If you're like us, you miss the Galaxy nightclub. With clear sightlines, great sound and a cheerful staff, the place was possibly the best smallish venue St. Louis had -- especially since the Galaxy was home to the legendary Fetish Night, an electro-Goth dream world conjured once a week. On Monday nights folks of all shapes, backgrounds and persuasions could be found living out secret urges and fantasies at the club, whether that meant engaging in titillating bondage scenarios onstage, giving and/or receiving a good ass-paddling or simply dressing in leather from head to toe. Anything within the boundaries of the law was fair game at Fetish Night.
Well, slap us silly and call us Nancy! Thankfully, the Original Club Fetish Night has returned. In addition to performance art and a bondage show, you'll find glorious release in the Goth, industrial music and '80s electronica now spun from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Creepy Crawl (412 North Tucker Boulevard; 314-851-0919 or www.creepycrawl.com). Need more? Will complimentary drinks for the first hour and a highly intuitive tarot reading by the oh-so-lovely Jen convince you that the $6 admission (free for industry professionals) is a pittance? If not, we fear nothing will sate you. -- John Goddard
Headaches Are Fun!
And preservationists party
FRI 1/28
Maybe those pesky kids in the nearby park and their incessant basketball dribbling send you running for the headache-stopping ibuprofen. Or, sadly, your pounding head may be caused by the wrecking ball beating the nearby old building into submission. Metropolis St. Louis understands. The group has teamed up with the Landmarks Association of Saint Louis to offer you the Headache Ball to raise awareness about historic preservation. The party, complete with local bands, a photography exhibit and a video installation that includes images of the Century Building's demolition, is fittingly held at Y.E.H.S. Preservation Hall in Soulard (1921 South Ninth Street), and morning-after headache-inducing beer (plus appetizers) are part of your $15 to $20 admission. The party runs from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; visit www.mstl.org for more information. -- Alison Sieloff
Taste of the Town
For the nosy
You've noticed some tantalizing aromas bubbling up in Soulard lately, and it's not even a brew day at Anheuser-Busch. To track down the sources, you might start on Russell Boulevard, where you'll catch a whiff (and a taste) of red beans and rice at Johnny's Restaurant & Bar and tangy tequila hot wings at Hammerstone's. Then head over to Geyer Avenue to smell (and try) crab cakes with a Cajun cream sauce at 1860's Hard Shell Café & Bar and crawfish étouffée at Norton's Café. Wash it all down with a Southern Scream at Molly's (that's SoCo and cranberry, folks). It's all happening at the Southern Comfort Taste of Soulard Saturday and Sunday (January 29 and 30) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Pick up a book of seven Taste tickets (six for food and one for SoCo) for $15 from participating Soulard establishments, or call 314-771-5110 to buy your book. Afraid you'll eat too much to make your way around Soulard on foot? The Taste organizers have that covered -- catch the free trolley provided on Saturday. For more information and a list of participating establishments, visit www.mardigrasinc.com. -- Amy Helms
Room for None
Candida Höfer's photography is something of an acquired taste. Her photos of interior spaces both lavish and minimalist are, on first glance, strangely ill-timed; the unseen occupants of the rooms seem to have just left or are about to arrive. The viewer is left with nothing but a space to examine, which reveals a privateness that would dissipate if the viewer were actually in the room. It's a strange feeling, knowing the photographer's distance is bringing one closer to the space. A selection of Höfer's work is on display at the Sheldon Art Galleries (3648 Washington Boulevard; 314-533-9900) through April 9. Visit www.sheldonconcerthall.org for times. -- Paul Friswold
