A horde of shabby-chic hipsters and trendy fashion plates in '80s couture admire the work of artists such as Lalo Cota and Heather Gargon, while others crowd the front room observing local b-boys laying down electric boogaloo on the parquet flooring to old-school funk spun by DJ Uriah.
As Isaac and Gabriel stand outside observing the action through the joint's plate-glass windows, they discuss how happenings such as theirs help the vitality of both First Fridays and the art district by offering a post-last-call hangout.
"People are starving for places to go," says Isaac. "We want this place to be an unexpected little gem where, after people leave the Bikini [Lounge on 15th Avenue and Grand], they can come in and enjoy the groove, the artwork, and maybe check out the movie we got going."
So why aren't there more late-night options available downtown? Forget The Fort, it's hard enough to find a cocktail after 10 p.m., even on a First Friday. Portland's, the tony bar/restaurant near Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street, closes its doors firmly at 10, even on the most crowded First Friday, even with would-be drinkers pounding on the door. One of the few options (before Carly's opened recently, on Roosevelt) was a nightcap in the bar of the Best Western next door to Portland's -- a depressing little hole reeking of the Indian buffet served earlier in the day, in an adjacent room. Even the tranny bar across the street went out of business more than a year ago.
Dylan Bethge, who owns Portland's, promises that starting this week, he'll keep the place open 'til midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
It takes gumption to remain open when many have gone home for the evening, says Derrick Suarez, co-owner of Paisley Violin, on Grand Avenue.
"To run a late-night business, it takes someone with the balls to just open and weather bad times and build a crowd," says Suarez.
Late-night revelers, take note (or get out the scissors). Here's a list of what's open after 10, on First Friday:
.anti_space
815 West Madison Street
602-256-2684
www.antispace.org
First Friday hours: 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Bikini Lounge
1502 Grand Avenue
602-252-0472
First Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Carly's Bistro
128 East Roosevelt Street
602-262-2759
First Friday hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Counter Culture Café
2330 East McDowell Road
602-231-0762
www.countercultureaz.com
First Friday hours: Open 24 hours
The Emerald Lounge
1514 North Seventh Avenue
602-256-9705
www.theemeraldlounge.com
First Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Fat Cats
915 Grand Avenue
602-252-0988
First Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Fate
905 North Fourth Street
602-254-6424
www.fateaz.com
First Friday hours: 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.
The Fort
723 West Polk Street
602-252-0792
www.fortoulpresents.com
First Friday hours: 6 p.m. to midnight
Holga's
821 North Third Street
480-540-2917
First Friday hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
My Florist Cafe
530 West McDowell Road
602-254-0333
www.myfloristcafe.com
First Friday hours: 7 a.m. to midnight
Paisley Violin
1030 Grand Avenue
602-254-7843
www.thepaisley.com
First Friday hours: 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The Paper Heart
750 Grand Avenue
602-262-2020
www.thepaperheart.com
First Friday hours: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Portland's Restaurant
105 West Portland Street
602-795-7480
www.portlandsphoenix.com
First Friday hours: 5 p.m. to midnight
Stay Gold
120 East Roosevelt Street
602-252-0792
www.fortoulpresents.com
First Friday hours: 6 p.m. to midnight
The Willow House
149 West McDowell Road
602-252-0272
First Friday hours: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
