HarrisburgNightlife

Fantabulous.

While I’m looking forward to checking out this “Smalls” I can’t help but think it’ll change formats again in less than a year.

Cool that they’re gonna do rock bands–but given Kamionka’s ‘lowest common denominator” marketing, I’m sure that once the dollars drop, so will the format.

And it’s odd how he keeps naming his clubs after other established venues in the country: I.E.: Hardware Bar (NYC) and now Smalls (Mr. Smalls–legendary music venue in Pitt)

Left by Jersey on September 29th, 2006

Kamionka’s involvement in Smalls is extremely limited. This is going to be a no bullshit rock-gutter dive; believe the hype.

Left by cosby on September 29th, 2006

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Seriously, I’ll give it a fair shot.

Perhaps my cynicism is due to hanging around all these cynics for all these years.

Left by Jersey on September 30th, 2006

I made my opinions known at floor9 but I will share here too:

I’m sure this will come as a surprise to everyone (lol) but I see no hope in this situation. When a company takes over vs. private owners, all you seem to get is yet another cookie-cutter place that is marketed to death. Going off of the article in the Patriot re: Fisaga and the company’s plans, and the whole “American cuisine with a Caribbean flair”, I imagine they will attempt to cater more towards families and yuppies. I’m sure it will do okay during the normal hours, but I don’t think it will be a place worth anything to the nightlife crowd. A real shame, as that is a prime location…

Are we now seeing the turn for DT HBG? I believe that we are…and only time will tell if it will be for better or for worse. But one thing is for sure, DT HBG is stagnant IMO and needs some new things and more variety; you can’t have the same stuff for 6+ years now and think it is going to be a hit forever…

Left by dskillz on October 1st, 2006

1. Hardware Bar is named such because the location used to house a HARDWARE STORE.

2. Legends is not “the same” ownership as Smalls, Hardware, Bourbon St., Diner, Eclipe, etc.

3. I’m pretty sure Legends is not becoming Wanda’s.

Left by Sara on October 1st, 2006

Oh, and it’s Fisaga, not Fisaga’s. But even the owners and staff seem to get that one wrong.

Left by Sara on October 1st, 2006

Actually, in this case, “Fisaga’s” is appropriate, as Mike is referring to “Fisaga’s management”. “Fisaga management” would also be technically correct, since Fisaga is the official name, but it’s really a stylistic choice.

Also, Hardware Bar was so-named because they had to drop the “Coyote’s”; the name and theme were inspired by the movie.

Left by floor9 on October 2nd, 2006

You’re right, Dave. I’m just so used to the error, I commented in a rage. My apologies to all.

Left by Sara on October 2nd, 2006

Sara-I love ya. I really do–but don’t tell me that the original name and decor of Harrisburg’s “Coyote’s Hardware Bar” didn’t ‘borrow’ from Coyote’s Saloon in New York City.

Sure, the location may have been a Hardware Store, but it doesn’t mean the concept is original.

From http://www.coyoteuglysaloon.com/101/

“The Coyote Ugly Saloon officially opened its doors on Jan. 27, 1993. Over the years Coyote Ugly has meant different things to different people. Some come in just to get abused by Lil and drink cheap tequila out of her boots; some to watch Jacqui — long term bartender-turned-manager — down 151, set it on fire, then shoot the flames down the bar; and others come just to drool over the new bartender dancing on the bar.”

Left by jersey on October 3rd, 2006

so, i’ve read that legends is not being renamed wanda’s, but is instead being named the west shore hardware bar. can anyone verify that?

Left by cosby on October 3rd, 2006

“Coyote” was most definitely a ploy. But it was “Hardware” (and that is not its official name - you do the math) because it was a hardware store.

Hardware’s relevance to NYC evades me - it has to do with a hardware store.

If it wasn’t, maybe it would’ve been Coyote’s Bar, Coyote’s Tavern, Coyote Not-So-Ugly — or, like the joint in Allentown, I believe, The Ugly Coyote.

Left by Sara on October 3rd, 2006

Yep - Cos, you got the right gossip.

