Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

Georgina and I have been heading over to this place on Sunday nights for a good part of the summer, practicing our moves on the dance floor for what is officially noted as Swing Night. A lot of the time the place is rockin and we love it. There's no cover charge and no drink minimum. Some of the bands have been really fantastic, while some of them - not so much, but what the heck? Ya can't complain all that much when you're getting free dance time, right?

Well, let's talk about that, shall we? Although Sunday nights are designated as Swing Night, no one in the management seems to know exactly what swing music is, and consequently some of the bands on stage appear to be rather taken aback that swing dancers aren't all that thrilled with cool jazz, and other such un-dance-able stuff. Sure there are a few show-offs who can dance to pretty much anything, but come on, the very least we need is 4/4 timing...think Bill Haley instead of Miles Davis

I'm not saying that everything is all bad because that's simply not true, but I am saying that swing is swing and not anything else. The beer is good, the prices are fair. I've not yet eaten in the place but I hear that the food is very good. But this isn't a review is it? This is an evaluation of sincerity. Last Sunday was Halloween and there was to be a big Swing Bash with prizes for the best costumes etc... A nice idea in the abstract, but as things turned out it was cold on Sunday, really cold. We arrived around 7:30 and were astounded to find that the event was being held outside. This is a place that just happens to have a huge dance hall inside that was not in use, though it was warm and inviting. Georgina asked one of the people in charge why she had been told that the party was going to be held inside when she inquired last week...no answer. Could things be moved inside? No. Why not? No answer. In the meanwhile, other people were stopping by, checking out the situation and leaving. Just in the time we were there, possibly a hundred people or more simply left. One bartender suggested that the only way to keep warm was to dance. Well yeah, but what was to happen when you stopped and stood sweating in the 42 degree weather? No answer.

Evaluation: Kind of sincere (What can I say? If I ever wanted a sincere attitude from anyplace - it's this one. One can only hope for a brighter and warmer future)


 

29-19 24th Avenue
Astoria, New York 11102

Mon-Wed: 5:00pm - 2:00am                                 

 Phone: (718)274-4925

Thu- Fri: 5:00pm - 3:00am                           
Sat: 12:00pm - 3:00am
Sun: 12:00pm - 2:00am 

http://www.bohemianhall.com/en/Index.php