eCity enlivens northwest part of city

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Sep 20, 2002 by Bill Reed

The city's northwest corner has a new nighttime mecca: eCity.

The spacious restaurant and jazz club opened last weekend, and a healthy crowd shuffled in. It's in the former Pasta di Solazzi building, just north of the intersection of Centennial Boulevard and Garden of the Gods Road.

This area of town is hungry for more nightlife, and from what I've seen, eCity should fill the niche nicely.

"We want to have more of an upscale atmosphere," says Angela Barber-Grier, who owns eCity with husband Gerald Grier. "Not like The Broadmoor, but a place people can enjoy. A pleasant, easy atmosphere that's also fun-loving.

"We want to give the people on this side of town a place to go, so they don't always have to go downtown."

Barber-Grier is an interior designer, and her touch is evident in the lush colors at eCity. The club is 9,500 square feet, with two levels, three bars, seating for 300 and plenty of cozy booths.

The nonsmoking atmosphere at eCity seems well-suited for its clean, high-ceilinged airiness (don't worry, smokers, there's a patio with mountain views where you can get a nic fix).

eCity is primarily a restaurant. Chef Barry White serves up the love every single night of the week. I don't know if Mr. White has a deep, sultry voice and likes to talk about lying down by the fire, but I do know he serves up ribs, filet mignon and swordfish on his steakhouse-style menu.

What makes eCity different is Gerald and Angela's love of jazz, blues and R&B. They promise live music every Friday and Saturday night, with occasional music during the week.

Denver jazz band Heads Up started it off last week. The band set up in a prominent spot at the center of the restaurant, and plenty of people took advantage of eCity's tile dance floor.

The Griers are doing their own booking, and they encourage bands to give them a call at 594-4569.

As the name implies, there's also a technological aspect to eCity. The owners are installing a wireless network in the restaurant, so patrons can pick up a hand-held computer on the way in and have full e-mail and Internet access at their fingertips. eCity is open 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. on weekends. Barber-Grier says the restaurant will be open for lunch in a few weeks.

Time to Tailgate

A friendly neighborhood sports bar opened its doors last weekend on the city's south side near Fort Carson.

Tailgate Sports Bar, 1026 Maxwell St., already has overcome several obstacles. The site is the former home of Club Variety, where chaos and random gunplay ruled until the club closed in the face of losing its liquor license.

That kind of trouble seems unlikely at Tailgate. It's a relaxed bar atmosphere with a menu of burgers, wings and ribs, 10 beers on tap, six pool tables, darts, sports memorabilia on the walls and a gigantic 13-foot TV at the center of it all.

This is a place to watch the Broncos, not pick fights.

Where the grass is green

and the girls are pretty

Local bands listen up: There's a rock 'n' roll club in town that won't ask you to play Lynyrd Skynyrd covers.

Paradise City opened last fall (at Academy Boulevard and Montebello Square Drive, behind Lone Star) as a haven for '80s metal covers and tribute bands. Owner Mitch Siff simply built a club around the music he loves.

Paradise City retains that flavor - Led Zep and Guns N/ Roses tribute bands still roll through occasionally - but the club has evolved into one of the best spots in the city for original rock bands.

This Saturday features a hard-rock triple bill of Foot, Gripped and Positively Negative.

"I'm aggressively seeking bands," says Joe Powell, who handles booking for Paradise City. Call him at 232-5970.

The club seats 150, fits 300, and has a rock 'n' roll fantasy stage setup of lights, fog and decorative bras. (Female patrons get a $50 bar tab for contributing to the bra collection.)

Powell books up to 10 Colorado Springs bands a week into the club. A lineup of three bands plays every Wednesday night, and the bands who pull in a crowd are asked to return for weekend slots.

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are now devoted to original rock. "There wasn't an overwhelming interest in cover bands," says Powell.

That's music to many ears. Usually bands struggle to find a place for their original music, while clubs demand they play the same classic rock covers over and over.

"We want to be known as the home of the best original bands in Colorado Springs," says Siff. "There's a lot of talent here."