Bar review – Maxine’s Hideaway (West End, Davie Street)

One of the things I have to be grateful to the world of social media for is getting to know Erica Hargreave and having a chance to become friends with her. Erica and I met at one of the Third Tuesdays, and since then, we’ve had a few opportunities to hang out in social settings outside of just the social media world (I have a review of Alpha Izakaya coming in a few days – I went to Alpha for dinner with Travis and Erica after Mhairi Petrovic’s Third Tuesday talk – which I live-blogged).

Erica has a wonderful sense of humor, is very sweet and shares many of my own values in regards to how we both view friendships and our role in the social media world. So, when she asked me whether I’d be into having a quick drink before meeting J. Karen Parker for dinner, I’d say “BUT, OF COURSE!”. She picked me up at home and we headed down to the West End, where the night life is actually pretty damn good.

I had my heart set on Maxine’s Hideaway not only because it’s close to where I had to head down for dinner, but also because it used to be Balthazar (a formerly queer hangout), and I wondered whether the new owner would have changed the theme. I am glad to report that Maxine’s is a great bar, and the owner has respected the main feel and flavor of the place as much as possible. Located at 1215 Bidwell Street off Davie Street, you can sense that Maxine’s has a very special magic within the building.

In their own words:

Maxine’s Hideaway is a restaurant with exceptional food,
dinner theatre with exceptional live entertainment (New York style)
and lounge with DJ’s and a dance floor.
All this lives in this historical Vancouver heritage building known as Maxine’s.

Both Erica and I had a couple of martinis (VERY good, and VERY strong). Really affordable as well, within the $7-10 range. Special events include Friday and Saturday dinner shows with the Candy Girl Cabaret (which is a sexy Broadway Burlesque song and dance group, the owner indicated that it was led by New York dancer-choreographer, Leigh Torlage).

We were given a virtual tour of Maxine’s and had a chance to talk about the secret life of Madam Maxine, who apparently had a house for ‘working girls’ (bordello, if you want to use that word). Apparently, Mme. Maxine only used to open the bordello when the economic times were tough. You can read up more on the website’s history section.

I had a wonderful time in no small part thanks to Erica, the owner of Maxine’s Hideaway and also, the fact that I had a chance to spend time with a good friend chatting up. I look forward to more chances like this in the New Year! I am sure both Erica and I will be coming back to Maxine’s many more times!

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