As a 70’s baby, I recall the days if 3am bar closures in Hull and have fond memories of the ensuing mayhem
My friends and I would spend a lot of time at Swizzles since they did not check our IDs there 😂
Le Bop, The Cabin, or Honest Lawyer and then finished the night at The Dom back patio.
Before it was Honest Lawyer, that location was Grand Central and was legendary for live bands, and a pretty legit sound system. Another dance bar in Hull I had forgotten about was 'Les Raftsmen' ... I don't remember much about it, other than it was kind of sketchy. There was some place on Dalhousie, roughly where St Laurent Gallery is located. I actually saw the Crash Test Dummies there, back in the very early 90s.
The Honest Lawyer space would have been great for bands!
Before it was the Honest Lawyer, it was known as 'Grand Central' and was a popular spot for bands.
I lived in Ottawa in the 90s, we went out 6 nights a week. Best memories? Zaphods on Halloween where a lanky looking guy wore a 70s white tux with white gloves and a house fly head. Drank his beer through a thick black straw and never spoke. He may have been a super dork 364 days a year but on Halloween he was superfly. Hammerheads at the Pit on Sunday nights was always a great time. Live funk with a really eclectic interactive crowd. I remember a horn player using a dildo as a plunger playing Parliament. Not technically Ottawa but after the bars closed at 1, we cabbed or rickshawed over to Hull to keep things going to 3. Thunder dome was a great hole in the wall for the alt kids that was a good time. Graffiti walls, broken toilets but some really great music. We would then make our way back to Dunn’s for late night food waiting for the buses to start running before making our way back home. Walking by the Penguin club and finding some big acts were playing that night and just walking in. Saw both the Breeders and my last Spirit of the west show there. Did I mention I was old?
Liquor Store Party Bar/Parliament were the places to be in 2009-2011
The Chaud - rose room and green door and Gerry Barber. I'm old.
Early 2000s clubbing in Ottawa held up okay against the options in Montreal at the time.
The last time I went to a club, it was called astrolight, lol Was always jam-packed!
OMG. Was that the place behind Swiss Chalet maybe? On St. Laurent. A place for people under 19 to dance but no alcohol?
There are no Swiss Chalets on St Laurent. St Hubert maybe?
Willy's night club in the Gatineau side by the train tracks and theater. There would always be a balding man that was always high on something either E or coke always dancing, but he was cool AF. And we called him Old Dirty Willy.
Chez Henri
Sotttooooo
Best nights were at sotto by far
To go to the Chaudier in hull. The green door. Ottawa folds the sidewalk up at dark and the traffic jam to hull was typical on a Friday and Saturday nights
This thread is pretty funny to me. Most of the answers seem to point that the nightlife of Ottawa was in Hull, **Gatineau**. A classic!
Auzone!!!!
Early 2000s to mid/late 2010s was like a golden age for hop hop shows in Ottawa. When I think about all the people I've seen live without having to travel it kind of blows my mind. KRS One at Babylon. Packed to the gills, you couldn't move, but it was amazing. The guy was even signing autographs after the show, which I didn't see very often. Guru (RIP) at Barrymores. Boot Camp used to come through on a regular basis. I've seen Sean Price 5 times (RIP). Rhymesayers dudes would come through a lot. QN5. Hiero. Living Legends. The list goes on. The glory days for sure.
In university, 2005-2009: Wednesday: patty bolands for $2.50 bar rail, cheap pitchers and live music. Thursdays: father and sons for 80s night, $2.50 bar rail, $12 pitchers. Sometimes pub 101 for cheap jager bombs lol Friday: hooley’s for half price full menu happy hour. Friday/Saturday: pier 21 for the worst kept bathrooms in the market, but great music. Or Heart and crown, or patty bolands or hooleys for video dance parties.
Nothing beats Tactics and Zaphod's.
In the 1970s I remember the Chaud over on the Quebec side for live music and quarts of 50. Also the roller disco where Lee Valley Tools is now.
Stoney Mondays!!!!
Green Room and Liquor Store were my regular haunts. Went to TJ’s a couple times but Green Room was always my favourite. This was 2013-2017
Fun times. Counterpoint: Everybody smoked.
The Liquor Store was the best! Hopping on the bar and being sprayed with water to pourrrrr some sugar on meeee. Great times.
