4/9/26 Grand Opening night. No longer SwanDive (just ignore the sign and decor still around;same place and layout). Vibes reminds me of an OddFellows vibe with Latin music on one side and oldies pop music of some kind (overall, music wasn't that great before midnight?). A selling point for this venue is the large semi-wrap around outdoor airy shaded space. Unlike Oddfellows, this venue always had newer better speakers haha We only passed by for an hr. I'm sure it got more rowdy after we left at midnightish just when music got better?
Of course with grand opening, this place is fun, great to people watch. Hope it stays that way? Good crowd of weirdos.... feels like a high school moment with different groups/clubs around at the same time. Loved the crowd. Seem to have brought out the original Oddfellows before Oddfellows got so crowded and a bit more mainstream? Lol Because the old SwanDive vibes wasn't for me. I can only hope this local place is locally owned and knows how to change it for the better! (Like creating the concert stage space to be a more comfortable dance floor space vs live concert layout).
Layout is the same as SwanDive --
1) Security and line outdoors is visible.
- Weirdly, there is 2 lines split by gender. For a place called bizzare bar, you'd think it'll be more open minded?
- They check you, physically pat you down really good. And they do a thorough check into your purse, all small pockets.
- Metal water bottles aren't allowed but security can hold onto it for you. We accidentally dropped by so our visit here was unexpected, and I had my water bottle around. Security two ppl were pretty nice.
- STAIRS: Luckily I'm in comfy shoes, not heels. But anyone with issues with stairs zigzag to the 2nd floor may want to ask about the elevator. Same exit so use the elevator to exit to avoid any drunk falls haha
When entering upstairs, there's generally 3 areas, 2 music stages:
A) Open air space with 2 small seesaws/teeter-totters ok the side. 1 bar (it was faster to grab a drink from the indoor larger staffed bar). Couches and seating areas.
From that bar, there 2 paths to the outdoor stage (shades) or indoor stage with a bar:
B) Outdoor music stage includes patio bar top seating and then small dance floor with artificial turf.
C) Bar area to Live music concert space.
- I like the bar space better than the stage space. Probably because I'm not going to a band, live concert event. This bar has at least 2 bartenders, so it'll be quicker to get serviced vs outdoor bar line. There's like 2 both seating for groups of 4.
- The stage had 1 DJ and a table that was fabric wrapped. Maybe overtime they'll do more with this space? The space has visuals. They closed off half the space with black curtains which was a pretty good idea until the dance floor gets really crowded. There's like one booth seating indoors unless the space opens the other side with more booths.
When this place was SwanDive, we visited twice for events. Luckily the event was free so there was no charge unlike most nights charged nights, with a booked concert/showing. As a music venue, I think the crowd and vibe varies. Having two different music areas is nice. read more