Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/532701
LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 7.15 43 To fully appreciate the present, let's acknowledge the past. Prior to the Cure Lounge inhabiting a historic saloon at Burnett and Shelby streets in German- town, Club 21 dominated the corner building. A neon gasp of a bar, Club 21 on a Friday night hosted white rappers hon- ing their craft and the ladies who loved them wrestling in baby pools full of hot oil. If you were in the mood, it was a fun time. But the Cure Lounge, which opened last year, is a mighty, welcome replace- ment. It's still home to the strange and eccentric, but it refects what makes this city great — anything goes, just come on by. With its surreal Tim Burton décor, the Cure Lounge regularly offers trivia nights, circus sideshows, burlesque performanc- es, DJ battles, fundraisers, pet adoption drives, wild dance parties, live music and the old Club 21 regulars who still pop in for a game of pool. One chilly winter night, I happened upon a buttoned-up set of offce folks holding a potluck Christ- mas party in the back room, the one that formerly held the hot-oil wrestling. I've also witnessed sloppier moments. I'll just say it included Derby Week drunkenness, partial nudity, men of car-salesmen qual- ity taking advantage of a drunk woman, and a valiant effort by strangers to get her home safely and with dignity. Something curious always happens here. The cherry on top? This isn't a toss- liquor-in-a-plastic-cup kind of joint. Bar- tenders take great care making cocktails. Soak up the Cure. — Anne Marshall This simple little devil is part of Manny & Merle's "Southern/Soul" mission. Sweet and spicy chili jam on tender pulled pork, brought to ecstasy level by a delectable, cilantro-enhanced roasted-garlic cream sauce — all inside a double-tortilla jacket. And check this out: $3.50 apiece. If you show up for social hour between 3 and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, your pint of Dos Equis is half-price — $2.50 — and your Mannyita, made with premium tequila, is $3.50. Two tacos and a pint, with tip: $12. — Jack Welch CRITIC'S CHOICE CRITIC'S CHOICE Best Taco Gren Chili Pork Taco from Many & Merle 122 W. Main St. Photo by Aaron Kingsbury Best Collection of People The Cure Lounge 1481 S. Shelby St.