What happened to Visions and Buckhead?????? (Sugar Hill: work, house, events)

[Bebop]

Arish,

First, I think you may have some personal problems that no city can fix.

Second, try to understand that condo development is a good thing for the city and it's happening all across the country. It will take awhile, but with all the new condos comes people...which will increase intown population and lead to new clubs, restaurants, shopping, etc. Nightclubs are probably not the most important thing on city planners' agenda.

And as far as your frustration with the African American population. That saddens me to hear you say that, especially given that you are black. I will mention that the percentage of blacks in Atlanta is actually decreasing...so that might lead to the more diverse night club life you are seeking. But I also must mention that the blacks in Atlanta, probably because of the sheer numbers, are much more diverse than blacks in other parts of the country. Maybe it's because of the high numbers of educated African Americans in Atlanta, but those of us here are much more open-minded compared to many other cities. So keep that in mind as you plan to move.

[kwr]

Originally Posted by Arish

Everyone has a valid point ! I personally never went to buckhead because of experiences I had. Blacks laughing at me because I was alternative and my dress was different. Also I went to a salsa club and my phone was snatched off my waste and I called my phone and you know who was on the other end ? A black person laughing in my face which I felt was humiliating in it self that we would do each other like this. I stopped going about 3 years ago because I just didn't feel comfortable. I think if places like Kaos and a couple of other spots would have closed down they could Have saved it. Mako's and some of the other spots were still predominately white or upper class college kids.

But how do you explain international spots like Backstreet and Riveria that shut down. Places where you could feel like you were in Europe or in another country. How do you explain those places that only catered to the eclectic group of people the gays, the metrosexuals the goths the real trance heads and lovers of electronica ? What about us what about those people? Buckhead was one thing but that is a whole nother situation now it is even hard to find people like myself. I mean noone wants to go to a club with no idenity what so ever. And the compound was really the last man standing but guess what it is a all hip hop club now ! Face it Atlanta is a 60% afro American City. And 90% of the black population are pretty narrow minded in there point of views. So if you have a 60% black population the culture is pretty much out the door. Everything will be hip hop before it is all said and done. And the mayor is black so she doesn't give a Fu*K ! I am black and I have to honestly say I love diversity and I moved to Atlanta for that 6 years ago. And in 2004 was the end of that when the law was passed no more late hours. That killed everything I never saw any of the culture that I remembered. I love dating internationally and that is even hard now really it is. I mean I don't want to have to go to an all white club nor do I care to go to an all black club it shouldn't be that way. Altlanta is really going to the dogs and before it is all over this will be a 100% black city noone will want to be here.

You have no facts to back up your claims. I think you must fit in the 90% group...you my friend are very narrow-minded. There is much more to do in the Atlanta metro area than going to a club. Free your mind and try something different. I moved to Atlanta from S. FL. a couple years ago and love it. One of the things I appreciate about the city is there is so much diversity within the black race. You see all spectrums -- from wealthy to poor.

[Arish]

I agree to some degree but when I moved here it did have more of a European feel. Alot of the clubs are catering to hip hop now and I think alot of the places are just bland outside of that. Maybe I am just spoiled by what we had before that is a hard change from 6 years ago. And like I said before I don't like to have to get ready to go anywhere before it closes. It is just not convenient for me to go out any longer that is the way I feel. At least they could have set the closing times to 5am that would have been fair. I agree there are more open minded blacks in Atlanta than any other place other than California. But, I do have to say it is harder to seek out those individuals than it was once before. If I go to a all black club nine times out of 10 it will be hip hop. MJQ concourse is the only place I have found that alot of eclectic blacks out of the norm goes. But the only problem with it, there are more men than women ? And it is pretty diverse in culture but there isn't any where to sit and it is cluttered with break dancers. Which means there isn't much dancing everyone is watching them. And it just comes across like one big competition of who dances the best ! I mean I am a break dancer but every time I go in there I don't like to feel pushed to dance all night .

I like electronic music there are no good places anymore like that. The Mark turned hip hop. Compound is all hip hop now , Visions turned hip hop now it is gone. Riveria turned to 112 which was a hip hop club. Backstreet is now a condo (Was the Biggest club in Atlanta) ! So I do have a valid point I have seen the changes for my self. Dance music real dance music is a international (underground art) and brings much tourism to nightlife. You can listen to hip hop all day on any radio station. But where can DJ's Play like Icey, John Digweed? or Armin Van buuren ? Where are spots like Level 3 and stuff like that ? All the songs they play in the clubs now are the same sh*t on the radio. Don't get me wrong I like hip hop stuff that is creative and inspiring to dance too. Timbaland, Pharrell or Kanye but alot of that other stuff just isn't inspiring too me ! This isn't a black or white thing I came from Memphis Tenn to have more options. And the 1st 3 years it was very very fun and interesting now this is a commercial very commercial city. All the Three Dollar Cafe's are Starbucks now ! You have to understand I listen to everything I have traveled a lot. So i guess I was expecting alot more out of the changes than this.

