Just Cyd.

Two recent concerts, on two different weekends, were held at Kings in Raleigh, NC. The website talks a lot about the old space, and how the new space is split up for different purposes (Kings is the music venue, Neptunes is the hip bar). I couldn't really get a read for how this was all set up, so I sent a message to the venue to ask. They short answer: They're not.

While you enter the building at street level, you have to either go downstairs to Neptunes, or go upstairs to Kings. It's a good 20-something stairs to get up there -- even the bands have to haul their gear up stairs. Once you get in the place, moving about it easy, and there is some seating, but anyone non-ambulatory will not get to enjoy a show in this venue. *sad trombone*

Accessibility aside, the venue is pretty decent. Seating along the perimeter in the form of benches and some tall tables with stools, some seats at the bar, and a nice open area in the middle. Bonus: Waldorf and Statler are on the far wall, judging all. The stage is a good size for the room, and the acoustics are nice. Maybe Waldorf and Statler help dampen the reverb in an otherwise boxy room?

Getting to Kings was tricky, as Raleigh is a happenin' kinda town, and this venue is just a few blocks from the Red Hat Amphitheater, which on my first visit, had a major event going. I chose to take Lyft for that event, running me about $25 each way from about 7 miles out. Street parking is free, but getting a spot is tricky. I played the Crip card on my second visit, and only had to walk two blocks to the venue, having parked in the handicap spot on the opposite corner of that block. There was all manner of warnings online about the parking decks, so I chose to avoid.

The staff were all very kind, and I thanked them for the info, as it helped me prepare, and we had a brief chat about the challenges of adapting older buildings for modern use.

Will I see a show at this venue again? Yes, if the band ranks high enough, and cannot be found at another, more accessible venue.

Popped down to Greensboro yesterday to see a show at Flat Iron in Greensboro. Oh, what do you mean most people don't take a jaunt of 450 miles for 45 minutes of music by their favorite performer?

They look to hold an eclectic schedule of events, with Night of the Living Dead the feature this Friday the 13th, and various and sundry musicians every weekend.

Their website covers most of what a newbie would need to know. Never did figure out the Children's Museum parking thing, but that's ok.

Finding it - it's on a main road, just a block north of the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, which was also having an event that night. Traffic was a bit spicy, but well-controlled. I took the venue's advice and went for the Davie St Parking Deck ("parking garage" up here), and was able to play my crip card for a swift street-level spot facing the road I'd need to walk up. Parking was supposed to be $10 paid at the exit; by the time I left, I got out w/o paying. win!

The walk up was a straight shot, about 3 blocks, well lit with small little eateries on the opposite side of the street. Felt 100% safe. Crossing Lindsay St everything went from high-end well-lit to normal old-school neighborhood. I hadn't had time to check this all out before sundown, but I'd done a virtual walkthrough on Google Maps, so I was good with it.

Building was well-marked, and there was nothing more than a standard threshold to the entry - no stairs or anything. the turn to get into the venue might be tight for a chair user, but nothing there seems permanently fixed, it's more various things to block the line of sight from the street to the stage. a couple guys out front smoking were friendly when I approached (employees), and the guy working the door was similarly friendly checking my e-ticket. Another reminder to me that scruffy unshaved tattooed guys aren't scary.

The men's room was straight back on the left side of the bar, right next to the stage. o.O the ladies' was on the other side of the bar, luckily. Again, no stairs or anything, but navigating that corner might be hard if the place is crowded. there was a partial stall w/o a door, so the door to the restroom itself had to be locked, which I nearly didn't see at first. oops.

The bar had 15 or so stools, plus 4 tables up front with stools. another half-dozen were against the far left wall by the stage, which is where I camped out, in front of the sound board. Didn't realize til too late that the stage was angled a bit towards the corner of the bar. ah well. They had two cameras on the stage - one straight on from the sound board's perspective, and one 90 degrees off that. each projected to a nice monitor in the bar area, so you could still see the full performance. no idea if it was just for real-time broadcast or if they were filming for the artists. Stage was crowded with five guys and a host of instruments, and this was AFTER the opener took their gear down; those two didn't have any room to move at all.

