Fluid

Went here over the weekend not bad just a little tiny, stuffed, and hot. Had a nice time wish I could have come when it was more for hip hoppers.

«It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.» I was sad to see Fluid close their doors last week. This was the only place I know of in the city where I could see DJs that I revered and hear great music. I was there a few weeks ago to see DJ Cash Money.
A typical night at Fluid would have an empty dance floor before 11, but by the time the clock stroke midnight, the dance floor would be packed. I would frequent tasty treats nights. Mike Nice would spin songs that one has not heard in a long time. I loved the architecture on the inside that resembled the façade of Spanish architect Gaudi’s Casa Batllo. It could be hard to score a drink at the bar, and the line for the bathrooms could be outrageous at times. Nevertheless, to me, that was a small inconvenience to seeing great DJs and hearing great music!

It’s fun!!!
… and closed. Boo.
So knowing that it’s a small dance floor, crowded easily, mediocre beer options for mediocre prices, good variety of music based on nights, with non-​gendered bathrooms and a couch area behind the DJ booth is awesome, if you have a time traveling machine. Really all you need to do is go back a week or so. In fact, that’s the last time I was there — last Thursday for some fantastic sounds. Sex Dwarf is/​was also always fun (though admittedly I didn’t go as much as I should have) so if that pops up elsewhere, go!

Not good
I hated everything about this place. Lots of buzzkills that adds up to a total waste of time and money, like the DJ, and the small space, rude bar tenders. Never going again.

Fluid is one of the best nightclubs in Philadelphia. I’ve been here so many times I’ve lost count. The sound system is incredible and the lights are just right. There are two small bathrooms which used to be unisex which made for some awkward but memorable moments. One of the bathrooms is covered in mirror mosaic which is interesting and really a strange choice for a bathroom. I learned to love all these things. This place was always about good times, good friends and good music. Make your way on to the dance floor and fall in love with the music.

I went here for the Tasty Treats party on Saturday night, and had a killer time. The DJs were on point all night with new and old hip-​hop, and the sound system rocked. The dance floor is a bit small and took awhile to get going. By about 12:30 everyone was getting down. Ladies get in free before 11, so that’s the only real incentive to show up early. The place had more of a grown-​and-​sexy vibe than the more laid-​back bars I usually go to, but that didn’t stop them from offering really cheap drinks ($ 2 PBRs/​$ 3 well drinks). Fluid might not be quite as trendy as its operators think it is, but it still made for a fun night of dancing without breaking the bank.

I’ve been here once on a Friday and once on a Saturday night. No one was there on the Friday night and the bar tender ripped us off when we gave him a 20. The Saturday night was packed. It’s a small place but it has an interesting set up. The bar is set aside from the dance floor so you can actually hear someone talk if you want to. But I won’t be going back. It wasn’t worth the cover.

I went to dance hall night and it was horrible music, a crowd of ten boring ppl at most. I wanted to dance to good reggae and be joined by a fun crowd. Fail.
Must have been the wrong night. MY RECOMMENDATION — GO THE NIGHT EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT IN THESE REVIEWS.

i had the bestt time ever here with the fi! The dance floor was kinda small but the DJ was awesome and the bartenders were so friendly. def go!

My huge group and I found this place after desperately trying to find a place to get our grove on. We finally decided here. Cover was not too bad ($ 7) and neither was the coat check ($ 2).
The venue was a bit strange and slightly small (are we in a cave? maybe an igloo? let’s settle on bat cave…). But the DJ was rock’n!!! His name was Crazy Legs and even did a few dance moves for us. Pretty fun evening

Love this place. Even though the name is better suited for a gay bar ;)
The cave feel is awesome. The crowd is just about as diverse as you can get in the city. Their drum & bass nights are a must go on the second Friday of the month. They do have a $ 10 cover. They have pretty good drink specials If you get there before 11pm, but it’s a good idea to pre-​game beforehand. Also, another tip. Watch the stairs leading to the dance floor. They can be hard to see and as I’ve experienced myself just about every time in there, very easy to fall on.

I have been here a few times for music video shoots, and the «finger banger» party (rowdy kinda queer monthly dancefest). I like Fluid, it feels like you are in a cave, in a good way. There are little quiet alcoves hidden up flights of steps which is nice if you need a break from dancing.
The bouncers are there to keep everyone safe and in my experience have been intimidating looking, but polite. The bartender (s) have no problem keeping up with the demand for drinks, and coat check is cheap.

