Nights That Shine… Like Rubies

“Ruby… slippers?”

“Too Wizard of Oz. And anybody that kills old ladies by dropping houses on them can’t be all that pleasant (The pig-tails and little dog were just a front).”

“Right. Ruby Tuesday?”

“I think a certain band may put us through the legal ringer if we tried that one on.”

“Okay. What about The Ruby Lounge?”

Bingo.

The Ruby Lounge is the latest bar/cafe/music venue to join the central Wellington entertainment scene. It’s important to note that last part. Because these guys have a serious Jones on for their music – and I mean SERIOUS.

Owners Laura Collins (a musician herself) and Alun Lloyd have taken on the Bond Street site (formerly Syn Bar) with an eye towards a cabaret-type experience. One where customers can drink in comfortable surrounds, eat a tasty meal, listen to just about any style of live music, and get their dance on if the mood takes them.

So it’s a multi-faceted little gem this Ruby Lounge, one where the red wine flows sweetly on almost any night of the week, just as the tunes do at some unusual times for a New Zealand venue. Instead of the typical “Doors open 8-9, band comes on 10 or later”, the Ruby Lounge have been getting their mojo flowing at the almost unheard of time of 5:30pm. Gasp, shock, horror – is this allowed?! Well nobodies called the music police yet so I’m guessing it is.

So if its early evening and you want to have a drink or two, why not get a gig into the mix as well? I can see many pluses for those who cross the Ruby Lounges threshold at this point. Such as: actually being sober enough to remember and enjoy the music; Starting off an evening with a real kick and continuing in the same fashion; or starting and finishing earlier than usual and actually LIVING your morning, rather than being hung-over and miserable or just sleeping right through it.

I can guarantee that it won’t cost you a handful of precious jewels to drink there either.

-Darren