by: Anna Frost
For an establishment that is known by most simply as a dive bar, The Ritz wears many hats. Depending on the time or day, a myriad of people and music flow through the little place. It would be safe to claim, that on Sunday nights, the designated hat is undoubtedly of the party variety.
Sunday is ladies’ night at The Ritz, named as such since women don’t have to pay cover. It is also the only night that The Ritz has a DJ, rather than the live music that its known for.
Women and men – both young and middle-aged – packed the dance floor on a recent Sunday. Many bedecked themselves with glow stick bracelets, necklaces and glasses that a tiny, enthusiastic girl with red hair and bright white overalls passed out to those in the crowd. Older couples danced together next to groups of women out for a girl’s night. Islanders and the summer crowd poured through the door. The occasional cougar strived for the attention of twenty-something guys who inexplicably showed up in circa-2000 baggy pants and shirts. Everyone was having a ball.
From the corner, DJ AP mixed the music blaring from the speakers. The crowd pulsed, dancing to throwbacks like TLC’s “No Scrubs,” which DJ AP intertwined with new hits. When he played a mash-up of the popular “Whip Nae Nae” and the GS Boyz’ “Stanky Leg,” nearly everyone on the floor could be seen doing the accompanying dances.
The dance floor wasn’t the only part of The Ritz bustling that night. Couples danced on the lower level, and near the bar customers were two or three people deep. Competition for a seat at The Ritz gets quite heated after 9 p.m. Those who came early held onto their tables or bar stools like the precious gold they are. The bartenders flitted from customer to customer, serving everyone quickly, as they always do. The team at The Ritz, marked by their “Drink Local” shirts, never falter, even in the face of the masses. Through the little window between the bar and the kitchen, the cook could be seen preparing orders of queso, burgers and other Ritz specialties.
The night is like many others at The Ritz. The bar is consistent in the best of ways, while offering a wide-range of music and experiences. Ladies night is simply one of those, and definitely worth checking out.
