Club V2O

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 05:51

Address: 81 Aquarium Way
             Long Beach, CA 90802
             562.216.2060

The Basics: Long Beach nightlife can be a bit iffy.  While it is more than convenient for those of us that like to party like crazy yet hate the long drive to Downtown L.A. and the Hollywood area, coming across a good nightclub might be more difficult than trying to catch a glimpse of a sober Amy Winehouse.  That’s why before heading to any party spots in Long Beach its better to inform yourself and do some research. The Pike area has a couple of hotspots that are quite busy during the weekend so a group of friend and I decided to head over that way for a change.  While “Mai Tai’s” was the obvious choice since the ambiance is dope, we wanted to try something new, so instead we opted for “V20”, which is just a few feet away.  As we were walking towards the venue, we were asking fellow club-goers what they thought about “V20”, unfortunately for us, they didn’t have many good things to say--- they were all heading over to “Mai Tai’s”.  In spite of the grim reviews, we decided to check it ourselves.

Going in went along swiftly, no lines, not so much hassle- except for the fact that they take away your gum and your eye drops, which I find to be utterly ludicrous. 

Now, if you plan on going to “V20” beforehand, get yourself on the guest list at www.v2olongbeach.com, otherwise guys prepare yourselves to pay $20 to go in, girls $10.  Are the $20 bucks to go in worth it?  Quite frankly, it will be a no… so just take a minute earlier that day to put yourself and your buddies on the guest list. 

The venue is spacious, and the Asian influence in the décor makes for a good atmosphere.  There are four bars and a couple of beer stands here and there.  Another good thing about “V20” is their patio- unlike other venues in which they want to cram a shiz load of smokers into a tiny square, the patio at “V20” is roomy and you’ll be able to catch some fresh air without breathing in so much second-hand smoke. 

The music is just ok.  There’s nothing new or different playing- your typical Top 40, a couple of remixes, but that’s about it.  The lighting and the sound system make up for the questionable music choice- state of the art lighting and a HQ sound system make it easy for you to literally feel the music- that and some drinks.

The drinks at “V20” are fairly priced, they might seem on the expensive side, but if you’re used to partying in the L.A. area, you should be used to pricey drinks.  Truth of the matter is, they’re not that bad- they average at about $10 per drink and the usually spike them up good. 

When it comes to the crowd, that might be a turn off for many.  While it was a mixed crowd, the guy-to-girl ratio was way off balance; I honestly hadn’t seen so many guys by themselves in a straight club before.  Although it was a mixed crowd, it was predominantly Asian. 

Overall, “V20” is a decent place to party if you don’t feel like driving all the way to the Downtown L.A. area.  While the promoters make this club to be more than what it is by advertising it’s a “10 million dollar venue”, by the end of the night you’re left to wonder if those millions where money well spent.

After asking a couple of bartenders, they suggested the best day to party at “V20” was on Thursday nights, when they have their “College Night”, when the crowd is much more alive and more eclectic.  We’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.