Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Dining & Nightlife Guide

Media Credit: Jocelyn McGregor Barcode, Empire and Tropicana all offer excitement for the 20 and under. [Click to enlarge]

Not yet 21? Lucky for you, Sacramento has several 18 and over clubs, so you can party with the rest of them. Looking for some Latin style, hip-hop beats or even a place to dance and lounge? Whatever your taste is in music or dance there is a club for you.

Tropicana:

Every night is 18 and over night at "Tropicana Club" located on Arden Way. The cover charge is $15. Remember to bring cash, because they do not accept any other form of payment.

The club is split in two, separated by a doorway and of course, a bouncer. One side is for those 18-20 years of age, the other is for those 21 and up. However, each side has a large dance floor. A dress code is enforced.

If you like Latin music, you will like "Tropicana." The club hosts traditional mariachi bands as well as salsa music and cumbia; which is originally Columbian folk dance music and has now seeped into much of Latin-style rhythm. There were mostly couples on the dance floor.

The age range varied from younger to older couples. This club has a very cantina-like feeling with its lit-up palm trees and cowboy hats on most of the men. The club gets very crowded, and the line to get in was very long.

Barcode:

Barcode is located also on Arden Way (down the street from Tropicana). The club opens its doors to the 18 and over crowd every night. The cover charge is $15, but if you are 21 or older, it's only $10.

The dress code is very strictly enforced. The bouncer actually shined a little flashlight on people to make sure they were dressed up to snuff. A group of girls was turned away for wearing sneakers. So don't scrub it people. Leave your T-shirts and sweat pants at home.

The DJ for Barcode from 107.9 The End was playing, what else, "today's hit music." The dance floor is very small, but there is a raised platform.

There is only one bar, but a lot of lounge area, including a small patio in front of the club. If only the giant, neon Mervyn's sign from next door didn't smack you in the face when you walk out onto the patio, it would be an OK place to hang out.

Empire:

Empire is located on R Street downtown. Its 18 and over nights are on Wednesdays and Fridays. Doors open at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $15.

Wednesday nights are college nights, so bring your student ID and they knock $2 off, and that my friends is coffee money.

Empire has three bars, a very large dance floor, and a short stage where go-go dancers shake their almost-naked butts, adding to the level of classic hip-hop ambiance. The club's dress code is what is referred to as "upscale casual" (mostly applying to guys) - no T-shirts, baggy jeans or sneakers.

The bouncer will occasionally search people before they enter the club. Hearing "hands against the wall" was new and made me wonder where I was going. Prison perhaps?

The party didn't really get started until about 11 p.m. - then most people were on the dance floor. Throughout the night a fog machine blew down a white mist over the dance floor.

Overall:

I would say Empire was the most impressive club out of the three. It's closer to the downtown location and it makes you feel like you are in more of a hot spot.

The music was energizing, the bartenders were friendly and even though the idea of being searched before you go into a club is kind of scary, the bouncer wasn't rude about it. So, if you're planning on hitting the clubs tonight in Sacramento, make it a "Fueled" Friday night at Empire.

Adina Zerwig can be reached at azerwig@statehornet.com

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