Central Social Aid & Pleasure Club

Description

It takes longer to say the name of this Santa Monica nightclub than it does to feel comfortable once you've walked in the front door. Central Social Aid & Pleasure Club operates in the space that was formerly the longtime location of 14 Below, but it has a totally different atmosphere. The homey front bar doubles as a DJ lounge, with mirrors and red brick walls looking down on a big fireplace and a sporty grotto with a 42-inch flat-screen plasma TV. The adjoining music hall (capacity 150 people) features an admirably diverse array of indie-rock, electronic, singer-songwriter and hip-hop musicians. The Roots' Questlove stops by sometimes, and the club has hosted promising local indie rockers like Liz Pappademas & the Level. On top of that, CSAPC aims to be "the center point for progressive culture, social activist and globally conscious organizations to hold community meetings, benefits and rallies." Central opened in August 2010 in the spirit of New Orleans' social aid and pleasure clubs, while retaining the ambiance of a Westside neighborhood bar. Proudly declaring that "we don't judge, but we also don't have a blender," the bartenders have a full bar with premium whiskeys and pump draft beers ranging from Lagunitas IPA, Fat Tire and Mirror Pond Ale to blue-collar stalwarts like Schlitz and Pabst Blue Ribbon. There's a parking lot behind the club, as well as street parking. Ages 21 & over.