Wow!
What an opening. Even the new curfew in effect couldn't damper the opening of Rouge. I thought because of all the drama going on that no one would be there. Well, it was packed to the rafters. The space is really very nice. The sound system is banging and gay Santo Domingo was out in force last night.
If the first night was any indication, then Rouge should be a hit. Everyone is now going to have to step their games up. I don't know if there is enough business to service 3 clubs, but we shall soon see.
When I got there it was so much smoke from the smoke machine for the show, that none of the photos came out. I had to wait for things to clear out a bit to take some pictures. The show was great and professional and they had a screen over the stage so that you could see everything.
The club will be open from Thursday to Monday, from 10pm. The price is RD$150 pesos on all nights except Saturday, when it is RD$200 pesos. The club is located in the Gazcue section of Santo Domingo, very close to the Colonial Zone. The address is Avenida Bolivar #72.
Good luck, Rouge!
Extra: David Lee has a great review of the club on his blog.
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42 comments:
Super great to hear this good new's after this week over there. How late did it stay open and were police closing down the places like the other nights???Please give us all the details of the happenings over there, Please and thanks,The pictures are great and the place looks nice has well, hope it makes it has well, good luck to all involved, Jim From Houston
Well done for Chachita Rubio she is a fighter and We'll be at Rouge next time in SDQ keep up the good work " Manita" at last You very own Club. Anthony if I could vote for a journalist award, it will be for you.Thank You for the update. Lazaro Nueva York.
This place will be a HIT in DR.. Chachita is a excellent Public Relationship...Success go ROUGE!!
In the Colonial Zone they have been closing everything down at midnight. Tonight, clubs can stay open until 2am.
There is also talk that they are making the clubs in the all-inclusives close down early, too.
Many people, especially those that make their money from the nightlife industry are up in arms. I don´t think these new laws will last. At least they will have to be modified.
We´ll see ...
No hopefully these new laws shall not last once the people get there money messed up and the politicans get envolved , this shall not last long for dam sure, well in hopes it does not because it shall hit the tourist industrey hard and that means money for the goverment has well. Good Luck to the comman man over there, march , make everyone aware of your cause, and do all it takes to change things to the way it was, well with crime under control and the streets safe once again.Do keep us well informed has to the happenings each day , Please , thanks so much...
They have now made the casinos close their bars and quit serving alcohol during the curfew hours. It took uniformed police at the Hilton to get that down but it happened. This can't last.
Ah! I see that monaga.net is operational now. Anthony, best wishes on the new website.
Dave from SF
Uniformed police entered Friends bar last night and forced Leon to close and forced clients out of the bar into the streets. But that is because Leon ignored the curfew and was selling drinks beyond the 2am period. All the other gay bars are abiding by the rules, regarless of how bad they may be. The Ugly American always has to be the one to thumb his nose at the Dominican authority. Don't you get it Leon, you are in the DR, not USA and if you were in the USA, you'd obey the rules there, just like you need to obey the rules here. And for those patrons of Friends, if you are stupid enough to listen to that crazy man, then you deserve to go to jail as well. You people better know that the US Embassy will not come to your aide if you break the laws of the DR, if the Dominican people respect the laws decreed by their president, why the hell shouldn't you!!!!
Robert great advice, but tell me did they take anyone to jail or just close them down???Yes some people think they do not have to follow rules and never learn, but in time maybe all the tuff enforcement shall be removed so people can go there, visit and enjoy all the clubs and bars available to the tourist once again. Gee was surprised to hear the Hilton had police in there forcing them to close down has well, that surely must have pissed off some big rich owner , Hope this will wake some one up with the powers to address this and soon... good luck and keep posting to keep us well informed , thanks so much...
I was there. Bars ordered to close at 2 am at 1 30 police arrived and put all clients on the curb until 2 am pointed a gun at Leon who was cursing and yelling at 2 am all were released but no taxis......´police put all americans in back of truck and transported to Pacos where everyone had soft drinks and waited for taxis
What did they do to the Gay for Pay boys? take them to jail?
How stupid is Leon to yell and curse at a Police with a gun held to his head!!! How disrespectful of Leon to put his clients in harmsway by protesting in such a way as to have his clients forced to sit on a curb for a half an hour before being loaded into a police truck and humiliated by being off loaded like so many cows in front of Paco's. I'd think twice about going to Friends to be exposed to that kind of action.
And there are NO REPORTS of this kind of thing happening at any other bar, Arean, Jay Dee's and Rouge are all respecting the law and closing on time without problems.