Ok, I was there last night with my boyfriend. I don’t know if it was just the weather, or if the place just sucks. We got there at 10, and there were no people there.
After about an hour, a go-​go dancer started dancing. She looked bored, seeing as how NO ONE was dancing at all. The DJ played kinda meh music and absolutely wouldn’t take any requests at all.
At about midnight, even the go-​go dancer (who at this point just had pasties and a little skirt on) gave up! There were maybe 20 people in the whole place, just drinking at the bar. There were 2 people dancing on the main dance floor. My boyfriend and I just went into some back room and were dancing to the kinda annoying club music that I thought they weren’t going to play.
I thought they were going to play mostly punk, rock, new wave stuff, instead the DJ played stupid house music. The crowd looked hip, but just sat at the bar all night. For $ 5, it was kinda ok. Probably wouldn’t want to go back anytime soon.
Oh, and the drinks were expensive, if not getting the specials… and the bathrooms were unisex and FREEZING

So I finally made it to one of the sex dwarf parties! Not nearly as kinky or exciting as the title deceivingly sounds– basically its their once a month tribute to all things new wave. Being a true child of the 80s you put on Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure, the Smiths, etc, etc and I’ll dance like a freak so I was super excited to check this place out…
The club had plenty of room to move and had a sort of cave like atmosphere– bizarre but whatevs… True to form plenty of my fave new wave hits were played and I danced like a freak. The problem was that the DJs were getting a little obscure. The basically decided to play Erasure and then decided they would play one of the more obscure hits that hardly anyone knew. That’s super awesome that you’re playing obscure songs, but it seems counter-​intuitive. Why not give the masses what they love! Isn’t the point to keep the dance floor moving. I’m definitely going to be back and am wishing and hoping that things are a little more new wave mainstream the next time around. Oh for you ladies who are tired of having some weirdo bump and grind on you from behind– there’s none of that scene here. Its hard to bump and grind to The Smiths :)

I went to Fluid with my man in the colder winter months. The first time we attempted to go, it was so tucked away, we never ended up going that night.
We decided to try again. We went on a Saturday night. The cover wasn’t too bad. I got a drink, I don’t remember it being particularly strong. We went upstairs to lounge and cuddle up for a minute or two. Then the music got fly, then I had to dance.
So, yeah, it’s a good club, because the music that was played was very good. I believe Questlove was DJing that night, too. I had a request but It wasn’t played, but oh well.
Mixed crowd and I always appreciate that. Have fun.

I’m a little hesitant to write a review because I consider this spot «my little secret». I’ve been coming here for about 7 years and there is nothing like Fluid on a Saturday night. From the moment you walk up to the nondescript door until you stumble down the stairs at the end of the night (thanks to reasonably priced drinks and Rasheed’s heavy handed pour) sweaty from dancing so hard and craving cheese fries from Ishkabibbles, you are guaranteed to have a great time.
I love this spot because on any given night you can be blessed by Jazzy Jeff, ?uestlove, Cee Lo, Melly Mel, QTip, Beverly Bond, Prince, Melvin Van Pe… the list goes on. But if you’re looking to be star struck this isn’t the spot for you. It’s a diverse chill place where you can hear a mix of real hip hop, some 80’s hits and it all makes sense.
I challenge you to find a place that can play Straight Outta Compton, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Double Dutch Bus and a reggae set and no one ever leaves the dance floor.

I’m one of those people, who passes up most invites to clubs… they are usually filled with frat boys and girls who forgot to get dressed to go out that evening…
But I never, ever, turn down an invite to go to Fluid on a Saturday night. The club is small and personal, the music is really killer, and the vibe is fun and low key. Bartenders, bouncers, etc… are all really nice and you don’t have to elbow through 20 people deep just to get a beer.

I’ve been kicked out of bars/​clubs twice in my life. Both times for being too drunk. Both times at Fluid.
…I’ve never had a bad night hear (the 2 out of four that i can fully recall)

For some reason I always thought Fluid was one of those terrible Delaware Avenue clubs, so when my friend told me I should meet her at Fluid for a bhangra party, I thought «Great. My least favorite music at a contender for my least favorite place!» Being a masochist, I ran 15 blocks through the freezing cold to meet her there anyway.
Apparently this place is actually cool! Tucked right off of South Street, the party was definitely going off. The crowd was pretty lame, but they seemed to be having fun anyway. Good drink specials, and the bar area reminded me a little of the cave-​ness of my dearly departed Arrow Bar (RIP). The whole time I couldn’t help but think that I’d love to go to a party here that actually played good music, and it turns out that they have those too! I’ll definitely have to check out Tastytreats and SEX DWARF. Though, judging from the pictures of Sex Dwarf, Philly new wavers care much less about their appearance than SFers. What’s up with that? Isn’t your outfit half the fun?

How could I have forgotten about Fluid? Maybe because it’s entrance is pleasantly tucked away in a back alley on a street that’s off of South Street. Fluid definitely has the best hip hop nights by far. I mean, I’ve seen Questlove? and some of his friends DJ here on a number of occasions. They also started having a cool monthly hip hop event called Hot Heat that’s worth checking out (sometimes my painter friends Vorcan paint during the music).
But Fluid isn’t just about Hip Hop. It’s also the home of Sex Dwarf. WXPN’s Robert Drake and friends spin plenty of good 80’s music, and it’s the première New Wave Party in the city! and let’s not forget about Fast Cheap And Outta Control!