BAR/NIGHTCLUB: The Arsenal (Pico and Bundy)
I had gone to the Arsenal when it was in its original incarnation: a divey steakhouse/sports bar. I loved it. There were, for some odd reason, weaponry on the walls, and all over the place. I saw how that tied in with the name of the place, but why did they choose to call it that? In any case, under new ownership, the new Arsenal doesn't seem to have anything to do with its name at all now. It was cleaned up, there was a lounge, a smoking area and it just looked like all the other hip lounges in West LA: the Brig and the Cameo Bar with the sleek, hepcat decor. It was really nice, but it would have been better if it was kept as it was. The happy hour was great, although empty. Beer was $3 and well drinks and appetizers were $4. Since it was virtually empty, there were lots of places to sit. The music was a combination of '80s and '90s. I'd definitely go back there again if parking hadn't been such a bitch to find. The parking lot next door was only for the Chan Dara restaurant so you had to look for parking on the metered street and what with Chan Dara and Liquid Kitty down the street, it was few and far between. Fortunately, after several passes, I was able to snag a space not too far from the bar. Anyway, this place wasn't as snobby as its interior suggested it would be. The bartender was very friendly and casual and the waitress was still dressed in the red-black-white French Maid outfit that was used for the waitresses of the old Arsenal. The new management is obviously trying to appeal to a new crowd while still trying to hold on to the old crowd. Will this wishy-washiness work? Don't know. We'll just have to see if the new way has as much longevity as the old way did.
I had gone to the Arsenal when it was in its original incarnation: a divey steakhouse/sports bar. I loved it. There were, for some odd reason, weaponry on the walls, and all over the place. I saw how that tied in with the name of the place, but why did they choose to call it that? In any case, under new ownership, the new Arsenal doesn't seem to have anything to do with its name at all now. It was cleaned up, there was a lounge, a smoking area and it just looked like all the other hip lounges in West LA: the Brig and the Cameo Bar with the sleek, hepcat decor. It was really nice, but it would have been better if it was kept as it was. The happy hour was great, although empty. Beer was $3 and well drinks and appetizers were $4. Since it was virtually empty, there were lots of places to sit. The music was a combination of '80s and '90s. I'd definitely go back there again if parking hadn't been such a bitch to find. The parking lot next door was only for the Chan Dara restaurant so you had to look for parking on the metered street and what with Chan Dara and Liquid Kitty down the street, it was few and far between. Fortunately, after several passes, I was able to snag a space not too far from the bar. Anyway, this place wasn't as snobby as its interior suggested it would be. The bartender was very friendly and casual and the waitress was still dressed in the red-black-white French Maid outfit that was used for the waitresses of the old Arsenal. The new management is obviously trying to appeal to a new crowd while still trying to hold on to the old crowd. Will this wishy-washiness work? Don't know. We'll just have to see if the new way has as much longevity as the old way did.