Left by Sara on October 3rd, 2006

there are no original ideas left in this town… it’s too small and no one is willing to take risks for fear of losing or not making money… and no one supports anything new, different or original. downtown had its boom and has been on a slow decline for the past few years. sure it still gets busy, but it’s become homogenized. every place is pretty much the same….. commercial. i’d like to see something different, new and exciting succeed, but the reality is, anything kamionke is invovled with will ultimately cater to idiots and cause problems… aside from that, it’s all a ploy to steal the BRICK HAUS crowd. no rap eh? been to the myspace page?… truth.

Left by the truth on October 3rd, 2006

Snooooooooorrre.

Left by Sara on October 3rd, 2006

the truth speaks…well, the truth! And why exactly is it “Snooorree” Sara? Because you have heard this all before? That in itself proves the point; we HAVE heard this all before…because it has been the same story for the last 6+ years. Don’t you think it is time for a change, time for something different?

Left by dskillz on October 3rd, 2006

name one venue that has opened in new york city in the last ten years whose idea is certifiably new and is not based partially on an existing idea.

name any venue in any major city like this for that matter.

Left by cosby on October 4th, 2006

But NYC already has the variety, so they don’t need anything different really. I’m not necessarily saying DT HBG needs to come up with something that has never been done before (not even sure that is possible in nightlife anyway) but what it does need is some variety. From what I hear, Prive is a good start because they are playing different music (well, different for HBG that is). That’s a very good start…

Left by dskillz on October 4th, 2006

dude, there is so much to do beyond the bigger clubs in harrisburg - i could go out every night for two weeks and not have a the same experience twice by the vast options there are in the smaller restaurants, pubs and lounges. the niche spots are not the first thing you think of when ‘restaurant row’ comes up in conversation; but there are many, many spots that provide alternatives - perhaps too many spots for the population.

i’m not saying it’s perfect, or there is a flourishing scene of new and exciting restaurant risks; but it is far from same-y at this point. it definitely was a year ago, but there has been a backlash to the sports bar / dance club attached to a sports bar motif.

Left by cosby on October 4th, 2006

how about BED? so it’s in south beach, not NYC, and if i’m not mistaken, kamiomka ripped that one off briefly too, and sara, i’m disapointed. i expected a negative response from you because of you’re afiliation with ron, but that’s the best you could do? you’re a professional writer for f!#*’s sake. the truth.

Left by the truth on October 4th, 2006

Sheesh, truth. I actually wrote a long response this morning, but I can never get these codes right and it was lost.

What irritates me is the “blah Harrisburg sucks nothing is good here Kamionka sucks” attitude.

Thank you, Cos, for pointing out what many here fail to see - there is a lot more to do besides go to Ron Kamionka’s bars. I get why some of you reject it. He plays to the lowest common denominator, and you feel smarter than that. Great, so go somewhere else. He doesn’t force you to go to his places, and factually, he does not own EVERYTHING.

OK? So where are you people going? Are you at Suba? Jackie Blue? Epic? How ’bout taking over Stock’s and making it a hip younger crowd hangout again? The Pep Grill? Red Door? Or is it Noma/Prive or bust?

We are not NYC. We’re not Philly. We’re not hip and trendy, and we can’t support a grand development of bars like that (and as customers, we can’t afford it). We’re an area of suburb dwellers who like more than anything - cheap beer and wing night. And frankly, there’s nothing wrong with that, either.

We have come so far from what anyone could have imagined nightlife-wise for this area. That said, that does not make me complacent or feel like there is no room for change and advancement. Let’s see it! But - where are you guys going? Why aren’t you packing Zephyr on a Tuesday just for the heck of it? Are you going to art shows? Seeing local music? Helping to promote it?

Where are the original ideas? Seriously. What is the difference between one of you saying, “They should have X in Harrisburg. I saw it in NYC/Miami/Philly/Chicago and we suck so much because we don’t have something like this,” and Ron opening a bar themed off something wildly popular in another city? He’s a businessman, first of all. But second - even if it’s not your thing, it is clearly an attraction.

There is a lot to do in this area, and if you don’t think there is, you’re simply not looking. You’re not using the web, you’re not listening to the radio, you’re not reading the newspaper. The stuff is here. No, we don’t have everything, and no, it’s not perfect.

How about taking the ideas you have and getting together with some folks to develop them? This is still a growing area. The little people can do stuff (and I certainly don’t mean that offensively, but I simply mean to say you don’t have to be moneybags or “know someone” to do something around here).

Unfortunately, this morning’s response was much more eloquent, but I’ve lost my focus on this version, so I apologize.

