Eastern Bloc #1

  For those of you who frequent the Atlanta scene you know or have heard the name Preston Craig. If you that name doesn’t ring a bell you should check your pulse because this man puts on some of the greatest events this town has to offer. You can check out his blog to see his up coming events, music, and inspiration. 

  I am relatively new to the dance scene and have never been one to want to go out to dance, until one faithful DSC (Decatur Social Club) not too long ago. The atmosphere draws you to the dance floor and you can’t help but move. Little did I know that not only did I enjoy dancing but I really didn’t give a crap what I looked like doing it. There is the Magic of a Preston Craig party. No one cares what you look like or how you dance, just get your ass out there and move it any way you know how. Soon after I feel in love with DSC I learned that it was to be no more. WHAT?!?!!1! But wait don’t fret, it only got bigger and better with Eastern Bloc.

  Eastern Bloc is held in my new found favorite place in Atlanta, East Atlanta Village. If you have never been, GO! Its a small neighborhood just off of Morland, on the south side of Interstate 20. It may be one of the most diverse areas of our fair city. Gay bar, lesbian bar, hip hop club, posh bar, indie rock bar, they have whatever your into. Good food, music, and people. But enough about East Atlanta, I will write more on that subject at a later date.

  Anyway, to start your evening out for the Eastern Bloc you look for this truck, the Bodega Nights ice cream truck. Typically the truck will be parked in front of The GraveyardThere you will find the wristbands for access to three bars where Eastern Bloc is held. Cost = $5! Its a steal of a deal, trust me. From there you can venture on to any of the three bars, all with different genres of music for whatever suits your taste.

More Info Here

  My night started and finished at The Graveyard. Preston put out some awesome music, the dance floor was packed, and the drinks were fairly priced. Needless to say I had a blast! Next time I will have to make it to some of the other places so I can get a taste of all that goes on with Eastern Bloc, even though I was more than pleased with The Graveyard locale. My only complaint is that I don’t think that the bar was properly staffed. I think that they were unaware exactly how big this event was going to be so it took some time to get a drink from the bar. Other than that awesome, awesome, awesome, just like everything Preston does. My thanks to you sir for doing what you do! Keep up the good work and keep on pushin’ man. You are a rockstar!

Bar Review – The Local

Here we go first bar review.

Ok so I am new in town, and I am a few friends that I knew before I left and went off to college. So I meet up with a friend at an old watering hole Taco Mac. As a side note I love Taco Mac, I use to work at one back in the day and it is the shit. The food is good, especially the wings, and they have a great beer selection. Anyway I have been there done that and we decide to go and hit up some Midtown action for a couple more drinks and some dancing at MJQ.

We get there early and they are not open yet so my friend makes the decision to have a drink at The Local. Whatever I am always down for something to drink. So we walk up to this place with a nice front porch with a shit ton of people there, especially for a Wednesday. Outside there are a couple of fixed bikes locked to the post, this place is looking up so far. Of course there is a door man, I think its necessary. I still have an Alabama ID so anywhere that doesn’t hassle me about my ID is a big plus, they don’t. NO COVER, my type of place, cover sucks. Anyway from the bikes out front and all the people on the porch this place is totally a hipster bar.

Little history on me, I didn’t know what a hipster was until about 3 weeks ago. I mean we had “hipsters” in Auburn we just didn’t call them that. We were just the art school kids, the IND kids, and the kids that hung out with us. Well all them and the kids that worked at the coffee shop. Anyway we had a “hipster” bar in auburn, its called Roosters, but it was always known as where the grundgie kids went to hang, who knew we were hipsters.

And back to the subject at hand, after we walk in I see probably the greatest thing I have seen at a bar in a long time, 24 oz. PBR’s. I mean it i the hipster life blood I should have expected it. Go to the bar and order two large nectar of the gods, $7.00. Are you serious? That is amazing, $3.50 for a 24 oz. beer in midtown. For you non math majors out there thats like paying $1.75 a beer, you will be hard pressed to find that sort of price in a college bar much less in Midtown. So not only is this a place I can go to grab a beer but if I wanted to I could get pretty drunk here and not break the bank. So like I said earlier, I really don’t know many people here but wouldn’t you know I ran into someone I actually knew. Of course its a friend from the Art Department at Auburn but its someone I know.

At this point I realize how small the place really is. I mean its a decent size but its fairly small compared to other restaurants and bars. The interior is rustic but nice. Most everyone is in a booth hanging out with there own group but there are a few people up and walking around. I think the most interesting part about this place is the people. i mean there was a guy in a vintage tux in the corner and in the other corner theres a dude in a wife beater and a full round hat. Its the type of place I could make a regular outing and be comfortable.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
What else can you want; relaxed atmosphere, cheep beer, midtown location, and a good crowd. We finish our beers and move on to MJQ because dancing is the main objective of the evening but I will say that my short lived trip to The Local will not be my last. In fact I can see many a trip down to that bar for a few 24 oz. PBR’s and some relaxed good times.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5