HarrisburgNightlife

I made the obligatory first night visit to Harrisburg’s latest nightclub remodel. Remodeling a club seems to be the thing to do this year. It’s so popular in fact, I’m waiting for the show “Flip this Nightclub” to appear on the Discovery Channel. Downtown makeovers have recently been done to Mars, Eclipse, and now the basement bar below Dragonfly formerly known as District.

Spy Club, as it’s now known, makes some changes to the former micro club and incorporates some highly original elements not yet seen in a venue in Harrisburg. Aside from Stallions, it’s the first club on 2^nd street to incorporate a secret rear entrance. In order to find Spy Club, patrons must walk around to the back of the building. Just walk down the exit ramp of the River Street Garage, turn right, and you’ll see the awning and entrance down the alley. Yes it’s secretive, and yes, it’s completely separate from Dragonfly with no access to the larger club upstairs. That is the way it’s meant to be.

First and foremost, Spy Club is a dance club. Dance music plays exclusively inside a dark room with a high tech light show. The floor is a good size for a large group of people. The focal point of the floor is a red shadow box where only the silhouettes of dancers will be seen on the floor. The audio system is loud, but tight. Beats permeate the room and up through the winding staircase through which patrons access the club.

Second, Spy Club is also a lounge. The former District lounge couch has been reupholstered with black leather accented by blacklight enhanced day-glow colors on the wall. An Internet café has been installed on the other side of the DJ booth. Yes, you can actually surf online inside a nightclub. Wi-Fi access is also available and may be the only means of communication since my Verizon cell phone service was unavailable once downstairs. A “spy camera” closed circuit television sits behind the bar giving patrons a birds eye view of 2^nd street. More cameras and angles are planned to lend a slightly voyeuristic feel about the club.

Spy Club is only open on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10pm (although other nights may be planned for the future). It’s not a place to pre-game or meet people early in the evening, rather it’s a place you’ll end up late night. Your first visit will most likely be an adventure as you wander down the alley to find a new secret dance space. No cover charge means you won’t have to pay extra to feel like a secret agent.

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Posted by Bone on Saturday, January 6th, 2007 at 1:35 pm.