I hope my points are clear, and they’re not intended to bash anyone or anything. Just open your eyes people. And if you like a place, support it. It’s the only way.

Left by Sara on October 5th, 2006

cosby, I moved away from HBG close to 6 months ago now, so if these places popped up in the last 6 months to a year, I may have missed them. But in all of my 28 yrs. in HBG, I was never impressed with what could be found and still to this day think the place needs more in the nightlife dept. Is HBG a bad place? Hardly, and for its size, it does have a lot to offer IMO. But I always found the places that I liked to be rather…empty, and they seemed to always be on the verge of closing (which doesn’t make a place as fun as it could be to me, no matter how good the music is, or the decor…). At the same time, the “OMG PARTY BARS” (LOL, I will never get tired of that phrase! thanks floor9 ;)) were always flourishing…

LOL @ the truth.

Sara, your response is well crafted and I must say that, overall, I agree.

Left by dskillz on October 5th, 2006

Thanks dskillz.

I have to say, however, that MOST of the places I mentioned have been open WAY longer than six months. They probably can’t afford advertising, so you don’t hear about like you do “Downtown After Dark Weekend Updates.”

It takes some word of mouth and maybe a little work. And sure, that’s why a place isn’t booming on a Tuesday, for example. And that’s why we need a board like this to help remind us of what else is here and how to support it. Instead of the constant bash bash bash on the one thing we all already know is here.

Left by Sara on October 5th, 2006

My mother always said, “Only boring people get bored.”

It’s really not that hard to find things to do. Ask around. Read these websites, sign up for HarrisburgHello’s newsletter, join a group. Walk around.

If you’re being blinded by the neon that is Hardware/Diner/OMG Party Bar and you can’t see past that, I have to say, that’s your own fault.

I’m done. Sorry!
[Sara steps down from soapbox.]

Left by Sara on October 5th, 2006

bravo sara, that’s more like it… touche. truth.

Left by the truth on October 6th, 2006

Haha - I love it! My “OMG Party Bar” has become a meme.

Left by floor9 on October 7th, 2006

I think that the main problem that I have with Harrisburg is the fact that people are so INTO the beer/wing night thing and close minded to the extent that we don’t welcome or flourish any ideas with a little bit of diversity or culture. The things in Harrisburg that are more interesting to do than bump elbows with the drunk regulars at the Hardware Bar are never advertised or supported. You rarely see an article in the Sunday Patriot or hear a commerical on the radio advertising the pieces in a great art gallery, a getaway to a nearby Bed and Breakfast, or the detailed history found at the Civil War Museum in Reservoir Park. In fact, whatever happened to the summer concerts and events they used to hold there? They seem to have died out.
I don’t find Harrisburg to be a bad place to live. I grew up here thinking there was nothing, went to college a few states away and when I came back found that the area had grown in a lot of ways, mostly for the better. There are some wonderful restaurants around the area like Julianna’s on the Carlisle Pike but I never really hear about the places that offer a little bit more authenticity - all you hear is “Come to the Harrisburg Hardware Bar or Tom Sawyer Diner or whatever new kick we’re on to see Girls on Trampolines!” Sorry, but we complain about how there’s not enough charisma to downtown and we’re not hip and trendy; and in the next breath the focus is in advertisting that type of crap?? Not to be a disappointment but people aren’t going to flock downtown for that kind of thing and bars aren’t going to prosper if that’s what they’re using as their scheme to pick up clientele. There’s nothing hip, trendy or even remotely cool about heading downtown weekend after weekend to see girls get wasted and jump on a freaking trampoline. Come on, we’re educated people, we should see more potential than this. And it annoys me that the very people who could do something to change that dumb mentality continue to create a ‘bar of the moment’ just to put a little extra money in their pocket.

Left by Liz on October 12th, 2006

[…] to perform their standard gut and paint job we’ve seen before at places like Mars, Tom Sawyer, and the Hardware Bar.  The high backed restaurant booths were moved to the […]

Left by HarrisburgNightlife » Blog Archive » Sam Bucca’s on August 26th, 2008

[…] in DowntownAfterDark to perform their standard gut and paint job we’ve seen before at places like Mars, Tom Sawyer, and the Hardware Bar.  The high backed restaurant booths were moved to the […]

Left by Sam Bucca’s | blogHarrisburg on August 28th, 2008