What is going on with Leon and the Police?
I spoke with Leon and he said none of the things that have been shared here happened. Why does one man's success have to be another man's blog entry full of lies and distortion?
Rick/Leon/Angie/Whomever, you know fully well that people who have been put into that position would not lie about something like that. Remember you have on many occassions gone crazy on the police and the government officials. Who did you spit in the face of???? So girl how can you equate success with being forced out of a bar and having a gun held to your head?
I was there when the police came and Mrs Rudolph honey, you were not here and you must have heard from unreliable sources. Evidently yo have something against Mrs Leon. The police did show up at 1:30am, 30 mins before the 2am curfew, trying to get paid off to leave and Mrs Leon was not having it. Yes I agree I would not argue with a policeman holding a gun, but you do have to stand up for yourself. If you don't, they will think that's it's ok to come in anytime they want.
Sat night I went to Arena and it was dead and this was around 11:30pm. Everybody and their mama were at Rouge. The show was spectacular. The drag queens were excellent. Lots of hot Dominicans were there with their tight pants on. I wish they had more dancers than the two that were there on Sat night. The club is like 3 or 4 blocks up from the Colonial Zone.
The DR has changed a bit from the last time when I was here. Many of the buggies are on drugs and they look so bad. I saw one they was so handsome and always kept himself up. Now when I got here, he is skinnier than Whitney. I hear that heroine has crept in DR and people are on it bad.
wow...all this is making me want to cancel or cut my trip short......!
Wondering if this is only happening in sto. domingo-zona colonial y Gazcue??
boca chica?
the resorts? punta cana? puerto plata?
They say it will all be over by the 16th of August when their holidays kick in. So don't let dominican politics snuff out your vacation plans. No other club is having a problem with the police except Friends and that little hole in the wall is not worth the time of going in. Plan your vacation around, Jay Dee's, Rouge and Arena. They are all still hot spots in the city. As for the resorts, the pressure on the government to raise this curfew will soon work.
Dear Mrs. Anonymous, I was there and I also know that Mrs. Leon was yelling and cursing at the police. Again, I say that Leon was irresponsible to act that way and put her clients in harmsway. Had Leon spoken in a respectful manner, instead of his usual "big mouth manner", things might have gone differently. People have a right to stand up for themselves, but acting a fool and putting clients at risk is not the way to do it.
Thanks Rober R...!
I'm planning on going to a resort for a few days during the weekdays.
I only been to friends once last year...before it becames Friends. Partied many a nights in Arena and J-Dees, so I agree but was feeling a lil...."unsure"! But as the days approach...I look forward to up up and awayyyyyy!
I say bravo and let the current admin. take back thier country from thugs and thieves. Punish the drug dealer to the fullest degree of the law. Once upon a time, national billboard proclaimed "Smile at the Tourist". As tourist we were a valued commodity. A boy wouldn't DARE steal from you or demand a damned thing. If you were wronged by one, all you had to do was point him out to the police and he would be beaten on the spot. They would jump out of a 3rd floor window before making a scene in the middle of the night in a hotel. They knew the value of a peso and appreciated "anything" that you did for them. Most had enough pride not to count money that you gave them in front of you. Drinks, a good meal, good sex a few pesos in their pocket was all that was required. The same with the girls. They have been spoiled. That 1000 peso note that you give them, goes just as far as the 1000 pesos the maid in your hotel has to work for several days to earn. So if we have to be inconvienced for a while in order to restore order. SO BE IT. I remember in Bar Freddy's overhearing a young man say " tourist mean we eat". I look forward to the day that again. Not to see anyone suffer mind you but, to feel valued and safe. Something had to turn the tide and hopefully the police will also take note and end their shakedown BS. I had a police officer walk me to my hotel( I was a little tipsy) making sure that I was safe. The next day he return and showed me a wonderful time. No pressure, just wanted to show me his country. BTW, the sex was divine. Just my 2 cents.
who the phuck is leon and why is this blog always concentrated around him/her?
so if RR is a fake, who gives a shit.
who gives a shit about leon.
we just want to read what's going on in DRama
To Clark Kent/Angie/Leon/Whomever, the truth is the truth and if the truth fits Leon, then he should wear it. Again, no one wants to be subjected to police and the problems they bring, and again, I say that Leon needs to act with respect to these police and people in authority in the DR to keep his clients safe and out of harmsway. love, RR, aka Lois Lane
To anonymous commentor, the reason it important to expose a poster that is fake, credibility. Afterall, this is an informational blog. If a person passes lies as the truth, we are all misinformed. I'm sure that Anthony's goal is to provide a blog containing facts not fiction. If RR lies about his identity, where does the lies begin or end?
