THE SOCIAL
1100 Queen West 416-532-4474 Rating: NNNNN
VIBE A brand new hot spot partially run by the people behind 69 Vintage (the clothing store next door). Expect hip, edgy tunes along with cheesy guilty pleasures seven days a week, and a crowd split between underground scenesters and suburban weekend warriors. Decor is kind of raw but seems intentionally so. The word “welfare” is painted in huge gothic letters along one wall, speckled with multicoloured polka dots.
SOUND & LIGHTS The lighting is minimal – no computer controlled lasers here. The sound system looks improvised and temporary, but sounds beefier than that in any of the other new bars in the immediate area.
DANCING OR LOUNGING It’s set up for a small dance floor and a larger lounging area. In practice, though, people dance wherever they can find the space.
LINEUP There’s generally no cover to slow entry down (with the exception of special events), but this is one of the new buzz spots and has been reaching capacity on a regular basis so far. Try inquiring about guest list if you can’t get there early.