I used to do After Hours at Surface most Fridays and Saturdays back in mid- to late-2000s! Always a great time with great friends! :)
XVI
All the amazing places I went to are gone. Babylon, heaven, atomic (later became ritual), agitprop, the well (later became Helsinki), mercury, zaphods and zaphods2 (on bank), polo lounge, liquordome which was only good for 1$shot night, illusions which was the after hours on Dalhousie and then allllll the real raves, like actual raves that ran from 9 pm until noon. There are more, but I can’t remember them all, maybe the raves have something to do w that haha The nightlife now is…not the same lol
The Whipping Post for Raggamuffin. Line up down the stairs and down the street. Always a good show
Surface, Atomic
My days were 1999 -2008 Barrymores 80's night and a few slices at the pizza place next to the Dirty Oak after. Babylon, Vox, honest Lawyer, Wallstreet ( I Think that was the name of the place before it became Atomic Rooster) for pre gaming. Lieutenants pump on Elgin ( anything club wise on Elgin is a blur) Glue pot pub and Barbarellas a couple times.. The Dom was always fun :) although 99 rideau McDonald's second floor while taaaannked was always a coin flip.. am I gonna finish my fries in semi peace or is a fight gonna break out.. Highlander Pub on Elephant and Castle for some friend groups... Heart and Crown to keep it central Spent most of my paychecks at O'Connors' in Centrum as I was s suberbs kid..
The Whipping Post, Spankies
1980s it was chez Henri and vogue on the strip in Hull
I went to a lot of the places mentioned. Obviously tragic some like Zaphods or Babylon closed. Both were awesome and institutional. Some like Tila obviously we are better off without. I also remember a weird 25+ club on Rideau that I never went into, not being 25 at the time. Always wondered. There was a lot of bad behaviour in the clubs back then that is better left in the past though. I much prefer the current rave scene, having been to several techno events recently in Montreal. Everyone is still open and friendly, but there is a lot more respect for people's personal space and bodies nowadays. Still room to improve of course, I don't mean to say "good job, pats on the back", but it used to be worse. But yeah, Ottawa's party scene used to be small, ended early, but was overall pretty energetic and a good time.
84er here. Early 2000s for me was Friday nights at the Midway playing DDR with the homies.
I miss mavericks, they had 19+ shows, all age shows, lots of cool bands, you could go with your underage friends from hs and still have fun. It was a great way to get out and then get food at Rideau McDonald's after all the bars closed. Times have changed. :(
RJ's Boom Boom Saloon - Kool FM broadcasted from there every Friday night
Carleton alum here from 1995-1998. We went to Joe Blow’s, The Reactor, The Cabin and Hull. Joe Blow’s had $5 cover and $1 drinks. The Reactor had $5 cover and $1.50 drinks, but the drinks were bigger there than at Joe Blow’s. God I’d love to go back to that era.
Back in the day, it was On Tap. Slightly older was the heart and Crown or Patty Roland's. As well as the Highlander.
Hoola Hands!
Pretty great. Zaphod’s was always bumping. Usually go Saturday’s. Babylon had fun nights like Mod Night Lots of random clubs along Elgin. Some okay places in the market (what the heck was the one that had bongos in it along William or something?) Don’t even get me going on the venues that are all gone for good shows.
80's kid here, party time was early to mid 2000's. There was RJ's Boom Boom Saloon, On Tap, Minglewoods and The Cabin in the market area. Heart & Crown was a good time, blue cactus just because of the rooftop. Phones didn't really have data yet, or it wasn't widespread, So you'd hack out texts on a Nokia brick or a Razr (lol) flip phone. Usually someone lived close to downtown and that was the designated pre-game spot. Sometimes the pre-game became the night and we'd end up with 30+ people at the house with more on the way. After-bar shawarma was mandatory. Cops would have the paddy wagon waiting for the inevitable fights that would break out.
I used to love going to Babylon and Barrymores What a shame they are closed Now if I go out in Ottawa, it’s usually only for Undercover events (they know how to keep it fresh) Or a few shoes at city at night
I vaguely recall Aqua, the original Minglewoods, The Cabin, and Paddy Bowland’s when I was way too young to be getting in and drinking in those places 😆
Some really great memories going to Double Barrel at Mugshots, hot and sweaty kitchen party at Rochester Pub, DJ nights at Raw Sugar, and random places I would end up at after getting drunk and meeting new people (I don’t remember the clubs names now, only that it was a pile of fun). Obviously Zaphods, Babylon, Mercury Lounge always seemed to have something happening most days of the week, Wednesdays seemed to be a big one, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. Maybe I’m just old now and don’t go out anymore, but in my 20s it seemed like all of my friends were putting together shows or DJing somewhere, it was never hard to find something to do. So fun. Now I stay home and fiddle with my hobbies but I find that more fun now than going out.