[Arish]

That came across wrong I moved here for the diverse black population. But what I am pissed about is how others make fun or attack people that are different. And going into the buck head area it was too too many different people in that one area. And i think that is why there was violence. The lower class cant mix with the middle class and vice versa. You have to segregate classes not people but classes and buck head was all over the place. I go to MJQ often and never had a problem what so ever even on Hip Hop (real Hip HOP) and Funk Fridays. So no it wasn't meant to come across like that but I was pissed about that. And I try to avoid places unless I feel like I can walk in and be me. If I chose to dye my hair green I don't want to feel awkward about it why should I have too other races do it all the time.

[diva05]

Originally Posted by Arish

That came across wrong I moved here for the diverse black population. But what I am pissed about is how others make fun or attack people that are different. And going into the buck head area it was too too many different people in that one area. And i think that is why there was violence. The lower class cant mix with the middle class and vice versa. You have to segregate classes not people but classes and buck head was all over the place. I go to MJQ often and never had a problem what so ever even on Hip Hop (real Hip HOP) and Funk Fridays. So no it wasn't meant to come across like that but I was pissed about that. And I try to avoid places unless I feel like I can walk in and be me. If I chose to dye my hair green I don't want to feel awkward about it why should I have too other races do it all the time.

Arish,

First you need to refocus, chill out, and take a couple of deep breaths. You sound REALLY stressed out. Also, you may want to do some reflection on your racial identity. Sounds like you've been through some rough times, but it doesn't matter what color your hair is or what you listen to, your still African-American. You can be different, but you really should come to terms with grouping all Black people based on some negative encounters. We like to reserve that right for others outside of the cultural group.

Finally, a bit of advice. I have been in ATL for a while and also am disappointed by the decrease of places I like to party. I LOVE hip-hop (by the way, your previous posts were a bit insulting until I saw your use of REAL hip-hop), and hate the mainstream top 40. So the Compound, 112 (well, the old 112 WAS a blast), Visions, etc. are the last place I ever want to go to party. MJQ has always been a standing favorite, even though I find it annoying sometimes but still love Hip Hop Fridays. So, you don't have to be a green haired, garage, techno loving, goth to want a more eclectic, diverse, non-commercial crowd. Open YOUR mind.

Anyway, I digress . . . what I have found is that you really have to stop relying on the clubs to party and tap into parties being promoted. I have gotten accustomed to looking for fliers . . . Little 5 of course is a great spot, open-mics, poetry slams, whatever. Therefore, all parties I attend are now promoted to my likings, and THOSE are the ones I attend. Don't follow the club, follow the CROWD. So when Jamad or another of my fav DJs are mixin, I go. I've been to 2 all night House music parties in a warehouse that somehow served liquor until 7 am in the middle of ATL . . . saw it on a flier. Once you know the promoters, you can follow their parties. When it first began (and still had the eclectic hip hop crowd I liked) I used to attend SOUL Fusion parties that were at a different club everytime. So even though the mainstream spots in ATL are old and cliché, there is still a lot going on underground. Trust me there are people here who are partying the way you like. You just gotta find it! Good Luck.

[DoveDiva]

FWIW,

Apache Cafe doesn't play just hip hop....
Sol Fusion--plays hip hop, house, alternative rock, reggae (it only happens once every now and then...it used to be every month)
Sugar Hill--it's a mix of hip-hop and nusoul

I get a newsletter in my inbox every week telling me about various events going on...and it's not all hip-hop. Shoot, Vikter Duplaix had an event in town last weekend. If that's not straying from the mainstream...then I don't know what is!


Lastly, you should be able to be you no matter where you go. Who gives a rat's behind if someone doesn't like the fact that your hair is green? That feeling can't be cured by simply going to a particular club...you need to work on that from within.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by diva05

I love this post, it gets more imaginative by the day. Hearing the "base beat" of music from rap clubs encroaching upon the poor residents of Buckhead? If you've ever stepped foot in a nightclub you know that the walls are virtually sound proof. Again, since I actully frequented many of the clubs in Buckhead as with any other nightclub you could barely hear the music unless you were standing in line outside the club. Maybe you are talking about the music from cars? That will rattle a window withn 50 feet when it is very loud.

Yes, reading IS fundamental (when people do it). I made no reference to the music from the clubs pounding peoples windows. Talk about imagination.

