Recently in nightlife Category

We went to the White Rose for dinner Monday night, and when the host asked if we wanted in the dining room or on the "heated patio," I pointed the patio mainly out of curiosity.

I wondered what it would be like out there now that the temperatures have cooled. I noticed that the restaurant was planning to install a heavy plastic curtain when the item passed through the city's HARB agenda. I wondered how much that would actually help. But on Monday, I have to say, it wasn't too bad on the patio. Granted, it was a warmer day and I suspect the heat wasn't cranked up too much, but I was OK while we ate dinner.

I'm always cold, so I was still a little chilly, but I've been colder inside restaurants.

Anyone else eaten on the patio since they put up the plastic?

Entertainment reporter Erin McCracken tackles that question in her latest POPeye column.

Read the whole column, but here are what she highlighted as problems::

York lacks viable venues
York's scene is fragmented
York gets a bad rap
York needs to talk less and do more

What do you think?

I spotted the Guardian Angels posted in the middle of the first block of West Market Street Friday night as I made my way home from the First Cap. The Angels were on the opposite side of the street from the Bourbon Street Saloon and Market Street Saloon.

That's the first time I've really seen them out in the downtown area, which could just say something about my lack of nightlife. So I called Mike Smith, the leader of the York chapter, who said they've been spending a little more time downtown lately, in response to recent events. (Two people were shot in that block late one night in mid-March.)

Smith said his group tends to be all over the city. They try to mix it up a little though, because inevitably if they concentrate in one area, they just hear about problems somewhere else.

Smith said he just added three new recruits, which brings the chapter up to 25 members. He's still hoping to get up to 40, but he's happy that everyone has stuck with it so far - he stresses consistency with the group.

On May 17, Angels head Curtis Sliwa will be in York to participate in a meeting regarding the York chapter's partnership with the York County Sheriff's Office. Smith said Sliwa is interested in trying to duplicate the concept with other chapters.

So, has anyone else seen the Angels out and about? Do you think they are doing any good?

(The photo above is from the York Daily Record in October of 2008.)

Last night at a York City Council meeting, Market Street Saloon was up for approval of a sidewalk cafe.

During the discussion, there were many mentions of the Hardware Bar, and questions about where the Hardware Bar is, where the Market Street Saloon is, and so on.

The bars have played musical chairs in the past few years. But entertainment reporter Erin McCracken solved the which-bar-is-which mystery a few months ago, so I'm going to refer you all back to her original blog post. Read it here, or after the jump.

Business reporter Kevin Horan has a story today about the White Rose Bar & Grill undergoing renovations.

They're renovating the cafe area and making more outdoor seating. But one of the biggest changes: the big white rose over the doors is coming down.

Are we at the Hardware Bar or the Bourbon Street Saloon?

One of the most confusing things about the downtown nightlife scene has to be the Hardware Bar complex. It seems to be suffering from an identity crisis. Bars have changed names and locations several times during the past two years with little explanation. (Don't count on the Web site to help solve the mystery.)