Anthony, if the bars are closing early and drink are not being serve! Is paco still open are poeple haing out at pacos or they all have to close up! is dumbo closing also? thanks A for always keeping us informed!NY
Pacos and Dumbos are being forced to close at the curfew hours as well. The colmados close then also. the streets are empty.
Somebody wrote this on DR1.."There is already a positive effect on crime! The police and military are so busy closing businesses at curfew hours that it has distracted them from their regular activities of extortion, racketeering, holdups, robberies, and others!" I wish I had written it. My thoughts exactly!
From Puerto Rico,
Rafael
Yes, I wonder what will happen to DR once U.S. relations with Cuba are normalized.
Dave in SF.
I dont understand close from selling liquar! are they not even selling food ? so there is no were to get food after 12am! Is this including the food part of it also!NY
Leon has left the country going to South America for two weeks. Now lets see who you haters can blame all the problems of the DR on now.
He can leave the country? Oh yeah I forgot he just can't go back to the United States...Well he can but in silver braclets.
It seems that Mario and Dave, among others, have their sights set on Cuba. Dave asks what will happen to DR once relations with the USA are normalized. Well, I'll tell you: everybody will travel to Cuba instead of the DR. I have been to Cuba six or seven times (attending educational activities, of course) and if I could travel there freely, I would probably go on a monthly basis and be flat broke every penny going towards my next plane ticket! There is no way that I can describe the unique atmosphere that pervades Havana in this small space. I will just say that gay life is alive and well there despite what you may read somewhere else. The boyz are to die for and they are all willing and able to help out a lost tourist asking for directions!
From Puerto Rico,
Rafael
So if Leon is away for 2 weeks, does that mean bar friends will be closed?
Rafael,
I have to send you my email address so you can send me the information..hotels/clubs/area/etc...tu sabes Mr. Caribe
wink wink ;-)
Yes, Bar Friends will be closed for the next two weeks while Leon is in South America. He had hoped to find an American willing to help him out, but since he has caused so much trouble with the police and tourist these past few days, NOT ONE OF HIS FRIENDS is willing to take the responsibility. Maybe he should ask Sylvester to run the place for him. He has always wanted a business, now is his chance. And Sylvester, if you are lucky, Leon will find another country to pleague instead of the DR and stay in South America, OH god, please don't let that country be Brazil, that is the only place we have left without DRama from Leon.
Sylvester will fall asleep in Bar Friends running it He got fired from the Camilo Apartments for sleeping and leaving the building and going up to bar Friends.
The reduction in crimes, if any, proves that the police were the ones committing them. Now, the police are busy at night enforcing the curfew and too tired in the daytime to commit them.
Finally something from Mario of interest.
As usual Leon has created and told yet another elaborate story he is no more in South America than I am. What is he trying to prove when he makes up these stories? Why does he continue to do this? and who the hell really cares.Leon I know that you read this blog every day why don't you just stop making up all these ridiculous stories. It really makes your few defenders look real stupid.
Ha, ha, ha...this is sosooo funny!
the DR was fun for a while, now back to rio 2 times a year with no DR "fixes" in between. i don't mean to be a bitch or be disrespectful but who needs the headache and the last time i was there all the boys were on coca anyway.
TO: Mario Sessions, you may think you’re part of the solution…. However you are acting just like those nasty uneducated folks. And you are becoming part of the problem. If you were a good business man, one would think you would spend your time promoting business. And stop promoting the disservice that others are taking part in. I am sure you are a good business man, but when you take part in these feud, between the “Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s” you wind up looking like them. And we all know, they know nothing about business. Further they don’t even respect there host country.
As a Black businessman myself, we are all trying to grow and prosper. Don’t let the alcohol take away from all your hard work and accomplishments (this is in reference to your last comments were you had said you were drinking and you grammar showed that). Others will see this and magnify this behavior. Is this what you really want do. I have never met you and I admire your ontipernerial sprit, but please think about what I am saying.
This website MONAGA, could really be the place to go for all, as there are no news papers there to inform the gay community or those abroad what events will place, along with places to go and visit. Instead the owner of MONAGA and the owner of Bar Friends and their segregates would rather promote this feud than promote any real business.
Thanks
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