Utopia Studios

I went on holiday the 16 – 19 October 2015 to St. Louis from Dallas and my fiancée had an event to attend here. As i step in venue the bouncer was in all kinds of moods with us (I always go to the restroom with him if the place is sketchy or eerie) whilst we were in there no more than 2 minutes and bangs on the restroom door and yells «No double teaming the restroom!» as if we give off that low ass vibe. Also the place smelled of mildew and mold and i was very irritated. The place gave off a «trap house» feel and was out of sorts. A public crack house/​coke whore palace, to say the least. I’ve heard more conflicts here than i have anywhere else. Smoking allowed in the area, didn’t like that. Also the place looked as it was about to collapse. I don’t recommend. Giving it two stars because the young lady at the front was nice.

Bartender was an ass, clapping her hands saying «anytime now» as I pulled out money and following with «it’d be great if you could have your money out before coming to the bar» very rudely. I just wanted a drink to try and fit in with the younger crowd! The staff overall were pretty pushy and rude but I get that seeing as a majority of the kids are tripping or rolling. But that was uncalled for. Other than that the attendees were cool. Much younger than me… But it was fun.

A-​OK. It’s a fun spot with lots of parking. It may or may not be your scene. You can figure out fairly quickly whether this is a spot you would enjoy. They have an interesting drink selection including some of my favorite craft brews. Schnickelfritz is available, and if you haven’t had it, I would recommend trying.
One issue is that there isn’t much in the way of air conditioning at the establishment, so when lots of people are dancing, it can get extremely humid and hot — especially in the basement. Please be sure you stay hydrated, as this could become dangerous. Security is present on site, which should minimize some of the dangers of overheating & dehydration.

This place literally make me feel like I’m going to vomit from the smell of black mold and people that are high on lsd and coke… Horrible venue that the city needs to investigate for drugs and safety… Also my spouse saw people smoking crack and doing coke in the «safety room»

We have been rehearsing here a few times a year for the past few years.
It is a nice place for that.
They have rental equipment, junk food and drinks.
There is a microwave they let you use to heat up food you bring, and tables for eating and taking a break.
They still allow smoking, which I’m not a fan of.
The staff is very friendly, helpful and hard-​working.
The place has character, and so do many of the people I’ve met there.

I attend belly dance classes at Utopia Studios with Exotic Rhythms Belly Dance taught by Ami Amore. Utopia Studios is an old warehouse that has been converted into studio space. Utopia Studios has «character». I find it charming.
Ami Amore’s bellydance classes are the best in town for all levels of belly dance experience. Ami takes continuing education classes with world renowned performers and then passes the new techniques and ideas on to her students.
I highly recommend both Utopis Studios and Ami Amore’s classes.

Utopia Studios is located well out of the way of the hustle and bustle of Grand Boulevard. It’s basically a warehouse space where local artists (and some national acts) can practice without the the little annoyances that come with the music business, such as noise ordinance violations.
It’s tucked between two existing warehouses behind Cardinal Glennon Hospital. You can’t miss it; it’s the green building.
A friendly receptionist is almost always at the front door, ready to direct you to one of their many practice rooms, which can accommodate musicians and dancers. Patrons can even rent equipment for a small fee, like smoke machines to get those creative juices flowing.
About a year ago, I responded to an ad that said I could learn how to box and wrestle. I thought it was pretty cool and it led me to Utopia.
In the far back of the warehouse, there’s a full boxing and wrestling gym, equipped with weight machines and two padded rings. I work out there twice a week with the mixed martial arts club (See: St. Louis Training Circle) and it’s been a great ride.
Personally, it’s all about the community you foster as a business. Utopia does that. There’s always musicians hanging around playing one of the video game machines, or chatting at one of the communal tables about their next gig. Lots of people treat this place like their second home.
It’s gritty and «underground» but I’ve been informed by several musicians that the price to rent a studio are inexpensive. The service staff here is nothing but nice. What can I say? Utopia is trying really hard to live up to its name.