They had the typical bar drinks menu, with a few non-alcoholic options, too. My Liquid Death was $4.50, less than at Bogarts. They don't serve any food, but did have a popcorn machine going, and a giant water jug next to it. Standard bar stuff.

The location is sort of off by itself; on my way back to my airbnb, i ended up going through the neighborhood with the hip shops/bars/cafes. S Elm St, I think, on the south side of Downtown, near Southside. Would definitely see another show there! The Finns have a two-night holiday show in December that I'd kill to be at, but that's really pushing my luck ...

This was my first trip to Bogart's in Cincinnati. I was a bit intimidated, mostly due to the parking situation. I haven't solved the parking situation, but I did find a work-around.

Bogart's started out as a vaudeville theater, and has been a fixture on Short Vine near University of Cincinnati for nearly 125 years. In my lifetime, it's been the go-to place for rock bands not playing the giant stadiums along the river. The website was helpful in what to expect, but I learned some more stuff once I got there.

First thing I learned is there's a fast-lane thing, which gets you in ahead of the GA crowd. I don't recall seeing that on the website, but there were a dozen or so people in that line when I got there. If you want to be front and center, that's the line for you. I, however, decided to get extra-bougie. There was a pre-show VIP package for $20, and I decided to go for it. it got me in at 6pm (vs 6:30), and we got an hour of free food, beer samples and drink specials. We could also hear the opening act warming up. Food was catered by a local place, and consisted of two kinds of wraps, mac & cheese, homemade kettle chips, cookies, and possibly something else. Cartridge Brewing was sampling a beer, and I did partake. When I told the guy I knew of the place but hadn't been, he practically threw a gift card at me (which turned out to be TWO gift cards stuck together). future road trip! If you're local, into history and/or architecture, check it out.

During this pre-show thing, we could sit at the tables, but once 6:30 (?) rolled around, they were reserved for those who paid for them. Looking at the floor fill up, I decided it was worth an inquiry. for another $35, I could get a table for 4 for the night. all mine, to come and go as I pleased, with drink service once the bands hit the stage. for one person, it's a bit much, but for 4 people, heck yes! Given my pain level and the rapidly-filling GA area downstairs, I coughed up the $35 to get to sit.

the balcony area had its own bar, plus restrooms that were not at all scary. WIN! They also had monitors so we could see the stage, but honestly, the monitors weren't much better than the actual view - the lighting made things read weird.

I did venture downstairs pre-show to hit the merch table. the couple next to me had just got back, so we chatted for a bit. the stairs are a bit steep, but not the worst I've ever encountered. one of the many helpful employees said there's just no way to make the balcony accessible without gutting the building or causing more damage. the mezzanine, which is the street level, is where the accessible seating is, and there's a chair lift to get people to the GA area about 5 feet below. The accessible seating is a section with folding chairs that's first come, first served. I could have sat down there if I'd known. Every other venue I've been to the accessible seating is wheelchair-only empty spots with a companion seat next to it. Since I'm not a wheelchair user, I can't/don't use those seats. I was told that if the ADA section were to fill up and someone with greater need came in, they'd ask around to get someone to give up their spot, which is fair. I'm all for reasonable compromise and all that. The person in the power chair gets dibs over me with the cane.

Every single person I encountered at Bogart's was fantastic! Friendly, helpful, patient, you name it. It was a younger crew that I encountered, but none of them appeared to hate their job or wish they were elsewhere. Even the super-tattooed/pierced guy scanning the tickets was patient with me. I hate that i'm quick to judge appearances, but I really didn't expect what I thought would be a bouncer to crack jokes with me while we got our tech to cooperate. They were well-staffed, and appeared ready for anything.

To run a tab with the bar, our server had a QR code to scan, which would open an app in a browser and give me a code. I gave her the code, and that'd link us up. i could close my tab from my phone, easy-peasy, and download the app for future use. I did not, and can't find it now, but it was super simple to use, and reminds me just how far we've come since The Year of Concerts in 2010.

Overall, I'll be back for sure! My parking solution was to book a hotel (Quality Inn on 8th st) and Lyft to the venue (about $10 each way). Nearby parking might be walking-distance to an able-bodied person, but certainly not to me.