Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: Dining & Nightlife Guide

Media Credit: Kevin Fiscus The Park Ultra Lounge on March 3. The club is located at 15th and L Streets, and cover charges range from $15 to $20. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Kevin Fiscus Strings of lights illuminate the patio of the Park Ultra Lounge. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Kevin Fiscus The main dance floor of the Park Ultra Lounge on March 3. [Click to enlarge]

Ditch the swing set and sandbox and head over to play with the grown-ups at The Park Ultra Lounge in downtown Sacramento.

The Park, located at the corner of 15th and L Streets, is an upscale nightclub for the 21 and older crowd. From the outdoor heaters and bar to the double-sided mirrors, which make for an interesting bathroom experience, this club has all the playground fun of a hot nightspot.

The club is adorned with plenty of chairs, couches, pillows and lights. The indoor bar is dimly lit and lined with stools. An array of choice beverages fills the bar wall. The drinks are expensive, starting at $7.50 for cocktails.

Walk outside to catch the cool air and you are surrounded by plants, heaters, lights, chairs and modern-day stools. Warm up near an outdoor fireplace or plop down on one of the plush sofas. There is also an outdoor bar and plenty of standing space.

On a recent Friday night, DJ Eddie Edul and Jake Esparza spun a mixture of hip-hop, R&B and Top 40 hits. The music was an eclectic blend. The only drawback of the music was that Edul and Esparza needed to play more hip-hop beats that everyone could dance to.

Give your feet a break from dancing and have a seat on one of the many chairs or couches in the bar area. You won't strain your voice yelling to have a conversation. The separate bar and lounging area is far enough away from the dance floor to where you can talk and hear, but close enough to watch people moving on the dance floor.

Indoors or out, this club is not too crowded. It brings in a decent sized crowd, but there is enough room to sit, stand and shake, whatever your preference may be.

Take a bathroom break and become intrigued by the mirrors. Upon entering the restroom, you can see through into the opposite sex's restroom. A man glanced through the mirrors and asked my friend and I, "Does my hair look ok?" Walk a little further down and you can go to the restroom in privacy, sans mirrors. As you return to wash your hands, you'll stand facing a pack of men or women doing the same thing staring back at you. A little creepy at first, but definitely unique.

The crowd is a combination of 20-somethings and older business professionals. Ages anywhere from 21 to 40+ were found drinking and dancing around the club.

The best part of this club is the ambiance and the amount of space. Most clubs are crammed with people, but The Park allows you to have plenty of room to dance, chat or chill. The surroundings are calm and cool, making this park a playdate everyone should have.

Dress code is enforced and is slightly more upscale than most clubs. Men must wear collared shirts and dress shoes, and ladies, well we always get off the hook. As long as ladies are dressed to impress, they'll be admitted.

It does cost a hefty $15 cover charge on Friday nights and $20 on Saturday nights. If you dine at one of The Park's restaurants, you can get in for a discounted or free cover and not have to wait in line - a definite plus because the line can become long on a weekend.

The Park also has special events, including celebrity DJs, discounted covers and more. To find out more, check out its website at www.theparkdowntown.com.

Amy Ball can be reached at
amyball@statehornet.com

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