Approaching the parking lot, I noticed cars parked in an area full of shops and art expos closed…read moreduring non-business hours. I got out of my Uber, and I saw a couple walking into the main building. One would assume that everyone is there for art and passes by thinking nothing of it, but I knew there was a secret entrance waiting to be found. I tipped my Uber and walked in. The couple was gone, and all that was left were closed shops in a long wooden hallway. In the Hallway was a man in normal clothes. He said, "The lounge?" Yes, I replied, and he asked for my ID. I showed it to him, then he pointed to a black box on the wall with a moon sticker on it. I pushed it, and the wall opened like an Indiana Jones movie. First impressions are important, and I was impressed. The hidden entrance established the secrecy and exclusivity that I expected from a speakeasy.
The Lunar Lounge featured a 1990s retro space theme. This included decorations and art. They had their business logo on the wall, a mural of a naked women sitting on a crescent moon with long red hair covering her private parts. There was a robot-shaped snack machine with a mini tube television for a head, static on the screen with angry black electrical tape making his eyes and mouth. The music was energetic without overpowering people's conversations. Calling ahead of time, I met with a bartender who explained to me that they had no intention of becoming a speakeasy; they wanted to create a safe place for their friends who were part of the LGBT community to express themselves out of sight of public view without fear of judgment or discrimination. Basically, meeting every requirement of a Modern Speakeasy. The owner did a good job creating a convivial atmosphere. People were friendly and socially warm in this relaxed environment. According to the Annuals of Tourism, "Convivial atmospheres are powerful in that they carry with them a transformative potential in terms of individuals' openness to and anticipation of future encounters, and their attendant feelings"(Rokka). The Hosts, therefore, created an Atmosphere catered to their intended Patrons.
Even though the secret entrance and the atmosphere made this speakeasy impressive, the focus is on the drinks. Now, a bartender does not need to be a master at mixology, but for the sake of the evaluation, there are a few things people tend to look for in a drink. I personally evaluate a cocktail based on the balance of sweetness, acidity, bitterness, and aftertaste. According to the International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, "mixologists, with their aesthetic approach, contribute to transforming mixology into a form of cultural and creative expression" (Creta). I ordered a sophisticated drink from their menu, wondering what they might do differently. I ordered their Cosmopolitan, a signature cocktail. Instead of putting one shot or two shots, the bartender put a shot and a half. This made the alcohol blend in with the sweetness, not too sweet, so that someone would not drink it too fast. With the cranberry juice, he added a space candy garnish shaped like the moon, and as it dissolved, it started to dye the drink blue. After I finished the drink, I ordered it again from a different bartender, and she made it the same way. I saw consistency; all their signature cocktails looked cold, full of artistic expression, and used high-quality ingredients.
Now, an argument I would consider valid concerning Speakeasies is: "A real Speakeasy is a traditional hidden room within a restaurant or cave with formal attire and with jazz music." And to a point, I would agree, but at that time, cave networks were maintained, and Restaurants were a family business where you could make a secret room without corporate overreach or whistleblowing. Those places were modern at the time. Today, Speakeasy simply means to go somewhere to drink away from the general public to speak easily. This could be two construction workers getting off work to go to an exclusive place where most union workers go to relax after work, to a private room where two politicians talk shop out of earshot of the public, or to a restaurant turning into a bar after business hours and bringing in a DJ, karaoke or actual theatre. All of these activities meet the constantly changing environment that would and could be seen in a speakeasy.
Ultimately, the Lunar Lounge succeeds because it captures the cultural purpose of a speakeasy, with secret doors leading to a convivial atmosphere and well-made cocktails. Based on my data and experience at the Lunar Lounge, I would consider it a modern speakeasy. The 18th Amendment wasn't just about stopping the sales of alcohol. It was about stopping people from expressing themselves in America and spreading cultural influence. The Lunar Lounge met my basic evaluation of a speakeasy, not just the physical building, but also the Freedom of Expression that its customers enjoyed.
