Winnipeg Nightlife

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The OC (formerly known as “Scandals” and “The Beach”) is a very well known Winnipeg Nightclub and is usually the first taste of the “bar scene” most teens get. The club gives off a casual and comfortable vibe and manages to feel cozy, yet spacious at the same time. There is plenty of lounging space featuring couches and booths all surrounding a large dance floor. Expect to hear the Top 40 Hits occasionally mixed together or remixed by the resident DJ. The Canad Clubs website states that, “singles averaging 21 and up” are what you are to expect from the crowd at the OC. Do not be fooled by this statement. The average age is much lower than 21. The crowd is definitely young, no doubt about it.

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Friday night is the night to come check out The OC; it is usually packed with young adults ready to dance. Unfortunately that was not the case April 24^th; the club was empty and lacked the spark it once had. The OC is located at 1792 Pembina Highway in Fort Garry (just down the road from Vivid and the University of Manitoba).

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The club is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am. Hot 103 does a weekly event called “The Spot” on Saturday nights, featuring DJ DLO. The OC is also available for private parties and fundraisers. Events like birthday and office parties can be held at the club for a unique experience.

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Review: April 24, 2009

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I went to The OC for the first time when I turned 18 (in fact, I think it may have been my 18^th birthday party). I had a great time, danced all night to the music playing and enjoyed hanging out in one of the many lounging areas. During the first year of being legal, I probably went to The OC at least a dozen times. If I was doing a review on this club two years ago I would have had no complaints, but unfortunately I am older now and my opinions about The OC have changed drastically. I am still below the “average age” Canad Clubs thinks goes to The OC, but when I went April 24 I felt much older (almost to the point of uncomfortable) then everyone else at the bar (and I am only 20 years old).

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There was no line when my friends and I got to the front door. Security check was standard; a security guard checked my purse and after that I paid my $5.00 cover charge. It took under ten minutes for that process to be done and I was inside the club ready to enjoy my Friday night. No coat check was available as the club stated (much like Cowboys had) that it was “summer”.

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There were very few people in the bar when my friends and I arrived at 10:30. Usually by this time things are starting to pick up and a line is starting to form. The dance floor was completely empty and the 25 or so people in the club were all sitting around the sides seemingly waiting for things to pick up. By the time I had left the club, thing were starting to pick up a bit but definitely not to the point of what I remember. It was very evident to me that the popularity of this bar is dying.

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I noticed most people were dressed casually; most girls were wearing dresses but not very formal ones. Guys mostly stuck with jeans and tee shirts. You may see the occasional guy wearing a dress shirt but that is few and far between. On the OC website they state their official dress code as: “Casual, Comfortable or Night Club Chic. Denim Does It!”. At the OC, being overdressed is more of a concern then underdressed.

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As the night went on I decided to get a drink. Since there was no line I got it right away and the bartender was quite pleasant to me. Maybe it was because he wanted to make a tip from me because of the lack of drinks being bought or maybe he was just a nice guy. Either way, it improved my mood. Drinks are standard bar prices at around $5.00 a piece including tip. After that I went outside for some fresh air. The smoking area is a decent size for people to go when they want to cool down. It is not anything glamorous, but is definitely better than some of the other patios in Winnipeg. For example, if you have ever checked out Blush’s smoking area, it feels like you are trapped in a cage…scary.

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After I got inside I danced a bit with my friends and we had ALOT of room. The dance floor was so dead I felt like I was at a private party with my friends. Good for me, not so good for The OC. Like I said before the music is mediocre at best. Expect to hear your typical Top 40 club music (Lil Jon, Pitbull, Soulja Boy, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Flo Rida, Akon etc.). A lot of the music I heard this night I also remember hearing 2 years ago. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the music is definitely not on the cutting edge or enough to attract customers to the club by itself.

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There really isn’t too much more to say about my recent experience at The OC. It was just…. bland. I think they really need to change things up a bit. I am getting bored and obviously from the crowd that showed up that night, other people are to. Overall The OC at one time was one of the coolest and hippest places to party in Winnipeg, but there are so many other clubs over shadowing it now. The OC really has no competitive advantage over any other bar in the city. The music is mediocre, crowd is mediocre, atmosphere is mediocre and they never host any special events or shows. Just like the television show, I think The O.C. Winnipeg needs to be canceled.

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