We had just finished an epic day at Future Music Festival, and my body was about to go into shock. I was going through a mini-hangover from the drinking earlier in the day. I was starving, I was thirsty, I was tired from the walking and dancing. My body was royally screwed over and crying for some rest. But you know.. it was only midnight and the night was still young… Haymarket Hotel was nearby so I scoffed down some nutrients from a Korean restaurant and then I went down for a little visit.. here we go!

The Market @ Haymarket Hotel

Assessment Time:  ~12:30 – 2am
Opening Hours: 9pm – 2am
Website: http://www.themarketvip.com
Address: 661-663 George St, Chinatown, Sydney

Dress Code / Door Policy: As stated on the door “STRICT DRESS CODE APPLIES.. Guys collared shirts or jackets are essential – no sportswear, shorts or runners”. I was still wearing my American Indian outfit from Future Music Festival a few hours earlier. It was just brown pants with the indian top on, non-collared. I walked up to the scary looking security woman. She looks at me and my outfit and lets me in – telling the girls at the counter “Don’t worry let him in – He’s alright!!!”. Hell yeah – Chief Breaking wind is awesome! (Edit 24/03/10 – Truth be told, the promoters knew about Future Music Festival and apparently have ‘relaxed’ the dress code for tonight for any FMF party goers)
Entry Fee / Cover Charge: $20
Guestlist: Discount if on list. email themarketvip@gmail.com – free entry before 10:30 . Before I got in, some people spoke with me and said I could pretend to be on “David’s guestlist”. However when I got to the counter, guestlists were finished at 12am, so it was no longer relevant. I know the promoter, but only if he were here tonight I could’ve scored free entry.
Inside: Promotional material claims 3 levels. Well its 3, but more 2 and a half. Bottom level is the Mi Cocktail lounge, and is very loungey, and dark. It has a bar and the lounge area is cut into 3 smaller areas, and for the promoters point of view it is presumed these can be used for birthday events. Ground level is where the main bar is and main dancefloor is. The actual dancefloor itself is very small. As small as the one they have at Bar 333. (Yes, they do have a dancefloor, its that small) – about 4 x 5 metres square. Even the bar here is bigger than the floor. Stools are everywhere around. Top level upstairs hangs over the bar and lounge area, to overlook the ground floor. I didnt go upstairs because I was told a group of gangsters were chilling out over there. (All the gansters have matching leather jackets with their gang sign emblazoned on the back) This is where also the DJ is spinning his tracks.
Cloak Room: None
Bar: I didn’t drink tonight
DJs: Kai, Willtown, Biggie, Beef, Nam (obtained for the 20th March event, but these are usually the same DJs for the weeks prior).
Music: RnB, HipHop, House Mashups. I can’t believe they have one DJ to service all 3 levels here. Could it be a money saving exercise? Who knows, it’s a different approach though.
Crowd: Asian, and mostly older. There is a 30th birthday party here, and I see some other asians I recognise around the 25 year old age mark.
Entertainment: No extra dancers or MC that I could recall, but there probably was an MC
Atmosphere: It was busy, but it was not at capacity as it was a few weeks ago when I tried to get in. Interesting. Half the asians being at Future Music Festival and going home afterwards may have been a factor.
360 view video from the ground floor dancefloor
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Fridays @ Marble Bar Sydney

Jazz Cover Band - Marble Bar

Jazz Cover Band - Marble Bar

Assessment Time: 9pm-11pm
Website: www.marblebarsydney.com.au

Location: Level B1, 588 George St Sydney (Hilton Hotel Sydney)
Entry Fee / Cover Charge
: Free. No guestlist.
Dress Code: Most acceptable attire accepted, but everyone here was wearing dresses or collared shirts. Wearing casual would not help your cause in fitting in.
Crowd: Dominantly older crowd of late 20’s/ early 30’s and above.
Inside: On big atrium-like room. Decor of cabaret style. A front stage and two side bards. Columns dotted in the room. Very symmetrical.
Music: A live band is playing with a singer. The band is doing covers of popular house and rnb songs, but her soul voice makes each song have a different jazz-like flavour take to it. Nice… also perfect for the older people here who know their contemporary songs but can’t be bothered going toa  proper club.
Atmosphere: Bustling and busy, while the decor and band gives a cosy/relaxed kind of feel
Video – 360 view:
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I met a lady and she laughed at me, when I told her I advised a reader to celebrate her 40th at The Retro Bristol Arms. I didn’t know any other place to recommend, without her feeling out of place while also playing retro music.

She said she could have listed at least 4 other places where the birthday girl could have celebrated her 40th. She refused to tell me though, but she hinted at one place where you have dinner and later a DJ comes out and plays some party tunes (somewhere in the Cross), but other than that, she didn’t give me any names.

WHERE ARE THESE OTHER PLACES???

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