The people who went to those clubs did eventually have to leave. They go in their cars with the megahoochie speakers and drive to and from here and there with no specific goals or destinations in mind. I'm not sure where you get the 50ft figure in mind. You say it can rattle a window within 50 feet "when it's loud".. when is Rap or Hip Hop NOT loud? I live easily 150 feet from a main road in the burbs and when the people who play this stuff drive by, it rattles my windows easily, and you can hear the "thump" through the walls. People at the end of my street, an easy 250 feet from that road, can still hear it. We don't have paper for walls or single pane windows, either. I can only imagine what it would be like close to clubs with a more dense group of people playing the stuff at all hours driving by.

I'm sorry if that sounds intolerant to some, but the fact is I could care less if it's Rap or Heavy Metal music - if you play your stuff so loud in your car that it causes entire neighborhoods to hear it, you are being incredibly disrepectful of others. And I have zero tolerance for anyone who disrespect others in that manner.

[DoveDiva]

Originally Posted by Avatar

Man! I missed Vikter Duplaix?! Where was he performing?

He was @ the Utopia Complex...with Salah Ananse and DJ Jamad

[Arish]

Originally Posted by diva05

Arish,

First you need to refocus, chill out, and take a couple of deep breaths. You sound REALLY stressed out. Also, you may want to do some reflection on your racial identity. Sounds like you've been through some rough times, but it doesn't matter what color your hair is or what you listen to, your still African-American. You can be different, but you really should come to terms with grouping all Black people based on some negative encounters. We like to reserve that right for others outside of the cultural group.

Finally, a bit of advice. I have been in ATL for a while and also am disappointed by the decrease of places I like to party. I LOVE hip-hop (by the way, your previous posts were a bit insulting until I saw your use of REAL hip-hop), and hate the mainstream top 40. So the Compound, 112 (well, the old 112 WAS a blast), Visions, etc. are the last place I ever want to go to party. MJQ has always been a standing favorite, even though I find it annoying sometimes but still love Hip Hop Fridays. So, you don't have to be a green haired, garage, techno loving, goth to want a more eclectic, diverse, non-commercial crowd. Open YOUR mind.

Anyway, I digress . . . what I have found is that you really have to stop relying on the clubs to party and tap into parties being promoted. I have gotten accustomed to looking for fliers . . . Little 5 of course is a great spot, open-mics, poetry slams, whatever. Therefore, all parties I attend are now promoted to my likings, and THOSE are the ones I attend. Don't follow the club, follow the CROWD. So when Jamad or another of my fav DJs are mixin, I go. I've been to 2 all night House music parties in a warehouse that somehow served liquor until 7 am in the middle of ATL . . . saw it on a flier. Once you know the promoters, you can follow their parties. When it first began (and still had the eclectic hip hop crowd I liked) I used to attend SOUL Fusion parties that were at a different club everytime. So even though the mainstream spots in ATL are old and cliché, there is still a lot going on underground. Trust me there are people here who are partying the way you like. You just gotta find it! Good Luck.

Thanks for that advise Little 5 points is one of my fav spots I may have to go down there and look for this stuff. I live out East so I rarely get down there like I use too. It is rough real rough I feel you on what you are saying. I guess I just hate too look when it was already here before. But that is a good word of advice that is the best thing I have heard on this forum !

[Arish]

Originally Posted by DoveDiva

FWIW,

Apache Cafe doesn't play just hip hop....
Sol Fusion--plays hip hop, house, alternative rock, reggae (it only happens once every now and then...it used to be every month)
Sugar Hill--it's a mix of hip-hop and nusoul

I get a newsletter in my inbox every week telling me about various events going on...and it's not all hip-hop. Shoot, Vikter Duplaix had an event in town last weekend. If that's not straying from the mainstream...then I don't know what is!


Lastly, you should be able to be you no matter where you go. Who gives a rat's behind if someone doesn't like the fact that your hair is green? That feeling can't be cured by simply going to a particular club...you need to work on that from within.

It is worked on from within, but I am not going to be disrespected either so I just don't go around that type of crowd. I am alot older than you all think and I do not want to go to jail for fighting. So I just avoid it if I feel like I don't fit in I don't go. And I am not going to put myself in a position to take any type of disrespect. I made that choice long ago that I am going to be me. Its not so much that it bothers me about what people think I don't like to be tested when there is a group of people around to back them up. And that is when people like too do things like that. When they have a audience or whatever ! I do like MJQ though I feel comfortable there for the most part. Don't know about the other spots you are talking about Not much into Jazz ...and house can be a bit bland sometimes . But I do like my break beat, trance,ambient, techno & trip hop lounges. And like I said before don't mind hip hop as long as it is creative and universal. MJQ fridays is for the most part old school hip hop and some New York stuff ! And they do the old school funk on the lounge side.