Top five spots to dance up a storm

By Meghan Isaacs

isaa0027@algonquincollege.com

When looking for a good place in Ottawa to go dancing, there are many factors to be considered. Price of drinks, atmosphere, type of music, location of venue, staff and crowd are all key contributors to picking the perfect spot to party until you drop. These five places will be guaranteed to have you dancing up a storm like no one’s watching...

HELSINKI at 15 George St.- One of the classier clubs in town, this two-level bar is modern in architecture and music, but hidden from view and harder to notice. Also featuring themed nights like Hump Wednesdays, Helsinki’s top floor is a bar, with the downstairs floor used as a lounge and disco.

“I love the design of the furniture...the atmosphere... the great service,” said Chelsea Vickers, an advertising student at Algonquin. She adds that after losing a piece of jewellery at the club, they even looked for it and found it the next day.

PIER 21 at 111 Parent St.- A bit further from the rest of the market, students flock to this relaxed, two floor pub-style bar, that features live music on Thursday through Saturday. Fourth year University of Ottawa criminology major Sam Lytle thinks the laid back atmosphere and the lighting make it one of the better clubs in town.
“I love dancing at pier cuz the live band makes me feel so energetic and the music is so easy to dance to,” Lytle said.
TILA TEQUILA at 104 Clarence St.- Students flock to this club, located in the heart of the market, because of the Cancun-esque feel it has, with the bars decorated to look like the palm tree drinking huts of the South. Open Thursday through Sunday, the club plays popular hip hop and house music.

“I love Tila Tequila because they play great dancing music and there are a lot of really good looking boys,” said Jessica Millar,a fourth year leisure studies student at the University of Ottawa. Millar adds that Tila Tequila has “lots of dancing room and a multi-level dance floor” making it worthy of a top five spot.

ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX at 27 York St.- Featuring live music during the week and on weekends until approximately 10 p.m., Zaphod’s plays host to music and bands of all kinds. There are also themed nights. Just to name a few, the Electric Ballroom spins brit-pop, rock, electronica, and all your other favourite tracks on Fridays and Saturdays, Full Flavour Thursdays plays the hottest current and classic songs in hip hop, and Industrial Strength Tuesdays plays dark techno and industrial music. The venue isn’t the biggest, but the dark lighting and usual crowd make it a second home to many.

BABYLON at 317 Bank St.- If the Mod Night on Sundays (and the pitcher deals paired with it and no cover) aren’t reason enough for this venue to be a staple for nights on the town, the spacious atmosphere of the modest but cozy building and the Retro 80s and 90s nights on Wednesdays are sure to get the place packed.